DME- what should I expect?

[SamanthaL]

I have never taken DME from MCO before, just back to MCO to go home. I have no idea how it all works. Would you recommend claiming your own luggage? We arrived at 3:45pm. If DME collects the luggage what time would I have it?
How long does the whole process take. What time should we expect to arrive at the Contemp? Is it all smoothed out now or are there still kinks in the system?

If anyone can share some experiences or a timeline of how things happen and what to expect I would appreciate it.

 

[dburg30]

From what I've read on the number of posts and some of the stickies at the top of the forum.


re: claiming your own baggage.. That's up to you. IF you have what you need for the rest of the day / next morning in case of a delay, you dont have to. You can just go check in, and head to the park.

time to get bags: Most people say their bags arrive about 3 hours after the flight, which it what it tells you to expect.


Time to resort: Most people say it'll average between 50-90 min from off the plane to the resort. Some have said it's taken longer, but that seems to be the exception.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you arrive at MCO around 3:45, you will most likely be at your resort by 5:00. Your bags could be expected anytime from then until about 8:00ish. If you don't want to wait for the bags to be delivered, then by all means, go to baggage claim and get them yourself. But do not put those yellow luggage tags on the bags...they will not make it out to the public baggage claim area.

DME is a very smooth operation..it has been working quite well. We hear very few negative comments...mostly those that pertain to lenght of time to get to the resort (everyone tends to think they should be the first resort stop) or luggage delivery to rooms (most want it to be there much more quickly). Butm, for the most part, the vast majority of people are very happy with DME and the way it works.

 

[SamanthaL]

Excellent! Thank you. 5pm is about the time I expected to arrive. I would like my bags before 8pm in case the kiddos get too tired. We will definately get them ourselves.

goofy4tink-thank you for warning me NOT to put on the tags if I am getting the luggage. I would have done it just in case we changed our minds. That is a good piece of info!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would ALWAYS recommend letting DME handle my luggage (note to self: attach yellow tags, soon!). I also always carry on whatever items I will need for the first 24 hours of my trip, in case the airline misdirects my luggage.

DME has now been in operation for almost two and a half years. Any 'kinks' were worked out long ago. If by kink you mean people not getting their luggage for hours and hours, see my first paragraph . Another, little-known benefit to DME is that if some/all your luggage doesn't arrive with your flight, DME (knowing how many bags you have compared to how many bags with your bar code they've actually received, or based on your phone call) will take responsibility for locating and delivering whatever's gone astray.

Re: timeline. There are no 'set' routes, although generally Guests going to resorts in the same general area are assigned to the same bus. The average travel time from getting off the plane to getting off the bus at your resort is 70 minutes.

Your luggage does NOT arrive three hours after you land. It arrives about three hours after you check in at your hotel. That's where a lot of people are unreasonably disappointed in the service - because they misunderstand the timing.

 

[Hopefully]

We have used DME several times in the past and will again in October. It has always been flawless for us. From gate to check-in has been between 75 and 90 minutes. We usually arrive on a Sunday, late morning.
The lines for the DME check in desk look daunting, but the line moves very quickly. You will be checked in, your return flight info verified, and directed to the appropriate roped off bus waiting area. The hardest part for me is waiting in line for the bus. At this point I want to be moving. Our longest wait was about 20 minutes to actually board the bus.
The DME buses are comfortable coaches. They show a Disney video on the way to WDW, which adds to the excitement.
There are no definitive set routes. The buses are routed to the resorts, grouped by area, as necessary. Each bus usually makes 2-3 stops, so exactly how long it takes you to check in will be based on which stop you are on that route. In our experience each stop was very quick and the whole trip did not take too long.
I can not say exactly how long it took our bags to arrive as we always head right out to Epcot. But each time, when we called and found our rooms to be ready and we returned, our luggage has always been in the room waiting for us.
We love the service.
Have a Great Trip.

 

[Lewisc]

Luggage handling stops during the afternoon thunderstorms. I would let DME handle my luggage.

I generally fly SW. Baggage claim for SW is in the opposite corner from the DME desk. Getting my luggage would require going down to level one, getting my bags, going back to level three, walking across diagonally across to the opposite corner then going back down to level one.

I'd just bring the kids PJs in your carryon bag.

The only time I wouldn't use DME for luggage is if I might need something shortly after landing, and that item doesn't qualify for carry on. Golf Clubs would be a good example. A tent, for a guest staying at FW would be another example.

 

[SamanthaL]

Hmmm. Now I have a dilemma. If we were getting to Orlando early in the day I would totally let DME take care of our bags. If we check in at our resort at 5pm we would probably be OK till 8pm. We plan to head straight to Epcot. Bedtime for the little ones will probably start around 9ish I would imagine, since this is our travel day. That is when we would need our things.

So with checkin at 5pm-ish
2 kids to bed at 9pm-ish
What would do? Still go with DME getting the bags or deal with the hassel of luggage?

 

[dburg30]

Well, honestly you should have a carry on with stuff to tide you over the evening even if you are claiming your own bags. The chances of you luggage being misdirected or misplaced is MUCH higher before it gets to MCO then after..

 

[dburg30]

Your luggage does NOT arrive three hours after you land. It arrives about three hours after you check in at your hotel. That's where a lot of people are unreasonably disappointed in the service - because they misunderstand the timing.

Ahh see, just learned another thing. I thought that it pretty much started it's trek once you checked in at MCO at the DME counter.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So with checkin at 5pm-ish
2 kids to bed at 9pm-ish
What would do? Still go with DME getting the bags or deal with the hassel of luggage?

I would already have in my carry-on luggage, whatever items I would need for the first 24 hours of my trip. This might include some travel-size toothpaste, antiperspirant, conditioner, nightclothes, a complete change of clothes for the next day.... and I would let DME deliver my checked luggage.

 

[SamanthaL]

I would already have in my carry-on luggage, whatever items I would need for the first 24 hours of my trip. This might include some travel-size toothpaste, antiperspirant, conditioner, nightclothes, a complete change of clothes for the next day.... and I would let DME deliver my checked luggage.

Are liquids and toothpaste ect allowed in carry-ons now? If this is the case then I will let DME do the luggage for sure.

 

[dburg30]

In small amounts yes..

http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

edit: now of course that would be for each persons carry on, so if everyone had a small tube of toothpaste in their own ziploc bag etc etc

 

[SamanthaL]

In small amounts yes..

http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

edit: now of course that would be for each persons carry on, so if everyone had a small tube of toothpaste in their own ziploc bag etc etc

That is perfect! Just what I needed to know! I will let DME take care of things then. It will save time not having to get our own luggage.
Thanks so much for all the help!