Do ME busses run the same routes?

[TaraPA]

I'm wondering how many other resorts the ME bus to BWV is shared with - and is it always the same order of drop off & pick up? If so, does anyone know where BWV falls in the line-up? We're arriving late with kids & I'm just trying to see if we should plan to grab a bite before we leave MCO, or if we can wait to get to BWV & check in, and head down to the BW.

 

[Missytara]

Every year I go, it has never been the same - I arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving and they are so busy running people to the airport, they don't even have the buses fill up to get to the resort. Our bus was only half full when we left this time.

This time, I was the first stop at SSR, with stops at POFQ and FW.

Previous years, I have been the last stop at POR, with stops at POFQ and some other resort - it has never been the same twice.

Every time, I have never been more than 90 minutes from the time I deboarded the plane until I arrived at the resort. Add 90 minutes from the time your plane arrives, and then add another fifteen minutes to check in and then another fifteen to thirty minutes to walk out and find someplace to eat and get seated.....and you will decide whether you should eat at the airport or go directly to your resort.

 

[dburg30]

I'm wondering how many other resorts the ME bus to BWV is shared with - and is it always the same order of drop off & pick up? If so, does anyone know where BWV falls in the line-up? We're arriving late with kids & I'm just trying to see if we should plan to grab a bite before we leave MCO, or if we can wait to get to BWV & check in, and head down to the BW.

No, there are no set routes. I dunno what 'late' is, but I would guess as the number of guests starts to drop off as the day goes on they may 'stack on' more resorts. It does make sense if you only have 30 people waiting and they are going to 5 different resorts, unless they arent even close to the same area (ie: AKL and MK area) they could put everyone on one bus. If it's after 6 my own person idea would be to eat at the airport with youngs ones that may start fussing. If they seem to be doing ok, and you wanted to get something at the resort, of course just do that (again as long as it's not super late and stuff would be closing on you).

 

[Missytara]

The one thing you cannot gauge time-wise is how many people insist on carrying their luggage on the buses with them; even when it is early in the day, like when I arrive.

I was so glad we were the first stop, because a lot of people from the other resorts took their bags on the buses. And YOU have to wait until they unload all those bags until they will let you off the bus to check-in, even though you have only taken one bag with you.

The more baggage they have to retrieve from under the bus, the more time it takes to get from resort to resort.

If in doubt, I would just eat at MCO....

 

[dburg30]

There have been a lot of posts about being held hostage on the DME bus while the driver unloads bags, people have talked to DME / mears and that is not supposed to happen. If it does, we need people to get the bus and driver name and report those issues..

 

[CleveRocks]

As you've already learned, there are no pre-set DME routes. There are some routes that are fairly common because they make sense geogeaphically, but they are not pre-planned to always have certain resorts together.

In addition, it is true that the driver is told what resorts are on the bus, but it is 100% the choice of the driver what order in which those resorts are dropped off. There is one small exception for Grand Floridian/Polynesian, but other than that, each individual driver decides the order.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have used ME many times, and the busses have never followed the same pattern. I just keep my fingers crossed, and hope that my resort is the first one.

 

[TaraPA]

Thanks for all the replies, I think we'll just eat an early dinner before we even fly out of PA, then grab a snack on the BW once we arrive.