Frustrated, experienced DVC renter

[ruadisneyfan2]

Am I over reacting? Please be honest; I can take it.

I have rented 3x since 2011 and had great experiences each time. This last time I'm not so sure. Our reservation is for 1 night stay in a studio late September, pre-cruise so not a huge output of money but still, part of our vacation and we want it to all go smoothly.
Everything went well in discussions and she sent me a screen shot of the res before I sent the money through pay pal. I could see my res when I logged onto MDE. It's still there. It's all good.

At the time she booked for me, it was late at night and she was sick. Having just gotten over an awful bout of sinusitis myself & feeling sympathetic, I offered to let it wait until she felt better. She said availability may not be there at a later date. True, late September, Food & Wine, only SSR available, etc. Once she secured the reservation, and by now very late, she suggested she could enter the details for DME at a later time. The important/urgent part is getting the res secure. I agreed & sent her our flight info for whenever she could get to it.

About a week later I emailed her to ask if she was able to book our DME and she said her back went out and she's seeing a chiropractor and can barely sit but not to worry, we have plenty of time. Again, as a sciatica/herniated disk sufferer myself, I am sympathetic and sent wishes to her to feel better.

So last week, July 4, now more than a month since she originally booked our res, I emailed her again and now haven't gotten any reply. I'm starting to worry. I realize people may be on vacation or just busy in life and booking my vacation details isn't top priority. We didn't exchange phone numbers, not that I didn't consider it but she is currently living outside the US, not extremely far, but still I figured email would be easiest for both of us. Maybe after having 3 great experiences as a renter, I have let my guard down.

Though I know we have plenty of time, I also like to tie up loose ends so I'm not rushing around at the last minute. Also little details like these tend to slip my mind because when I book directly with Disney, I enter all that at the time I book. Entering DME info a month or 2 later isn't part of my vacation planning routine. So I feel like I could easily forget about it completely and we'll be stuck.
Also it's 11 weeks away but luggage tags get sent out a few weeks ahead. I've heard they're not mandatory(or maybe that was with DCL). I just don't want to have any problems with our luggage all resulting from poor planning at the onset and is all preventable. We have a late afternoon flight arrival and Epcot has EMH till 11:00 pm so we'd like to be able to run over asap then leave in the am to go to the port (private transfer) so not a lot of free time to figure out where misplaced bags might go with no proper yellow tags.

So now I'm starting to look at rental car prices & we have stayed offsite enough in the past to easily handle that but dh really enjoys DME, not retrieving bags & especially with the MB just tap and hop on the bus. Waiting at baggage claim, renting a car, shoving luggage in the trunk, & driving will all cut into our short time at Epcot. And to think I gave up a great rate at Yacht Club for this!

Am I being ridiculous? How long can it possibly take to enter our flight info on DVC's website, and it's only for our incoming flight at that.

I can't imagine doing that to someone knowing I'm party responsible for someone else's vacation plans.

 

[vicki_c]

I was under the impression you could call DME directly yourself with your reservation number to arrange that. I've seen numerous other people say that here on the boards. But sorry that your Owner's priorities and yours aren't meshing. I understand your frustration.

Worst case, if it all goes to hell just grab your own bags and take them to the bus. Or give your claim tickets to the DME desk and they can get the bags (although I'd feel better doing it myself with a cruise the next day). I don't think reting a car is necessary.

 

[McCrae]

Am I over reacting? Please be honest; I can take it.

I have rented 3x since 2011 and had great experiences each time. This last time I'm not so sure. Our reservation is for 1 night stay in a studio late September, pre-cruise so not a huge output of money but still, part of our vacation and we want it to all go smoothly.
Everything went well in discussions and she sent me a screen shot of the res before I sent the money through pay pal. I could see my res when I logged onto MDE. It's still there. It's all good.

At the time she booked for me, it was late at night and she was sick. Having just gotten over an awful bout of sinusitis myself & feeling sympathetic, I offered to let it wait until she felt better. She said availability may not be there at a later date. True, late September, Food & Wine, only SSR available, etc. Once she secured the reservation, and by now very late, she suggested she could enter the details for DME at a later time. The important/urgent part is getting the res secure. I agreed & sent her our flight info for whenever she could get to it.

About a week later I emailed her to ask if she was able to book our DME and she said her back went out and she's seeing a chiropractor and can barely sit but not to worry, we have plenty of time. Again, as a sciatica/herniated disk sufferer myself, I am sympathetic and sent wishes to her to feel better.

So last week, July 4, now more than a month since she originally booked our res, I emailed her again and now haven't gotten any reply. I'm starting to worry. I realize people may be on vacation or just busy in life and booking my vacation details isn't top priority. We didn't exchange phone numbers, not that I didn't consider it but she is currently living outside the US, not extremely far, but still I figured email would be easiest for both of us. Maybe after having 3 great experiences as a renter, I have let my guard down.

Though I know we have plenty of time, I also like to tie up loose ends so I'm not rushing around at the last minute. Also little details like these tend to slip my mind because when I book directly with Disney, I enter all that at the time I book. Entering DME info a month or 2 later isn't part of my vacation planning routine. So I feel like I could easily forget about it completely and we'll be stuck.
Also it's 11 weeks away but luggage tags get sent out a few weeks ahead. I've heard they're not mandatory(or maybe that was with DCL). I just don't want to have any problems with our luggage all resulting from poor planning at the onset and is all preventable. We have a late afternoon flight arrival and Epcot has EMH till 11:00 pm so we'd like to be able to run over asap then leave in the am to go to the port (private transfer) so not a lot of free time to figure out where misplaced bags might go with no proper yellow tags.

So now I'm starting to look at rental car prices & we have stayed offsite enough in the past to easily handle that but dh really enjoys DME, not retrieving bags & especially with the MB just tap and hop on the bus. Waiting at baggage claim, renting a car, shoving luggage in the trunk, & driving will all cut into our short time at Epcot. And to think I gave up a great rate at Yacht Club for this!

Am I being ridiculous? How long can it possibly take to enter our flight info on DVC's website, and it's only for our incoming flight at that.

I can't imagine doing that to someone knowing I'm party responsible for someone else's vacation plans.

I don't think you need to be worried about DME and the luggage labels.

Worse case you will need to collect your bags and take them with you to the DME check in. In some ways this might be a positive.... You won't have a long wait for your bags to be delivered to your room.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

How can I check in with DME if I don't have a DME reservation? Prior to MBs, you had to show the vouchers to be able to ride the bus right?

I will try calling DME myself.

 

[luckyman_apd]

How can I check in with DME if I don't have a DME reservation? Prior to MBs, you had to show the vouchers to be able to ride the bus right?

I will try calling DME myself.

When you get your magic band sent to you (and you will if you put the reservation number into your MDE account) you can get on the ME bus from the airport with any disney hotel reservation. Inputting the flight info only is really necessary for your bags to be delivered to your room and get your luggage tags mailed to you. My father joined us for a trip in December. He flew in a day early to visit a cousin north of Orlando. The community his cousin lives in has a shuttle to the airport. So my dad just went to the airport and got on the ME bus before we were ever there. I never put any info for him for ME. You can arrange ME to take you back to the airport once you check in.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When you get your magic band sent to you (and you will if you put the reservation number into your MDE account) you can get on the ME bus from the airport with any disney hotel reservation. Inputting the flight info only is really necessary for your bags to be delivered to your room and get your luggage tags mailed to you. My father joined us for a trip in December. He flew in a day early to visit a cousin north of Orlando. The community his cousin lives in has a shuttle to the airport. So my dad just went to the airport and got on the ME bus before we were ever there. I never put any info for him for ME. You can arrange ME to take you back to the airport once you check in.

I see. Thanks for explaining this. I didn't want to have to plead to the ME CMs either. We customized our MBs and that's all ready.

I guess it will all work out but I will try calling anyway. The worst they can say is no, member must call.

Thanks!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

When you get your magic band sent to you (and you will if you put the reservation number into your MDE account) you can get on the ME bus from the airport with any disney hotel reservation. Inputting the flight info only is really necessary for your bags to be delivered to your room and get your luggage tags mailed to you. My father joined us for a trip in December. He flew in a day early to visit a cousin north of Orlando. The community his cousin lives in has a shuttle to the airport. So my dad just went to the airport and got on the ME bus before we were ever there. I never put any info for him for ME. You can arrange ME to take you back to the airport once you check in.

Sorry but this is generally wrong! I am not sure what happened with your Dad, but the rule is you must have a DME reservation to ride DME. That was a deal Disney had to make before the airport would allow DME due to the "outrage" from the limo companies who were trying to force the airport not to allow DME (because they realized folks weren't going to pay for their pathetic service anymore LOL!)

Do NOT just assume you can show up and get on a bus without a DME reservation WHat is more likely to happen is you will be sent to the Mears booth to buy a ticket to Disney in accordance with the airport agreement.

 

[Mariep26]

I agree with OCC. Make sure that you have a DME reservation. The part that is optional in my mind is the luggage tags. If you don't get them in time, you can bring the bags with you on DME or you can give the luggage claim ticket to the DME check in desk and they will go retrieve the bags and they will appear in your room per usual. I have done it the last way before when we booked super close to the departure date and all was well.

 

[disneynutz]

DME policy is that MS input the DME reservations for DVC guests.

Once input, guests can call 866 599-0951 to verify or modify the reservation.

DME will allow walkups at MCO. DME needs to input your reservation at the counter to get paid by Disney.

MB's will replace vouchers in the near future for guests that have MB's.

Bill

 

[jimandami]

I am renting from one DVC owner for a week at BLT in December and then another for 3 days at the Treehouses. One family is leaving after the BLT portion. I called the direct DME number and was able to book our DME with no problems (I am not a DVC member). All the DME CM asked for was our reservation numbers, which I gave her. I think with MDE, you can now book for yourself so definitely give it a shot! The BLT owner I rented from rents a lot was very surprised I was able to book on my own.

 

[disneynutz]

I am renting from one DVC owner for a week at BLT in December and then another for 3 days at the Treehouses. One family is leaving after the BLT portion. I called the direct DME number and was able to book our DME with no problems (I am not a DVC member). All the DME CM asked for was our reservation numbers, which I gave her. I think with MDE, you can now book for yourself so definitely give it a shot! The BLT owner I rented from rents a lot was very surprised I was able to book on my own.

The DM CM didn't follow policy so there is no guarantee that others will.

When calling DME the recorded message states that DVC needs to book through MS.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

Am I over reacting?

Yes, I think you're overreacting. You should be able to use the website to set up DME.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

It sounds, from people who know more about this than I do, that you can probably work around your DME situation.

I don't think you're over-reacting, though. I have rented points from others, and rented them out to others, and the vibrations you're getting would make me uneasy too. I'm sure everything will work out ok, but it sure is a lot more comfortable to feel that the person renting the points out is "on it." I know that when I've rented my points out, I've gone out of my way to be accommodating and quick to respond because this is a relationship based on trust between strangers, and I think it's only fair to make that transaction as stress-free as possible.

I'm sorry this has been a question you've even had to wonder about.

 

[crisi]

I don't think you are overreacting, but I think you've run into one of the risks of renting - that renting points and dealing with the rental process falls somewhere on the priority list behind jobs, kids, spouses, extended family, making dinner, and getting the laundry done - and in some cases below checking facebook.


Make a backup plan. I'd:

1) Try calling DME yourself - some people have luck getting reservations made, some don't, but it can't hurt to try.

2) Figure out how you'll get to the resort without DME - me, I'd skip the rental and grab a cab - there are plenty of cabs and it takes no planning - so if your renter does get DME booked, you won't have to cancel anything. But a rental car is a good plan as well. If you have extra budget - you could make lemonade and book a limo .

3) Finally, while its frustrating, you'll feel less negativity about it if you assume that instead of being non-responsive because she doesn't care that she's non-responsive because something that SHOULD be a higher priority has come up - a sick parent or child, an illness. And not that she's too busy checking facebook

 

[luckyman_apd]

Sorry but this is generally wrong! I am not sure what happened with your Dad, but the rule is you must have a DME reservation to ride DME. That was a deal Disney had to make before the airport would allow DME due to the "outrage" from the limo companies who were trying to force the airport not to allow DME (because they realized folks weren't going to pay for their pathetic service anymore LOL!)

Do NOT just assume you can show up and get on a bus without a DME reservation WHat is more likely to happen is you will be sent to the Mears booth to buy a ticket to Disney in accordance with the airport agreement.

When my father called me to say he was on his way to airport to catch the bus....I freaked because he did not have a DME reservation. I never put one in for him because he told me he was getting a ride to the resort. I called disney directly from the Philly airport I was at about to board....and I was told on the phone that ANYONE with a disney hotel would be able to get on the ME bus from the airport...pre arranged or not. It might take him longer as it was pre scheduled...but he would not be denied a ride. He had absolutely no problems. I would not go without planning it ahead of time again, but I'm saying you won't be denied.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

When my father called me to say he was on his way to airport to catch the bus....I freaked because he did not have a DME reservation. I never put one in for him because he told me he was getting a ride to the resort. I called disney directly from the Philly airport I was at about to board....and I was told on the phone that ANYONE with a disney hotel would be able to get on the ME bus from the airport...pre arranged or not. It might take him longer as it was pre scheduled...but he would not be denied a ride. He had absolutely no problems. I would not go without planning it ahead of time again, but I'm saying you won't be denied.

This has been exactly our experience with my mom, multiple times, as she flies standby and was advised by the Magical Express agent that as long as she is listed on the reservation she would have no problem getting on the ME bus. She just stops at the ME desk when she arrives and she has never had any problem doing this. Been doing this for years and the last time was this January.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Sorry but this is generally wrong! I am not sure what happened with your Dad, but the rule is you must have a DME reservation to ride DME. That was a deal Disney had to make before the airport would allow DME due to the "outrage" from the limo companies who were trying to force the airport not to allow DME (because they realized folks weren't going to pay for their pathetic service anymore LOL!) Do NOT just assume you can show up and get on a bus without a DME reservation WHat is more likely to happen is you will be sent to the Mears booth to buy a ticket to Disney in accordance with the airport agreement.

Sorry but that is not correct in the way you are stating. A person can walk up to DME and in essence book immediately. You have to have a resort reservation which will be confirmed but you are not required to pre-book a fixed amount of time ahead with DME.

 

[Daddio]

Sorry but that is not correct in the way you are stating. A person can walk up to DME and in essence book immediately. You have to have a resort reservation which will be confirmed but you are not required to pre-book a fixed amount of time ahead with DME.

KAT4DISNEY's statement is accurate. DME counter agents will input your information, print a voucher and let you board the motor coach. For those that do not have Magic Bands pre-delivered to them, you will need to know your confirmation number. Photo ID is required.

~ David

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

KAT4DISNEY's statement is accurate. DME counter agents will input your information, print a voucher and let you board the motor coach. For those that do not have Magic Bands pre-delivered to them, you will need to know your confirmation number. Photo ID is required.

~ David

Hi David,
I have a question for you. If we were to rent points through your company, who handles the reservation as far as booking DME, dining plan, special requests, etc?
If it's all taken care of by the business I think it would for sure be worth paying a little more as a renter. I've been able to find low rates per point but the downside to that is being stuck in a situation like I'm in, at the mercy of the DVC owner.

 

[vicki_c]

Ruadisney fan, only the owner can do those reservation transactions with Member Services since the company is not an owner or associate on the membership.