How is DME running now?

[MNT568]

I was wondering how DME is running now after the rocky start? We are planning a trip to AKL for the end of August and I am trying to decide if we should go with DME this time. Any opinions on how it is going? We land at 2:30pm on a Thursday and depart at 11:45 on Wednesday

Also, I am trying to locate the post that listed which resorts were grouped together for DME?

 

[GoN2WDW]

It worked fine for us! We arrived at 9:45am on a Wed. and were through the airport and to the counter at no time. No line to check in. They didn't find us in their computer even though we had received our packet, but they just called to verify with the baggage people that we had three bage checked and to look out for them. (We used the yellow DME tags) We got on the bus and that is when we had to wait. I guess we waited almost 30 minutes to leave, but they were waiting on passangers they knew were arriving around the same time as us. Since it was free, I didn't mind waiting, but if I'd have paid I'd have been disappointed. We stopped at SSR before arriving at POR (which was fine since I wanted to see it!) and checked in with minutes. When we returned to our room around 4pm, our bags were waiting!

For our return, we had to leave POR at 5:25p for a 8:25p flight, but again, it was free, so no big deal. All in all, I was pleased with the service!

 

[CleveRocks]

I was wondering how DME is running now after the rocky start? We are planning a trip to AKL for the end of August and I am trying to decide if we should go with DME this time. Any opinions on how it is going? We land at 2:30pm on a Thursday and depart at 11:45 on Wednesday

Not sure exactly what you mean by rocky start. I used DME on May 8 and May 14. May 8 was the fourth full day of operation. From the time I first got into the line at the DME desk to the time I was dropped off at CBR was 53 minutes. My luggage arrived about 3 or so hours after I did but I didn't care because I always pack for the first 24 hours in my carry on anyway, no matter where I fly (just in case the airline loses or delays my luggage); that way, I was able to start enjoying my vacation and frankly I didn't care when the luggage arrived at my room.

On the return trip (4:00 p.m. for a 6:45 p.m. flight), we were the one and only stop and the bus wasn't even full.

Also, I am trying to locate the post that listed which resorts were grouped together for DME?

There's no such thing. It's a totally fluid, dynamic situation. They dispatch buses as needed and group resorts as needed. Before it even started there seemed to be some thought to grouping certain resorts but apparently that never happened. So the sad news for us hyper-planners is there is no way to know exactly what your DME order of drop-off will be. I have read posts from DME drivers stating that regardless of which resorts are grouped together for any one trip, the order of drop-off is closest to MCO is dropped-off first, furthest from MCO is dropped off last, you get the idea.

I loved DME and was totally satisfied with it. And don't think I wasn't a little bit nervous about it being a "guinea pig" on May 8! It was great. And FREE!

-- Eric

 

[Purrrrfecta]

I arrived on the 14th of June and returned on the 27th. I would do DME anytime. On return we had an early morning flight. They picked us up in a Cruise Line bus, but it was very comfortable relaxing. I was not on one of the prefered carrieres so we had to take out luggage and check it in. That was also no problem.

I would save my money. If you need to have food or water juice and snacks just use wegoshop.