How many DVC folks have used or always use DME?

[edk35]

We have NEVER used it and are sorta throwing the idea around to try/use it for our Jan. trip. The reason is we are taking 1 extra friend but possible 2. We have a wonderful car service that we use but they are only transporting up to 6 I think. Anyway..... just curious if DVC'ers use this free service?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We usually use it. We usually rent a car for church, just a Saturday to Sunday rental, usually from DTD and if we do that, that's when we buy groceries.

I understand people's frustrations with wait times. It doesn't matter where I stay, we're usually the last resort to be dropped off and going back to the airport, the crowds getting on at CBR (it seems always on the schedule) usually fill the bus and so it's tight. However, I don't mind it. Sometimes the crowds at the airport security are so bad that I'm glad to be there with time to get through it. All of my family uses ME and friends do too, when they stay with me.

Bobbi

 

[TDC Nala]

All the time. Car rentals are too expensive for me.

If you are generally in a hurry, though, you may be thoroughly frustrated with the Magical Express experience and prefer to find a van service. If you're not prepared to handle the possibility of waiting, you will be better off not using the service.

 

[Rob S.]

Over the last 3 years I've taken 11 trips and used it every time without any problems. I've taken it at all times of the day as well. It does take a bit longer if you arrive after 10:00pm. First, you have to get your own luggage. Second, it takes a little longer for the bus to fill before it leaves. And third, the bus will make more stops on the way to your resort.
It seems that when they are the busiest, that's when you will get to your resort the fastest.

 

[MLK-RI]

We have been using DME since it began and have been happy with it. We used to use car services and we do not miss spending that money at all!

Primarily we use Disney transportation and very rarely rent a car. We often come with guests and extra family and we all use DME. Our friends/family often meet us at Disney coming from all over so we don't always ride DME together.

There have been occasions when the wait is longer, or our luggage doesn't arrive for hours, but once we get in the DME line it feels like part of the anticipation of the vacation. Basically we just try to "enjoy the ride". If you don't get dropped off first, we enjoy seeing some of the other resorts that we might not have stopped by to even see the front of.

Going home means getting picked up earlier than you might have left if you are driving, but we also find having the time to get through security without rushing is fine with us.

Something else I've noticed since using DME - our room is almost always ready when we arrive (possibly due to check in at the airport?). A nice bonus that has happened more often than not.

We travel Southwest Airlines and until recently they were NOT a participant in the departing luggage service. Arriving luggage was handled but we had to handle luggage going home. Still not a problem, although I am looking forward to enjoying this additional service on our upcoming trip now that SWA participates.

Sometimes, we have opted not to have them handle our luggage just so we wouldn't have to wait for it. Some of our party goes to the baggage claim while others go to the DME checkin area. When doing this we have met at the line at almost the same time each time. Not sure if this means the baggage claim at Orlando Int'l is very fast, or the DME check in is slow? I choose to just think of it as a little bit of Disney magic!

For us DME is a huge plus and we have been very happy with the service.

 

[Mtnman44]

I've used it three times. All three times it was easy as pie to check in and get on the bus. However, the bus normally sits there for around 20 to 30 mins it seems like. This is aganozing with excited kids but overall I find it better than having to wait for luggage, then haul it over to a car rental place and shuttle over to get the car. On top of this, it is "free" so I don't really have any complaints. For some reason, it also makes the trip better since with the disney atmosphere, it is like the vacation is starting much sooner..right at the airport.

 

[DisneyDudet]

We love the service! We have been using it for years now. Since our trips are short now, we done rent a car. It is just too expensive and we don't use it to go to parks. We may do a day rental with one of the on site companies, but that's it anymore.

We really haven't experienced long waits, maybe 20 min at MCO. The worst problem I have experienced was when my return bus never showed last January, and neither did the next one. I was the only one waiting. They ended up sending a bus that was headed to end it's day, but heard the dispatch and helped me out, as well as a few other stranded guests nearby. Turns out a few extra people got on an earlier bus, and they assumed I was with them. The front desk was about to vouch for a cab. The other issue was weather related, and we would have had the same problem if we drove.

We continue to use it and added it on today, in fact, for our december trip. We love the videos and the drivers can be quite fun. It's neat being around others so excited about their trip, and we've met some neat people!

 

[Anna114]

I used it for the first time with a DVC (had used it numerous times before just not DVC) stay a couple of weeks ago and it was just fine. We are big fans of ME. I know a lot of people don't like it but I like not having to think about anything. As a previous poster said it's even better now that South West takes the check-in of luggage for the departure.

 

[TagsMissy]

We always use DME and Disney on property transportation... we like to "not have to drive for once" while at WDW

 

[pyrxtc]

I use it every time I fly down. So much easier. Only problem we have is that when you get home after 7 days, you almost forget how to drive since you don't for so long. It's really nice.

 

[iluveeyore]

We use it every trip, no matter how long or short. We will be going this Christmas, and we have to rent a car to get groceries and shop, but we are taking the ME from the airport to OKW first - I really don't like having to drive from the airport, worry about which way I'm going and what tolls I need to pay or how much traffic there will be. We get our own luggage, take the ME, then the Car Car Center shuttle for Alamo will pick me up at OKW to go get our rental. Going back will be even easier now that SWA is doing the baggage check at the resort, and I like not having to worry about getting to the security check on time. Besides, it's free, and with 7 of us it was cheaper to take ME, then pick up a small rental for just me and hubby to go get groceries instead of renting a large vehicle to schlep all of us and our luggage to the resort!

 

[wildernessDad]

We always use it for our family vacations. I don't have to worry about driving. It's great.

 

[honeymo78]

We always use it when we fly. We let them handle our luggage and have never had any problems. Average time from de-planing to resort is just over an hour. We generally have morning flights arriving around 10-10:30 and are off to the parks by noon.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

We used it for our trip this past winter. I had read here about long wait times and such, and was kind of nervous. We had 7 of us using it, with an 8,5, and 2 year old. It took about 30 minutes from getting in line to being on the bus. The kids loved the bus ride (OK, we're from NH, and riding a bus was a new one for them ). We were the 3rd stop, and it was fun to see all of the resorts before ours.

I would use it again in a heartbeat.

 

[mom3sonstt]

If we fly we use it. The last time we got a rental car was on our honeymoon 22 years ago.

Usually we drive but a few years ago when only 4 of us were going we priced flying and it was cheaper to fly the 4 of us than it was to drive and add hotels. My husband prefers driving - he doesn't like the hassle of dealing with airports. I think any hassle at an airport is ok since it still gets me there in a few hours instead of a couple days. Although sometimes getting there so quickly is a shock to the system....getting on a plane where it's 32 deg and getting off where it's 80 instead of driving and getting warmer as we go.

But the questions wasn't drive or fly - it was do you use Magical Express. Yes, we use it, and yes that is one of the hassles my husband complains about. But it's free, and it gets us there, so I let him grumble and just ignore him.

 

[TisBit]

We always use it when flying down. Even when we were meeting my parents who drove it, we just took ME and met them at the resort. The times don't really bother me (and I really don't like waiting) but by the time that we wait for luggage and have to walk to a car, etc I don't see much time savings in not using ME. Sometimes I wish we had a rental car at the resort, but one of the great things about DVC, was we don't have to rent a car anymore.

 

[jamn]

We always use it - but now we make sure we bring our luggage with us instead of having them get it from the airline to disney. We learned our lesson when we checked in one time at 11:30 pm and one piece of our luggage arrived at 2:30 am, another at 2:50 am, another at 3:30 am and the final piece at 4:00 am. Of course that was an issue not only with the bus but with the hotel.

 

[athenna]

I've used it every trip since it began!

 

[Anal Annie]

We have NEVER used it and are sorta throwing the idea around to try/use it for our Jan. trip. The reason is we are taking 1 extra friend but possible 2. We have a wonderful car service that we use but they are only transporting up to 6 I think. Anyway..... just curious if DVC'ers use this free service?

OH Denise!

We've NEVER rented a car in FL.

We ALWAYS use DME and for the most part are very satisfied with it.

You ALWAYS think about it then ALWAYS cop out.

Just TRY it already so you can see how much money you can save!!

 

[edk35]

OH Denise!

We've NEVER rented a car in FL.

We ALWAYS use DME and for the most part are very satisfied with it.

You ALWAYS think about it then ALWAYS cop out.

Just TRY it already so you can see how much money you can save!!

Before I even read this I KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY!!!!