How many DVC folks have used or always use DME?

[ShuisFan584]

We use it all the time and would never have a good reason not to use it...afterall it is free!

 

[ssawka]

We use it all the time as well! One of the things I loved about WDW is not having to drive for an entire week!

 

[pmcpmc]

used it last July and enjoyed it after our long flights.It was fantastic not having to rent a car at the airport when I was so tired

 

[ekm]

We always rent a car, but our kids have used it when joining us at the resort, both from and to the airport. They found it very convenient.

 

[stopher1]

We have used it many times, and never personally had a problem with it. We like it when we are going to WDW to stay at WDW, but if we're staying DVC but visiting other area attractions (ie. US or SW) and not "doing WDW" we have rented a car.

 

[edk35]

Well it sounds like we should give it a try. Lots of positive replies. Thanks!!

 

[crisi]

Have used it since they started.

IF I was in a rush, I'd grab a cab and not put the luggage tags on my stuff. i.e. IF the plane was supposed to land and we had dinner reservations two hours out. IF we wanted to have lunch in the park on the day we left with a 3pm flight. A cab can get you to or from the Orlando airport in about 30 minutes, and Orlando is usually really good getting your luggage to you fast. So you can be in the park in 90 minutes - maybe even 60 if you dump your luggage with the bellhop at BCV and hit Epcot without checking in.

DME can take about an hour - maybe even a little more - to get to your hotel if you have to wait for a bus to leave and then are the last stop on the route. We once spent 40 minutes on the bus AFTER we got on properly - VWL was the LAST hotel - we did get to drive around to all the lovely MK hotels though......

 

[Nancy F]

It makes things so easy for us. We always stayed at the GF and now we're at BLT so we use the monorails the most.

 

[lucyem]

I have never used it but would if I flew. Overall I hear good things. But like any transportation you can have all kinds of experiences. My DH took it once and it was great . My mother took it once and got a swearing angry driver . A friend of mine took it once and the driver flat out refused their seeing eye dog on the bus. A police officer had to explain to the driver about certain laws .

 

[dianeschlicht]

I really hate the idea of having to allow an extra 3 hours to go to the airport when the trip is over. We have never used it, but then we don't always keep a car the whole trip either. We sometimes rent a car for the first day and then turn it in after we get our groceries. Then we go to the SWOLPHIN again a couple days before our trip ends to have it for the return airport trip and maybe another off site run. Last time, it was so economical to keep the car, and we like using the car to go to the other resorts for dinner. I really hate spending so much time trying to get between resorts after dinner reservations are done and parks are closed. DTD just seems to take forever for transfers.

 

[edk35]

I really hate the idea of having to allow an extra 3 hours to go to the airport when the trip is over. We have never used it, but then we don't always keep a car the whole trip either. We sometimes rent a car for the first day and then turn it in after we get our groceries. Then we go to the SWOLPHIN again a couple days before our trip ends to have it for the return airport trip and maybe another off site run. Last time, it was so economical to keep the car, and we like using the car to go to the other resorts for dinner. I really hate spending so much time trying to get between resorts after dinner reservations are done and parks are closed. DTD just seems to take forever for transfers.

See..that 3 hours before bugs me too. I have not BOOKED my airfare yet, but I have decided when I do in the next few days... I will pick a little later time so that we have time to spend at DTD for shopping and lunch. That way we are not rushing to make it back for the bus.

 

[Gizmo1951]

We always use it and plan too in the future.

I dont like leaving for the airport 3 hours early but were glad on our return trip home last Thursday as the lines to get thru security at the airport were the longest we ever encountered and we may not have made our flight otherwise

 

[toniosmom]

We use it every time. We typically take early morning flights, so we arrive at the resort before 11am. I love not having to deal with baggage claim, but I have found that the wait for the ME bus can be annoying. I have never been lucky enough to have a short wait and I usually have a whiney child asking me every 5 seconds....when is the bus going to come???

It's going to be interesting for our April trip -- our flight arrives around midnight, so we're going to have to get our own baggage and lug them over to ME. However, it's still better than having to lug them over to a rent-a-car place and drive ourselves.

I just got our ME package in the mail today for our December trip and that officially puts me in vacation mode! Time to begin my list of things to pack and to drag out my bag of stuff that goes with us on every vacation (Purex laundry sheets, travel size toiletries, etc.)

30 days and counting....

 

[Ms. WDW]

We always use it and plan too in the future.

I dont like leaving for the airport 3 hours early but were glad on our return trip home last Thursday as the lines to get thru security at the airport were the longest we ever encountered and we may not have made our flight otherwise

OMG...Three weeks ago I encountered lines like I had never seen before!! I thought something happened!! I think it took me over 40 minutes just to get on the line for screening!!

I'm not a fan of that early pickup either but this one time I'm glad I was at the airport early.

 

[crisi]

We always use it and plan too in the future.

I dont like leaving for the airport 3 hours early but were glad on our return trip home last Thursday as the lines to get thru security at the airport were the longest we ever encountered and we may not have made our flight otherwise

On my own, I'd leave two hours - maybe even two and a half - before my flight anyway. I've been in those long security lines. I've had the "traffic jam back to the airport." I've done the "run through the airport herding kids, grandparents and a large stuffed Mickey Mouse to catch the plane." (Two of those were the same trip - the towncar driver was late. And one time it was DME cutting it close - it wasn't a mad rush, but there was no leisurely shopping - we got on the bus three hours before, but they needed to make a few stops - and we didn't have at hotel luggage checkin - that was what slowed us down - the at hotel luggage checkin part of DME is really nice)

When the security lines are short, the Orlando airport is a nice place to do a little shopping. When they are long, its best just to get through the line with a book for myself and a few movies on the iPod for the kids.

 

[alldiz]

Always....when I land in MCO....I go right for the "bubble shuttle"......no rental cars just bring me to my disney bubble where everything is always awesome

 

[Anal Annie]

OMG...Three weeks ago I encountered lines like I had never seen before!! I thought something happened!! I think it took me over 40 minutes just to get on the line for screening!!

I'm not a fan of that early pickup either but this one time I'm glad I was at the airport early.

We've also encountered an hour long security line at MCO before and were glad we got there when we did.

When you stop to think about it, it's not really 3 hours earlier it's maybe about 1 hour earlier than what you might do on your own. I mean, you really should leave for the airport at least 2 hours before your flight to allow time to GET there, return your car and hit the security line blah, blah, blah. In a perfect scenario (if there are no delays anywhere) that would give you what, 90 minutes AT MCO which is what most airlines recommend. And if you use DME and a participating airline your luggage is handled FOR you. BIG plus IMO.

I usually have too much to do packing up on departure morning to try to go to any parks. So we usually book a 1:30-3:00ish flight. You have to be out of your room by 11:00 anyway...so that gives us a more leisurely morning. We take DME to the airport and then go have lunch somewhere (usually we're in the terminal with the Outback so we can hang out there). NOT a big deal to us to have time for a nice leisurely lunch before we board the plane. We have to eat somewhere - may as well do it there.

 

[CruznLexi]

before we got SW we drove and never drove the car except to go home. Or to Port Canaveral. We just went in Oct and from the time we landed to the time in the resort was 90 minutes but we are the last resort KV. I prefer ME as I don't touch the bags until they are insde the room. We have done the parks and are not in a hurry. The last time we did magical express it was hop on and off we go. This time there was no bus but it finally came and then had to wait for another 20 min after that to fill it up. from the airport to Disney property was 35 min then stops were at CBR, POP, AKL, then KV for us. Plan to use them in Jan.
Lexi

 

[LSchrow]

we've used DME since its inception, and love it! no waiting at the carousel with throngs of ppl, then dragging bags through the airport....it helps make our wdw vacas perfect we used to rent at the airport, but why make our vacation any more stressful when DME is sooooo relaxing
btw, we do rent a car at the dolphin (for the entire vacation), and use it for outlet trips, off-site dining, DTD, and use DME for the return trip to MCO.

i only wish every vacation spot had a service like DME.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Maybe he should reply so I can find out what he grumbles about. Does he think it takes too long?

Yeah - he doesn't like to wait for anything. He gets off the plane, rushes to the "monorail", rushes (leaving me waaaaay behind) to the Magic Express where it all squeals to a halt and he has to stand and wait. And if we happen to be going to a resort that not a lot of other people are going to then sometimes people in other lines get called to load their bus before our line goes. Then once we are on the bus he doesn't like it if our resort is not the first one we stop at. I used to keep reminding him that if we were driving we wouldn't even be out of Illinois yet - but that didn't do any good - so I just ignore him now.