Is it foolish NOT to use ME to the Disney hotels?

[ms.ojo]

We are a family of 4, dd4 and ds7. We fly SW which is not a participating airline so I know we'd have to get our own luggage.

Last yr we were at Disney in May (when ME was just starting) and in Dec (when one might assume they had all the kinks worked out). I couldn't BELIEVE the check-in lines for ME...and then the seemingly even longer lines (if that were possible) waiting for the busses. People just sitting on the floor, kids crying, etc... I'm sorry, it just seemed a nightmare. In Dec we arrived the Monday AFTER Thanksgiving. In May our travel day to Disney was on a Wed. Both trips we were arriving in this area of the airport around 2pm. Is this just a super busy arrival time?????

I have always booked us a towncar and LOVE that they meet us at the luggage area and help w/ the bags. We make a grocery stop and right to the hotel. Several times we've had a minivan be the form of transportation w/ a DVD player. My kids LOVED watching Nemo as we drove to Disney.

This year, $ is a little tighter, and I keep thinking, I could save ~$100 and do ME...but then I remember those lines we saw, and all the unhappy faces of people who just wanted to get to Disney....and I think no, keep our ressie w/ the Towncar company, it's hassle free and quick.

How happy have you all been with the ME service??? Anyone ever use a towncar svc and then try ME? TIA for sharing your experiences!! I know some people seem very happy w/ ME, and I just wonder if we should give it a try this trip.

 

[marc1477]

I can't comment on ME since I have not used it yet, but I can say that the time you said you arrived is a busy time at most airports too.

 

[Dorisk3]

We used ME the last week in August. Our resort POFQ- and they also put PO riverside, old key west, and saratoga springs on the bus- had to wait about 30 minutes for the bus to come. Disney staff told us that they can only accomadate so many buses at a time in their current location (she said they were going to be changing locations where they could have more buses). The other resorts I noticed were boarding their buses right away. That I guess is luck of the draw. My kids were pretty cranky and unhappy waiting in line- as was I! Once we got everyone loaded POFQ was the third stop- so I would say it took us about an hour to get to the hotel.
The advantages- it was freee! Buses were comfortable- luggage taken care of. My personal fave was the luggage part. Also very very nice is getting your boarding pass at the hotel. However, since you are flying with Southwest, you kind of loss the important advantages in my opinion.
For $100 I would consider the town car if you can swing it. To give an example, we were going to rent a cheapie car and it would have come to $100- but I chose the ME. Next time, I'd probably take the cheapie car for the extra money. So that would be my 100 extra that I think would be worth spending. Also, I have to admit, I'm not the most patient person so that could have something to do with my opinion- most people love the ME from what I've read. Good luck in your decision!

 

[angel's momma]

First, you won't have to get your own luggage. The participating airlines refer to being able to check your luggage at the resort for the return flight. You'll have to take your luggage on the bus on the trip back to the airport.

We've never used a towncar. We've used ME once, last fall. The check in line did look extremely long, but it moved very quickly.

The line for our bus (POP) was practically empty & the bus came very quickly.

We were in our room an hour after our flight landed.

I know this isn't the case for everyone.

 

[Robo]

I know some people seem very happy w/ ME, and I just wonder if we should give it a try this trip.

We used to use a towncar service (even a stretch limo one trip).
Loved it!

But we decided to try ME the last two trips and...

it worked GREAT!

We're going again this year and will use ME again.

(We fly SWA, too.)

 

[disney junky]

We are a family of 4, dd4 and ds7. We fly SW which is not a participating airline so I know we'd have to get our own luggage.

Last yr we were at Disney in May (when ME was just starting) and in Dec (when one might assume they had all the kinks worked out). I couldn't BELIEVE the check-in lines for ME...and then the seemingly even longer lines (if that were possible) waiting for the busses. People just sitting on the floor, kids crying, etc... I'm sorry, it just seemed a nightmare. In Dec we arrived the Monday AFTER Thanksgiving. In May our travel day to Disney was on a Wed. Both trips we were arriving in this area of the airport around 2pm. Is this just a super busy arrival time?????

I have always booked us a towncar and LOVE that they meet us at the luggage area and help w/ the bags. We make a grocery stop and right to the hotel. Several times we've had a minivan be the form of transportation w/ a DVD player. My kids LOVED watching Nemo as we drove to Disney.

This year, $ is a little tighter, and I keep thinking, I could save ~$100 and do ME...but then I remember those lines we saw, and all the unhappy faces of people who just wanted to get to Disney....and I think no, keep our ressie w/ the Towncar company, it's hassle free and quick.

How happy have you all been with the ME service??? Anyone ever use a towncar svc and then try ME? TIA for sharing your experiences!! I know some people seem very happy w/ ME, and I just wonder if we should give it a try this trip.

Though SW is not a participating airlines, they still took our luggage to the hotel. We checked it in Baltimore and it appeared at SSR. Non participating means you can't check it at the hotel for your return trip, you must check it yourself at the airport. The ME buses play Disney from the Airport to your hotel. Yes, it is shameless self promotion but it is WDW none the less. I've used ME twice, both times flying SW, the second time I didn't check luggage, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Free is a good price.

The groceries do pose a problem, but there are some delivery services. We used wegoshop last year for our week at BWV. There is a service charge for the delivery, but we were pleased with their service.

 

[shellbelle]

I have been told by Magical Express the "participating airline" just effects your departure date. When you arrive in Orlando, Magical Express will get your luggage. It is upon returning to Orlando airport where you would have to carry them on the shuttle, which I have done and is not a problem at all.

 

[mrsltg]

I don't think ME is worth it. Vacation costs too much money to waste even an extra minute waiting on someone else. If the towncar is too much, hop a cab - $30 each way, and they are always available.

 

[VAN]

My DD and I used ME the first week of January 06 (this year). We arrived about midnight and had only carry on luggage. If we had checked luggage, we would have had to retrieve it ourselves because of the time (late).

Anyway, I didn't have any problems with with. We found ME, checked-in and immediately boarded. There were other's on the bus already so don't know how long they had been sitting there.

The return trip was early morning and I had nothing to complain about. The bus came when they said, we loaded up and away we went.

It you are in a hurry, then you may want a towncar. If you want to save money and aren't in a big yank, I think ME is PERFECT. I love the fact that you don't have any other transporation cost outside of your flight!

 

[kldmom2000]

We were undecided for this upcoming trip-I did sign up for ME but DH just does not like change and trying anything new I booked the same town car company we always use last week and cancelled ME-we just prefer to stick with something we're familiar with I guess

 

[AnninIowa]

We used it for our October trip last year and thought it was great! Not having to retrieve your own luggage is worth a lot to us. The line looked bad but moved incredibly fast as they have so many people working the check-in. We got in line for the Beach Club and were on a bus in 2 minutes. The only delay we had was our bus stopping at the Carribbian resort to pick up guests on a bus that had broken down.

The ONLY think I didn't like was waiting for our luggage - about 2 hours, which isn't bad but with all the new restrictions that is a lot for me now. I'll be shipping my toiletries ahead this time, and use ME for our bags.

We flew Northwest, which meant we couldn't check our bags at the hotel when we left. However, we used the kiosk check-in at the airport and that seemed just as fast had we not had our luggage.

 

[disney junky]

I don't think ME is worth it. Vacation costs too much money to waste even an extra minute waiting on someone else. If the towncar is too much, hop a cab - $30 each way, and they are always available.

My last cab trip was over $60 one way.

 

[DaisyD]

Not foolish at all! We have never used ME but have seen over and over the check in lines at the airpost for it. No thanks! You couldn't pay me to stand in that line. My time is more valuable. I pay a measly $95 which gets me r/t in a towncar and a grocery stop to pick up my beloved Pepsi. I'll leave the ME for those looking for a freebie.

 

[ms.ojo]

Thank you all for the input. It sounds like it has worked very well for most of you... long lines moving quickly, ease of not dealing w/ luggage, etc...
but I guess I'm just not willing to take the chance. Free is nice, but I know what we're getting w/ the towncar svc and I'm just afraid to give it up. Esp. w/ the grocery stop which comes in so handy. Thanks again.

 

[BethC1952]

We've previously used town cars, but our last three trips we used ME, and will use it again two weeks from tomorrow. We've never waited more than five minutes in line to check in, and never waited more than 10 minutes for the bus to pull out of the airport.

I will use ME as long as it's free. As soon as they decide to start charging for it, I will go back to a town car. You just can't beat free. I'm on vacation to relax, not to be in such a hurry that I can't wait a few minutes for a free ride!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used towncars about 5-6 times now, Mears shuttle once, and DME 3 times. My experience has been this....
Loved the towncars for the most part. If I had checked luggage to get, it took us about 65 minutes to get from the plane to our resort. The one time I had only carryon bags, it took us 45 minutes. Mears shuttle was about an hour, but I'm not going down that road ever again. DME? Between 65-80 minutes. The shortest time was when I was at POP and the first stop....longest time, again at POP but for some reason was the last of three drop offs...go figure. I usually arrive at MCO around 11-12...the lines are longish but not long. They tend to look worse than they are because only one person needs to be in the line, but for some reason entire families wait together in the line. The longest bus line wait I have had is about 10 minutes.

The way I figure it is this....the buses are nice, clean, new. It is a decent alternative. I don't have to pay the $135 or so fee for a towncar. I can order groceries to be delivered to my resort for a delivery fee of about $10-15.
What works best for you? Only you can make that choice. I'll be using DME again in Oct, buty a towncar in Dec. The towncar suits my particular needs in Dec, whereas DME fits the bill in Oct.

 

[Leota]

I chose to skip ME last summer, even tho it was free. It is run by Mears, even tho it's "Disney's". My experiences with Mears have been awful. I had no interest in waiting in line for ME, waiting on the bus for multiple resort stops, then waiting for luggage to be delivered.

For me, I used the Towncar service like I always do, stopped & got my drinkable water & was checked in, in my room with my luggage within an hour. I was able to freshen up with my own toiletries, change into my packed clothes & get to the Park. ME would not have enabled me to do that. To me, the comfort, convienence & expediancy was worth every penny.

 

[Desnik]

We used ME for the first time in May and will be using it in Nov. We loved it. Although I didn't trust them with our luggage, it was our first time flying. We had only carryons anyway and our 2 kids. The Disney loading area was easy to find. Everything was clearly marked and we had a long line that went by fast. We were staying at BWV. The driver was so friendly and helped load our bags and stroller under the bus. The kids loved it and loved watching the tv. The bus was comfy and we got to the resort pretty quickly. As far as groceries, we just shipped a box down a few days before our trip. It was there waiting for as and worked out great. No extra time going shopping!

 

[CleveRocks]

Vacation costs too much money to waste even an extra minute waiting on someone else. If the towncar is too much, hop a cab - $30 each way, and they are always available.

I agree, which is why I take DME. Where do you have information that DME takes longer than taking a cab or car service or rental car???

The timesaver in DME is not having to go to baggage claim and wait there for your luggage.

And unlike the old Mears system, DME doesn't wait until buses are full. They leave when they are supposed to leave, even if there are only a few people on the bus.

 

[CleveRocks]

Not foolish at all! We have never used ME but have seen over and over the check in lines at the airpost for it. No thanks! You couldn't pay me to stand in that line. My time is more valuable. I pay a measly $95 which gets me r/t in a towncar and a grocery stop to pick up my beloved Pepsi. I'll leave the ME for those looking for a freebie.

OK, I just have to laugh for a few reasons.

1) When I got into the line at the DME Welcome Center, it was a HUGE and intimidating line, snaking out of and WAAAAY past the rope line they had set up. I was very unhappy getting into that line. But guess what -- I was in and out of that line in exactly 5 minutes. They had 14 CMs working the counter, with 2-3 managers floating about to help. Just because a line is grossly long doesn't mean it has a long wait -- I now know this from experience.

2) I'll bet a lot of money that people who have to wait at baggage cliam for their luggage, wait for the driver to retrieve the car, and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, make a 20 or 30 minute grocery stop, will be beaten to their resort by DME users every time. I got a grocery delivery from Gooding's, which was great because they delivered to Bell Services, which meant I didn't have to schedule the delivery and didn't have to wait around in my room for it (Bell Services kept the cold stuff cold -- standard procedure).

From the time I got into the DME Welcome Center line until I was dropped off at CBR was 53 minutes. What would've happened if I used a car service instead? Let's see: 15 minutes at baggage claim, 5 minutes for the driver to retrieve the car and load us and the luggage into the car, 30 minute drive (WITHOUT grocery stop) to my resort -- that's 50 minutes, and that's if there's no delay at baggage claim. 50 minutes is a BEST CASE SCENARIO. I did it for free in 53 minutes.

In my case, if anyone thinks 3 minutes was worth $120 (round trip plus tips), then I'd respond that 3 minutes for $120 works out to $2,400 an hour. My wife is a physician and doesn't earn that. My plumber is a different story, however ....