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

[CleveRocks]

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.

DME isn't "run" by Mears. Mears provides the drivers and the buses, but it is "run" by Disney. Disney makes the plans, the policies and procedures, the decisions. I think of it this way -- Mears is the muscle but Disney is the brains.

Almost everyone probably has a bad Mears story. Almost all of those negative stories were about wait times and poorly organized systems. I can't recall reading specific complaints about bad drivers or bad buses. Now, that's Mears' only part of DME, the drivers and the buses. The service is pure Disney.

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.

These are good reasons NOT to use DME. A car service is personalized and private, a higher level of service. If that's what you desire, then it's great that those options are there for you.

DME and car services, on average, take about the same amount of time. But it may be less stressful for you to spend that time waiting at baggage claim (which is not a "line" situation -- there's no one ahead of you, everyone around you is in the same boat and thus has no advantage over you AND nothing they do can delay you) rather than waiting in a true line.

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.

When I used DME, I packed everything I immediately needed in a carry-ons. After we arrived at our resort, we got lunch, went back to the room to get changed for swimming, and when we returned from the pool our luggage had already "magically arrived" inside our room. Using DME didn't delay us from doing anything we wanted. True, this was before the carry-on restrictions. In November, we're shipping ourselves a package of toiletries to our resort.

NO MATTER HOW YOU ARE GETTING FROM MCO TO YOUR RESORT, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU PACK YOUR CARRY-ON WITH (ALLOWABLE] ITEMS YOU'LL NEED FOR YOUR FIRST 12-24 HOURS, JUST IN CASE THE AIRLINE DELAYS YOUR LUGGAGE. I DO THIS NO MATTER WHERE I FLY -- IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DME. IF I WAS USING A TOWNCAR FROM MCO I'D STILL PACK THIS WAY.

 

[susancl]

I've used both town cars and DME. The town car was nice, but DME gets your bag to your room. That is so nice.

I think it's so funny that some are afraid of the line at DME. Your going to WDW! The whole vacation is about waiting in line.

 

[TDC Nala]

I wouldn't call it foolish, you just have to make a decision on how you want to spend your money.

You can take ME, but you can't be in a hurry. You would need to sit back and let Mickey do the driving and not worry about how long it's taking.

If getting there sooner means a lot to you, then fork out for the transportation.

It's your money and your choice. Personally, I would not spend the cash on a towncar, it would buy me some food and drinks. But I am not in a hurry and waiting won't kill me. If I'm in a hurry I will book a car for one night and not take ME, but most of the time ME is good enough.

However, since you are flying with Southwest, you kind of loss the important advantages in my opinion.

The only "advantage" you lose is the ability to check your luggage at your resort for your return trip.

Unless you really want to wait in the room for your luggage, you don't have to. It will be delivered to the room even if you are not in it. You could be in a park for the few hours it should take for it to be delivered. If you need park clothes, carry a change of clothes on the plane.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

More like $45 each way, plus tip, and assuming NO delays (traffic, long lines at tolls, hitting all red lights...) May as well just opt for the town car.
IMO, Magical Express is definitely "worth it".
Figure it this way:
DME takes an average of 90 minutes from landing to resort
Alternative transportation takes 20-30 minutes from landing to vehicle (gotta wait for luggage, which potentially takes longer than other airports because, in part, the DME-tagged bags are being pulled before anything goes on the carousel, then if you're using a town car you have to wait for the driver to run and GET the car) and another 25-30 minutes to your resort. Total time 45-60 minutes. IF the 30-45 minutes you may (or may not) save is worth $50 an hour of your hard-earned money, go for it.

The ONLY think I didn't like was waiting for our luggage - about 2 hours, which isn't bad but

OTOH, Guests who check in before a room is ready may well find their luggage already IN the room when they do get to it..

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.

Popular misconception. Magical Express is RUN by Disney; Mears is the subcontractor that provides the buses. Yes, there's a big difference.

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.

Neither would the airline misdirecting your luggage have allowed you to do that. I'm aware they didn't.... this time

I think it's so funny that some are afraid of the line at DME. Your going to WDW! The whole vacation is about waiting in line.

Ain't THAT the truth!!!

Unless you really want to wait in the room for your luggage, you don't have to.

You mean like the silly advocate of DME service who packed a vital telephone number in her checked luggage ? "That" person, who I know very well , took 59 minutes to get from the plane to Pop Century via DME, then waited just under an hour and a half for her suitcase.


ms. ojo: You've got another option. Rent a car for one day at the airport from Alamo or National, then return it at the Car Care Center or the Dolphin within 24 hours. Unless you splurge, it should cost far less than a livery service or taxi.

 

[dsneygirl]

We've used ME twice and although the lines look intimidating like others have said they move very quickly. First time we were at our site at FW in an hour, second trip took just shy of 90 min from when we first got in line at the ME counter. Very reasonable IMHO.

And really you can't beat free. Someone said their vacation time was too precious for an extra few minutes, well money on vacation is very valuable as well and $100 goes along way.

I just wouldn't let the line ups influence your decision as they can be quite deceiving.

 

[helenk]

Since ME started I've used ME twice and a town car service once, and honestly I got better service from ME.
The first time I used ME I arrived in July and I think everyone was starting their Disney vacation the same day as I was. Finding the Me counter was quite easy. The lines looked horrible. I was going to the Allstar Music and the bus was going to the POP and then to the Allstar resorts. Even then it was just over an hour from the time I landed to getting to the Allstar Music.
My next trip was in December, not as many people, we were going to the Poly and we were dropped off first. This time it was under an hour from the time we landed to the time we were checking in at the Poly. I take my carryon luggage with me on the bus and found that I was able to get off the bus and into the resort to check in alot faster than the families with strollers kids etc...so that definately is a plus.
My third trip this past May, I was travelling with my mother and decided to use a town car service. We got off the plane, came down waited for our luggage (no driver to be found) finally got our luggage and then walked up and down for about 10 to 15 minutes looking for the driver. I called and was told that he was there but was at the baggage carousel, we must have just crossed each other. Of course he was suppose to be at the bottom of the escalator waiting for us, but he was not. So again from the time we landed until the time we checked in at the POFQ was just over an hour. The the return trip home.. The driver said he'd pick us up 2 hours before our flight, I asked for 2 1/2 hours just to be on the safe side. The day of our departure we are waiting for the driver, 15 minutes after our agreed time I call, he is running a bit late but is on his way..okay no problem...15 minutes later still no driver I call again they tell me they will call the driver to see what is going on and will call me back. After a bit they call me back, the driver had a flat tire just 10 minutes away and should be there within a few minutes. He finally arrives, tells us he had a flat and had to wait for AAA to come and change the tire??? We literally race to the airport, we get there an hour and 15 minutes before our flight and thankfully the line for security was practically nil.
In my opinion it was not worth the $95 for the aggravation and worry each way.
For my next trip in December I am using ME and I know that the service wilk be good, I will get to the airport early, yes I realize that, but really I'd rather be at the airport, sit and eat my dinner and be at the gate than stressing out at the resort wondering where the town car driver is.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My last cab trip was over $60 one way.

Not to mention, would a cab provide a booster seat for the 4 yr. old? That's my biggest issue with taxis. I guess when my ds is big enough to not need one, I would consider a cab.

 

[DaisyD]

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 ....

Laugh all you want. I have read over and over the grumblings of folks stuck in those lines. I have heard families standing in those lines complaining how ridiculous it was. Not everyone is as lucky as you. Ialso like to know where my luggage is. I'd hate to find out when I get to my room that a piece never showed up. I also like my luggage to get to the room WHEN I do. Not when THEY chose to deliver it. I'd rather pay to get a higher level of personalized service. Sure you can save a buck using this free service, and there is a reason it is STILL free, but I'll enjoy not waiting in any line, certainly not making multiple stops and so on. It is worth every penny.

 

[DaisyD]

I've used both town cars and DME. The town car was nice, but DME gets your bag to your room. That is so nice.

I think it's so funny that some are afraid of the line at DME. Your going to WDW! The whole vacation is about waiting in line.

The bellmen get my luggage to my room also. Once I arrive at my home airport I never touch my luggag again til I am in my room at the Poly. I use skycaps and bellmen. We generally don't wait in line at WDW either. We go during off periods, have an ECV, and also use fasspasses. I'm not about to start my vacation by waiting in line.

 

[seashoreCM]

No, it is not foolish. A fact, not just IMHO.

Imagine that apples regularly priced at $1.00 each (Disney resort price?) are on sale for 25 cents each. Oranges are still regularly priced at $1.00 each.

Is it foolish to buy an orange?

Repeat: You do not have to wait in your room for the DME baggage to arrive.

Helpful hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/save.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

Laugh all you want. I have read over and over the grumblings of folks stuck in those lines. I have heard families standing in those lines complaining how ridiculous it was. Not everyone is as lucky as you. Ialso like to know where my luggage is. I'd hate to find out when I get to my room that a piece never showed up. I also like my luggage to get to the room WHEN I do. Not when THEY chose to deliver it. I'd rather pay to get a higher level of personalized service. Sure you can save a buck using this free service, and there is a reason it is STILL free, but I'll enjoy not waiting in any line, certainly not making multiple stops and so on. It is worth every penny.

I have seen the long lines...been in one at one time. That line was comprised of mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, daughters, sons and grandparents. Now, only one person from each party has to be in the line...there is a CM at the start of the line stating this. Yet people still feel the need to move as a 'herd'. If only one person from each group stood in the line, the line would look more 'accurate', it wouldn't take so long since you don't have to move all 7 of the people in your group to the counter, with all the bags they have.
Yes, there are towncars out there for those that want to have a more personalized service. But, I too, have had to go looking for my driver, on both my arrival at MCO as well as departing from my resort. I have had drivers not show up when they were supposed to, I have had drivers tell me that no stores are open on Thanksgiving Day even though I was promised a grocery stop (and questioning a store being open!!). Yes, I have had very good service from some towncar companies, and I will be using one again in Dec.

ATTENTION!!!!....this is NOT directed at anyone in particular...just a general observation!!! I think it's time to stop casting apersions at each other if we don't all use the same mode of transportation to WDW. Everyone has different needs. Yes, some have had a less than stellar experience with DME, while others, myself included, have had less than stellar experiences with towncars. Take what you will from the info posted here. Lets try to stay impartial and give the facts, just the facts, when relating our experiences. When 'personalities' get involved, it takes away from the 'unbiased-ness' of the story. Just because I have had great experiences with DME, does NOT mean that someone else can have a less than terrific experience with them. And they should feel welcome to post those less than terrific experiences here, without fear of reprisals. No one has the right to infer that someone posting their experience is lying or stretching the truth, just because their experience has not been the same.

Now, I will hop on down off my soapbox, take my moderator hat off again

 

[seashoreCM]

Is there room in the vicinity for most of the family members to wait while one family member checks in for Magical Express?

Do the ME CM's ever ask to see the entire family?

 

[TDC Nala]

There is a lot of room around the desk. Next month they'll be moving to the B side, but I believe there will be just as much room there.

The attendants at the desk encourage one family member to get in line while the others wait in the area. I've been in situations where I am checking in for a reservation shared with someone who was on a different flight at a different time, so they do not ask to see everyone who is listed on the reservation.

 

[keishashadow]

have never utilized ME but, due to current car rental rates for Oct., may be forced to...

since our rooms @ WDW (either resort or DVC) have NEVER been ready when we arrive @ Disney (1:00 - 3:00 p.m.); we've taken to calling resort to see if room is ready, if not we drive directly to one of the parks, then check in after the 3-4:00 p.m. crush has departed.

2 questions:

1) am i correct in assumming we have to get dropped off @ our resort 1st, then grab transportation to park?

2) there were reports of the ME express guests getting their rooms upon arrival, is this true?

 

[goofy4tink]

Is there room in the vicinity for most of the family members to wait while one family member checks in for Magical Express?

Do the ME CM's ever ask to see the entire family?

There is plenty of room for the entire group to wait while one person waits in line. And no, I have never had a CM at DME ask to see anyone other than myself. In fact, there is a CM, at least the times I have used it, standing at the line entrance telling people that only one person in the party needs to be in the line..yet people still go in a group!

keishahadow...Yes, you have to get dropped at your resort. I can't understand why you would call before checking in to see if your room was ready. The rooms are assigned, officially, when you are standing there, in person, checking in. So, head for the resort, checkin, drop your carryon stuff off, and then head to a park.
As far as DME people getting rooms upon arrival....I have had a room ready for me each time, unless it was a DVC villa. But, even then, I got in earlier than I thought I would. When you ride DME, the system alerts your resort that you are on the way, and will be arriving shortly. So, if there is a room ready at that moment, I have been told that they will assign it to a DME person.

 

[bab31]

[


ms. ojo: You've got another option. Rent a car for one day at the airport from Alamo or National, then return it at the Car Care Center or the Dolphin within 24 hours. Unless you splurge, it should cost far less than a livery service or taxi.[/QUOTE]

The last thing I want to do is rent a car. Been there done that. LOONNNGGG lines and LONNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG wait there. And then how much time do you save by having to drop it off. I am taking ME....I am on vacation!

 

[keishashadow]

There is plenty of room for the entire group to wait while one person waits in line. And no, I have never had a CM at DME ask to see anyone other than myself. In fact, there is a CM, at least the times I have used it, standing at the line entrance telling people that only one person in the party needs to be in the line..yet people still go in a group!

keishahadow...Yes, you have to get dropped at your resort. I can't understand why you would call before checking in to see if your room was ready. The rooms are assigned, officially, when you are standing there, in person, checking in. So, head for the resort, checkin, drop your carryon stuff off, and then head to a park.
As far as DME people getting rooms upon arrival....I have had a room ready for me each time, unless it was a DVC villa. But, even then, I got in earlier than I thought I would. When you ride DME, the system alerts your resort that you are on the way, and will be arriving shortly. So, if there is a room ready at that moment, I have been told that they will assign it to a DME person.

I've always called 1st, on our way driving to WDw from airport to check whether resort rooms are ready (of course, they never seem to be - probably why LOL).

If we don't need resort cards, we tend to gravitate to the parks 1st. Can't see the need to waste time twice standing in line @ resort if the rooms' not ready. We've stood in line @ the AS lobby for over an hour in the past...nothing I care to repeat if I can avoid it.

DVC is a different matter, we have been checking in first since we don't have to stop back @ desk once the room is ready for key, etc. Nice systems, wish the other resorts would implement it.

Asked CRO last week, they do not run on a "room ready" system as DVC does but, was told if you call on your way to resort, they'll let you know if your "assigned" room is ready.

 

[bab31]

Sure you can save a buck using this free service, and there is a reason it is STILL free, but I'll enjoy not waiting in any line, certainly not making multiple stops and so on. It is worth every penny.[/QUOTE]

I think Disney started this as part of their anniversary promotion and for customer service. I gaurentee it is not "free". All of those who stay at a resort on property are paying for this, just a hidden charge in the price of the room.

And some people just dont wait well. ( I have trouble waiting well) I trully believe that for most people the time difference is negelgable (sp) but feels a lot longer than it really is.. But for me, that $100 is going to be spent on a nice dinner out. Where we will probably have to wait...but that is part of the vacation. And alot of people just are not so well off to spend that kind of money for a half hour extra of time. (if it turns out to be that long)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Laugh all you want. I have read over and over the grumblings of folks stuck in those lines.

The only reason you haven't read the PRAISEfrom the hundreds of thousands of satisfied/pleased/thrilled DME users is that, well, everyone expects DME to work well, so when it does, it's no big deal. Would you watch or read the news if 98% were "An apple tree grew today"; "Susie Smith got an A on her paper"; "Every driver in the city drove safely all day"....

The bellmen get my luggage to my room also.

An added service, for which you of course tipped well; Disney handles the tip for DME users.

We generally don't wait in line at WDW either. We go during off periods, have an ECV

It'd be really great if even experienced ECV/wheelchair users would avoid perpetuating the misconception/implication that Guests using these mobility assistance devices therefore avoid waiting in lines.

Yes, some have had a less than stellar experience with DME,

There are still others who've never used DME but base their opinions and criticisms on a few negative posts

The last thing I want to do is rent a car. Been there done that. LOONNNGGG lines and LONNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG wait there. And then how much time do you save by having to drop it off. I am taking ME....I am on vacation!

Given the great alternative provided by Disney, I agree completely - but it WAS one more option for the OP to consider

If we don't need resort cards, we tend to gravitate to the parks 1st. Can't see the need to waste time twice standing in line @ resort if the rooms' not ready. We've stood in line @ the AS lobby for over an hour in the past...nothing I care to repeat if I can avoid it.

Did you know you DON'T need to stand in line twice for your room? If it's not ready when you check in, the CM will give you a business card with a number to call after 3 or 4 PM. Call (free at any Guest Services location, and probably other places onsite) the number and you'll be told your room number. Just go RIGHT to it when you get to/back to the resort.

Not everyone is as lucky as you. Ialso like to know where my luggage is. I'd hate to find out when I get to my room that a piece never showed up.

Well, it's not really luck to experience a service that works exactly as it's designed.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 Guests per day use DME.
That's an average of 7,500 per day (# used for calculation purposes)
So 3,375,000 Guests so far (May 5, 2005 through September 15, 2006)
Of that number, how many have had negative experience with DME, and of that number, how many such experiences are actual service vs unrealistic or uninformed expectations?
As for knowing where one's luggage is - if it's NOT on the plane, not only does the passenger not know where it IS, but that passenger also has to stay at hte airport and deal with the airline's lost luggage office (while the DME passenger has the benefit of Magical Express tracking and delivering what shows up later)

 

[Lewisc]

Must be a recent change. Last year resorts definitely used a room ready approach, with the exception of special requests that required a specific room.

Resorts are sent a message when we checkin at the DME desk at MCO. The resort assigns an available room while we're on the way to the resort. AKL already upgraded me before I even got to the resort and CSR had no trouble changing my pre-assigned room to a building of my choice.

sked CRO last week, they do not run on a "room ready" system as DVC does but, was told if you call on your way to resort, they'll let you know if your "assigned" room is ready.