Is the ME still magical for DVC members?

[nickspace]

The only bad experience we had was when we arrived late and were very tired. A couple spoiled brats boarded and drove us crazy. Their mother didn't believe in correcting their behaviors and made the ride horrible for everyone. At one point I said something like, "this is ridiculous" and she glared at me with a look that would intimidate Mike Tyson. I just pulled the brim of my cap down and ignored her. There was no way I was going to start off my vacation with a shouting match. If that ever happens to me again I may be more outspoken.

It was kind of funny on the trip back to the airport a little boy got on the bus and sat in the drivers seat while the bus driver was loading luggage. He started messing with the controls so I did tell him to get out of seat and leave everything alone. His mother was clueless.

 

[disney212]

We use ME love it. When we arrive at hotel we ask desk to call the car rental located at Disney, we use National, they pick us up from hotel and take us to get our rental car. I also feel trapped without a car since I have a medical issue and worry about getting sick while at the parks. The morning we leave we return the rental car and they bring us back to the hotel, only takes 10 minutes. We hop on the ME and back to the airport. No luggage worries!

 

[Kidanifan08]

We love DME! As parents of a child under 5, it is so nice to just get off the plane and head to the busses with our carry-ons. We love having the luggage delivered to the room and the resort luggage check-in at the end of the trip is great too, although it is a bit chaotic at some of the resorts. Our son also enjoys the movies on the bus. We have always traveled off season, so the wait has never been an issue. We will be doing a summer trip next year, so it will be interesting to see how the waits are during the busy season.

 

[MrShiny]

We had one time where our flight was cancelled, but did not know until we got to the gate (even the big board at MCO said it was on schedule). ME got us back to the resort (where I luckily had extra points left to get 2 more nights until we could get a direct flight home) and then back to MCO when our new flight was, all at no additional cost.

Even when we rent a car, usually the kids and at least one adult take ME.

 

[bobbiwoz]

It's sometimes 5-10 minutes late from the given time when I'm waiting at the resort, but I've been pleased with the service. We often get a car for a day or two, to go to church or off site, and taxes are less away from the airport, so we more often use ME than not.

Bobbi

 

[poggs]

Are you talking about when you put on the yellow tags on the bags at home-then they show up in you room later? We find that as one of the best things-no going and waiting for bags at baggage claim-just head to the ME bus and on to WDW with no bags. Once we check in we head to a park-the room will be ready later and the bags will be there.

Same with check out day. Send the bags home in the am, get our boarding passes and hit a park until its time to board ME-no bags again to lug around until we get back home.

Unfortunately I am from the UK. As a result we have to wait and collect our luggage from the carousel then do customs. THen put the bags back on a belt before getting on the monorail. As we dont get yellow tags due to WDW being to stingy to send them overseas, we then have to descriibe our bags to the check in staff.

Once we get to the hotel it can be 6 or 7 pm (after midnight in body clock time). The cases have never shown up before 10pm and we are by then desparate to sleep.

ME luggage transfer would be fine if we could use it properly. After 4 goes, its just too slow and we now rent a car and take it ourselves.

Which of course gives us a car to visit all those off site restaurants and Universal. So all in all its a good thing that ME is slow

 

[jesschris]

I have had times where I have waited barely at all and other times the wait seemed very long. Really comes down to luck. One of the annoying things to me is that they sometimes stop at the value resorts first.

 

[kikiq]

I guess we've been lucky so far with ME. My DH does not want to drive while on his vacation, it's not relaxing at all for him. The longest we've had to wait was 20 minutes and that was to fill the bus. That trip was also the first time we stopped at CBR before OKW and SSR. Usually the ME goes directly to OKW then SSR, so most of the time we walk off the plane (carry on only) and are coming off the ME at SSR within 60-75 minutes.

I love ME if only to hear the intake of collective breaths when we pass under the WDW sign...then wait for it...a child voice saying "We're here!!!". Yep, still magical for me.

 

[crisi]

We plan on it taking about an hour and a half from touchdown to being at our resort - sometimes it takes a little longer, sometimes its a little faster.

Not waiting for luggage creates a wash with waiting for the bus. It can be disturbing when you are the last stop.

But its still "free." And if we are in a hurry, we know how to catch a cab from MCO.

 

[dmoore22]

We used the ME last October without a glitch, or a long wait for that matter.

 

[JenSop]

I've never had a long wait for ME. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes tops?

 

[OhioDVC]

It was never really magic, but it was free

 

[lowe@massed.net]

We've had only positive experiences with DME - and not having to deal with luggage is such a luxury. If we rent a car, which we've been doing more and more recently, we'll pick it up and drop it off at one of the hotels on-site. No stress driving to and from the airport and the convenience of having a car on-property can't be beat.

 

[ems_mom]

Just to elaborate on my PP, we always use DME (one of DVC's biggest selling points for my DH; it really feels like vacation when you don't have to drive anywhere for 8-9 days). Most trips it has worked well for us, with less than 30 minute waits at MCO before the bus left for the resort.

But we were on a Dec. trip in 2009, I believe, when the line for DME stretched far down the concourse past all the car rental counters. It was a nightmare. It took an hour just to check in. Now they have a new system where you just have to show your DME booklet to get in line, and this has sped up the process quite a bit.

 

[MelissathePooh]

We've taken it a dozen times and I've never truly found it to be either "magical" or "express". If we've managed to get on the bus with no wait, we were the last resort stop or we've been in the line up that so many people have never managed to see - although I know there were at least 500 other people in the lines with us!!! Apparently they aren't on the boards though

Couple that with multiple occurences of lost luggage and I'd much rather pay for a service or rent a car.

YES - I do know that they luggage service is contracted out and I don't care. They may not be Disney technically, but Disney is responsible for contracting them and therefore when they screw up Disney screws up. We've had 3 different trips where our luggage didn't arrive until the next day. Everything was tagged and arrived with us at the airport according to the airline.

 

[arthur06]

We have always used ME without any problems. We like the fact that its free. I have tossed around the idea of renting a car for our Sept trip and doing some off-site things (beach, off-site restaurants, outlet mall). But when you add $250 to our trip and subtract Disney time, it doesn't seem like a good deal.

We might wait to rent a car next year and stay at Bonnet Creek and do some things non-Disney when we don't have AP's.

 

[JaneSparrow]

Very magical! I've been to WDW before but not on DME so it was magical to all of us last year.

It's also the reason DH signed the DVC contract. It's the only vacation where he doesn't need to drive.

Disney Cruise is now available in NY and he said he still prefers to fly to FL and leave the driving to Disney (DME, shuttle)

 

[bobbiwoz]

For my trip last week, I had originally booked ME for both ways, but at the last minute DSis decided to rent a car and we didn't take it from the airport. I wondered if I would have to contact ME for the return to the airport portion, but no, the information was put on my door the morning before my departure.

I'm very happy they offer the service.

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry, no guarantees. The DME experience will be exactly the same for DVC members as it is for cash guests. Waits for over an hour are rare but they do happen.

Yes, the service is no extra cost, but it is a shared shuttle service and is going to take longer than a private vehicle. If you prefer the private vehicle, it may be worth the money for you.

 

[smidgy]

Just to elaborate on my PP, we always use DME (one of DVC's biggest selling points for my DH; it really feels like vacation when you don't have to drive anywhere for 8-9 days). Most trips it has worked well for us, with less than 30 minute waits at MCO before the bus left for the resort.

But we were on a Dec. trip in 2009, I believe, when the line for DME stretched far down the concourse past all the car rental counters. It was a nightmare. It took an hour just to check in. Now they have a new system where you just have to show your DME booklet to get in line, and this has sped up the process quite a bit.

just so you know, you don't have to be a DVC member to use ME. ANY disney resort guest flying on participating airlines can use it.

OP. the bus routes are determined by resort AREA, not price level of resort. when we stayed at Coronado, they first dropped off guests at POP. I was glad, becuase we got a chance to take a peek at it!!! (we knew we would be staying there for the 1st time the next trip)

our last trip, we had an unfortunate experience. you know that small writing that sayd SOME guests may be randomly chose to NOT bew able to particiapte in resort airline check in? that was us.

now, normally, it would be no big deal, but hubby's back "went out" earlier in the week. he was in pain for most of the trip, and carrying the luggage from the ME bus to the bag check in, and through the line was not fun for him. we tried, at POP (in dec) to explain that he had a bad back. can they "randomly" choose someone else? nope.

the computer wouldn't let him check our luggage at the resort. they said it was a random TSA choice... at the airport, TSA siad "OH, is THAT waht Disney told you?" with a smirk.... oh well.