Magical Express - Drop off procedure at MCO

[Julylady]

We used ME for a quick trip to WDW over last weekend. Trip from MCO to the Contemporary Resort was speedy....about 70 minutes from from landing to resort with one stop at Wilderness lodge prior to the Contemporary.

The trip back to MCO was a different story. We were picked up right on time at 7:25am for a 10:30am flight. We then stopped at THREE other resorts....Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian.

When we got to the airport the driver stopped at Terminal A and everyone got off the bus. I asked him if he was planning to stop at Terminal B. He said "No, just this one stop." The walk to the Delta checkin from Terminal A was a LONG one for my 72 year old Mother. (We needed to check in at the airport due to a ticket problem that couldn't be resolved at the hotel).

Is this standard procedure now? I distinctly remember being dropped off at Terminal B on previous trips.

Does anyone know?

Donna

 

[safetymom]

I thought they stopped on both sides also.

 

[seashoreCM]

Did the driver announce over the bus PA system "Last stop"?

In some cases it takes less time to get off at the first place at the airport the ME bus home stops, compared with the time it takes for the bus to wend its way through the various roadways to the other side of the terminal building. And the distance from one end of the B side to the other end of the B side is longer than from the A side to a B side ticket counter in the same general part of the building.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Julylady]

The bus driver never asked us which airline we were flying which upon reflection should have been a clue. I was distracted because I knew we had a problem with our ticket that needed to be resolved at the Delta ticket counter. The trip also seemed to take VERY long with stops at four different hotels. I was pretty antsy time we arrived at the airport.

The driver never said a word over the PA system on the entire trip. When we pulled into the A Terminal he asked us to stay seated until he unloaded the luggage from under the bus. After placing all the luggage at the curb, he came back to the bus and said it was okay to get off. Everyone on the bus got off. As we got off the bus, he "helped" us down the stairs. I asked him if he was going to drive around to the B Terminal. He responded, "I only stop here."

We always fly Northwest, so I am not at all familiar with Terminal A. I asked an airport employee for directions and she said we needed to walk to the exact other end of the airport from where we were currently standing. If I had realized how far away it was, I would have snagged a wheelchair and pushed my Mom.

Everything worked out okay and we made our flight.

I was just wondering if this was now STANDARD PROCEDURE to make only one stop at Terminal A, or if our driver was making up his own new rules.

THANKS again

Donna

 

[goofy4tink]

Every time I have used DME for the return trip to MCO, the bus has stopped on both sides of the terminal. The driver has always asked for the airlines that everyone is flying. For me, the drop off proceedure is the only down side to DME. It's a long walk to anywhere from the area you are dropped off at. Yes, it's the same area you got picked up at, but, man..it's a hike back to the gate areas with all that luggage. At least when you're arriving, DME is taking care of your luggage. I'm happy to fly those 'participating' airlines whenever possible so I don't have to lug that stuff around the entire airport.
I'm really sorry you had this situation with your mom. That's a not so great ending to a nice vacation...at least it all worked out, although you probably burned about 1000 calories getting to your gate!

 

[seashoreCM]

My suggestion -- After getting off the ME bus, if you don't know where you are, take the first elevator or escalator you see to level 3 (stores and ticket counters (and big Hyatt Christmas tree during the holiday season).

If you follow the skycap's directions that say go down the corridor on the same level you got of the bus first , you are more likely to go too far and have to double back to find your airline's ticket counter when you finally get to level 3.

 

[goodguy]

We used ME the first week of July. At MCO bus driver made two stops on A and B side stopping first on the B side before driving over to the A side.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

DME drivers are always supposed to stop at both the B and the A terminals (and in that order)