Magical Express (ME): Return Trip Process?

[vascubaguy]

I've heard some conflicting info on how the return trip with DME works. I was hoping someone that has gone thru the process could let us know how it is actually working.

My understanding was the you have to take your luggage back on the bus with you to the airport and then check-in your luggage (even if you are on a partner airline).

Can anyone ellaborate that has recently returned?

Thanks!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

If you are flying a participating airline, you check in for your flight at the resort. You give them your luggage.

If you are NOT flying a participating airline, you take your luggage onto the bus, and check in at the airport as usual.

 

[PCFriar80]

Did it last friday from BC on Delta. Checked luggage and issued boarding passes
at the TSA desk (main lobby). Took about five minutes. That part worked fine.
The bus part didn't. Waited over an hour for a bus (which never showed - 8:15 - 9:25 AM) before getting a manager to pay for a cab. Unfortunately, it was not enough and the cabbie did not get tipped......mainly out of my frustration.

 

[vascubaguy]

Did it last friday from BC on Delta. Checked luggage and issued boarding passes
at the TSA desk (main lobby). Took about five minutes. That part worked fine.
The bus part didn't. Waited over an hour for a bus (which never showed - 8:15 - 9:25 AM) before getting a manager to pay for a cab. Unfortunately, it was not enough and the cabbie did not get tipped......mainly out of my frustration.

That's insane. I would think a bus would at least be coming that way to drop people off from the airport. Did they have your departure information on the system, or did you not receive that stuff before going?

 

[PCFriar80]

They had all of the necessary departure information as indicated by the smooth
baggage check and boarding pass issuance, along with a voucher (letter) under our door. The way the voucher reads is a bus will arrive every 30 minutes beginning at 7:10 AM for the BC. As I stated we were out front at 8:15 AM for the the alledged 8:40 AM. Valet indicated that the 8:10 had not showed yet. That's why we gave up at 9:25 AM. In hindsight, we were rather patient.

 

[hojo]

Can you tell me how much the cab ride was to the airport? I am thinking of using the ME to Disney but a cab back in order to spend a little more time at WDW.

 

[PCFriar80]

$54.50. Disney gave me $55. The cabbie got $.50. Not his lucky day. I should have gotten a towncar.

 

[hojo]

would a towncar car have been about the same price? How long did you have to wait from the time the taxi was called to when they picked you up?

 

[PCFriar80]

Not sure about the towncar price. There were 2 taxis in the queue, so wait time was non-exisitent. Time was of the essence so alternatives or even price discussion were not considered.

 

[Chicago526]

RT town car runs around $120, so one way would be about $60. They do need to be pre-arranged, though, so if you get stuck like PCfriar a cab is your only bet.

I was thinking about doing a limo to WDW and ME back, but now I'm wondering if we should do the limo round-trip...with what we are already spending on this trip, another $60 is nothing!

 

[manning]

Not the cabbie's falt and you stiffed him??

Get a letter off to management pronto!!!

 

[PCFriar80]

Get a letter off to management pronto!!!

You're kidding, right? I have written more letters, both complimentary and
negative to Disney and have never gotten a response!! As far as stiffing the
cabbie, you're right. But if he spoke english and we could have understood how
much it might cost that would not be an issue. Apparently he understood english, because when we asked him how much to the airport he kept pointing at the fare meter. Let's review; Disney stiffed us and the victim is the cabbie?

 

[manning]

Get a letter off to management pronto!!!

As far as stiffing the cabbie, you're right. But if he spoke english and we could have understood how
much it might cost that would not be an issue. Apparently he understood english, because when we asked him how much to the airport he kept pointing at the fare meter. Let's review; Disney stiffed us and the victim is the cabbie?

If the meters are like Chicago, you are charged both distance and time. If traffic is slow you get charged more. He did indicate it would be a metered fare. I would have gotten a receipt with tip included and ask Disney for the difference. Being upset I may have done the same thing.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Checker Cab rates are $2.00 for the first 1/8th mile, and 25 cents per 1/8th mile thereafter. Also, it's 25 cents per 25 seconds wait time... (or something near that)

 

[PCFriar80]

Plus $3 tolls.

 

[vascubaguy]

I think cabs are such a rip-off... guess that's why I've only been in 1 cab in my life, and I only did that because someone told me I had to get in a cab in NYC because it was like an amusement park ride (it wasn't).

But I guess if you have no choice, not much you can do. I do believe it would be a reasonable request for the cab driver to know how much it would cost to go from the resorts to the airport. So when asked, he should have been able to say "about $55". I know I wouldn't have been able to leave a tip as I don't carry cash, so whatever the manager would have given would have been what the driver got (not sure what I would have been able to do if it went over).

Do cabs charge that "waiting rate" if you get caught in traffic? Just curious...

I think it would be cheaper to rent a car for a day than to get a cab ride.

Thank goodness for DME

 

[hojo]

I am exploring that idea right now whether to rent a car for a day (to get back to the airport adn home) or take the ME. My plane leaves at 3 on a Sunday so I want to be able to spend as much time as possible at teh AK. Having a car at teh park shuold sve me at least 1 1/2 hours. I think a car for a day will be about 50 or 60 bucks. Working on it!

 

[yomecage]

I have been quite throughout all the conversations because I am not very good with my PC or the internet... I have to say I was excited to be a part of the ME and was reading all the post from all the more experienced forum people.. I was excited with the ME all the way up to the hotel which in my mind was a little slow and very crowded.. Every thing at the Contemporary was good untill the bags were lost and my 4 day vacation was almost in the toilet...I was very upset but the hotel took care of me and my family and gave me a refund on my stay and a $50 voucher for a taxi back to the airport. I have to say this vaction was almost lost but as always disney tried there best to make it right... I just wanted to try ME because it was new!! Next time I will look at taking some other form of transportation...


I love the Morrocon restaurant....

 

[sammax]

We had no trouble with the return on ME. The bus arrived right on time, I had already checked my bags and got my boarding pass at the resort around 10:30am. The bus arrived at noon, and we were at the airport around 12:40. No problems at all.

 

[seashoreCM]

Do cabs charge that "waiting rate" if you get caught in traffic? Just curious...:

In most cities they do.

It usually works something like this: Let's say the rate is 50 cents for 40 seconds of waiting and 50 cents for each 1/5'th mile, If the cab does not travel 1/5'th mile in one 40 second period, you are charged 50 cents. The timer and distance meter then both start over. If then you travel 2/5'th mile in the next 35 seconds, you are next charged for two 50 cent increments for distance traveled.

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