Magical Express Question

[dutch63]

We just received our magical express package for our August stay at Poly. We have always arrived by Tiffany service in the past. But since WDW has gracioulsy provided this service we are taking advantage of it Heres the questions

Can anyone share their experiences of how long they had to wait for the bus to leave airport and arrive at resort?

Was it appropiate to tip any of the cms?

Alright now I'm really gonna make myself seem dumb, How do you get the bold script and underline on new thread titles???

Thanks so much

 

[CleveRocks]

Can anyone share their experiences of how long they had to wait for the bus to leave airport and arrive at resort?

The reported average time is 70 minutes from landing to drop-off at resort. That's about what it took me (I timed it as 53 minutes from getting into the DME Welcome Center line to drop off at CBR).

Was it appropiate to tip any of the cms?

No tipping for the CMs at the DME Welcome Center at the airport. If the driver (who is an employee of the driving subcontractor, Mears) helps you with your carry-ons (if you choose to have them placed under the bus instead of taking them onto the bus with you) then it would be appropriate to tip him. As I'm sure you've read, your checked luggage will "magically" appear in your resort room whether you're there or not (in other words, no need to wait for it). Disney actually provides a "tip" for the Bell Services CMs who deliver the DME baggage to the resort rooms, so if you do happen to be in your room when your luggage arrives you don't need to tip -- it may feel funny, but that person is actually receiving an extra payment from his/her employer specifically for delivering YOUR bags!. On check-out day, if you call Bell Services to pick up your luggage from your room, that tip is all on you.

Alright now I'm really gonna make myself seem dumb, How do you get the bold script and underline on new thread titles???

I have no idea. I don't think it's possible to enhance that line of text in any way.

By the way, millions of people have used DME and it's been so successful it was extended from it's original end-date of September 2006 through at least 2011.

ENJOY WDW!

 

[dutch63]

Thanks CleveRocks your information was very helpful, 53 min not bad at all

 

[DIXIEDIVAMOM]

Also factor in the fact that you will wait several hours for your luggage. We arrived at 4:30 at MCO. Arrived at our resort at 6 o'clock and didn't receive our luggage until midnight. No one said a word on how long it was going to take. Luckily everyone in our party had swimsuits and change of clothes in their carryon.

 

[CleveRocks]

Also factor in the fact that you will wait several hours for your luggage. We arrived at 4:30 at MCO. Arrived at our resort at 6 o'clock and didn't receive our luggage until midnight. No one said a word on how long it was going to take. Luckily everyone in our party had swimsuits and change of clothes in their carryon.

Good point.

Although a 6 hour delay between arrival at resort and luggage delivery is very unusual, it can happen. No system is perfect. It's also important to note that the delay could have been on the part of the airline and not DME.

Which brings me to my next point. Whenever I fly anywhere, I always pack a carry-on with 24 hours' worth of supplies just in case the airline delays my luggage. So knowing that my DME luggage would lag behind me by a couple hours didn't matter to me.

If you know to expect this lag, it's no longer a problem, because you can plan for it. When our luggage arrived inside our room at CBR, we weren't there -- we were in the pool enjoying the start of our Florida vacation, and I can assure you we didn't wear our swimming gear on the airplane!

 

[kaseyoz]

I think all newer posts listed are bold and underlined I may be wrong though as i am new also

 

[Edd]

You are lucky Stretch. Many people, this summer, during prime hours are experiencing waits of 15 - 45 minutes in the lines and another 30 - 90 minutes getting to the resorts due to availability of busses and the crowds. 70 minutes may be a good time arriving later in the evening. During the day between 1100 and about 1800 it can get to be a mess down there. More people are using the ME than when you came in May, 2005.

The new contract calls for Disney to move to the other side of the terminal (B) because they will than have two more spaces for busses and more room for the welcome center which is extremely crowded during prime hours and busy seasons. They can only load three busses, at any one time, on the (A) side.

During the prime hours, 1100 to 1800, they are loading 3000 to 7000 passengers of about 6000 to 10000 per day, depending on the day. It gets pretty challenging there.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

They can only load three busses, at any one time, on the (A) side.

Actually, they can load 4-5 coaches. They have four Type III Motorcoach slots (30, 31, 32, 33), and two Mears Shuttle slots (28, 29). During peak times, I've seen them utilize slot 29 for DME.

It doesn't take very long to fully load a coach. They can be in and out fairly quickly to let another coach in.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have always flown into MCO around noontime, and have had that 70 minute experience every time, with one exception..that was in mid-May. Unfortunatly, POP was last in the rotation this time, rather than first. We stopped at 2 other resorts before getting to POP. But, still...it was only 85-90 minutes rather than my usual 70.
Of course there are going to be situations where it may take longer...but, it seems that most people are having less than 90 minute times.

 

[disney09]

Sorry if this question has been posted before, but how long before the returing trip do ME pick you up? I just changed my flight to depart at 3pm so I can enjoy the morning in the resort.. I also will be traveling in September, which I believe is Value Season.
Thanks...

 

[disney09]

ups! yes, it has been posted recently. Sorry about that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Pickups are always between 2-¾ and 3 hours before your departure time - so you'd be picked up between 12 and 12:15, and you should be there fifteen minutes early.

 

[Edd]

What happens when the Mears slots are full with Mears busses and the extra coach lane has a type III motor coach, not ME as there are other coaches loading at the airport. occupying it or loading in it. There are only three lanes dedicated to the ME coaches, as I informed by airport officials, and that is the reason for moving to B side to obtain two extra dedicated lanes for loading.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We give up. What happens? Oh, wait - maybe DME adapts to the situation? You know, assigning and loading passengers as efficiently as possible and sending a bus out so another bus can pull in.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

What happens when the Mears slots are full with Mears busses and the extra coach lane has a type III motor coach, not ME as there are other coaches loading at the airport. occupying it or loading in it. There are only three lanes dedicated to the ME coaches, as I informed by airport officials, and that is the reason for moving to B side to obtain two extra dedicated lanes for loading.

In my hands on experience, I have never seen a non-Mears coach occupying one of the Type III motorcoach slots. They usually tend to stick to the blank spaces towards the rental car areas. They know that the four Type III slots are usually filled with DME coaches, and that they'd have to circle around again to get a different spot.

So, you've got four motorcoach slots, plus two Mears van slots that they can use for coaches... and you ask what happens when they're full? Well, the coaches wait along the side for one to pull out. When it does pull out, the next DME coach in line pulls right in!

And since the drivers aren't loading much luggage, loading is very quick.

 

[dutch63]

Thanks to all for the great info, but was wondering if anyone had recently used the DME and stayed at the Poly, was just curious as to the stop # it is in arriving at wdw

Despite the wait and potential long wait for luggage on arrival, I'm still saving around $140.00 to $160 with what we paid before for Tiffany plus tip, I'd much ratehr redirect the money to fun at WDW although Tiffany does a professional job getting you to and fro

 

[goofy4tink]

Since there are no 'regular' routes with DME, your resort may be first, second or third. It doesn't matter a whole lot though. The first time I stayed at POP, it took us about 65 minutes to get from the plane to the resort checkin line. We were the first stop for the DME bus. Then, in May, I was staying at POP again...I was the third stop...I forget who was first but AKL was second and POP was third and last. That time it took me about 80 minutes to get to resort checkin.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just so you know... each stop is VERY VERY quick. Since there is typically very little luggage to unload (and usually it's unloaded before all the people get out anyways), the bus is at each stop very briefly.