Magical Express - TERRIBLE

[simzac]

I will tell you one truth. If you come in when those planes are packed with visitors you are going to find long lines at the DME station no matter what. It seems like everyone who doesn't experience the long lines comes in early in the day or later in the evening or during the slower seasons. If I go down and check it out this weekend I will guarantee you I will see long lines and many times no busses outside to load.

Disney is filled up this next two weeks and I will bet there will be some passengers standing in long lines, at the airport and returning from the resort, this next two weeks. If you want to talk about no lines give a time and a date you visited so you can be more understandable.

We arrived on January 1st at 12:30pm. Took one hour from the time we stepped off the plane til we stepped off the bus at OKW. Departed OKW on January 8th. When we arrived at the departure point, a ME bus was sitting there loading passengers. Our bus was scheduled 30 minutes later, but the driver of the bus sitting there had room, so he went ahead and let us board. Very unusual I know, so you can't compare our experience with the OP, but just goes to show that a great experience can happen just like a bad one. The service is free, how can anyone complain about that?

 

[crazyhunter98]

I will tell you one truth. If you come in when those planes are packed with visitors you are going to find long lines at the DME station no matter what. It seems like everyone who doesn't experience the long lines comes in early in the day or later in the evening or during the slower seasons. If I go down and check it out this weekend I will guarantee you I will see long lines and many times no busses outside to load.

Disney is filled up this next two weeks and I will bet there will be some passengers standing in long lines, at the airport and returning from the resort, this next two weeks. If you want to talk about no lines give a time and a date you visited so you can be more understandable.

i agree with you we went on the off season and had no wait for nothing including DME after we checkeed in at the DME desk we were on the bus in 10 min and on our way. But for us it would not matter we do not let things bother us on vacation as we are in no hurry to go, do, or be anywhere quick lol and when we are at disney we are so happy we let all the little things fly away

 

[CleveRocks]

About 9:30 a.m., May 8, 2005. Mothers Day (Sunday). The 4th day DME was up and running, the time, the legends say, when DME was terrible and full of "bugs."

We get to the DME Welcome Center. HUGE line. I was very disappointed at the HUGE line. They had ropes set up in switchbacks, and the line snaked WELL beyond the switchbacks, like a huge tail. I took a deep breath and dove in, expecting the worst.

[By the way, I timed everything because I was the first from another board to use DME and I promised I'd report back on how long everything took.]

Anyway, from the time I got into said HUGE line until the time I walked away after being served -- 5 MINUTES.

So everyone will pardon me if I scoff when passersby report they saw HUGE lines and assume it's also a HUGE wait. I'm sure that can happen, but it doesn't mean it has to happen. Uninformed opinions are pretty worthless, or at least worth much less than facts.

Time from airplane exit to CBR drop-off -- 63 minutes.

My other DME experience was during an off-peak time -- around 10:00 p.m. on a Friday. As to be expected, zero line at DME. Airplane exit to POFQ drop-off in 56 minutes.

 

[goofy4tink]

The problem with posting negative posts about DME is that the majority of people have had really good experiences. Of course, their experiences that they felt were good ones, could very well have been considered to be less than wonderful by someone else. I, for the most part, have had only 70 mins., average, from deplaning to resort checkin. However, there was that one time that I had a 90 min trip...if it had been my first experience, or was in a big hurry, or had only used towncars before, I'm sure I would feel differently about that experience. But, it was outside the 'norm' for me, so I wasn't going to sweat it.

So...you have to realize that for every negative experience with DME, you are going to find many, many more that have had just fine experiences. I know it looks like we all come running to the defense of DME, as if it were a holy cow, but that isn't the case. I think we try to be pretty even keeled here. It's just that the majority of people have been happy and want others to know that the bad things are outside the norm.

 

[KimAshton]

3 hours is definitely not to much. You never know when there is going to be an accident on the highway or your DME breaks down.

 

[goofy4tink]

The other think I always strongly recommend, and there are those here who disagree with me on this one, but I always tell people that if they are arriving after 6 pm, they may be better off getting their own bags. This way, they don't have to worry about them getting to the resort in a timely fashion. Since they most likely will be able to get into their room at that time, having their luggage right there, with them, is a plus.
But, as I said, there are those who disagree on this one. They feel that not using the luggage delivery perk is actually forgoing one of the best things about DME....I agree, but in the evening, I want my bags with me. I don't want to take a chance that they won't get to me until 10:30 that night. I like to unpack...I don't want to do it at midnight, and I don't want to have to do it the next morning! But, that's just me.

 

[Edd]

Cleve,

0930 on a Sunday, May 8th, morning is not a busy time at all. All airlines usually are beginning to lift off between 0800 and 1000. The average flight times, of planes heading to MCO, is just over 2 hours. There have probably been a total of 31 major airline planes landing between 0700 and 0930. Many of them half full because of Sunday and an off time of the year. Disney probably launched the DME in May because it is off season in May.

If you thought that was a huge line, you would be crushed to see the lines during the high season.

 

[CleveRocks]

I hear you, Edd.

 

[clkelley]

The other think I always strongly recommend, and there are those here who disagree with me on this one, but I always tell people that if they are arriving after 6 pm, they may be better off getting their own bags. This way, they don't have to worry about them getting to the resort in a timely fashion. Since they most likely will be able to get into their room at that time, having their luggage right there, with them, is a plus.
But, as I said, there are those who disagree on this one. They feel that not using the luggage delivery perk is actually forgoing one of the best things about DME....I agree, but in the evening, I want my bags with me. I don't want to take a chance that they won't get to me until 10:30 that night. I like to unpack...I don't want to do it at midnight, and I don't want to have to do it the next morning! But, that's just me.

I'm the total opposite. Our preferred flight times are late in the evening. I have what I need to go to bed and what I need to get out the door the next morning in my carryon. I WANT my luggage held till the next day and dropped off sometime during the next day after I've left for the parks.

 

[debster812]

I'm the total opposite. Our preferred flight times are late in the evening. I have what I need to go to bed and what I need to get out the door the next morning in my carryon. I WANT my luggage held till the next day and dropped off sometime during the next day after I've left for the parks.

This is what we usually do as well. Plan for our first 36 hours with carryons, and don't worry about the luggage.

goofy4tink--I can TOTALLY get what you're saying as well, and I think it just comes down to personal preference

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm the total opposite. Our preferred flight times are late in the evening. I have what I need to go to bed and what I need to get out the door the next morning in my carryon. I WANT my luggage held till the next day and dropped off sometime during the next day after I've left for the parks.

And that's why these boards are so great......there is info for all different types of people. If you choose to fly early in the day, then you can find other experiences flying at the same time. If, like you, you choose to fly late at night, then those like you can come here and find out the 'ins and outs' of late day travel. There is NO one right way to do anything....it's all about what works best for you. Thanks for reminding us of that!

 

[kaytieeldr]

And that's why these boards are so great......there is info for all different types of people. If you choose to fly early in the day, then you can find other experiences flying at the same time. If, like you, you choose to fly late at night, then those like you can come here and find out the 'ins and outs' of late day travel. There is NO one right way to do anything....it's all about what works best for you. Thanks for reminding us of that!

And if, like me, you travel at whatever time is most convenient combined with whichever fare is lowest, AND you never really unpack anyway...

 

[MEK]

Wrong smiley - I think you want one where you're sticking your tongue out at me

Nah - no toungues here - I just didn't know what the new rules were for flying. Last few times I flew everything had to be in the checked luggage. Maybe by August I will have a system for packing in the clear baggy. I have lots of time to work on it!

 

[CarolynU]

Every time I've arrived at MCO I've hired a car, taken a towncar (once) and taken Mears (once).
This last time I took ME. As everything else has cost me $$ and this was a free service from Disney, I thought it was great.

 

[bluwater]

Not sure where I read it, but I read that your Disney resort will not deliver luggage to a room after 11pm. Any luggage arriving after 11 is held til next day.

I may have read this in my DME packet, since I just received one yesterday for next week's visit.

For this reason, I will only be checking my "liquids and gels" bag....and carrying everything else on with me since my flight arrives at 9:15pm.

Could the 11pm thing be a new policy?

 

[Edd]

I think it is a new Disney policy being developed. It may stem from Disney not wanting to pick up your luggage at the airport after 11:00 pm arrivals. This statement may be off a little because you guys have experienced some doubts to what happens to your luggage if you don't pick it up after that time. It looks like someone is picking it up and it is stored somewhere and delivered the next day.

However a lot of facts are unknown. There is some evidence that the airlines are pulling it off the carousels and storing it until the next morning when Disney CM's come by and pick it up. Also it has been noticed that the luggage sometimes rides around on the carousels for a number of times and than disappears off the carousels. This could indicate that a skeleton crew is assigned to pick up the bags, late at night, and get them to where they are held until the next day for delivery.

If any DME representive tells you it is a new Airport policy please get their name. This is not being done due to a new airport policy as some DME representatives have said.

One bad side effect of this is that when you pull your own luggage and take it with you, the luggage from you and the other persons riding your bus is going to slow down the process of getting you to the resorts.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not sure where I read it, but I read that your Disney resort will not deliver luggage to a room after 11pm. Any luggage arriving after 11 is held til next day.

I may have read this in my DME packet, since I just received one yesterday for next week's visit.

For this reason, I will only be checking my "liquids and gels" bag....and carrying everything else on with me since my flight arrives at 9:15pm.

Could the 11pm thing be a new policy?

Could you check out your info packet and let us know exactly what it says about luggage delivery? It would be nice to have the 'current' stance.

 

[clkelley]

Could you check out your info packet and let us know exactly what it says about luggage delivery? It would be nice to have the 'current' stance.

Yes, PLEASE check that for us.

 

[seashoreCM]

Let's imagine that the last baggage truck leaves for Disney at 11 PM. This would take care of passengers arrinving by 10 or so. Their baggage may be delivered to the rooms in the 1 to 2 AM timeframe, or more likely held at Bell Services by request.

Then let's imagine that the next truck leaves the airport for Disney at 4 AM. It would hold the baggage of guests landing after 10. Baggage would probably be ready for delivery to rooms around 7 AM.

Unlike the buses I doubt that almost-empty baggage trucks would be dispatched every hour in the wee hours.

Not saying this is the case or this is the policy or this is the stance, but this scenario would probably fit within reasonably expected tolerances if you took the existing published literature and tried to perform quality assurance either as a QA professional or as a mystery shopper.

 

[Lewisc]

DME has 4 different luggage routes. I understand after 11p-midnight they only have one truck delivering to all resorts. It sounds like Disney may be discontinuing even that one truck. A 4a truck would get our luggage to our resort early enough for a morning delivery. No problem.

The problem would arise if Disney decided to wait until 7-8a, when they resume delivery for arriving flights. Some of us would not be happy if we can't get our bags before 9-10:30a. Particularly if we checked sun tan lotion.

I followed Ed's lead and checked MCO website. There are virtually no flights scheduled to arrive after midnight. I can't see any reason why Disney can't have one truck deliver all the remaining bags sometime between 1a-5a.