RobDoc
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 14, 1998
- Messages
- 34,195
We used Disney's Magical Express on it's first day (May 6, 2005) and have already reported that experience. We returned yesterday after 4 nights at BW and again used DME for our transportation back to MCO.
We had not received vouchers for the return trip and even though DME had our flight information, no departure information was listed on our reminder (placed under the door the evening prior to departure). The instructions suggested calling DME (Mears Transportation) for the specific time to leave the BW.
DME suggests/requires departure 2hours and 45 minutes prior to your flight time. They ask that you arrive at the bus pickup area (NOT the resort bus stop) about 15 minutes prior to the assigned time. Our flight was scheduled for 5:14pm and the DME buses come to BW every 30 minutes at 20 minutes past the hour and again at 10 minutes before the hour. Our pickup time was 2:20pm. We got to the pickup area at 2:10 with bags in hand (we had left them with Bell Services after checking out of our room). The DME load zone is right at the valet area in the BW driveway. At about 2:15 a DME bus pulled up to the resort bus stop (not the DME load zone) and quickly pulled out and left the resort- never coming near the load zone.
At 2:25 I asked about the 2:20 bus (there were about 4 other families on the same bus) and was told they'd be there shortly. At 2:35 another DME arrived- but they only dropped off and would not pick anyone up. That driver promised to call. 2:50 came and went and finally at 2:58 a DME bus arrived. By this time there were about 9 groups waiting with some already on the bus from a prior pickup. We loaded luggage under the bus and departed. The final stop was at CBR and there was not enough room on the bus for everyone. Since the 2:20 bus failed to show, they now had 2 departure times of passengers waiting. Another bus was dispatched for the excess.
It appears that DME busses make two loops at each end. Buses arriving from MCO will drop guests off at their resorts and then repeat that loop picking up guests before heading back to MCO where they will drop guests at the appropriate ticketing area and then return to the DME pickup area in the A-terminal. This method seems to eliminate confusion about luggage stored beneath the bus.
The rest of our DME trip was efficient and uneventful. We arrived about 2:45 at MCO and had plenty of time since our flight was delayed anyway (6:00pm). Since our airline is not a participating partner for DME we had to go thru the normal check-in process at the airport, but that was also not a problem.
Those using any of the five DME partner airlines can check their bags and get boarding passes right at the resort. There is a special DME station at the front desk in all WDW resorts for this purpose. We asked at the Guest Services desk at BW and they were able to print out our boarding passes the day before.
All-in-all, DME worked well for us. We had minimal delay/confusion upon arrival and only minimal inconvenience with the delayed bus on departure. I do know of some who had problems getting their bags (about 3 days after arrival), but we had no issues at all.
Considering that the program is still in it's first 2 weeks since inception, I know it will be a worthwhile program as they get things up to speed and work out all of the little issues.
The price is certainly right!
The buses are great, with fun videos about WDW and the Happiest Celebration on Earth program. There have certainly been some glitches, but Disney is working hard to correct those issues and make the DME experience positive for everyone.
Enjoy!
We had not received vouchers for the return trip and even though DME had our flight information, no departure information was listed on our reminder (placed under the door the evening prior to departure). The instructions suggested calling DME (Mears Transportation) for the specific time to leave the BW.
DME suggests/requires departure 2hours and 45 minutes prior to your flight time. They ask that you arrive at the bus pickup area (NOT the resort bus stop) about 15 minutes prior to the assigned time. Our flight was scheduled for 5:14pm and the DME buses come to BW every 30 minutes at 20 minutes past the hour and again at 10 minutes before the hour. Our pickup time was 2:20pm. We got to the pickup area at 2:10 with bags in hand (we had left them with Bell Services after checking out of our room). The DME load zone is right at the valet area in the BW driveway. At about 2:15 a DME bus pulled up to the resort bus stop (not the DME load zone) and quickly pulled out and left the resort- never coming near the load zone.
At 2:25 I asked about the 2:20 bus (there were about 4 other families on the same bus) and was told they'd be there shortly. At 2:35 another DME arrived- but they only dropped off and would not pick anyone up. That driver promised to call. 2:50 came and went and finally at 2:58 a DME bus arrived. By this time there were about 9 groups waiting with some already on the bus from a prior pickup. We loaded luggage under the bus and departed. The final stop was at CBR and there was not enough room on the bus for everyone. Since the 2:20 bus failed to show, they now had 2 departure times of passengers waiting. Another bus was dispatched for the excess.
It appears that DME busses make two loops at each end. Buses arriving from MCO will drop guests off at their resorts and then repeat that loop picking up guests before heading back to MCO where they will drop guests at the appropriate ticketing area and then return to the DME pickup area in the A-terminal. This method seems to eliminate confusion about luggage stored beneath the bus.
The rest of our DME trip was efficient and uneventful. We arrived about 2:45 at MCO and had plenty of time since our flight was delayed anyway (6:00pm). Since our airline is not a participating partner for DME we had to go thru the normal check-in process at the airport, but that was also not a problem.
Those using any of the five DME partner airlines can check their bags and get boarding passes right at the resort. There is a special DME station at the front desk in all WDW resorts for this purpose. We asked at the Guest Services desk at BW and they were able to print out our boarding passes the day before.
All-in-all, DME worked well for us. We had minimal delay/confusion upon arrival and only minimal inconvenience with the delayed bus on departure. I do know of some who had problems getting their bags (about 3 days after arrival), but we had no issues at all.
Considering that the program is still in it's first 2 weeks since inception, I know it will be a worthwhile program as they get things up to speed and work out all of the little issues.
The price is certainly right!
The buses are great, with fun videos about WDW and the Happiest Celebration on Earth program. There have certainly been some glitches, but Disney is working hard to correct those issues and make the DME experience positive for everyone.Enjoy!
