yooperfan said:
Can you tell me how it works? We were going to take a towncar after reading the earlier reviews, but maybe I can save the $100+ for the drive. What airline participate? We made ressies through the BRP and didn't click on ME. Do you think if I call they would add it to our ressies? Any details on this service would be appreciated, or if there is an informational thread I could check out that would be great, too. Thanks for any help out there.
EVERYONE who flies into MCO and is staying at a WDW resort can use DME. EVERYONE. Just call and make your DME reservation (you'll need your flight info).
Three weeks or less before your trip, you'll receive a DME packet in the mail. Included in the packet will be 2 DME luggage tags per person. These tags are actually sticky paper, the same type of paper they use at the airports to tag your luggage with the 3-letter airport code, etc., except that the DME tags are bright yellow and skinnier. Put a DME tag on each piece of checked luggage before you leave home.
OK. Now it's time to fly to MCO. Do everything at your home airport as you would any other time. They don't know anything about DME and they don't have to. All the DME stuff is done at MCO and NEVER before that.
Fly into MCO. When you get off the plane, go directly to the DME Welcome Center. Don't go to Baggage Claim because your bags won't be there. Behind the scenes, all of the DME-tagged bags are pulled from the stream of luggage, and are transported via truck to the guests' resorts. At the DME desk, they'll inform you which bus queue to get in. You'll then board your bus. There may be guests from up to 3 other resorts on the same bus. There's no pre-set grouping of resorts, so you have no way of knowing in advance if your resort will be your bus's first stop, second stop, etc. You'll have the option of storing your carry-ons under the bus or taking them onto the bus with you. If you have the driver store them, a tip would be appropriate when he/she unloads your carry-ons.
You'll be dropped off at your resort, and you can go check in. Your luggage will arrive after you, maybe an hour, maybe 3, who knows! You don't need to be in your room to wait for your luggage delivery, Bell Services will put your luggage directly into your room whether you're in there or not (the luggage will "magically appear"). The Bell Services CMs are pre-tipped by Disney, to account for the fact that there's often not going to be anyone "home" to tip them. When my luggage arrived, I was at the pool with my kids enjoying the start of our vacation. Anytime you travel, it's a good idea to pack your carry-on with items you'll need for the first day or so just in case the airline delays your luggage. Pack what you'll need for your first day in your carry-on, and you'll have a stress-free first day!
The day before you check out, you'll get DME paperwork at your room, telling you your DME bus pick-up time. If you are flying a "participating airline" (American, Delta/Song, Continental, and United/Ted), you can check your luggage at the Resort Airline Check-In desk in your resort's lobby; you won't see your luggage again until it's on the baggage claim carousel at your home airport. At that same time, you can also actually check in for your flight and receive your boarding passes. You can do whatever you want that day until it's time for your ride. Make sure you're at your resort about 15 minutes before your scheduled bus time.
If you're not flying on a "participating airline," you still get the free bus ride back to the airport, but you won't have the perk of the luggage handling or the checking in at your resort. You have to get your own luggage to the DME bus (if you check out before your bus pick-up, have Bell Services store your luggage, but realize they may be VERY busy and backed up, so call way ahead of time and ask what sort of time frame you'll need). Before the bus leaves, the driver will load your luggage into the cargo hold of the bus. On this leg of DME, the Bell Services CMs are tipped by you, not by Disney. And of course, if your DME driver handles your luggage or carry-ons please tip as you deem appropriate. When you are dropped off at MCO, the driver will unload your luggage for you. After that, go find your airline's ticket counter (or find a skycap) and check in as you would for any other flight.
I know this seems like a lot, but it's actually a pretty simple system. I loved using it, and I hope you do, too!
-- Eric
