ME is a joke

[dburg30]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2009267

This was my trip for last November (2008), when it did take 1:45 or so. Again, that's only 25 minutes or so longer then 'normalish' 105 minutes vs 80 minutes.

 

[Maine-iac]

YOU may, but many of us also base it on 'deplaning' to 'debusing'

Now I dont count it from LANDING, but once I step off the plane the timer starts to me.

Timing from getting off the plane makes more sense for DME, car rental or car service. Part of the the DME timing does not include getting your luggage so that should save time. Using DME and not getting your luggage should be less or around the same time as renting a car or using a car service I think.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You evaluate the time for Magical Express starting from when you get to the welcoming area.

Well, no. Many of us start counting from when we step into the terminal - and we state that when we indicate how long it took us. Full disclosure and all that.

 

[Edd]

The time from leaving the plane today, verified by speaking with passenger as they stepped out of the plane and meeting the passenger at the escalator, to the bottom of the escalator at the Delta baggage claim was 22 minutes (5:17 pm to 5:39pm). There were 4 adult passengers, they walked at normal speed following the crowd and did not stop at the restrooms. Of course I questioned them.

 

[FireDancer]

I have found it better to get my own bags and then head down to the bus. That way my bag is with me and when I get to the resort I have everything.

I've used ME twice and have never had a problem with them. Both times I was on the bus within 30 minutes of getting my bags. Both times was for marathon weekend in January.

 

[dburg30]

I have found it better to get my own bags and then head down to the bus. That way my bag is with me and when I get to the resort I have everything.

I've used ME twice and have never had a problem with them. Both times I was on the bus within 30 minutes of getting my bags. Both times was for marathon weekend in January.

The only problem there is that every piece of luggage that gets added under the bus, adds a slight delay upon arrival at the resorts, as that luggage has to be unloaded, tips exchanged etc etc. With one or 2 people doing this, it's not going to add a lot of time, but for every person that does it all the sudden those bags can add up to 'real time' and it just delays the whole deal, which in turn makes the buses return trip slightly delayed, and if that entails picking up resorts on the way back to MCO, makes their pick up times slightly behind, which after 3 or 4 resorts from MCO to resorts, and then picking up heading back to MCO can suddenly start getting people to the airport later then what DME was planning..

So continue to do what makes you comfortable, but that's not how DME was intended to be used. And now the standard disclaimer "No matter WHERE you are travelling you should have a carry on with items you will need for the first day or night depending on when you are arriving, in case your luggage gets delayed / lost." I would much rather be on the way to WDW with a carry on, knowing that if something happens or the bags are delayed, I can still start my fun, and let WDW collect my bags later or help to chase them down.. No reason for me to be stuck at the airport waiting, when there is nothing that I can do if they are lost but wait....

 

[FireDancer]

The only problem there is that every piece of luggage that gets added under the bus, adds a slight delay upon arrival at the resorts, as that luggage has to be unloaded, tips exchanged etc etc. With one or 2 people doing this, it's not going to add a lot of time, but for every person that does it all the sudden those bags can add up to 'real time' and it just delays the whole deal, which in turn makes the buses return trip slightly delayed, and if that entails picking up resorts on the way back to MCO, makes their pick up times slightly behind, which after 3 or 4 resorts from MCO to resorts, and then picking up heading back to MCO can suddenly start getting people to the airport later then what DME was planning..

So continue to do what makes you comfortable, but that's not how DME was intended to be used. And now the standard disclaimer "No matter WHERE you are travelling you should have a carry on with items you will need for the first day or night depending on when you are arriving, in case your luggage gets delayed / lost." I would much rather be on the way to WDW with a carry on, knowing that if something happens or the bags are delayed, I can still start my fun, and let WDW collect my bags later or help to chase them down.. No reason for me to be stuck at the airport waiting, when there is nothing that I can do if they are lost but wait....

All of that is true. However, I go solo at non peak times and have one bag (usually a duffel) along with my carry on so I find getting my own bag to be the easiest way.

 

[TDC Nala]

So there's actually a school of thought that says you should use DME only the way it's intended to be used (with the luggage delivery component)?

I do carryons only and it's going to save me $40 on my next trip, don't hate me while they're getting my duffel bag out from under the bus and you have to wait a minute longer before the bus moves along.

 

[dburg30]

In my own opinion, yes, there is. I'm not going to hate you for getting your own bag, I was just pointing out how the more people that dont use the luggage service, bottom line is, it will start adding up and taking more time to get to your resort. Just my opinion, and again, I'm not going to give you dirty looks or anything, just maybe a sigh or two, to myself, wishing we were on the way to the next resort while I watch them unload luggage

 

[Edd]

It will start adding up? It has been adding up for years. You don't really notice until you get in a busy season and the full busses don't move around so fast, slowing down the busses headed back to the airport to continue to pick up.

SW, from PIT, landed at 10:08. Received a call from passenger just stepped out of plane 10:15. Passenger met at bottom of escalator at 19:29. Two adults and no bathroom stop. 14 minutes from plane to baggage

 

[dudspizza]

SW, from PIT, landed at 10:08. Received a call from passenger just stepped out of plane 10:15. Passenger met at bottom of escalator at 19:29. Two adults and no bathroom stop. 14 minutes from plane to baggage

Holy cow! 9 hours and 14 minutes from plane to baggage..... they must have taken the long way!

Just kidding, Edd. I know you meant 10:29........

Duds

 

[Edd]

Hey, thanks for correcting me. You are right they were down at 1029.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually got an earlier flight down on Sunday...yippee for me. When we got to MCO, it took about 15 mins from gate to DME area...arrived JB, on Side A. We got lucky and got right on a tram. Didn't have to stop at the counter...got waved on to the bus line...where we waited for about 15 mins, not making me a terribly happy camper. About 10 mins on the bus, waiting.
Our driver, Jose, was terrific...he was a hoot, and yes, he got a tip from us even though he never touched a bag. There was little luggage to be stowed which was nice.
I don't have an issue with those who bring luggage with them....but not two pieces per person in the family. But, that's just me.
Off to bed..my poor feet aren't used to all this walking around.

 

[CleveRocks]

We have been waiting 40 min and still no bus. Only 3 buses outside and no magic here at all.

I'm sorry you didn't have the experience you hoped for. But, and I know this from experience, you NEED to adjust your expectations when traveling ANYWHERE during the busiest travel day of the year.

I guarantee you that any mode of transportation was going to take you longer on that day than on most other days.

The lesson is to anticipate delays on such days, and make the choice to either accept the delays or make alternate plans. For example, I HATE HATE HATE HATE traffic. On the day before Thanksgiving I was heading from the Atlantic City area (home) down to Baltimore. Normal driving would necessitate that I travel towards Philadelphia and then go south on I-95. The I-95 corridor is infamous for terrible delays during any holiday time. So instead, we paid about $50 to take a ferry from nearby Cape May, NJ to rural Delaware, and then drive across rural Delaware and then into rural Maryland, then sneak up to Baltimore without using I-95. I succeeded in not having to deal with traffic.

On the way back home on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, for various reasons we were unable to take the ferry. I knew in advance that I'd encounter terribler traffic on I-95. Instead of being angry or disappointed or frustrated, I just sat in traffic and had my blood pressure stay normal because I expected the delay. It is normal for delays on that day on that road. If you expect it, it's no longer a negative thing.

I think it's reasonable to expect that DME would take longer than normal on the day before Thanksgiving. I wouldn't think it's a joke if it took longer than normal on that day. I'd call it normal for that day!

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm not GETTING my own bag, I never checked it in the first place. So how could I use the luggage component if I never checked a bag? I'm flying United this week and they will charge me $20 each way to check the bag so I'd prefer to carry it. Never occurred to me to feel guilty because I'm holding everyone else up while the driver gets my bag out of the bus - if I took it on the bus it would just be in the way of someone who wants to sit down. I think it's amazing how the folks on the bus are thinking that they don't want to wait a couple minutes while the luggage gets unloaded. Find me in the tequila bar and I'll buy you a margarita to make up because I'm still saving 40 bucks over your two minutes.

 

[dburg30]

I'm not GETTING my own bag, I never checked it in the first place. So how could I use the luggage component if I never checked a bag? I'm flying United this week and they will charge me $20 each way to check the bag so I'd prefer to carry it. Never occurred to me to feel guilty because I'm holding everyone else up while the driver gets my bag out of the bus - if I took it on the bus it would just be in the way of someone who wants to sit down. I think it's amazing how the folks on the bus are thinking that they don't want to wait a couple minutes while the luggage gets unloaded. Find me in the tequila bar and I'll buy you a margarita to make up because I'm still saving 40 bucks over your two minutes.

Nope in your case, I have no issues, you have carry ons, you have to, well carry them on. They are small and easy to move around, as I posted in another thread recently it's when you have families with lots of full size luggage that is more a 'sore spot' to me. But if I'm ever there an find you at that point I'll take the margarita, but without the margarita mix And yes, before you post it, if everyone on the bus has a carry on that needs to go under the bus, so be it, again, you dont have an option to use the luggage part.