I see a lot of people posting their ME experiences so I thought I would add mine. Hubby and I we just doing a weekend thing so we didn't check any luggage, just took carryon. We were delayed out of Chicago on 5/13 for two hours and didn't get to Orlando until 12 am. We followed the directions on the ME packet and found the check in desk. We were directed to another line and were seated on a bus within 15 minutes. Some people did get their luggage and it was loaded on the bus pretty quickly. We actually rode in a Cruise Line bus (very nice) and luckily were the first resort to be dropped off (yay Pop). We were in our room by 1:15, not too bad. We didn't have checkedluggage but when we talked to others who arrived with us they received their checked luggage the next morning. Personally I would rather get my luggage in the morning then be woken up in the middle of the night. I always pack one days worth of clothes in my carryon so it wouldn't have been a big deal (first time I ever flew my luggage was lost, learned my lesson).
Now the way back, well I was a little upset about that. We received our letter that said there would be a bus at 4:10 am (7:15 am flight) and we should arrive 15 minutes early. We arrived at 4 am and checked out and went to wait for the bus. We sat, and sat, and waited and waited and more and more people showed up. We compared notes and each person had been given different times, 10 minutes from each other. Finally someone asked where the bus was and we were told it was on it's way. It finally showed up at 5:05 am and the driver said that he was to pick up the 4:40 people and that anyone with a time later was to wait because there was another bus coming. When the few of us with times earlier then 4:40 asked about the earlier buses, he said their weren't any. He was the first. Okay, so I was mad because I could have slept a lot longer. My guess is there is a computer that prints your letter based on your flight time and that early in the morning they aren't going to send buses every 10 minutes. We ended up getting to the airport with not a lot of time to spare. That was fine with me because I really don't like sitting in airports, but the fact that I sat for over an hour waiting for the bus was very frustrating. I wish they would just post a bus schedule, tell you a recommended time and let you take it from there. I know this probably wouldn't work during peak times, but would be fine for early mornings. Let me know that the bus will be there at 4:40 and recommend that for me, but allow me to make the final decision. I'm an adult and if I miss the bus it's my fault and I should suffer the consequences. Don't lie to me just so I'll be there on time.
So overall, I was very happy with the system and will use it again if we go while it's free. I just get cranky when I don't get enough sleep and there is no where open for me to buy a cup of coffee. I realize it's new and not everything is worked out but the cast members we talked too seemed pretty confident.
Now the way back, well I was a little upset about that. We received our letter that said there would be a bus at 4:10 am (7:15 am flight) and we should arrive 15 minutes early. We arrived at 4 am and checked out and went to wait for the bus. We sat, and sat, and waited and waited and more and more people showed up. We compared notes and each person had been given different times, 10 minutes from each other. Finally someone asked where the bus was and we were told it was on it's way. It finally showed up at 5:05 am and the driver said that he was to pick up the 4:40 people and that anyone with a time later was to wait because there was another bus coming. When the few of us with times earlier then 4:40 asked about the earlier buses, he said their weren't any. He was the first. Okay, so I was mad because I could have slept a lot longer. My guess is there is a computer that prints your letter based on your flight time and that early in the morning they aren't going to send buses every 10 minutes. We ended up getting to the airport with not a lot of time to spare. That was fine with me because I really don't like sitting in airports, but the fact that I sat for over an hour waiting for the bus was very frustrating. I wish they would just post a bus schedule, tell you a recommended time and let you take it from there. I know this probably wouldn't work during peak times, but would be fine for early mornings. Let me know that the bus will be there at 4:40 and recommend that for me, but allow me to make the final decision. I'm an adult and if I miss the bus it's my fault and I should suffer the consequences. Don't lie to me just so I'll be there on time.
So overall, I was very happy with the system and will use it again if we go while it's free. I just get cranky when I don't get enough sleep and there is no where open for me to buy a cup of coffee. I realize it's new and not everything is worked out but the cast members we talked too seemed pretty confident.
