My (positive) DME Experience

[TimNDansMom]

I did finally receive my DME package, via Fed Ex, a few days before DS and I left, but I wasn't really worried because I had confirmed that we were in their system and we would have carry-on luggage for our 4 day trip.

When we arrived, a friendly DME CM directed us to the check in level. It took all of 5 minutes to check in and go and stand in the Pop Century line to wait for our bus. I noticed that there was lots of DME staff around. In no more than 10 minutes we were escorted to our bus, our carry-ons stowed underneath and we were on our way in about 5 minutes.

The only other resort on the bus was All Stars but POP was the first drop-off so I was quite happy about that.

The day before our departure home, DME left an envelope on our door telling us that our pick-up would be at 1:10pm for our 4:10pm flight. I also received a phone message informing me that there was a separate check in for SWA passengers on the level where we would be dropped off. I wonder if this is SW's version of "participating airline"?

We relaxed around our resort until it was time to go and then went to wait for the bus at the lobby front door.

We had been sitting just inside the lobby watching for the DME bus. A Mears bus pulled up and people who had been waiting outside started to load. Since there were now seats available outside, I decided to go out and wait.

I noticed that the passengers were giving the driver what looked strangely like DME vouchers so I decided to go over and check....and sure enough the Mears bus was loading DME passengers!! If I hadn't gone to check, we would have missed the bus!! I asked the driver why a specific DME bus hadn't come, he just said that they were running behind and he was sent, instead. When he pointed to a small sign in the corner of the front window, which I did not see from the side, I suggested that if Mears is going to be substituting for DME, they need to have better signage and on the side of the bus as well.

Anyway, all's well that ends well and as we were pulling out of Pop Century, there was a DME bus pulling in with passengers, so I wondered if we could have got on that bus if we'd missed the Mears bus??

It was great to be able to check in at the little SWA desk on the ground transportation level. We were assigned "B" boarding passes ~ I really wasn't too worried since my 20 yr old DS would have been fine if we couldn't sit together. (No problem getting window seats together, when we boarded.) When we went upstairs, there was a big line-up at the main SWA desk, so it was nice to bi-pass that.

All in all, I was quite happy with the DME service. I did tip the drivers and I noticed there were others doing it...not everyone...but I went prepared based on what I had read here. One thing to watch out for is that sometimes Mears may be substituted, it seems. Three hours was a little excessive to head for the airport but we discovered the food court, had a decent lunch and Krispy Kreme (sadly KK is not doing well here in Ontario and several have closed) donut for dessert and looked through the shops! I'd always gone straight to the gate and never explored that side of the airport before.

 

[jenndisney]

Glad to hear things are running better. I can not wait for my trip now!!!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Glad to hear your DME experience was positive.

Mears has been using DCL coaches, plain white coaches, and the black and yellow coaches as backup coaches for when they run short on the DME branded coaches. My GUESS is that they probably have more coaches on order that will get the DME paint job, but I do not know for sure.

I've noticed a lot of people mentioning the 3 hours. One should always plan to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to flight departure time, and being picked up 3hrs prior will allow for that, plus any additional stops the coach might make. Although some might not encounter lines, there can be some monstrous lines for security, as well as for some airline check in desks. (Most notably, the ever popular Southwest)

Speaking of that, it's interesting to hear about Southwest's auxilliary check in area. With the introduction of DME, my guess is that there are lots of 'mass dumps' of guests to the check in area, which would cause spurts of extremely long lines for Southwest.

I know in order to be a 'participating' airline, they must help out financially with the Resort Airline Check-in desk, and for the luggage transfers. So, that's why I was thinking SWA wouldn't become a participating airline. However, maybe Southwest will see that a remote check in area would help the congested airline terminals, helping both efficiency and thier costs.

Who knows.

 

[papopup]

TimNDansMom, Glad everything went wll for you and thanks for posting. I have a ? about the SWA check in, Since you got your boarding pass there does that mean they were also checking luggage? don't want to sound stupid, I just want to make sure all my ducks are in a row. Thanks for the info.