Pick up inlaws at MCO or have them use DME

[OneMoreTry]

For our upcoming trip to WDW my family is driving and DMIL and DFIL are flying from Memphis. We are staying at OKW. I have to decide whether to have them use DME or pick them up at the airport. Obviously, I would rather not drive to the airport -- I want to ride EE, but on the other hand Webmaster Doc posted a while back about a looong trip on the bus to OKW from MCO, and I don't want the inlaws' trip to start like that.

Should I have them use the DME or not? Any opinions?

Doc, what would you say?

 

[rigsby25]

I would go ahead and pick them up if I were you. It's really not that hard and it will be so much easier for them. If they are your guests, I am guessing that they aren't as familiar with the set up as you might be.

 

[DVC Grammy]

IMO, DME would be the way to go.
On various trips, we have used it to go to each of the DVC resorts, except BCV, and have never had a problem. The waits and the rides have never been very long, and the drivers have been courteous. Before DME, we'd use Mears or other transportation services, and the time factor, once the baggage claiming is factored in, isn't enough NOT to use DME.
And this way, you can do EE while they're being taken care of!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Im sorry, but as long as ME is included, I will not be driving to and from the airport I avoid that drive like the plague!
With flight and luggage delays, you could spend alot more time than planned waiting around. With ME, their carriage awaits, not you. They wont need to handle their luggage and if it gets lost or delayed, they will deliver it to the hotel. I thought the service was pretty efficient and you can always meet their bus with some nice cool drinks from Hank's

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our guests have been using DME and it's worked like a charm. Now, we tend not to rent a car either.

Bobbi

 

[castleri]

We did this last September and rhe bus part worked just fine. The only problem came because they had given me the money for their DDP and we were going to put it on my credit card. We didn't get back to the resort before they got there so they had to wait to get their rooms keys. They had a separate room from us. I tried to do it over the phone while on the bus back from the MK but the people at the desk didn't think to tell them it was all set. It all worked out in the end and I would not hesitate to do it again. I am assuming your inlaws are not disabled or in need of assistance at the airport. Just make certain they get their ME information so they can follow the directions. Last Sept they were on the A side of the terminal and in Dec they were on the B so tell them to read the directions carefully. Are you all arriving the same day? You may want to leave their room keys at the desk for them to pick up if you are all in the same room just in case you are delayed getting back from EE.

 

[VrBchJ]

I faced this same choice in Dec. I decided to let my brother and his wife take DME while I went to the parks with my niece and her family. My brother arrived at OKW within a little more than an hour of arrival at MCO and met us at Epcot. Worked like a charm.

 

[goldilocks_63]

DME unless their is a medical issue.

I will however check in and get them their room keys, etc. so as to save them that time...

and have them call me when they are on the ME bus, so I can meet them at the resort.

Otherwise, you'll lose 1/2 day doing taxi service.

Goldi

 

[calgarygary]

You haven't indicated your inlaws age and I think that is a very important factor. If they are fairly young - 40's/50's and have no medical issues, let DME deal with it but I think it would be a nice gesture to meet them at their resort. If they are getting up there, I think that the sheer size and volume at MCO can be intimidating and that they should be met once they've cleared the security area.

 

[OneMoreTry]

You haven't indicated your inlaws age and I think that is a very important factor. If they are fairly young - 40's/50's and have no medical issues, let DME deal with it but I think it would be a nice gesture to meet them at their resort. If they are getting up there, I think that the sheer size and volume at MCO can be intimidating and that they should be met once they've cleared the security area.

They are in their 60's, but DFIL spends a lot of time in airports. He probably flies 30 weeks a year or more and is in and out of MCO on occasion. My only concern is the comfort and efficiency of the accomodations. I don't want them to have a siginificant frustration level because the service is not run properly.

 

[CleveRocks]

The service is run very well, and is so popular with guests and Disney management alike that even though it was initially supposed to end in the Fall of 2006 it was extended through at least the end of 2011.

You read one post about a difficult experience. There have been over 4 million users of DME since it started. It's very rare to start a thread called "DME worked out just fine," just like it's very rare to start a thread that says, "Housekeeping cleaned my room when they were supposed to" or "I waited in line for Space Mountain for 20 minutes and the ride didn't break down and we had fun."

What I'm saying is, when something opreates like it's supposed to, no one takes notice and no one starts conversations about it. So please don't let one bump in the road make you think the whole set up is poorly run.

I think DME is great because you can totally skip baggage claim. There's a great convenience right there. The average reported time from airplane to resort drop-off is 70 minutes. If they have to wait for their luggage and then meet you, it's not going to be substantially shorter for them. The two times I used DME, I timed it. The first time (on the 4th day it was running) it took me 63 minutes from exiting the airplane to being dropped off at CBR. The next time, it took 56 minutes from exiting the airplane to being dropped off at OKW's neighbor, POFQ.

 

[calgarygary]

As your FIL is familiar with MCO I think that DME is the way to go.

 

[goofy4tink]

Absolutely have them use DME! Sounds like they are airport literate so won't be overwhelmed by MCO. The DME system works like a charm. Have them tag their luggage with the yellow tags, then they won't have to worry about going to baggage claim for it. They can just head right to DME checkin area, get in line for the bus and they should be at the resort in about an hour or so after deplaning. The buses are very nice, clean and comfy. Just like tour buses.
I would plan on being back at the resort at their checkin time though. Things can crop up then that you can take care of if you are there.