Please help me understand DME...i feel so dumb!

[ShellyMouse]

hi, my mom and i have a trip to wdw planned in september. i have been looking at flight prices, reading this board...just researching.

why is the DME so confusing to me!!!???? sorry, i haven't flown since i was 10

the 2 carriers out of detroit that are non stop are air tran and northwest. NW is a "participating" airline, air tran is not. can i still check my luggage with either and have it magically appear in my room, or only with NW?

what is this about only being able to check in at resort if you are flying a participating airline? don't you check in yourself at the airport? or is this a perk of DME, and it saves you from checking in at airport?? then i read something about you can only check in at resort if your airline has online check in.....

HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!! (and don't too much at me)

also.....feel free to tell me anything else you think i need to know!

thanks a ton!!

 

[Kae]

Basically it only effects your trip home. On the way there for either airlines put you DME tags on your suitcases & they will get to your resort. On the way home if you use Airtran you will have to take your suitcases on the bus(they load them under) & take them to the counter(or curbside if airtran has curbside?)& check in. With NWA they can be checked in at the resort & you do not have to do it a the airport yourself.

Kae

 

[Kae]

Also with either airline you might want to pack some stuff in a carryon It take a couple hours to get your suitcases at the resort. I think the average 2-3 sometimes more.

Kae

 

[goofy4tink]

Anyone flying/arriving into MCO and staying at a WDW owned resort is eligible to use DME. You will get two yellow luggage tags, per person, in your info packet. You will put a yellow tag on each piece of luggage you are checking at your home airport. Then, when you get to MCO, your tagged luggage goes directly from the plane to the DME truck and then to your resort. You head to the DME checkin desk and then board the bus to your resort. Your luggage will arrive anytime from 2-4 hrs later.
Now....your return trip home is where the whole 'participating' airline comes into play. If you are flying on one of these airlines, then you can head to the RAC desk at your resort, at least 3 hrs before you are to fly, they will tag your checked bags, print your boarding passes and you're good to go. When you get to MCO, you can head directly to security since your checked bags have gone on ahead of you right from the resort, and you already have boarding passes.
If you are not flying on one of the participating airlines, you will go to the DME bus stop, with your luggage at the appointed departure time. Your luggage will be put underneath the bus, and you handle it exactly the same as you normally would at the airport...head to the counter, checkin your bags, get your boarding pass and then head to security.

A few points.....if you plan on using the RAC desk, be aware that it closes down at around 2 in the afternoon. You can check in up to 12 hrs before your flight though, but not less than 3 hrs. before. The desks do open pretty early in the day....around 5 am. There can be a sizable line in the morning, so plan accordingly. Do not leave it till the last minute!!! Also, you do not need to be using DME for your return to the airport in order to utilize the RAC desk. YOu can have a rental car, or return to the airport via a towncar service. The RAC system really isn't a part of DME, so it can be used if you aren't riding back on the bus.

 

[ShellyMouse]

thanks so much!!! this helped a ton!

 

[salmoneous]

why is the DME so confusing to me!!!????

Because Disney made it confusing. It's not you - it's them. Great service. Poor naming and explanation. Actually 2 great services that Disney decided to use the same name for.

 

[bgirl29]

Hi ShellyMouse

I live just up the highway from you in Hudsonville. Did you know that NWA also has a direct fllight out of GR? I think it is only one time of day though.

Also Spirit Airlines and Delta can have direct flights from Detroit. At least that is what we found out when searching for flights last October.

 

[ShellyMouse]

hey bgirl29!! i was just in hudsonville last week.....my niece is a senior at west ottawa, and she is on the competative cheer team, you guys hosted an event.

i didn't know gr had a direct flight....i thought they all had layovers (i only want to take off once, and land once )....that would be GREAT!! i really didn't want to drive to detroit.

thanks alot, i will check it out!

 

[ShellyMouse]

Because Disney made it confusing. It's not you - it's them. Great service. Poor naming and explanation. Actually 2 great services that Disney decided to use the same name for.

thanks for making me feel better! i'm glad it's not me

goofy4tink made it crystal clear for me!

 

[bgirl29]

Hi ShellyMouse!

You are welcome! I hope the times work out for you. It is so much closer to drive to GR than Detroit.


bgirl