Question about using Magical Epxpress vs. taxi?

[Stacerz4life]

Hi, I am staying at Pop Century and flyinging in with Airtran. Originally we were supposed to arrive late in the afternoon so I figured we would just use ME to get to the hotel and then go right to dinner (i planned a few hours inbetween for travel time) but airtran changed our flight time, which i was not happy with so i called and complained. Now we will be arriving at 930 am!!! (very happy about this) but I was just wondering if it would be best to stick with ME or should I use a taxi to get to the hotel.
I want to maximize our time on the first day since we will be arriving so early now...
If we do take a cab instead, what would the cost apporox. be from Orlando IA to Pop century??

thanks!

 

[CleveRocks]

Hi, I am staying at Pop Century and flyinging in with Airtran. Originally we were supposed to arrive late in the afternoon so I figured we would just use ME to get to the hotel and then go right to dinner (i planned a few hours inbetween for travel time) but airtran changed our flight time, which i was not happy with so i called and complained. Now we will be arriving at 930 am!!! (very happy about this) but I was just wondering if it would be best to stick with ME or should I use a taxi to get to the hotel.
I want to maximize our time on the first day since we will be arriving so early now...
If we do take a cab instead, what would the cost apporox. be from Orlando IA to Pop century??

thanks!

You really won't be saving any time. The time savings in using DME is not having to go to baggage claim and wait for your own luggage.

The average time from deplaning to resort drop-off via DME is 70 minutes. Let's say it takes you 10 minutes from airplane to baggage claim, then 15 minutes at baggage claim. The ride on any transportation to a WDW resort is going to be roughly 30 minutes. So if there are no baggage delays, you could be from airplane to resort in 55 minutes via taxi, at a cost of about $50.

Using DME, I went from airplane to POFQ in 56 minutes (10:00 p.m. flight arrival), and from airplane to CBR in 63 minutes (9:15 a.m. flight arrival).

Overall, a taxi won't save you any time, or at least not a substantial amount of time. A taxi or rental car or car service is a good option if you want to be alone and not surrounded by other guests, but they are not good options if your only objective is speed.

 

[Edd]

If you want to maximize your time at Disney the first day, put the Disney tags on your luggage and utulize a car service to meet you at the escalator or take a taxi. Your luggage will be in your room when you check in. You will save about 30 to 40 minutes and spend about $60.00 for a taxi or car service.

 

[mickeys papi]

it hit or miss how fast the service is
in oct we waited 10-15 min for a buss
in july we walked on the bus like it was waiting for us which was a great start to a great vaction
make you have what you need for the parks in your carry on so you don 't have to wait around for your luggage either way

 

[GEM]

If you want to maximize your time at Disney the first day, put the Disney tags on your luggage and utulize a car service to meet you at the escalator or take a taxi. Your luggage will be in your room when you check in. You will save about 30 to 40 minutes and spend about $60.00 for a taxi or car service.

I thought you couldn't use the luggage transport part of DME if you didn't ride the bus?

 

[Edd]

You are wrong. When you put the luggage tags on your bag the luggage is transferred to Disney automatically.

 

[sluggo]

Unless the DME tag falls off of your bag, then if you did not check in at the DME desk, you are at your resort without a bag.

Sluggo

 

[bab31]

Use ME

it works

use the money for a nice dinner!

 

[Kies99]

Use ME. WE did and it worked great.

We got into MCO about the same time in the morning. We were checked into POP and actually in our room by 11. We hopped a bus to DTD for lunch and shopping and back to POP for swimming/exploring early afternoon and the luggage was there in the room.

 

[Edd]

Sluggo,

I did some checking a couple of weeks ago and you know the CM's on the baggage floor are called to the airlines offices all the time to help identify lost bags. When a bag is not picked off the carrousel the airlines does it and piles them up, an airline official calls the CM's and they go through the baggage looking for Disney passenger bags. If such a bag is identified without a tag on it the CM's pick it up and send it to Disney. Yes they have the roster of the Disney passengers and they match that info with the information on the bag. From what I am told by the CM's I talked to, it is almost a flawless operation as there aren't that many bags that get missed and so that gives the working CM's a chance to check everything thoroughly. That includes those which may have lost the Disney tag, which if put on correctly will not come off unless the handle or the belt it may be wrapped on is ripped off also. Many times when that happens the baggage guys will match the handle with the luggage before it gets to far off because usually the handle also contains the airline and destination information tag, which is very important to the airlines.

Now that is my checking with the airline offices and the CM's I have made friends with while on the baggage floor. If anything is not right, that I have stated, than let me know. I have been watching for you, but no contact. I will be up there Thursday night on the B side United around 1830 so will watch. Maybe we can meet up.

 

[Jestocost]

You are wrong. When you put the luggage tags on your bag the luggage is transferred to Disney automatically.

While all evidence suggests that there are few, if any, problems with doing this in practice, the fact remains that the official policy—even if it isn't (or can't be) enfoced—is that DME is not to be used for luggage transfer only. It's clear in the FAQ on the Disneyworld.com site. The more people who ignore the rules, the greater the chance that limitations wind up being imposed on the DME service, IMO. Could never happen and I'm not going to depose a dozen cast members or airline baggage personnel to get their thoughts on it, but it makes practical sense to me.

 

[Edd]

I think we have gone through all the ifs, ands and buts in many previous threads. The luggage service is no longer an exclusive of Disney. Many hotels and groups are in the works to get luggage delivered for the passenger. Disney will probably not do anything to discourage the luggage only procedure because than the competition will point it out and hopefully use it for marketing the competition hotel services. I would start worrying about it when posters start reporting, the true facts, that Disney is charging for luggage services if you do not ride the DME. Otherwise use the DME and the Disney services to your convenience. You definitely pay enough for it.

I don't even think you have to worry about Disney charging for the DME service in the future because they just increased prices for all the theme parks another 6 percent which is beginning to price out central Florida residents. I am just waiting to see if Sea World and Universal are going along with the increases. If they don't that would be evidence that Disney is charging everyone using their services for the guests flying in and using the DME. Actually the Disney raise was very unexpected and so it will take the other parks a little time to follow up, if they do.

This 6 percent decision, speculation, may have proceded the decision on whether to charge for the DME beginning next year.

 

[bab31]

oops

 

[seashoreCM]

I thought you couldn't use the luggage transport part of DME if you didn't ride the bus?

You're almost correct. You may not use the luggage transport part of DME if you don't ride the bus.

Psst!
Currently:
1. It is easier for Disney to transport the yellow tagged luggage than not to.
2. It is easier for Disney not to transport you than to.

But again, if a glitch occurred with the luggage such as its being crushed in a conveyor belt at your originating airport, unpredictable things might occur if you tried to let Disney transport the luggage and you did not ride.

This 6 percent decision,.

OT: With the parks so mobbed, it is easy to raise the admission.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CleveRocks]

I am just waiting to see if Sea World and Universal are going along with the increases. If they don't that would be evidence that Disney is charging everyone using their services for the guests flying in and using the DME. Actually the Disney raise was very unexpected and so it will take the other parks a little time to follow up, if they do.

This 6 percent decision, speculation, may have proceded the decision on whether to charge for the DME beginning next year.

This is extremely flawed reasoning.

Let's say Disney DID raise ticket prices to pay for DME. If SeaWorld and Universal match that increase, then does that somehow negate the fact that Disney raised prices due to DME? Of course not.

The same goes the other way. If Disney raised prices just because they can, to make more money, then if SeaWorld and Universal decide not to match the increase it doesn't somehow negate the fact that Disney raised prices "just because."

What their competitors choose to do or don't choose to do can't turn back the hands of time and somehow change Disney's reason for doing something.

But this is what you said, that if the competitors don't go along with the increases then the competitors' decision is proof that Disney's price increase is strictly due to DME. Just poor reasoning ....

Maybe they increased the prices because they give annual raises to most CMs, and they have to recoup that loss somewhere.

Maybe their Central American chocolate supplier raised their prices by 10% due to increased cost of production and increased federal tariffs, and they have to recoup that loss somewhere.

Maybe their vacuum cleaner supplier had a major fire at their only factory and warehouse, and now Disney has to pay much more to another vendor for new vacuums and has to buy more new vacuums than usual because the old plant's spare parts went up in smoke, and they have to recoup that loss somewhere.

Maybe they increased the prices because Blue Bunny is paying them less in royalties to sell Disney ice cream novelties in supermarkets, and they have to recoup that loss somewhere.

Maybe Disney just raises their prices every year or so and has done so almost every year since they invaded your turf.

I fail to see how a price increase can be pinned on DME's existence. Disney has many sources of increasing expenses.

 

[Lewisc]

I expect the other parks will match Disney's price increase. Not matching the increase implies their parks aren't as good, although true, and there isn't any reason for Universal not to match. The difference is the other parks have much more aggressive discounts.

Back to the original point, POP is typically the first stop. Even if you follow Ed's suggestion your time savings is probably going to be less then 30 minutes, maybe 20 minutes. You'll have to decide if it's worth $50 (plus tip) to save 20 minutes.

DME desk sends a message to your resort. Your resort then assigns a ready room. Guests who take a cab, are behind DME guests in room assignments, even if the taxi guest arrives at the resort prior to the bus.

 

[Edd]

Cleve,

I did say it was speculation in my statement, but when expenses go above a certain percent in the P & L sheet than you have to find more income. Without a doubt, the biggest expense Disney faces right now is the DME and its supporting programs. They are not building parks, hotels on the grounds and in fact the employment is at its peak and shortly will be diminishing come August and September and schools start opening up for the new year. So why would they want an increase at the time of the year they have never had an increase before. Usually increases come around during the early part of the year, not mid-summer, at least that is what I can recall, and being in Central Florida I have seen many of them. I also watch as posters are trying to put a price on the DME beginning next year. I say, speculation, there will be no increase and Disney will continue the DME free for many years to come.

 

[Lewisc]

Ed--Disney also raised prices August 2006. Raising ticket prices twice a year is "a new tradition".

DME works because high passenger volume allows frequent dispatching of buses with few stops. Charging will lead to fewer passengers which will lead to reduced service which will in turn lead to even fewer passengers.

I'd expect Disney will start to charge for resort parking before they'll start charging for DME.

Cleve,

I did say it was speculation in my statement, but when expenses go above a certain percent in the P & L sheet than you have to find more income. Without a doubt, the biggest expense Disney faces right now is the DME and its supporting programs. They are not building parks, hotels on the grounds and in fact the employment is at its peak and shortly will be diminishing come August and September and schools start opening up for the new year. So why would they want an increase at the time of the year they have never had an increase before. Usually increases come around during the early part of the year, not mid-summer, at least that is what I can recall, and being in Central Florida I have seen many of them. I also watch as posters are trying to put a price on the DME beginning next year. I say, speculation, there will be no increase and Disney will continue the DME free for many years to come.

 

[sluggo]

Sluggo,

I did some checking a couple of weeks ago and you know the CM's on the baggage floor are called to the airlines offices all the time to help identify lost bags. When a bag is not picked off the carrousel the airlines does it and piles them up, an airline official calls the CM's and they go through the baggage looking for Disney passenger bags. If such a bag is identified without a tag on it the CM's pick it up and send it to Disney. Yes they have the roster of the Disney passengers and they match that info with the information on the bag. From what I am told by the CM's I talked to, it is almost a flawless operation as there aren't that many bags that get missed and so that gives the working CM's a chance to check everything thoroughly. That includes those which may have lost the Disney tag, which if put on correctly will not come off unless the handle or the belt it may be wrapped on is ripped off also. Many times when that happens the baggage guys will match the handle with the luggage before it gets to far off because usually the handle also contains the airline and destination information tag, which is very important to the airlines.

Now that is my checking with the airline offices and the CM's I have made friends with while on the baggage floor. If anything is not right, that I have stated, than let me know. I have been watching for you, but no contact. I will be up there Thursday night on the B side United around 1830 so will watch. Maybe we can meet up.

Edd,

When the airlines ask the DME CM's to check on a bag. They consult their manifest. If the name is one the manifest, they then contact the DME baggage office and ask them to verify that the guest is really a DME guest. They must do this because there are many times people have the same names and if DME takes the bag and it is not theirs, the airlines get very upset. When the DME CM calls to the DME Baggage office, the CM in the office also checks to see if the guest has checked in through the DME Arrival Desk. If so, the DME Baggage office CM has a new bag tag printed out on a printer located in one of the airline's baggage office. The DME CM then goes to that printer and gets the new DME tag (white) and puts in on the bag and sends it on to the resort. If the guest has not checked in through the DME Arrival center, the DME CM is told to leave the bag with the airline until the guest does check in.

Sluggo

PS. I'll try to meet you, but it all depends on how my workload is at that time.

 

[Edd]

Lewis,

Are you saying that if I go out to check into a full hotel with ten guests leaving that day, from my home, before 1500 hours all the guests who are arriving at the hotel and traveling DME will get the ready rooms and I will have to wait for a room to open up that is not snatched up by a Disney DME reservation at the airport, because they checked into the DME before I reached the hotel. Actually more passengers arrive after cleaning is complete than those who arrive while cleaning is going on.

I don't think that is the case. I think guests are assigned rooms as they arrive at the hotel to check in. What happens to the rooms if a guest riding DME comes in early in the morning (1000) and goes straight to the parks, not checking in. Will the resort hold that room until 2100 hours for the family to return. No, I think they will assign the room when the cleaning is officially done which is around 1200.

There again, I think this information is based on the fact that some veteran Disboarders want everyone to ride the DME no matter what. I don't think that way. The DME is there for those who want to use it. There should be no cohersion into making anyone think you have got to do certain things in order for you to enjoy the benefits of the DME. The only real restriction I have seen is that you must make a reservation to use the DME and that is so Disney can predict the busses and personnel needed to take care of the arriving traffic. I would like to have a buck for each person who has ridden the DME and had no reservation in at the time of arrival. Remember Disney also states if you are staying at a Disney resort, you are entitled to a free ride to and from the resort from MCO. That kind of goes against the "you have to have a reservation" statement.