Skipping Magical Express Line??

[moonpie85]

Is it true that if you have your little book with you that you got in the mail with the DME tickets that you can SKIP the huge Magical Express Check In Line?

I just read that somewhere but it seems so hard to believe. We've always stood in that line with our book. Gosh, it will save so much time if we don't have to!

 

[Bobo912]

For the last few years when we've used ME, if you have the booklet you don't have to go to the counter. Just go directly to the queue for your resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

Do not automatically go to the bus line. There should be someone at the start of the DME checkin line....show them your booklet, they will ask if everyone has everything in order. If the answer is yes, you will then be directed to the bus line where your vouchers will be scanned.

I really don't think the checkin line is really long...only one time did I have a line that was humungous...PopWarner famlies arrived the same Sat morning we did...OMG!!! That line took 25 mins. Otherwise, I have only taken about 8-10 mins total in that line...start to finish.

 

[chuckml]

Do not automatically go to the bus line. There should be someone at the start of the DME checkin line....show them your booklet, they will ask if everyone has everything in order. If the answer is yes, you will then be directed to the bus line where your vouchers will be scanned.

I really don't think the checkin line is really long...only one time did I have a line that was humungous...PopWarner famlies arrived the same Sat morning we did...OMG!!! That line took 25 mins. Otherwise, I have only taken about 8-10 mins total in that line...start to finish.

We flew in on Pop Warner Saturday in 2009. The ME line was crazy. It was our first time using ME, and I thought I'd never do it again. Luckily, we got talking to some other people in line and they told us that it was the worst they had ever seen it and not normal at all. Flying in next Friday, and hoping for less people at the ME area.

 

[goofy4tink]

We flew in on Pop Warner Saturday in 2009. The ME line was crazy. It was our first time using ME, and I thought I'd never do it again. Luckily, we got talking to some other people in line and they told us that it was the worst they had ever seen it and not normal at all. Flying in next Friday, and hoping for less people at the ME area.

It truly was something to see...that line was back to the car rental counters. My friend got in line, I took a seat on the floor against a pole with our carryon bags. I've never seen anything quite like that before, or again!!! I think that might have been the same year we experienced it.

 

[moonpie85]

I really don't think the checkin line is really long...only one time did I have a line that was humungous...PopWarner famlies arrived the same Sat morning we did...OMG!!! That line took 25 mins. Otherwise, I have only taken about 8-10 mins total in that line...start to finish.

You are lucky then! Last two times we've gone we have waited in line an hour. First trip was only 5 minutes though. That was nice!

 

[goofy4tink]

You are lucky then! Last two times we've gone we have waited in line an hour. First trip was only 5 minutes though. That was nice!

Wow...that's truly unusual. I've used DME about 10 times...only once was there a line of longer than 10 people (that would be that 25 min wait) and only once did it take me longer than 70 mins, from gate, to my resort. That one time I was at Pop and the bus went to AKL first, rather than last as it usually did. Then made anothe stop. At each stop, prior to Pop, we had to sit and wait while the driver unloaded a ton of baggage from beneath the bus. It added at least 8-10 mins at each stop.

Generally speaking, I wait no longer than 5 mins in the checkin line, if I have to go there to begin with. Usually, the longest part of DME for me lately has been waiting in the bus line for close to 20 mins..that drives me nutty.

 

[moonpie85]

Wow...that's truly unusual. I've used DME about 10 times...only once was there a line of longer than 10 people (that would be that 25 min wait) and only once did it take me longer than 70 mins, from gate, to my resort. That one time I was at Pop and the bus went to AKL first, rather than last as it usually did. Then made anothe stop. At each stop, prior to Pop, we had to sit and wait while the driver unloaded a ton of baggage from beneath the bus. It added at least 8-10 mins at each stop.

Generally speaking, I wait no longer than 5 mins in the checkin line, if I have to go there to begin with. Usually, the longest part of DME for me lately has been waiting in the bus line for close to 20 mins..that drives me nutty.

It may be because we typically always go same week as Pop Warner.

 

[miprender]

Is it true that if you have your little book with you that you got in the mail with the DME tickets that you can SKIP the huge Magical Express Check In Line?

I just read that somewhere but it seems so hard to believe. We've always stood in that line with our book. Gosh, it will save so much time if we don't have to!

and I never understood why are the people standing in line? Is it because they forgot their book?

 

[Traveliz]

and I never understood why are the people standing in line? Is it because they forgot their book?

We have stood in line because we never got our book - that has actually happened to us a couple of times. Another reason would be if you didn't tag your luggage and wanted to drop off claim tickets so they could still get your luggage.

That said, the last 5-6 times I have been there has been someone right at the start of the line that checks to see if you have a book and if so sends you right toward the bus lanes...nice!

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

It may be because we typically always go same week as Pop Warner.

Most likely....that's about the only time I've sees that type line.

and I never understood why are the people standing in line? Is it because they forgot their book?

There are always going to be people that figure that they are safer by standing in the line...not sure why. Or, those who didn't get to tag their bags, for whatever reason, and have to give all that info to the CMs. Or, as already mentioned, those who never got vouchers, or who packed their stuff neatly in their checked bags. Yeah, I know, who is stupid enough to do that??? Me. Did it one time..idiot.

 

[iteachlit]

We used DME for the first time in June 2006. We had our booklet, but at that time (IIRC), everyone had to go to the counter to check in. At the counter, they verified baggage information, resorts and departure date/time.

When we went in 2007, the CM at the small stand (in the bus line area) checked that information and stamped our vouchers.

The past few trips (summer 2010 and earlier this month), the CM simply looked at the voucher and confirmed our destination, placing us in the correct line.

Perhaps when DME was rolled out, Disney and Mears wanted more checks and balances. Realizing that there were few problems, they have removed most of those, making the trip through the DME line much faster.

 

[drinkme]

Thanks for the info! I didn't know we could now skip the desk line. On our last trip in Nov 2008, the line for the desk was sooooo long. We've never seen it that long before.

Thanks again

 

[moonpie85]

Thanks for the info! I didn't know we could now skip the desk line. On our last trip in Nov 2008, the line for the desk was sooooo long. We've never seen it that long before.

Thanks again

Same here! Will be a true time saver for us now.

 

[SueM in MN]

and I never understood why are the people standing in line? Is it because they forgot their book?

The reason we stand in line is because we are traveling with someone with a wheelchair who needs a lift bus.
We arrange that ahead of our trip, but they need to verify everything for our return trip. If they don't send a lift bus and send a regular one instead for our return to the airport, we might miss our plane.

 

[miprender]

We have stood in line because we never got our book - that has actually happened to us a couple of times. Another reason would be if you didn't tag your luggage and wanted to drop off claim tickets so they could still get your luggage.

That said, the last 5-6 times I have been there has been someone right at the start of the line that checks to see if you have a book and if so sends you right toward the bus lanes...nice!

Liz

Most likely....that's about the only time I've sees that type line.


There are always going to be people that figure that they are safer by standing in the line...not sure why. Or, those who didn't get to tag their bags, for whatever reason, and have to give all that info to the CMs. Or, as already mentioned, those who never got vouchers, or who packed their stuff neatly in their checked bags. Yeah, I know, who is stupid enough to do that??? Me. Did it one time..idiot.

The reason we stand in line is because we are traveling with someone with a wheelchair who needs a lift bus.
We arrange that ahead of our trip, but they need to verify everything for our return trip. If they don't send a lift bus and send a regular one instead for our return to the airport, we might miss our plane.

Thanks everyone. I was never sure why there was always a line. But that might have been me then on this last trip waiting too since I started panicking on the plane that I had forgotten my folder with all my information. Luckily though I had packed in on my carryon

 

[seashoreCM]

The reason we stand in line is because we are traveling with someone with a wheelchair who needs a lift bus.
We arrange that ahead of our trip, but they need to verify everything for our return trip. If they don't send a lift bus and send a regular one instead for our return to the airport, we might miss our plane.

THis arrangement can be procrastinated upon until you get to the resort, if lines at the welcoming area are long. Be sure to re-verify all that on the DME confirmation you get at your room the morning before checkout. After that is done, DME is responsible for getting you to the airport on time when you are at the platform punctually.

Oh yeah, tomorrow or later somebody is going to come chiming in that you should set up a bus time more than 3 hours in advance* and then the rest of us will argue back and forth.

* Such a request is always granted and the earlier bus becomes your one and only assigned bus.