Strange question about DME

[Tozzie]

The same statement also says you have to use the luggage feature to ride the DME bus unless I don't understand English well enough. There are more passegers carrying their own luggage to the bus.

No it doesn't, In the description of DME service it states to bypass baggage claim but it doesn't expressly prohibit getting your own luggage, on the other hand DME expressly states you must ride the motor coach to use the luggage delivery service.

 

[NJR]

Your children will be put into a baby seat and you will feel the confidence your child is much safer and riding in the way he rides normallly at home....

On return the car service will pick you up 2 to 2 1/2 hours before your departure time..... It is so much nicer when you walk outside the hotel and the driver greets you, escorts you to his car and you get in and head to the airport.

The following comments are based on my own experience last week -

1/ I did request a car seat for my 3 year old, and then needed to convince my return driver that it was actually required - he was perfectly content to have DS (unlawfully) sit with just the seat belt, and only took the car seat out of the back of the van when DH and I insisted upon it. So yes, DS was in a seat the way he would normally be at home, but only after being given a bit of grief from our driver.

2/ (IMHO) *I* would never accept a pick-up time of two hours prior - that's cutting way too close, and does not give you much wiggle room if traffic backs up, or if you run in to long lines at check-in or through security. Which is why DH and I arranged with the driver to change our pick-up time to 3pm (2h45m prior), instead of their suggested 3:30... and was then left to cool my heels until 3:15 regardless of my arrangements.


My point? Car services are nice, I can't say I would never use one again, but certainly not as painless and trouble-free as some may portray. And if DME had been an option last week (staying elsewhere, so it was not), I would have chosen DME over the car service, even with my 16 month old and 3 year old sons.

Cheers to OP, enjoy your vacation

 

[Edd]

Why don't you tell me what car service company you contacted and used. Don't contact me just post it on the boards. Is is okay to put their name on the disboards and that will alert all those who are contemplating using car service companies to stay away from the one you used. The company may have made it difficult for you, but there is no sense in making the whole car service industry suffer for stupidities caused by one.

I will look forward to seeing the name of the company and date you used them and might just get in touch with them and advise them of their mistake.

 

[OntFamily]

Luggage can appear magically in your room whether you use car service, rental car or the DME. As long as it arrives into MCO aboard an airline. Of course there are those who don't trust the luggage part of the DME and choose to pick up and carry their luggage with them.

And if the airline loses your luggage, DME will assist in finding it (as long as you checked into their service, upon arrival @ MCO). However, if you did not check in with DME at Orlando airport, they will not be looking for your luggage. So, if your airline loses the luggage you'll be on your own (plus you won't realize the luggage is lost, until several hours after you leave Orlando airport). How do you explain to your airline that you left the airport (with your car service) and didn't wait for your bags?

 

[Edd]

The above statement is completely undocumented.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

Getting back to the point about the buses speeding, I don't sit in a seat that allows me to see the speedometer, but I've never felt that the ME drivers were driving at unsafe speeds. I've always felt that the driver was in control at all times and I don't have any concerns about taking ME to and from WDW.

Now, I have seen plenty of limos and towncars passing the ME buses, so if I was concerned about speeding, I'd be more concerned about that.

I'm not saying that the car services aren't safe, but if you're insinuating that the buses are speeding, let's not think the cars and SUVs aren't.

 

[Edd]

I didn't infer the busses were speeding as I duly noted the speed limit is 65 and the busses are governed at 70. I did not mention they were speeding or breaking any speed limits. I noted the speed of the Mears busses on the highway, with the relatively inexperienced drivers, and compared to the speed of the Disney busses in the park with the Disney drivers. Some argue the busses in the parks are in as much danger as the busses on the highway. I disagree because of the speed and experience factors involved.

Some car service drivers do have a tendancy to go above the speed limit. My normal speed is between 60 - 70 on the highway. I usually set the cruise just shy of 70 mph. I have passed busses and I have had busses pass me. If they go by me to fast I have the number to Mears Transportation Safety and usually report the bus number to them. So I am well familiar with the busses on the road.

 

[goofy4tink]

The above statement is completely undocumented.

I know that when I check in, at the DME counter, they ask me how many bags I have checked using the yellow tags. One time, after I had given them the number of bags checked, I asked the CM why they needed that info. She told me that if they scanned the bags and they could only account for most of my bags, they would then have to start looking to see where the missing one(s) were. That I didn't need to worry about it, they would take care of it...just part of the service, so to speak.

Now, I can't say for sure if that's really what happens or not. But why would they ask for info otherwise?? THey can't check for bags that they don't know they don't have.


You know...I have had less than stellar service by almost every towncar company I have used. With FL Tours we had to go looking for them..they were not in the airport when we arrived (outside smoking), they weren't at our resort, where they should have been for the return to MCO...they were way down by the bus stop, having a smoke!!! Then there was the fateful trip where we were denied a grocery stop because it was Thanksgiving morning, even though I had been reassured that the holiday wouldn't impact my stopping...there would be smaller stores open during the day. But the driver refused to stop for us.
Or my ride from BWV to Universal with a compnay that 'shall not be named' here...they decided that it would be better for them if they picked us up half an hour later, to return to BWV at the end of our afternoon...seems they had to be there at that time and didn't want to have to make a 'special' trip for us...so we had to take that later time (which they informed us of that morning when picking us up!!), which made us have to scramble for our dinner plans that night.
Or the time I used that company again, and when they returned to pick me up at the Dolphin, refused to tell me the name of the passenger he was looking for. He kept saying 'You, you're my passenger.' I was more than a bit hesitant to get in the car, which had no company name on it, just because this guy said I was his passenger. When I asked him how he knew it was me, he told me that he had dropped me and my friend off there when we arrived, and that he had then dropped off my other friend at BW...where we were now headed to get her as well. THat was really off putting to me.

Not every towncar service provides perfect service, every time. There is even a difference depending on the driver you get.

 

[Edd]

The reason many of the CM's ask for the number of pieces of luggage, and they don't always ask for the luggage pieces is so if you arrived at the resort and came up with a bag missing they could look into your record and see how many you claimed at the airport. That prevented you from reporting more bags than you reported at the airport. I am told this has not been a problem, as far as someone claiming bags they didn't have.

You don't suppose they use the number you claim at the airport to match up against the number they receive for your room. Haven't really found out from that side.

The practice of getting that information has been de-emphasized since in busier times you are escorted straight to the busses without checking in at the desk.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't know Edd...I was asked about my bags when I got there in Dec, last month. And I was directed right to the bus line after giving them my checked bag number...no waiting in the line, just right to the bus.

 

[OntFamily]

The above statement is completely undocumented.

By who??

If you feel it is wrong, state what you believe is wrong.

 

[Edd]

My answer came from the Disney station manager about two years ago and I am sure I put it on the disboards, when she told me. Not the de-emphasizing answer just the fact that the luggage information was a double check on the luggage coming into Disney and the luggage claimed by passengers should that happen.

Look at it this way. If the luggage count was really important why does Disney continue to operate when they don't get the luggage count from those who use other means of transportation.

Has Disney stated they will not not look for luggage if you do not ride the DME and your luggage is tagged. I haven't seen any statements to that effect. I don't think Disney is having any problems with its luggage delivery. It is a very effective and helpful benefit.

 

[OntFamily]

My answer came from the Disney station manager about two years ago and I am sure I put it on the disboards, when she told me. Not the de-emphasizing answer just the fact that the luggage information was a double check on the luggage coming into Disney and the luggage claimed by passengers should that happen.

Look at it this way. If the luggage count was really important why does Disney continue to operate when they don't get the luggage count from those who use other means of transportation.

Has Disney stated they will not not look for luggage if you do not ride the DME and your luggage is tagged. I haven't seen any statements to that effect. I don't think Disney is having any problems with its luggage delivery. It is a very effective and helpful benefit.

So, if you do not check in with DME (and not ride the DME bus) and hope your luggage arrives at your resort, what do you do if it doesn't?

What if American Airlines loses your luggage, and you don't realize this until AFTER you leave the airport? Will Disney find your luggage and handle your claim, if you didn't check in with DME? How will Disney even know you are using their service, if you do not check in.

Normal airline protocol requires you to file a lost luggage claim before you leave the airport (if you're using DME, DME does this for you). As Disney states the service does not provide "luggage only transfer" ( http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/airport-service/#subCategory1 ) I would not expect any guarantees that they be able to help you if you don't go on the bus, and the airlines loses your luggage. You may find a helpful cast member who will bend the rules and assist, but you may also find one who will not bend the rules (and you'll be out of luck in making a lost baggage claim).

 

[tjmw2727]

The practice of getting that information has been de-emphasized since in busier times you are escorted straight to the busses without checking in at the desk.

Used DME 4x in 2009 and once so fare in 2010.

We have always been asked how many bags we checked through with the yellow DME tags. Even when we by pass the DME desk and check in a the smaller kiosks at the "red carpet".

 

[Edd]

This is the word I got from the Disney Station manager at Orlando International 2 years ago. I talked to her face to face. The reason you are asked the number of bags that you tagged with the tags is so Disney has a double check on the number of bags you tagged in case you tried to claim more. I suspect that maybe the figure is checked when the bags arrive at the resort to confirm the exact number for each family, but wasn't told that. The number of bags do not have any effect on whether you ride the DME or not. Evidenced by the fact that many do not ride the DME and yet check the luggage all the way the resort with the yellow tags. Disney actually saves money when you don't ride their bus because they don't have to pay Mears and the airport for each person. The cost, to Disney, to transfer your luggage probably a couple of dollars per bag. The cost, to Disney, to transfer a family of five probably $100.00.

If your bags are tagged with the disney yellow tags they will get to Disney. Forget the hypotheticals for those who love to use them. Hypotheticals do not prove a thing and they do not provide adequate documentation to prove a thing. The opposite of hypothetical is facts.

 

[goofy4tink]

My answer came from the Disney station manager about two years ago and I am sure I put it on the disboards, when she told me. Not the de-emphasizing answer just the fact that the luggage information was a double check on the luggage coming into Disney and the luggage claimed by passengers should that happen.

Look at it this way. If the luggage count was really important why does Disney continue to operate when they don't get the luggage count from those who use other means of transportation.

Has Disney stated they will not not look for luggage if you do not ride the DME and your luggage is tagged. I haven't seen any statements to that effect. I don't think Disney is having any problems with its luggage delivery. It is a very effective and helpful benefit.

Yes...BUT.....the big 'if' is, what happens if an airline misdirects your bag (it happens). You haven't ridden the DME bus, but sent along your tagged bags to be shipped right to the resort so you don't waste time at baggage claim. Then, because you've been told your bags will arrive in your resort room, magically, so you don't need to wait around for them, you head off to a park for the day/evening. You return to your room to find that you have 3 of your 4 bags sitting there. Where is that 4th bag? Who knows.
While I can't say with any authority, I would imagine that if Disney had been informed that you checked 4 bags, but they only scanned and delivered 3 bags at the resort, some kind of search would have started. But..they need to know how many bags they should have delivered. If you tag your bags but then go to the resort in a rental car or car service, DME has no idea that you have a missing 4th bag.
And by the time you get back to your room, tired and ready for bed, and you find there to be a missing bag, what happens?? Not sure. But I do know there are time constraints as to how long you have to report a 'gone astray' bag with the airline.

And that's my point. IF you haven't checked in, there is no way for the baggage people to know how many bags they should be delivering to your resort for you. I still prefer that people tag those bags and then not ride the bus vs those who bring all their luggage with them. Bringing all that luggage slows down the 'magical' process for everyone else on the bus.

Just putting that out there for the simple fact that it can happen. No, it doesn't happen often. But, if you are that person who finds that they are missing their 4th bag, it is going to be very important to you, and it isn't going to matter one fig whether this happens a lot of not. It's happening to you and that's all that matters.

 

[Edd]

I would think at Disney the bags are delivered according to which bags are tagged for each room. Because the luggage delivery system is so efficient probably no one checks to see, or maybe they read the printout to see if there are so many bags in that room. I think this may be a moot detail because I am sure they get many printouts that do not show a number of bags for many rooms. The people that used a rental car didn't show up and report the number of bags going on the DME. If they even have a print out. They find four bags that go to 2426 than the four bags get delivered there. There may be a check on that, who knows other than the person setting up the luggage delivery to the rooms. The luggage delivery system is simple. I think maybe passengers want to make it sound so complicated.

If a bag gets mis-directed to JFK and it has the MCO sticker on it and the WDW sticker on it, it will get to MCO later in the day. I don't see why anyone worries about it. If both of the stickers are gone, consider the bag gone also. That is like the million or two chance you take. I would bet that more people give the number of bags they checked wrong, to Disney, than the number of bags come up missing from the DME in a months time. The tags don't come off to easily. I know someone will come up and say, "oh yes, I see them all over the luggage floors." If you didn't tag your luggage with the Disney yellow tags than you know it and you go to claim it missing when it soesn't show up at the carousels. It is really that simple.

If you do not have a bag that was tagged with Disney, they will help you look for it and epecially after you had other bags that went the same route. However there has never been anyone to write their experiences if this was the case. So why get stressed over something that has never happened. Personally I believe the writers who worry about this don't want anyone else to get an advantage over them or the decisions they make regarding riding or not riding on the DME. I think that is called envy. They certainly aren't worried about someone else getting messed up, they just want to make it look that way.

 

[Lewisc]

Ed--I agree with 99% of your point. No question Disney will deliver all yellow tagged bags. No question most "lost" bags wind up showing up on a later flight. Disney will get those bags delivered. Maybe later in the day or the next morning. No question some guests are told to board the bus without checking in at the DME desk and aren't asked how many bags they checked.

Some bags are lost and never found. Stolen. Handles rip off with the tags. Airlines require passengers make a preliminary notice of claim before leaving the airport. I don't what happens if a passenger waits 24 hours before notifying the airline. Disney doesn't want to be paying claims to passengers who picked up their bags at the carousel but claim the bags had yellow DME tags.

I'll speculate the biggest issue will be if the airline's computer shows the bag made it to MCO but Disney doesn't show the bag as being picked up by DME.

 

[goofy4tink]

I most certainly am concerned with someone's getting messed up. I have no horse in this race. I don't particularly care how guests get their bags to their resorts. It would seem to be those that do have a horse in this race that get all in a dither and start making comments about things being heresay only, and there is no evidence to back it up. That door goes both ways. We are told that people at the airport are talked to and then given what they have said. But we all know that a lot of misinformation is given out, by a lot of people.

I have seen posts here telling us about workers at airline checkin trying to take off the yellow DME tags, saying that they aren't needed at that juncture. Of course, the bags are going to MCO, so obviously they are needed. I have to wonder how many people have had this happen before and had their tags removed by unknowledgable airline employees.
I have a friend who just received her checked bag, from a trip that ended almost a month ago!! Her tags were all correct, but one of her bags went badly astray, thanks to the airline. It took over 3 weeks for her to get that bag returned.

Everyone...do what you want. Do what works best for your family, on that particular trip. We all know what Disney tells us if we call them. We also all know what happens if we ignore what Disney has told us and we do what we want to do, in the end. It's up to each person to make an informed choice. And that's what we try to do here...give out good info, based on personal experience.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ed--I agree with 99% of your point. No question Disney will deliver all yellow tagged bags. No question most "lost" bags wind up showing up on a later flight. Disney will get those bags delivered. Maybe later in the day or the next morning. No question some guests are told to board the bus without checking in at the DME desk and aren't asked how many bags they checked.

Some bags are lost and never found. Stolen. Handles rip off with the tags. Airlines require passengers make a preliminary notice of claim before leaving the airport. I don't what happens if a passenger waits 24 hours before notifying the airline. Disney doesn't want to be paying claims to passengers who picked up their bags at the carousel but claim the bags had yellow DME tags.

I'll speculate the biggest issue will be if the airline's computer shows the bag made it to MCO but Disney doesn't show the bag as being picked up by DME.

And with that I'll agree 100%! Thanks for the Readers Digest version of what I always try to say, but can't seem to do in few words!!