SWA and DME?

[Schucraig]

I was on the phone with CRO yesterday and I asked about the yellow DME tags. I know SWA is not one of the participating airlines. She told me to put the tags on the bags. She stated that sometimes DME will pick up your bags for you even if I am flying SWA. She also said to go to baggage claim either way to make sure. Has anyone ever had DME take thier bags off SWA?

 

[safetymom]

Every airlines participates in DME upon your arrival at Orlando International. It is your return trip you may have to take the luggage with you on the bus. There is a sticky at the top of this board you may want to read.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Don't worry. I've used DME tags on my bags 3 times with SW and had them delivered every time.

Have a great trip!

 

[CleveRocks]

I was on the phone with CRO yesterday and I asked about the yellow DME tags. I know SWA is not one of the participating airlines. She told me to put the tags on the bags. She stated that sometimes DME will pick up your bags for you even if I am flying SWA. She also said to go to baggage claim either way to make sure. Has anyone ever had DME take thier bags off SWA?

The person you spoke with was VERY confused.

First off, I strongly encourage you to read the sticky at the top of this Forum that addresses what "participating airline" means.

In short, as long as you have a DME reservation, EVERY person who arrives at MCO on EVERY airline gets EXACTLY the same DME services -- a bus ride and automatic luggage delivery to the inside of your resort room whether you are in there or not. Go ahead -- put on those DME tags, and when you land at MCO skip baggage claim, go to the DME Welcome Center, and see your checked bags a few hours later INSIDE your resort room.

"Participating airline" ONLY has to do with your return trip from your resort to MCO at the end of your vacation. Since SWA is not a participating airline with Resort Airline Check-in (which, technically, is a separate service from DME), you will need to get your own bags to the DME bus, where the driver will load them under the bus, then return them to you when you arrive at MCO for your flight home, and you take care of them from there.

We've read evidence on DISboards over the past year or so that CRO is a HIGHLY UNRELIABLE source of information on DME.

Please read the sticky (there are a few of them that apply!), and post back any specific questions you may have -- there are a lot of us here who've successfully and happily used DME and understand the system. Also, if you need to ask Disney any more questions about DME, don't call CRO. Deal with DME directly -- 866-599-0951.

 

[CleveRocks]

Thought you might also find this interesting. A few months back, someone who seemed very much "in the know" posted the following info about the process for handling/delivering DME luggage, which is ALL done "behind the scenes." I changed some of the language/grammar, but it's all his info, not mine:

Most of the major airlines drop off DME-tagged luggage at designated drop off points where they are then picked up by a different contractor and taken to a sorting facility. These drop off points are supervised by Disney CM's.

Not all airlines use the drop off points. Many of the smaller ones just put the bags on the conveyors. There are Disney CM's working behind the carousels pulling the yellow tagged bags off and setting them aside to be picked up and taken to the sorting facility, BEFORE they ever make it out onto the public baggage claim carousels.

There are Disney CM's assigned to every airline to catch the bags that the airlines missed taking to the drop off point. They also check every unclaimed bag against a manifest to insure that the bags are found even if by chance the guest forgot to put on the tag or it fell off (highly unlikely).

DME luggage tags have barcodes on them. All of the bags are scanned when they get to the sorting facility, again after they are put in a cage and again when the cage is put in a truck. That's 3 scans so far.

The DME luggage delivery trucks all have GPS devices and their location can be pinpointed at any time.

The bags are scanned again when they arrive at the resort and again when taken to a guest's room. That's 5 separate barcode scans during the luggage's journey from airport to resort room.

Disney is well aware of where the bags are at all times.

 

[Schucraig]

Thanks so much for clarifying! The sticky at the top also helped. I just got confused when she told me sometimes they get the bags but, you should go to baggage claim anyway. I didn't feel like running all around the airport! Thanks again for the help!

 

[Luv2CDisney]

We flew SW on 9/21 and used DME. It was great all our bags got there no problem. My parents flew in on Continental and they used DME for their luggage for arrival and departure. The bags got to where they were supposed to.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

As far as arrival, DME is the same for all airlines.

Departure is a different deal. You cannot pre-check your bags at the resort with the Airline Check-in, so you have to do it at the SW counter. Also, the DME drop off is at one end of the terminal and SW is at the very other end, so it would be nice if DME would make a 2nd stop so that you're not hauling your bags all that way.

 

[lovesdumbo]

As far as arrival, DME is the same for all airlines.

Departure is a different deal. You cannot pre-check your bags at the resort with the Airline Check-in, so you have to do it at the SW counter. Also, the DME drop off is at one end of the terminal and SW is at the very other end, so it would be nice if DME would make a 2nd stop so that you're not hauling your bags all that way.

Yes, it is a very long walk.

We used a sky cap who was waiting at the ME bus stop. He took all our bags to the counter and even checked our bags in for us. I think we gave him $10-we had 3 checked bags but he also put our carryon on the cart for the long walk too. It was well worth it and I would definately do it again.

 

[sluggo]

Thought you might also find this interesting. A few months back, someone who seemed very much "in the know" posted the following info about the process for handling/delivering DME luggage, which is ALL done "behind the scenes." I changed some of the language/grammar, but it's all his info, not mine:

Most of the major airlines drop off DME-tagged luggage at designated drop off points where they are then picked up by a different contractor and taken to a sorting facility. These drop off points are supervised by Disney CM's.

Not all airlines use the drop off points. Many of the smaller ones just put the bags on the conveyors. There are Disney CM's working behind the carousels pulling the yellow tagged bags off and setting them aside to be picked up and taken to the sorting facility, BEFORE they ever make it out onto the public baggage claim carousels.

There are Disney CM's assigned to every airline to catch the bags that the airlines missed taking to the drop off point. They also check every unclaimed bag against a manifest to insure that the bags are found even if by chance the guest forgot to put on the tag or it fell off (highly unlikely).

DME luggage tags have barcodes on them. All of the bags are scanned when they get to the sorting facility, again after they are put in a cage and again when the cage is put in a truck. That's 3 scans so far.

The DME luggage delivery trucks all have GPS devices and their location can be pinpointed at any time.

The bags are scanned again when they arrive at the resort and again when taken to a guest's room. That's 5 separate barcode scans during the luggage's journey from airport to resort room.

Disney is well aware of where the bags are at all times.

CleveRocks,

Whenever I see this quoted, I always wonder what was wrong with my grammar.

Sluggo

 

[CleveRocks]

CleveRocks,

Whenever I see this quoted, I always wonder what was wrong with my grammer.

Sluggo

I'm so glad you identified yourself!!! I hadn't saved your name in the word processor, but from now on I certainly will give you credit.

The listing you gave in your original post was numbered, and answered some other questions as well intermingled with the above, so I deleted the numbers as well as the info not related to the question, and doing so necessitates some minor tweaks. I know, I know, you were joking and here I go with a long-winded, serious answer ....

But seriously, thanks for reminding me of your name!!!