The Magical Express Kidnapped my Son...Sorta, LOL!

[Thumper4me]

We also had an interesting ride on DME a few years back. He must have been an inexperienced driver as well. He turned the wrong way out of CBR intending to head to The Boardwalk Inn (our destination). He got so turned around, we ended up at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I finally asked him if he was lost. I gave him directions on how to get back to The Boardwlk.
That was the lognest ride I have ever had from the airport to Disney - 1 and 1/2 hours!!

Hopefully it will be better the next time.

We now only take ME back to the airport. We rent a car the first day and do our grocery shopping and some running around and then turn the car in at the Dolphin after we are finished running around.

 

[Hisgirl]

We also had an interesting ride on DME a few years back. He must have been an inexperienced driver as well. He turned the wrong way out of CBR intending to head to The Boardwalk Inn (our destination). He got so turned around, we ended up at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I finally asked him if he was lost. I gave him directions on how to get back to The Boardwlk.
That was the lognest ride I have ever had from the airport to Disney - 1 and 1/2 hours!!

Hopefully it will be better the next time.

We now only take ME back to the airport. We rent a car the first day and do our grocery shopping and some running around and then turn the car in at the Dolphin after we are finished running around.

Our family used ME again this morning. The bus stopped 7 times and took 2 hours 15 minutes to get to the airport. Our DD barely made the flight, once security was added in. While yes, they made the flight, there was no time to spare...and with four little ones in tow, that makes for a very stressful adventure.

Based on our experiences this trip, we'll be renting a car from this point forward.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our family used ME again this morning. The bus stopped 7 times and took 2 hours 15 minutes to get to the airport. Our DD barely made the flight, once security was added in. While yes, they made the flight, there was no time to spare...and with four little ones in tow, that makes for a very stressful adventure.

Based on our experiences this trip, we'll be renting a car from this point forward.

7 times? Really? I have a hard time believing that. That sounds like a big exaggeration. At most DME buses are supposed to make 4 stops. At most. If it indeed made 7 something very strange was going on. Not to mention, if it made 7 stops it would have taken longer than 2 hours 15 minutes to get to the airport.

I'm beginning to wonder if your son just doesn't like DME and is telling you all of this in the hopes of you deciding to rent cars in the future.

I want to add if it really was 7 stops (and I wouldn't believe it until they were all listed out) then you need to write Disney and complain. That is way out of line!

 

[Hisgirl]

7 times? Really? I have a hard time believing that. That sounds like a big exaggeration. At most DME buses are supposed to make 4 stops. At most. If it indeed made 7 something very strange was going on. Not to mention, if it made 7 stops it would have taken longer than 2 hours 15 minutes to get to the airport.

I'm beginning to wonder if your son just doesn't like DME and is telling you all of this in the hopes of you deciding to rent cars in the future.

I want to add if it really was 7 stops (and I wouldn't believe it until they were all listed out) then you need to write Disney and complain. That is way out of line!

Actually, my son's 2+ hour arrival trip that involved the driver insisting FW did not exist was a separate situation. This morning was our 37 yr old DD with her family. (The bus picking them up this morning was 12 minutes late.)

She contacted us, texting.."we are at our seventh stop" Then later, we got another text saying "I don't know how many more stops we are going to make but I'm worried".

She is not one to ever complain or exaggerate and notices every detail. If she said seven, it was seven.

I agree with your sentiment that these occurrences seem very un-disney like. It may all be due to the outsourcing to Meers.

 

[maxiesmom]

Actually, my son's 2+ hour arrival trip that involved the driver insisting FW did not exist was a separate situation. This morning was our 37 yr old DD with her family. The bus picking them up thus morning was 12 minutes late.

She contacted us, texting.."we are at out seventh stop" Then later, we got another text saying "I don't know how many more stops we are going to make but I'm worried".

She is not one to ever complain or exaggerate and notices every detail. If she said seven, it was seven.

I agree with your sentiment that these occurances seem very un-disney like. It may all be due to the outsourcing to Meers.

I may be wrong, but I always thought DME was run by Meers.

Don't get me wrong, I've had bad experiences on DME too. My last ride back to the airport was a doozie as well. We were just getting on to the highway when the driver was radioed to go back to a resort to pick up a wheelchair. But the good experiences far outweigh the bad.

And I still can't wrap my mind around 7 stops. That is insane. I am curious as to what resorts they went to, as that was quite the trek around WDW property,.

 

[Hisgirl]

We just spoke with DD and her DH. They both said the bus did not stop at seven stops.

It stopped at eight.

The last time, though, it turned around and went back to the same resort, even though no one got on either time.

They called out the names and descriptions of the stops. So yes, seven resorts, eight stops. I'm just glad they got home safely!

 

[Gracie09]

Who cares what they think? We've sat and waited for a DME bus for an hour before. Not because of any problem, just that we've accomplished everything we had planned and couldn't squeeze anything more in. So we sit outside and wait. I don't remember any strange looks much less comments.

This. Although I am admittedly early for everything. I hate hate hate being late and tend to arrive early of things and will wait if need be