della
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 6, 1999
- Messages
- 538
We arrived in Orlando last Wed (5/25/05). Our flight landed at about 5:15pm. We fly Spirit and usually take the shuttle to the other terminal, go down the escalator and pick up our luggage. Typically we hire a van/shuttle service to be waiting at the luggage carousel for us. We are a family of 6(sometimes more) and usually pay about $100-$150. for this. We did have a further walk than usual after we got off the shuttle to get to the ME area, but ME is free and free is worth the walk.
While DH checked in(about 20 mins because the computer went down), my 8 yr old talked with a cast member. She told the cast member that she was excited to be going to MK that night and looked forward to staying until 2am because of the EMH. The cast member laughed at her and said, "MK is never opened until 2am. The park usually closes at 10pm so you will be staying there until 11pm." My dd was disappointed but I assured her that my info came from the disboards and was probably more reliable. I was right and we had a great time at MK...until it closed at 2am, three hours after the 11pm scheduled time!
After dh checked in with ME, we were actually loaded on to the bus fairly qucikly. We were headed to Saratoga Springs and there was one other family was on the bus who were headed to Old Key West. We sat and waited about a half hour for more families to come. It seemed like hours to my 4 kids. Three more finally came that were headed to Port Orleans. Somewhere around 6:45pm we left the airport! Still, I kept reminding myself it is FREE!
We arrived at Saratoga Springs, quickly checked in and headed for MK. When we got back (around 3 am) all of our luggage was in the room waiting for us. I have no idea when it arrived, but it was nice to have it there and not have to call bell services to bring it to us at that late hour.
Two days before check out we had our ME departure info left on our door. It said we should be at our lobby by 12:15 pm on the day of departure. Our flight home was not until 6:45pm so dh called to inquire. Apparently they had us listed as going home on a 3pm flight (we came in on a 3pm flight). They said they corrected the mistake and we should be at the lobby by 3:45pm.
On the day of departure, dh went to bell services at 3:30. The luggage was promptly brought out and ready to go. DH and luggage were waiting curbside. I arrived with the kids at 3:40. We waited. No bus. At 4pm someone from bell services called Mears transportation (who runs ME). They(Mears) said the bus was there at 3:45 and no one was waiting. The bellman was annoyed and explained that no ME bus had come through all afternoon and that my husband had been waiting since 3:30. They said no problem the 4:15 bus will pick us up. At 4:25pm-still no bus. Bell services (pretty upset now) called again and arranged for a Mears van to pick us up. The van came very quickly and dropped us off right by Spirit curb side check in. From what I understand, we may have been better off than if the ME bus had picked us up. From what I have been told, we would have been dropped off at the ME area and would have needed to carry our luggage (9 pieces in all) plus 4 kids over to the Spirit check in. I am not sure how far the ME area is to Spirit. All is well that ends well. Our flight wound being delayed 2 hours so we were still there in plenty of time.
We will use ME again for our trip in December, again because it is free. But, if they were to charge I think I would feel differently.
While DH checked in(about 20 mins because the computer went down), my 8 yr old talked with a cast member. She told the cast member that she was excited to be going to MK that night and looked forward to staying until 2am because of the EMH. The cast member laughed at her and said, "MK is never opened until 2am. The park usually closes at 10pm so you will be staying there until 11pm." My dd was disappointed but I assured her that my info came from the disboards and was probably more reliable. I was right and we had a great time at MK...until it closed at 2am, three hours after the 11pm scheduled time!
After dh checked in with ME, we were actually loaded on to the bus fairly qucikly. We were headed to Saratoga Springs and there was one other family was on the bus who were headed to Old Key West. We sat and waited about a half hour for more families to come. It seemed like hours to my 4 kids. Three more finally came that were headed to Port Orleans. Somewhere around 6:45pm we left the airport! Still, I kept reminding myself it is FREE!
We arrived at Saratoga Springs, quickly checked in and headed for MK. When we got back (around 3 am) all of our luggage was in the room waiting for us. I have no idea when it arrived, but it was nice to have it there and not have to call bell services to bring it to us at that late hour.
Two days before check out we had our ME departure info left on our door. It said we should be at our lobby by 12:15 pm on the day of departure. Our flight home was not until 6:45pm so dh called to inquire. Apparently they had us listed as going home on a 3pm flight (we came in on a 3pm flight). They said they corrected the mistake and we should be at the lobby by 3:45pm.
On the day of departure, dh went to bell services at 3:30. The luggage was promptly brought out and ready to go. DH and luggage were waiting curbside. I arrived with the kids at 3:40. We waited. No bus. At 4pm someone from bell services called Mears transportation (who runs ME). They(Mears) said the bus was there at 3:45 and no one was waiting. The bellman was annoyed and explained that no ME bus had come through all afternoon and that my husband had been waiting since 3:30. They said no problem the 4:15 bus will pick us up. At 4:25pm-still no bus. Bell services (pretty upset now) called again and arranged for a Mears van to pick us up. The van came very quickly and dropped us off right by Spirit curb side check in. From what I understand, we may have been better off than if the ME bus had picked us up. From what I have been told, we would have been dropped off at the ME area and would have needed to carry our luggage (9 pieces in all) plus 4 kids over to the Spirit check in. I am not sure how far the ME area is to Spirit. All is well that ends well. Our flight wound being delayed 2 hours so we were still there in plenty of time.
We will use ME again for our trip in December, again because it is free. But, if they were to charge I think I would feel differently.
