To Use ME or not

[Irish9697]

We've never used ME before and this is also my first trip to Disney alone as a single mom to my son, 7.5 and daughter, 6.5. Our flight lands late the night we get in and leaves early the morning we leave. I've read a lot of things on here about delay in the luggage arriving to the room after you arrive and also having to leave many hours before a flight when using ME.

So, logistically, I'm going to be alone with my 2 kids. When we arrive, we'll be tired and ready to sleep and prepare for the next day because our flight lands at 10:30pm on a Wednesday and on the flight home, we leave Orlando at 6:15am and land here in Memphis at 7:10am on Monday morning, so my plan was for them to go to school and me to go to work--even though I KNOW we'll be exhausted.

Using ME, when can we expect to arrive at our hotel on Wednesday night and when will our luggage arrive? And, when we leave, will we really have to leave the resort at 3:15 for a 6:15 flight??

Should we use ME? Would a towncar make our experience less stressful (i.e., have our bags with us when we're ready for bed the first night and allow for the most sleep and least amount of time sitting around and waiting on Monday morning when we are so exhausted)?

 

[Jaymie]

We've never used ME for the simple reason that I want my bags to arrive when I do. I thinks it makes it easier to get settled for the night. We always use Murray Hill Transportation, because they also do a grocery store stop and we save a little money on water, snacks, beer, etc.

Besides, I can't imagine that late at night that you're going to be excited about waiting in line at the airport for your bus. Even a short wait, could be annoying.

Good Luck!

 

[mcco5543]

Not sure if you know this, but you can go get your own bags from baggage claim and bring them on the ME bus with you. That's what My wife and I did (we had medical supplies in our luggage that we couldnt' risk waiting for).


We've never used ME before and this is also my first trip to Disney alone as a single mom to my son, 7.5 and daughter, 6.5. Our flight lands late the night we get in and leaves early the morning we leave. I've read a lot of things on here about delay in the luggage arriving to the room after you arrive and also having to leave many hours before a flight when using ME.

So, logistically, I'm going to be alone with my 2 kids. When we arrive, we'll be tired and ready to sleep and prepare for the next day because our flight lands at 10:30pm on a Wednesday and on the flight home, we leave Orlando at 6:15am and land here in Memphis at 7:10am on Monday morning, so my plan was for them to go to school and me to go to work--even though I KNOW we'll be exhausted.

Using ME, when can we expect to arrive at our hotel on Wednesday night and when will our luggage arrive?

You're flight gets in at 10:30, it takes an hour to get to the hotel and then it "can" take an hour to check in (it won't I swear!) so lets pretend for the sake of erring on the side of caution that it takes a full hour to check in... You're looking at 12:30 am at the latest and 12:00 Midnight at the earliest! Your luggage will arrive sometime in the middle of the night, and yes they will bring it up to your room even if it's 3am.


And, when we leave, will we really have to leave the resort at 3:15 for a 6:15 flight?? Not sure on this but I would guess more than likely YES!

Should we use ME?

Maybe could be very worth it if you get your own luggage at baggage claim.

Would a towncar make our experience less stressful (i.e., have our bags with us when we're ready for bed the first night and allow for the most sleep and least amount of time sitting around and waiting on Monday morning when we are so exhausted)?


Well I would advice using ME for your arrival

(and picking up your own bags, it would take you an hour to drive to Disney with a Towncar anyway and you'd have to navigate after being tired and in a place you are unfamiliar with...which personally scares me to death)

You must arrrive 2 hours in advance for your flight whether you use Disney's ME or not.

Disney ME only picks you up an hour earlier than that to get you to the airport for the suggested 2 hour waiting time, suggested since the new airport procedures started after 9/11. So really since you have to be at the airport 2 hours before anyway, even with a town car you'd have to leave 3 hours before your flight.

Take ME, just pick up your own bags upon your arrival so bell severices doesn't wake you and your kids up in the middle of the night with your luggage. You'll need a full night sleep.

 

[CleveRocks]

Besides, I can't imagine that late at night that you're going to be excited about waiting in line at the airport for your bus. Even a short wait, could be annoying.

Good Luck!

6 of one, half dozen of another. Instead of waiting for a bus, you'll be waiting for your luggage at baggage claim.

 

[goofy4tink]

Pack pj's for that first night in your carryon bags. My dd has been carrying her own carryon since she was 5...makes it much easier for us to have her be responsible for her own bag. She used to have just a backpack but now carrys a larger tote. She has clean undies, pj's if flying in later in the day, as well as her toothbrush/hairbrush and anything she may need for the flight.
Then, you can carry the toothpaste and any small toiletries (3 oz or less) in that clear qt. ziploc baggie. Your luggage should be available to you early the next morning. I would hate to hang around baggage claim late at night. Much nicer to just head to DME and ride the bus. And it shouldn't take too long at that time of day.
If you do use a towncar, you will have to wait at baggage claim for your bags, then go down to the towncar area, with the driver and wait for them to bring the car around. I wouldn't imagine that you would be making a grocery stop at that time of day....so that's a non-issue.

As far as timing to leave WDW for a 6:15 flight home...you won't be able to use the RAC system since you'll be leaving too early. DME will want to pick you up around 3:15ish. But a towncar will give you only about 45 mins more time in bed. They will most likely want to pick you up by 4ish. But, if it makes that much difference, then go with the towncar service.

You could actually use DME for the trip to WDW and hire a towncar for the ride back. But, it really is 6 of one, half dozen of another.

 

[Jaymie]

(and picking up your own bags, it would take you an hour to drive to Disney with a Towncar anyway and you'd have to navigate after being tired and in a place you are unfamiliar with...which personally scares me to death)

You don't actually have to navigate the town car, the driver is familiar with how to get to the resort. They check that out before picking you up.

We've never really waited that long to get our luggage ourselves. Maybe 30 minutes tops.

 

[puffkin]

Ok here is what I would do (for the first leg of the trip):

Right before you leave for the airport, have your kids wear their "park" clothes for the next day. Pack PJ's, toiletries, underwear, socks etc. in your carryon bag. Use ME like normal. When you check into your resort, have them put a hold on delivering your ME baggage until the next morning (or else you risk it showing up at 1 am.....

Since you have such a short flight, I think the kids could get away with wearing the clothes for a short time and it would reduce what you need to carry on.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok here is what I would do (for the first leg of the trip):

Right before you leave for the airport, have your kids wear their "park" clothes for the next day. Pack PJ's, toiletries, underwear, socks etc. in your carryon bag. Use ME like normal. When you check into your resort, have them put a hold on delivering your ME baggage until the next morning (or else you risk it showing up at 1 am.....

Since you have such a short flight, I think the kids could get away with wearing the clothes for a short time and it would reduce what you need to carry on.

Excellent idea!!