Trying to figure out DME...

[mvazul]

Hi!

This will be my first time flying into Orlando, staying on Disney property and using DME. I have been reading through the threads, but still have some questions.

First, I am flying into Orlando from Chicago O'Hare. I am still trying to figure out how I m getting from my apartment to the airport (DH is taking the kids camping that week and is leaving the day before I leave). My mother and sister will be joining me on this trip. This will be their first time to WDW - ever. They are flying into Orlando from Wilkes-Barre, PA.

I am due to arrive in Orlando around 10:30 AM. DM and DS are scheduled to land around 2:00 PM. Are there signs to help me find DME? I really don't feel like sitting around the airport that long. We are staying at the POP. Do they, by any chance, have early check-in? We are checking in on Sunday, August 26th. If they don't, am I able to leave my carry-ons with them?

Also, I am paying for the Disney portion of the trip. Will their luggage tags/travel documents be sent to them or me? How soon before our trip do we receive these items? On our return trip, my flight leaves 3 hours after theirs (theirs leaves around 3:15 PM and mine leaves around 6:15 PM). Who do we leave our luggage with? Can we leave our carry-ons, too, and get them before we board the bus back to the airport? I really don't feel like dragging our luggage around with us all day.

I have read that DME will take us to the airport 3 hours before our flight leaves. Is this true? Is this necessary? Is there any way to leave closer to the flight time? I don't want to sit in the airport for three hours if I don't have to. Of course, I will if I do have to.

One last thing...any ideas what I should do while I'm waiting for DM and DS to arrive and then, again, after they leave? I hate that we can't arrive and leave around the same time, but that's how the cookie crumbles!! These were the flights we were able to get and will have to deal with it.

I am so sorry for all of the questions. I know I still have a couple months, but I'm trying to get it all organized now. That way I will be in a more minor state of panic once trip time hits!!

Thank you, in advance, for any help, ideas or suggestions you can send my way!!

Michelle

 

[emlutz23]

I can try and answer some of your questions.

When you get to the main area of the airport, follow signs for the B terminal and take the elevator down to level one. From there you will see signs for DME.

I don't think there is any formal early check-in, but you can always check-in although your room may not be ready yet. If it's not you can leave bags at the hotel.

You will receive all luggage tags and travel vouchers. I think I was told i would receive them all 6 weeks before our trip. Make sure you mail your family their tages and travel vouchers. This will allow them to use the DME separately from you since you are arriving first.

They will pick you up 3 hours earlier, but sometimes they stop at other hotels so it can take longer. You won't be at the airport for a full 3 hours. Also, depending on your airline, you can check your bags and get a boarding pass right at the resort ( I don't know them all, but I'm sure there's a thread here that has that info). Just make sure to do it early, on our last trip they stopped checking bags at 1pm.

About what to do after they leave? Go to a park! Or get a decent meal before your flight. You can leave your bags with the hotel's concierge and pick it up when you come back for your pick up time.

 

[seashoreCM]

You cannot cut things close on your last day. If you go to a park, you should aim to be back at your resort an hour before you DME bus is scheduled to depart. You may run into a bus delay getting back and also have to wait for the bellhops to get your luggage you left with them for the day.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

At Orlando Int'l Airport the main terminal top level is a giant rectangle with (in order going to the right) the A side, Hyatt hotel end with gates 60 and up, the B side, and the shopping end with gates 59 and below. The DME station is on the B side lowest level, down from the shopping end. Although the gate clusters and rotundas are sometimes referred to as A side or B side, after you take the tram and get to the main terminal, you arrive at one end or the other, sort of halfway between the "sides".

 

[CleveRocks]

We are staying at the POP. Do they, by any chance, have early check-in? We are checking in on Sunday, August 26th. If they don't, am I able to leave my carry-ons with them?

You can check in at any time. If your room is ready, you will have your room. It's not a matter of arranging an early check-in, it's just a matter of luck whether or not your room is ready. The good news is, when you check-in at the DME Welcome Center at the airport, the computer sends a message to your resort telling them you have arrived in Orlando. If a room that fits your reservation is ready, it will be set aside for you until you arrive at the resort via DME bus.

Also, I am paying for the Disney portion of the trip. Will their luggage tags/travel documents be sent to them or me? How soon before our trip do we receive these items?

DME reservations are tied into resort reservations. So if you are the "master" name on the room reservation, then YOU and you alone will receive all of the DME mailings. It's then up to you to get the necessary things to the others in your party. You should get your DME stuff 4-to-6 weeks before you leave, so you won't have any worries there. ANd even if they NEVER get their DME stuff, they can still use all the perks of DME, anyway.

On our return trip, my flight leaves 3 hours after theirs (theirs leaves around 3:15 PM and mine leaves around 6:15 PM). Who do we leave our luggage with?

If you are flying a "participating airline," you can check-in your luggage earlier in the day with the Resort Airline Check-in desk (RAC), which is exactly like curbside check-in at airports -- you check-in your luggage (and no longer have access to it) and also get your boarding passes for your flight.

If you are NOT flying on a participating airline, just have Luggage Assistance hold onto your bags for you, your checked bags and your carry-ons. Every halfway decent hotel in the USA will store guests' bags for them on check-out day, and WDW resorts are no different!

Can we leave our carry-ons, too, and get them before we board the bus back to the airport? I really don't feel like dragging our luggage around with us all day.

As I just wrote, you can leave anything you want with the resort, for them to store it until you are ready to wait for the DME bus.

I have read that DME will take us to the airport 3 hours before our flight leaves. Is this true? Is this necessary? Is there any way to leave closer to the flight time? I don't want to sit in the airport for three hours if I don't have to. Of course, I will if I do have to.

You won't be waiting at the airport for 3 hours. Your scheduled pick-up time will be approximately 2.75-to-3 hours before your flight time. They don't get you to the airport 3 hours before flight, they pick you up about 3 hours before flight.

You don't want to but things too close. There may be stops at other resorts to pick up other passengers. If you didn't use RAC, you will need to wait in line at your airline's ticket counter (or wait in line at your airline's curbside check-in area). Then you'll need to get through security, which is a crap shoot whether or not you'll have a long wait there ... so basically, getting to the airport on the early side isn't so bad, at least in my opinion.

One last thing...any ideas what I should do while I'm waiting for DM and DS to arrive and then, again, after they leave? I hate that we can't arrive and leave around the same time, but that's how the cookie crumbles!! These were the flights we were able to get and will have to deal with it.

When you get to Pop a few hours before they do, go to the pool ... check out the food court ... take a stroll and check out the cool way the resort is decorated.

Make sure you pack a carry-on with your immediate needs, such as, for example, a bathing suit. Your DME luggage will be delivered to your room (whether you are in there or not) about 3 hours after you arrive at Pop, but of course it could take longer than that. No matter where I fly, I ALWAYS pack a carry-on for the 1st 24 hours just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage. If you do this, you'll be able to enjoy the start of your vacation rather than sitting in your room, frustrated and pining for your luggage.

HAVE FUN!

 

[mvazul]

I can try and answer some of your questions.

When you get to the main area of the airport, follow signs for the B terminal and take the elevator down to level one. From there you will see signs for DME.

I don't think there is any formal early check-in, but you can always check-in although your room may not be ready yet. If it's not you can leave bags at the hotel.

You will receive all luggage tags and travel vouchers. I think I was told i would receive them all 6 weeks before our trip. Make sure you mail your family their tages and travel vouchers. This will allow them to use the DME separately from you since you are arriving first.

They will pick you up 3 hours earlier, but sometimes they stop at other hotels so it can take longer. You won't be at the airport for a full 3 hours. Also, depending on your airline, you can check your bags and get a boarding pass right at the resort ( I don't know them all, but I'm sure there's a thread here that has that info). Just make sure to do it early, on our last trip they stopped checking bags at 1pm.

About what to do after they leave? Go to a park! Or get a decent meal before your flight. You can leave your bags with the hotel's concierge and pick it up when you come back for your pick up time.

Thank you very much! I hate the thought of leaving 3 hours earlier than my flight, but from what I have been reading, I would rather be there early than late. I think I would be more upset if I missed my flight home! I think I may head to DTD while I wait for DM and DS. I promised I wouldn't head to a park until we are all together. Now, the day we leave might be a different story!!

Thanks, again, for your help!

You cannot cut things close on your last day. If you go to a park, you should aim to be back at your resort an hour before you DME bus is scheduled to depart. You may run into a bus delay getting back and also have to wait for the bellhops to get your luggage you left with them for the day.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

At Orlando Int'l Airport the main terminal top level is a giant rectangle with (in order going to the right) the A side, Hyatt hotel end with gates 60 and up, the B side, and the shopping end with gates 59 and below. The DME station is on the B side lowest level, down from the shopping end. Although the gate clusters and rotundas are sometimes referred to as A side or B side, after you take the tram and get to the main terminal, you arrive at one end or the other, sort of halfway between the "sides".

Thank you! I will just have to remember to head to the "B" side and go downstairs. Right? Sounds like it won't be too hard to find. I hope! Thank you, again!

You can check in at any time. If your room is ready, you will have your room. It's not a matter of arranging an early check-in, it's just a matter of luck whether or not your room is ready. The good news is, when you check-in at the DME Welcome Center at the airport, the computer sends a message to your resort telling them you have arrived in Orlando. If a room that fits your reservation is ready, it will be set aside for you until you arrive at the resort via DME bus.
DME reservations are tied into resort reservations. So if you are the "master" name on the room reservation, then YOU and you alone will receive all of the DME mailings. It's then up to you to get the necessary things to the others in your party. You should get your DME stuff 4-to-6 weeks before you leave, so you won't have any worries there. ANd even if they NEVER get their DME stuff, they can still use all the perks of DME, anyway. If you are flying a "participating airline," you can check-in your luggage earlier in the day with the Resort Airline Check-in desk (RAC), which is exactly like curbside check-in at airports -- you check-in your luggage (and no longer have access to it) and also get your boarding passes for your flight.

If you are NOT flying on a participating airline, just have Luggage Assistance hold onto your bags for you, your checked bags and your carry-ons. Every halfway decent hotel in the USA will store guests' bags for them on check-out day, and WDW resorts are no different! As I just wrote, you can leave anything you want with the resort, for them to store it until you are ready to wait for the DME bus. You won't be waiting at the airport for 3 hours. Your scheduled pick-up time will be approximately 2.75-to-3 hours before your flight time. They don't get you to the airport 3 hours before flight, they pick you up about 3 hours before flight.

You don't want to but things too close. There may be stops at other resorts to pick up other passengers. If you didn't use RAC, you will need to wait in line at your airline's ticket counter (or wait in line at your airline's curbside check-in area). Then you'll need to get through security, which is a crap shoot whether or not you'll have a long wait there ... so basically, getting to the airport on the early side isn't so bad, at least in my opinion. When you get to Pop a few hours before they do, go to the pool ... check out the food court ... take a stroll and check out the cool way the resort is decorated.

Make sure you pack a carry-on with your immediate needs, such as, for example, a bathing suit. Your DME luggage will be delivered to your room (whether you are in there or not) about 3 hours after you arrive at Pop, but of course it could take longer than that. No matter where I fly, I ALWAYS pack a carry-on for the 1st 24 hours just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage. If you do this, you'll be able to enjoy the start of your vacation rather than sitting in your room, frustrated and pining for your luggage.

HAVE FUN!

That would be awesome if they had a room ready when I get there. I will be getting up at 3:00 AM that morning and a nap before my mother and sister arrive would be WONDERFUL!!

I now need to figure out what type of bag I will use as a carry-on. I am flying United and, I think, their website said I can have two carry-ons plus a purse. If this is the case, I shouldn't have a problem. However, if I can only have two carry-ons, I'm not sure how I will work it. I know I will be taking my laptop. That's one. I will also be taking my camera (Nikon D50 with extra lenses). That's two - and I use this as my purse, too. Then, I could take another small bag for a change of clothes. However, if I can only take two with no purse, I need to figure out how to carry my camera and clothes together without the bag being too big and without my camera getting banged up.

All three of us are flying "participating" airlines, so they won't be a problem. Checking in at the resort is a wonderful idea. We will definitely be using this option.

Thank you for all of your help! I absolutely love this site - so many nice people with a ton of helpful information!! Thank you, again!