Why Is ME Back To MCO So Screwed Up?

[calypso*a*go-go]

I don't know if it's just me...or if others have experienced this, but everytime we leave to go back to the airport, ME is always late for the scheduled pick-up time and it turns into this mass of people from two or three different times trying to push their way onto the bus. I always feel so sorry for the driver.

 

[DVCsince02]

Usually we are the late ones, not the bus. What do you expect with small kids and tons of luggage?

 

[WaltD4Me]

I don't know the answer, but thanks for posting this. I've never used ME, we always use a town car service, but I was thinking about trying ME in October and now seeing this, we won't. I thought they had worked out alot of the kinks, but I guess not. The car service may not be $$$ free, but it is hassle free.

 

[JCandKT]

I always feel like the bus comes to freakin' early and I have to sit at MCO for 3-4 hours before my flight leaves. ARGH!

 

[tley]

I always feel like the bus comes to freakin' early and I have to sit at MCO for 3-4 hours before my flight leaves. ARGH!

Agreed - even for an international flight this is too long! Either they leave earlier or MCO puts in something to occupy my time for those 3 - 4 hours

 

[rlduvall]

Agreed - even for an international flight this is too long! Either they leave earlier or MCO puts in something to occupy my time for those 3 - 4 hours

Maybe Disney could install a mini-Soaring Over California at the airport. That would be so cool.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

See that's what bugs me...they ask you to be ready to go 3+ hours and then don't show up on time. During this last visit our pick-up was scheduled for 2:45 (5:55 flight out of Orlando). No bus showed up at all until 3:20! There were people from 2:45, 3:00, 3:15 and probably 3:30 all trying to get on the same bus. Now a second bus did pull in right behind the first one, and that added even more confusion to the mix because no one was sure if they had to get on a specific bus or not. Instead of the drivers checking the vouchers and letting the earliest pick-up time on, they were just letting anyone that wanted to board the bus do so (survival of the fittest! LOL). It just seems there must be a more organized/less stressful way to do this. Oh well, we got what we paid for, right?

 

[cccm]

Guess I am the oddball (as usual).

I have used ME the past two years and will be using it in a couple of weeks. I haven't had one issue with it going in either direction. I usually do late flights (in around 9 or 10 PM) on the way to MCO and mid day flights on the way out of MCO.

I like ME, because it is just DD and I and not worth doing the whole rental car thing.

Celeste

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

We've never had a problem going from the airport to WDW, just the trip back. I guess the reality of it is that it's not really ME that's the problem as we've never missed a flight due to their late pick-up, it's the guests' behavior that is less than polite. That's what happens after a week or so of waiting in lines all day...waiting for rides, waiting for food, waiting for the bathroom...we all just want to get back home. I'm surprised my family didn't automatically line up at the front door of our house and just wait there until we realized we had the key!!!

 

[Wild4Walt]

Me too, I've used it twice from POR and POFQ and they departed right on time with no hassles.

 

[The Grumpus]

I agree that the return to MCO is a disaster. We used it 3 trips ago, and it was exactly as you described. You have more people than the bus can hold all fighting to get on, because people are coming early or late. Then, someone has to wait for the luggage to get loaded. I had to sit apart from my fiancee for the ride back, and I had the last seat. Since I didn't push people out of the way, I was the last to get my luggage on, even though I was the third person in the waiting area.

They either need to have a formal line, or have assigned seats.

Now I'm angry...

-The Grumpus

P.S. - since then, I've used a service, which is soooo much better.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I always feel like the bus comes to freakin' early and I have to sit at MCO for 3-4 hours before my flight leaves. ARGH!

I agree! In the past I had to get the ME bus 3 hours before my flight departure. I think that is excessive and I have been thinking of doing a towncar this year instead.

 

[BriarRosie]

I hadn't used Disney's Magical Express until my trip last October. (Prior to that I did the rental car thing.)

I found the DMR at the airport to be extremely efficient, moreso than when Mears was running this show themselves. But, as you said, DME was not that easy on the way back.

For starters, I couldn't tell which busses arriving were dropping people off instead of picking them up. I would approach a bus to ask, and inevitably, it was a drop off. I was getting nervous at the 15 minute mark past our pickup time, so I called DME to check the status of the bus. They told me it would arrive "soon", which it finally did.

The part that echoes your concerns is that there are busses that totally do not make their schedules. In fact, our bus was diverted to a MASSIVE crowd at Pop Century because a ton of people were stranded there. Nobody came to pick them up! Lucky for them we weren't a full bus, and we managed to get everyone on.

That experience made me a bit nervous. I felt lucky that we were able to check our bags at the luggage check in service at the Beach Club, because we didn't know how much time we would have to spare to check our bags and make it past Security. I don't think we can check luggage at the resort anymore due to the airline fees, but that was a great little perk.

I'm going to give DME another chance in October. I'm feeling a little better about my chances, since I'm checking out on a Tuesday, not a weekend this time around.

 

[parrotheadlois]

Just curious, if anyone knows. We're renting a car on our next trip, but we've ME'd in the past. Our last trip, we got into MCO kindof late, so our bus was empty and we must've sat in the bus near to an hour waiting for other flights to get in so our bus could fill up. But, other than that, it's been fine.
But I wondered, I wasn't sure if we were renting a car or MEing, so I have the ME luggage tags. If I checked my luggage, using the ME tags, and then didn't use ME myself, do you think my luggage would show up like it would if we checked in and used the bus?? I'd rather just take the rental car and go and let my luggage catch up to me later.

 

[carelo]

I've used ME the last couple of trips and didn't have any trouble at all and we'll be using it on our next trip as well. We usually go in mid to late September so it's a little less crowded maybe that's why. But I'd still recommend it if you want to save some $$$.

 

[Madi100]

We always use Magical Express, and I have to say I am very impressed. I know it's just luck of the draw, but as soon as we arrive at the airport and get in line, our bus leaves shortly after. And, Saratoga Springs is the first stop. Last year we stayed at All Star Movies, and it was the last stop, and that got a little long, but at the same time, it was nice to see the other resorts. On the way home, Saratoga Springs is the last stop before the airport. We've never had a problem with the pick-up time or finding a seat. We've never gotten on an empty bus, but don't have a problem finding empty seats where at least we can sit two and two. I am highly impressed with it.

 

[Kimberle]

We have used ME 2x. Our return trips were very smooth. The bus was not crowded, the drivers helpful and professional. We'd arrive at the airport around 2 hours until our flight was departing. Just enough time to get through security and grab a bite to eat before bording.

I don't understand why anyone would have to sit at the airport 3-4 hours waiting for their flight unless it was delayed. If that is so, it's not ME's "fault".

If there are massive crowds, I'd have to think people missed their assigned bus and were trying to hop on any bus.

 

[Madi100]

We have used ME 2x. Our return trips were very smooth. The bus was not crowded, the drivers helpful and professional. We'd arrive at the airport around 2 hours until our flight was departing. Just enough time to get through security and grab a bite to eat before bording.

I don't understand why anyone would have to sit at the airport 3-4 hours waiting for their flight unless it was delayed. If that is so, it's not ME's "fault".

If there are massive crowds, I'd have to think people missed their assigned bus and were trying to hop on any bus.

You do get there in plenty of time. Plus, we use hotel check-in for the airline, so when we arrive at the airport, we just have to go through security and that's it. I really wish that they did make it later for those people who did the airline check-in at the hotel. It picks you up 3 hours before your flight leaves.

 

[zoie101]

Just curious, if anyone knows. We're renting a car on our next trip, but we've ME'd in the past. Our last trip, we got into MCO kindof late, so our bus was empty and we must've sat in the bus near to an hour waiting for other flights to get in so our bus could fill up. But, other than that, it's been fine.
But I wondered, I wasn't sure if we were renting a car or MEing, so I have the ME luggage tags. If I checked my luggage, using the ME tags, and then didn't use ME myself, do you think my luggage would show up like it would if we checked in and used the bus?? I'd rather just take the rental car and go and let my luggage catch up to me later.

oh my be so ready to get flamed!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We didnt have any problems other than being at the airport way to early.