New DME departure protocol

[cspencer96]

OMG, who is complaining about not being dropped off closer to the terminals??? MCO is TINY, just look at ATL

MCO:

where the longest travel distance is little more than half a mile to the gates

ATL:

where each concourse is a Half MILE in length and from cab parking to F is 1.63 miles

::::edited once i got onto Google earth pro and ran some length measurements --- measurements taken from center of main building to hub of terminals at MCO, taken from terminal to concourse F; and also the concourse length from end to end.

Just an aside, a thought that your post comparing the two provoked. I feel like MCO is a fairly well designed airport, for one of its larger size and considerable status as a hub for travel and conventions. The fact that I can move around so quickly in the airport, and get from level one to airside across security in under an hour most of the time, is a testament to its efficency in design. Atlanta is also a marvel of design and efficiency, but I really do hate having to fly from there or even layover there for a while. MCO not so much.

 

[Figaro928]

Sounds like the Disney person said absolutely nothing to either confirm or deny that things had changed.....just acted as though they were offering assistance to guests. No explanation or confirmation that something had indeed changed, or why, or if it was permanent.

Did they drop you off at the DME pick-up area, or a bit further down at that same area?

I'm not familiar enough with MCO to say 100% yes or no. I can say that there was a non-DME bus either loading or unloading a huge group of what looked like cheerleaders. They were all over the one available space so it took slightly longer to secure the spot so that our bus could park. It might have been a yellow mears bus - Would they also be at the DME pick up area?

 

[wdwtopten]

The driver also shouldn't have been vocally negative about a policy change, regardless of how much he didn't like it. That just makes the departure experience negative for the guests, most of whom, as pointed out, wouldn't have known the difference and expected to be dropped off at the MDE "terminal."

Exactingly. The driver is lucky he didn't get fired.

 

[bhg469]

Just an aside, a thought that your post comparing the two provoked. I feel like MCO is a fairly well designed airport, for one of its larger size and considerable status as a hub for travel and conventions. The fact that I can move around so quickly in the airport, and get from level one to airside across security in under an hour most of the time, is a testament to its efficency in design. Atlanta is also a marvel of design and efficiency, but I really do hate having to fly from there or even layover there for a while. MCO not so much.

Mco isn't so great for a layover. At least Atlanta has a lot of restaurants and time killers in the terminal. MCO has every thing virtually before security.

 

[Figaro928]

Mco isn't so great for a layover. At least Atlanta has a lot of restaurants and time killers in the terminal. MCO has every thing virtually before security.

LOL - I flew in and out of LaGuardia... yeesh...

 

[bhg469]

LOL - I flew in and out of LaGuardia... yeesh...

Laguardia is a mess! but it's better than JFK if you're flying into or out of ny.

 

[jlthomas81]

After having a few items, including a camera, taken from our bags a few years ago, we don't use the luggage portion of the DME. Many people don't realize that Disney has contracted out that portion of the service. If your bags end up at your room with missing items, there is next to nothing that you can. Disney blames the luggage service which in turn blames the baggage handlers at the airport. Everyone points fingers at each so that no one is held responsible.

In the past, people would usually get off the bus on the appropriate side. If you didn't have bags, they would go directly into the terminal. If you had bags under the bus, then you would wait for driver to pull out the bags from underneath the bus. Maybe now they would like people to wait on the bus for everything to be retrieved from the bus, as there were often kids wandering around the area while parents wait for bags and things.

TSA approved locks will fix that problem

 

[dstrawn9889]

Laguardia is a mess! but it's better than JFK if you're flying into or out of ny.

and i think EVERY podunk regional on the planet is better than EWR... LOL

side note, my wife calls ATL the 'Latoya Jackson international spaceport, hair care, tire center, and check cashing boutique'