We have used DME for years, but this last trip it was not very magical.
It started with receiving our DMS confirmation letter without any luggage tags. We called and after an extended conversation in which we had to carefully explain to the cast member on the phone what a luggage tag is and what it is used for, we were eventually told to save our airline luggage receipts and turn them in to the DME counter when we reached Orlando. They were very nice at the DME counter and were able to locate our bags via computer and said they would take care of them from there. One DME employee commented, "We have seen a lot of that recently." Our flight arrived at 3:15 and our bags eventually appeared at our room seven hours later as we were preparing for bed.
On a very positive note my wife left a small item in the seat back on the airplane and when she got off the bus to go find it, a DME employee took responsibility for the situation and stayed with her walking her through the airport bureaucracy until the item was retrieved and my wife was back on the next bus to OKW.
Because there were not enough rooms at OKW to accommodate the entire group one of our party was at Saratoga Springs. On the return trip those in our party staying at OKW received a letter the day before departure to serve as our boarding pass for the bus and a luggage tag for one bag but no information on bus boarding times. When we got to the baggage check in after a couple of miscues and several minutes of discussion they finally were able to come up with the airline boarding passes and the proper luggage tags. Once again a cast member commented, "This is happening a lot lately." It took three people and a couple of phone calls to come up with a boarding time for the bus and then it was questionable if there would be enough seats on the bus for everyone. In fact I had to stand on the ride from OKW to Saratoga Springs because the only available seat was reserved for a wheelchair. (Fortunately no one showed up for the wheelchair seat or I suppose I would nave and to stand all the way to the airport.)
The member of our party at Saratoga Springs received no letter, no luggage tags, and when he went to check his luggage they had never heard of him, nor had any arrangements been made for him to have a seat on the bus to the airport. Finally the Saratoga Springs front desk cast members got on the telephone and made all the arrangements at the last moment almost as the bus was pulling out.
In the end it all worked out thanks to extra effort on the part of several cast members, but their comments indicated our experience was not unique. So don't be surprised if your DME experience is not very magical and be on the alert for errors and miscues.
It started with receiving our DMS confirmation letter without any luggage tags. We called and after an extended conversation in which we had to carefully explain to the cast member on the phone what a luggage tag is and what it is used for, we were eventually told to save our airline luggage receipts and turn them in to the DME counter when we reached Orlando. They were very nice at the DME counter and were able to locate our bags via computer and said they would take care of them from there. One DME employee commented, "We have seen a lot of that recently." Our flight arrived at 3:15 and our bags eventually appeared at our room seven hours later as we were preparing for bed.
On a very positive note my wife left a small item in the seat back on the airplane and when she got off the bus to go find it, a DME employee took responsibility for the situation and stayed with her walking her through the airport bureaucracy until the item was retrieved and my wife was back on the next bus to OKW.
Because there were not enough rooms at OKW to accommodate the entire group one of our party was at Saratoga Springs. On the return trip those in our party staying at OKW received a letter the day before departure to serve as our boarding pass for the bus and a luggage tag for one bag but no information on bus boarding times. When we got to the baggage check in after a couple of miscues and several minutes of discussion they finally were able to come up with the airline boarding passes and the proper luggage tags. Once again a cast member commented, "This is happening a lot lately." It took three people and a couple of phone calls to come up with a boarding time for the bus and then it was questionable if there would be enough seats on the bus for everyone. In fact I had to stand on the ride from OKW to Saratoga Springs because the only available seat was reserved for a wheelchair. (Fortunately no one showed up for the wheelchair seat or I suppose I would nave and to stand all the way to the airport.)
The member of our party at Saratoga Springs received no letter, no luggage tags, and when he went to check his luggage they had never heard of him, nor had any arrangements been made for him to have a seat on the bus to the airport. Finally the Saratoga Springs front desk cast members got on the telephone and made all the arrangements at the last moment almost as the bus was pulling out.
In the end it all worked out thanks to extra effort on the part of several cast members, but their comments indicated our experience was not unique. So don't be surprised if your DME experience is not very magical and be on the alert for errors and miscues.