how to make DME reservations [+ do you tip the drivers?] - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks
Thank you to our forum sponsor:

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.

Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.

We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm​. You made it all happen.

There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.

That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter's Walt Disney World Resort (Florida) > Getting There (and Back!): Your Journey to Walt Disney World
Register


Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.

To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.

If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.

Forum Sponsor: Quicksilver Tours & Transportation
Learn Why PassPorter Recommends This Sponsor
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-29-2015, 08:58 PM   #1
MomJune
Community Rank: Wayfarer
 
MomJune's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Denver area, CO
Posts: 114

Post Thanks / Like
how to make DME reservations [+ do you tip the drivers?]

I have paid for all of my trip and have checked in online for our hotel. Where do I go to make my DME reservation? (I have seen many people say that should do this considerably in advance and I am 47 days out.)
Also, another silly question, do you tip the DME drivers for your bags even though they will come later? Or what do you do for this if you may not be in your room when the bags come?
MomJune is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2015, 09:17 PM   #2
EastYorkDisneyFan
Community Rank: Adventurer
 
EastYorkDisneyFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: East York (Toronto), Ontario, Canada
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 958

Post Thanks / Like
you nee to go to a website to book it https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ai...n-reservation/ and give them your flight information. As for tipping you only need to tip the driver if they handle your luggage. If you have your bags tagged and they pick them up or you give them your claim checks to retrieve them for you they will go in a separate truck to your resort.
__________________
You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.
- Walt Disney
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsFirst Family Trip to WDW - March 1998 - Treehouse Villas at the Disney Institute First Solo Trip - February 2006 - Port Orleans French Quarter First Land and Sea Vacation - Aug. Sept. 2006 - Port Orleans French Quarter, Disney Wonder, and Port Orleans Riverside. 14 Night Transatlantic Cruise - Disney Magic August 18th to September 1st 2007 Caribbean beach resort - September 1st to September 5th 2007 First Trip to Disneyland - Disneyland Hotel - August 13 - August 17 2008 DCL Panama Eastbound Panama Canal cruise - August 17 - September 1st 2008 Second trip to Disneyland - Disneyland Hotel - April 30 2009 - May 5 2009 Walt Disney World - Pop Century - August 28 - September 5 2009 Disneyland - Desert Inn and suites - April 28 - May 4 2010 Disneyland - Desert Inn and Suites - April 27 - May 3 2011
EastYorkDisneyFan is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2015, 09:53 PM   #3
Pax
Community Rank: Scout
 
Pax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dracut, MA
Posts: 4,748

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by MomJune View Post
Also, another silly question, do you tip the DME drivers for your bags even though they will come later? Or what do you do for this if you may not be in your room when the bags come?
As EastYork says: the bags with the yellow DME labels on them, that's already included and you don't need to tip anyone for them.

If your driver handles a bag, for example if you have them stow your carry-on under the bus, then it would be good to tip them - a dollar per bag is a reasonable tip for this service.

At your resort, it will not be DME people who deliver your bags to your room. They won't know what room to bring them to; instead, they will deliver the bags to your resort's Luggage Services department, and someone from there will bring them by. A tip for this is not obligatory, but if you are in your room when they arrive, I should think it would be the polite thing to do. Again, $1/bag would be a good amount.

Similarly, by the by, if someone from Luggage Services helps you bring any bags to your room - e.g., they load your carry-on luggage onto one of those cart thingies and walk it out to your room with you - a tip of $1 per bag would be polite.

...

Generally, a good rule of thumb when travelling is: almost anytime someone helps you with your luggage (skycap, bellhop, bus driver, etc), a tip of $1 per bag is the appropriate gesture to make. The sole major exception would be airline personnel - e.g., when checking in, or gate-checking something like a stroller.
__________________
--Sean
My Previous TripsWDW July 1985 (offsite) ;; WDW January 2001 (ASMo) ;; WDW January 2009 (POP) ;; WDW January 2014 (AoA)
Pax is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2015, 10:17 AM   #4
lindadarrall
Community Rank: Trekker
 
lindadarrall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 1,398

Post Thanks / Like
I tip the driver even if he doesn't touch my bags. He's performing a service for me, and DME saves me a ton of money.
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: MVMCP, Osborne Lights and sailing the Magic
Bon voyage!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips3-night DREAM cruise Dec. 2011; 4-night Disney Wonder 2010; AKL Club level 2009; POFQ free dining bounceback 2008; POFQ free dining 2007; CBR and MNSSHP 2006; June 2006 offsite; POR spring break 2005 w/ My Sweet Cadet
lindadarrall is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2015, 12:33 PM   #5
Lemonie
Community Rank: Traveler
 
Lemonie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Huntington Woods, MI
Concierge Level: 4
Posts: 326

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastYorkDisneyFan View Post
you nee to go to a website to book it https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ai...n-reservation/ and give them your flight information. As for tipping you only need to tip the driver if they handle your luggage. If you have your bags tagged and they pick them up or you give them your claim checks to retrieve them for you they will go in a separate truck to your resort.
I was just looking for this info too this morning on the Disney website and couldn't find it. Thank you so much for the link! I tried calling this morning, but there was over a 30 minute wait to talk to someone, so I thought I'd wait until next week. I'm so glad I checked the boards today!!!
__________________

Melanie
My Countdown Counting down to: Our first tirp to the Poly!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsCBR Jan 93, POFQ Oct. 2004, ASMo April 2007, DLR May 2009, ASMo Sept. 2011, POFQ Sept. 2012, POFQ Aug.2014, POR Sept.2015, POP Century Nov.2015
Lemonie is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2015, 07:03 PM   #6
MomJune
Community Rank: Wayfarer
 
MomJune's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Denver area, CO
Posts: 114

Post Thanks / Like
DME

Thanks everyone. That made it a lot easier with the link.
I appreciate the advice about tipping too as I am accustomed to tipping per bag but wasn't sure what to do.
MomJune is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2015, 08:08 PM   #7
EastYorkDisneyFan
Community Rank: Adventurer
 
EastYorkDisneyFan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: East York (Toronto), Ontario, Canada
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 958

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemonie View Post
I was just looking for this info too this morning on the Disney website and couldn't find it. Thank you so much for the link! I tried calling this morning, but there was over a 30 minute wait to talk to someone, so I thought I'd wait until next week. I'm so glad I checked the boards today!!!
You're welcome I saw it listed somewhere else and did a google search for it.
__________________
You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.
- Walt Disney
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsFirst Family Trip to WDW - March 1998 - Treehouse Villas at the Disney Institute First Solo Trip - February 2006 - Port Orleans French Quarter First Land and Sea Vacation - Aug. Sept. 2006 - Port Orleans French Quarter, Disney Wonder, and Port Orleans Riverside. 14 Night Transatlantic Cruise - Disney Magic August 18th to September 1st 2007 Caribbean beach resort - September 1st to September 5th 2007 First Trip to Disneyland - Disneyland Hotel - August 13 - August 17 2008 DCL Panama Eastbound Panama Canal cruise - August 17 - September 1st 2008 Second trip to Disneyland - Disneyland Hotel - April 30 2009 - May 5 2009 Walt Disney World - Pop Century - August 28 - September 5 2009 Disneyland - Desert Inn and suites - April 28 - May 4 2010 Disneyland - Desert Inn and Suites - April 27 - May 3 2011
EastYorkDisneyFan is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 11:26 AM   #8
Sue M.
Community Rank: Legend
 
Sue M.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Concierge Level: 2
Posts: 15,667

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindadarrall View Post
I tip the driver even if he doesn't touch my bags. He's performing a service for me, and DME saves me a ton of money.
Me too. If they handle any bags, carry ons, etc I tip $1 per bag. But if I don't have a bag, I still tip, $1 per person.

I found out on my last trip, if you fly 2 different airlines, airline desk won't take bags, I had to take them on DME and check them in at airport because I flew US Air from MCO, then changed to Alaska in Philly. This was going home.
__________________
My Countdown Counting down to: WDW WL
back to the lodge
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW Aug 2003 LBV Marriott Courtyard, Universal/Sea World/Busch Gardens Aug 2005 Hilton Garden Inn SeaWorld, WDW Aug. 2007 CBR, WDW Jan. 2008 POP & WL, Universal/SeaWorld/Aquatica Aug 2008 Hyatt Place,Sheraton 4 Points, Hard Rock Hotel & Doubletree Universal., St. Pete Beach Aug 2008, WDW Jan 2009 AKL, WDW Aug 2009 POR & WL, WDW Jan 2010 Poly, WDW Jan 2011 POR, WDW Aug 2011 POR & BC CL, WDW Jan 2012 WL, WDW Aug 2012 AKL CL, WDW Jan 2013 POFQ, WDW Aug 2013 Pop, GF, YC: WDW Jan 2014 POR, WDW & Universal August 2014 GF & Portofino Bay, WDW Jan 2015 POR, Aug 2015 Poly, Aug 2016 GF, Sept 2017 DL, Dec 2017 PoP, May 2018 DL, Sept 2018 WL, Nov. 2018 DL And too many trips to count to DL in the 80's.
Sue M. is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2015, 11:38 AM   #9
revral
Community Rank: Scout
 
revral's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 4,639

Post Thanks / Like
I do tip the driver because (s)he takes my carry-on from me as I'm slowly (very slowly) getting off the bus & always offers to help me down.
revral is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2015, 08:53 AM   #10
Teresa
Community Rank: Legend
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Indiana , USA
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 26,527

Post Thanks / Like
Yes, we usually tip the driver.

Something that might come in handy to know: you don't HAVE to have reservations for DME. You don't even have to have the yellow tags. Just take yourself and your luggage claim tags from the airline to the DME counter. They will check your reservation and get you onto a bus. Give them the claim tags and they will retrieve your luggage, too. Done it more than once when tags were late coming.
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
Teresa is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2015, 09:13 PM   #11
lovewdw2
Community Rank: Jetsetter
 
lovewdw2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pa
Posts: 2,557

Post Thanks / Like
I ALWAYS tip the DME driver..even without my luggage! I figured that they are driving me to the resort and I don't have to take a cab......

Saves me alot money! Plus I appreciate them!
__________________
Kate in PA
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
My Countdown Counting down to: Disney + Birthday = Can't Wait!
Let the Fun begin!
My Previous Trips1994 Dixie Landings, 1998 All Star Music, 2000 All Star Movies, 2002 Contemporary, 2003 Caribbean Beach, 2004 Outside WDW, 2005 Caribbean Beach, 2006 All Star Sports, 2007 Coronado Springs, 2008 Beach Club, 2012 Wilderness Lodge, 2013 Port Orleans Riverside, 2014 Caribbean Beach, 2015 Boardwalk Inn, 2015 Pop Century, 2016 Disneyland, 2017 Port Orleans French Quarter, 2018 Boardwalk Inn, 2018 All Star Music!
lovewdw2 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2015, 09:50 PM   #12
karen63
Community Rank: Jetsetter
 
karen63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Aurora, IL
Posts: 2,478

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teresa View Post
Yes, we usually tip the driver.

Something that might come in handy to know: you don't HAVE to have reservations for DME. You don't even have to have the yellow tags. Just take yourself and your luggage claim tags from the airline to the DME counter. They will check your reservation and get you onto a bus. Give them the claim tags and they will retrieve your luggage, too. Done it more than once when tags were late coming.
Although it's true that you don't need luggage tags for DME to retrieve your luggage, you do need a reservation - it's part of DME's agreement with MCO.
karen63 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2015, 10:38 PM   #13
Fortissimo
Recovering VMK Addict!
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Explorer
 
Fortissimo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Thornton, CO
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 13,087

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by karen63 View Post
Although it's true that you don't need luggage tags for DME to retrieve your luggage, you do need a reservation - it's part of DME's agreement with MCO.
Yes, this is correct. The contract with MCO and the Greater Orlando Airport Authority states they cannot take walk-ups. Other companies that offer ground transportation complained that Disney was introducing unfair competition and the courts agreed. As a result, each contract MCO signs with Disney and DME states that they can't take walk-ups. You are supposed to make a reservation at least 10 days before boarding a DME bus. If DME is caught taking walk-ups they will be hit with a very hefty fine.
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsDLR 6/1976 & 3/1986. WDW offsite Sept. 1985, Jan. 1988, Dec/Jan 1990/91, July, 1999. Enough of the off-site stays! CBR June 2000; PO-R June 2002; POP, CBR and Daytona Beach June 2005; 40th b-day celebration PO-R & AKL, June 2006; POFQ, Daytona (to watch Stinky win Nationals!) and back to the Fish (Dolphin) 2007.
Fortissimo is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2015, 11:32 PM   #14
karen63
Community Rank: Jetsetter
 
karen63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Aurora, IL
Posts: 2,478

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fortissimo View Post
You are supposed to make a reservation at least 10 days before boarding a DME bus.
I could be wrong, but I think you can do it as little as 24 hours in advance. I believe they need a minimum of 10 days' notice to get the luggage tags to you, but as has been said, the tags aren't necessary.
karen63 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2015, 10:36 AM   #15
Fortissimo
Recovering VMK Addict!
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Explorer
 
Fortissimo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Thornton, CO
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 13,087

Post Thanks / Like
Quote:
Originally Posted by karen63 View Post
I could be wrong, but I think you can do it as little as 24 hours in advance. I believe they need a minimum of 10 days' notice to get the luggage tags to you, but as has been said, the tags aren't necessary.
Yes you can make them as little as 24 hours in advance. However, the contract with MCO says that it is supposed to be 10 days. They can bend that because it was still an advance reservation.
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsDLR 6/1976 & 3/1986. WDW offsite Sept. 1985, Jan. 1988, Dec/Jan 1990/91, July, 1999. Enough of the off-site stays! CBR June 2000; PO-R June 2002; POP, CBR and Daytona Beach June 2005; 40th b-day celebration PO-R & AKL, June 2006; POFQ, Daytona (to watch Stinky win Nationals!) and back to the Fish (Dolphin) 2007.
Fortissimo is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Thank you to our forum sponsor:













Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:01 PM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger