HORROR STORIES w/Magic Express

[Unregistered]

Hi there.

I keep hearing horror stories about Magic Express - how awful and long the lines were to get a shuttle, how unorganized, and how some people just wound up calling a cab.

We arrive on a Sunday morning, is it going to be as horrendous as it sounds? How long did it take anyone to get on one? Are the printed with the hotels on them or do you just get any one that is there?

[goofy4tink]

Not sure what 'horror stories' you're talking about. You might want to head over to the Transportation Board and check out all the DME posts there. Most people are quite happy with the service.

[KingdomHeartsFan]

If it will make you feel any better, our experiece with DME last December was great! Probably 2 minutes waiting at the desk and no wait at boarding the bus. When we got to our room, we had been there about 15 minutes when our luggage arrived. It works great!

[helenk]

Most people have been quite happy with Magical Express. I have not heard of anyone having to take a cab. Maybe when it first started but really I used it 2x last year and it was fine. The lines may be long but everything went fast, there are plenty of CMs at the counters, the buses were running one right after the other.
We did have a bit of a wait on our way back to the airport, the bus was 20 minutes late picking us up. But since they pick you up 3 hours prior to your flight we still had plenty of time to check in, we even had time to sit and eat dinner before our flight left.

[Showe]

We use ME in February and had absolutely no problems. We had a 10-min wait at the desk - 10-wait for the bus and we were at SSR in less than one hour tops. Luggage all arrived safely some 2-3 hours later. In fact, luggage was in our room when we returned from our day at the pool. I would totally recommend and do ME again !!

[taekwondo mom]

We used ME in April .. no problems.

[Renee1061]

The only problem we had was totally beyond ME's control. There was a major accident on I-4 and it took probably an hour and a half to get from I-4 to our resort.

Other than that, Disney's Magical Express was, indeed, magical.

Renee

[Boncho]

My sister and her family just got back and she didn't have a problem at all with ME.
:confused3

[mrslur]

An unregistered guest with n/a posts seems very suspicious. Do you perhaps work for a town car service?

[Julylady]

We took Magical Express three times in the past year and the service has been wonderful! :thumbsup2 Prior to ME we tried three different limo companies and were unhappy with ALL of them.

My "directionally challenged" (they refuse to read anything mailed to them or follow any directions or signs) DB and DSIL also took Magical Express this past January. They made it to the hotel without incident and that's saying something!

[Unregistered]

i used it last yr and it was great going from MCO-WL . going back was another story. i coulndt check the luggage in at WL becasue the computer was down for DELTA so we had to deal with our luggage ourselves. We are using it again this august the only thing i dont like is again going back since we are flying southwest i cant check my luggage in at the resort i have to do it myself at the airport.

[disneyobessed]

i used it last yr and it was great going from MCO-WL . going back was another story. i coulndt check the luggage in at WL becasue the computer was down for DELTA so we had to deal with our luggage ourselves. We are using it again this august the only thing i dont like is again going back since we are flying southwest i cant check my luggage in at the resort i have to do it myself at the airport.


I wrote this.. no clue why it doesnt show my username..

[CJLKIM]

i used it last yr and it was great going from MCO-WL . going back was another story. i coulndt check the luggage in at WL becasue the computer was down for DELTA so we had to deal with our luggage ourselves. We are using it again this august the only thing i dont like is again going back since we are flying southwest i cant check my luggage in at the resort i have to do it myself at the airport.

Our ME experience was fabulous - and no problems with using Southwest. Everything went very quickly and was quite painless (especially for first time travelers).

[disneyobessed]

Our ME experience was fabulous - and no problems with using Southwest. Everything went very quickly and was quite painless (especially for first time travelers).


did you have to bring your own luggage to the airport from the resort? or were you able check it in at your resort?

[CJLKIM]

did you have to bring your own luggage to the airport from the resort? or were you able check it in at your resort?

Since SW is a non-participating airline we had to take our own luggage and check it in but the check-in was so close to where we got off the bus that it wasn't anything major. The driver physically unloaded all the bags right on the curb all in a neat little line so as you exited the bus you could walk over and pick yours out of the lineup. Some people used the porters while others just took their own bags to check-in.

We actually got there early so we sat down and relaxed near SW's desk until we hit the 2-hour window for checkin. After that we went and got something to eat and browsed through the shops until boarding time.

Seriously, we had never traveled until last fall and, in fact, I had never even been in an airport. Don't fret! It'll be fine... :goodvibes

[JayS]

I've seen mention that you can check your baggage at the hotel for some airlines (Delta) but not others (Southwest). I tried to look up ME on Disney's site:surfweb: , but did not find much...:confused3

Can anyone :teacher: tell me what airlines are part of the program? OR better yet, where does Disney list the same? Since our trip is (exactly) 500 days away,:banana: we won't be able to book air right away :rolleyes1 and that list could change....

:worship: Thanks!:thanks:

[Eeyore4me764]

Hi Everyone,

Just so I have it right. If you fly southwest and use the ME when you arrive in Orlando, Your luggage will be picked up for you and transported to your resort? Its on your return that you have to check your own luggage at the airport? I also wanted to get my boarding passes 24 hours before we leave; will be bringing our laptop; but anyone know where we could print them out?

Any help would be appreciated.....Thanks.... :eeyore: pooh:

[WI_DisneyFan]

Hi Everyone,

Just so I have it right. If you fly southwest and use the ME when you arrive in Orlando, Your luggage will be picked up for you and transported to your resort? Its on your return that you have to check your own luggage at the airport? I also wanted to get my boarding passes 24 hours before we leave; will be bringing our laptop; but anyone know where we could print them out?

Any help would be appreciated.....Thanks.... :eeyore: pooh:

Unfortunately, I can't help you with the printing thing. If I take my computer on vacation with me, then it just makes me think of work. YUCK!!! :badpc:

However, you are correct on the first part. The Magical Express will pick up your luggage from the Orlando airport and deliver it to your room, regardless of the airline you fly. You just need to get on the bus and head to your resort. But on your return trip, you can still take their bus to the airport, but you'll have to check your own luggage. I was confused by that myself last fall, and had to call Disney 3 times to confirm how it worked. And I was still nervous on the flight down there how it all worked.

[princessblueeyzes]

We used DME last August and loved it- no worries about anything except checking into the hotel and enjoying our vacation!

[princessblueeyzes]

Hi Everyone,

Just so I have it right. If you fly southwest and use the ME when you arrive in Orlando, Your luggage will be picked up for you and transported to your resort? Its on your return that you have to check your own luggage at the airport? I also wanted to get my boarding passes 24 hours before we leave; will be bringing our laptop; but anyone know where we could print them out?

Any help would be appreciated.....Thanks.... :eeyore: pooh:


When we went last August and we flew back on Southwest, we went to the check in desk and asked the lady there to print out our boarding passes for us- we gave her our reservation number and our names after a couple of minutes she came back out with them. I am not sure if they do this at every Disney hotel, but I would call and ask the guest services where you are staying if that is an option.
HTH.

[jl]

:thumbsup2 We flew Airtran Feb. 06 & thought ME was great. We had the Guest Services print our boarding passes @ Riverside/Port Orleans 24hrs. in advance of our return flight. Also, we had a skycap tag our luggage @ MCO, so only had to wait in the security line.....long line!!

[goofy4tink]

I've seen mention that you can check your baggage at the hotel for some airlines (Delta) but not others (Southwest). I tried to look up ME on Disney's site:surfweb: , but did not find much...:confused3

Can anyone :teacher: tell me what airlines are part of the program? OR better yet, where does Disney list the same? Since our trip is (exactly) 500 days away,:banana: we won't be able to book air right away :rolleyes1 and that list could change....

:worship: Thanks!:thanks:

I can't tell you verbatim which airlines are considered 'participating'....among them are American, United, Northwest, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue. Check out the Transportation Board..there's lots of DME info there. Disney doesn't actually list them because that option really isn't within Disney's bailiwick. It's regulated by the air people.

[DisneyGerry]

We have used it a few times--the last two we didnt get into MCO until after 8p

There were no lines so they combined a couple of resorts but not a big deal--they show a video to get all exited

Two times ago they delivered the luggage at 2a--yes they knocked at door, etc

Last time it came around 11p or so

Gerry

[Eeyore4me764]

EEEKKK We will be arriving into Orlando at about 9:00 pm. So I could possibly be woken up at 2:00 am???? :sad2: I was going to pack a couple of necessities in my overnight bag so we could prepare for bed. I guess I thought because arriving later in the evening and after the "check-in" time that we wouldn't have to wait too long.....need to get my sleep so I can be ready to hit our first adventure in the Kingdom. :Pinkbounc

:earsboy: :earsgirl:
pooh: :eeyore:

[angelsmom920]

We used ME in April and it was fine. The only thing was we arrived at 1130pm (hotel checkin at 1am). We could have asked to have our baggage held at the front desk, but I wanted my luggage so I woke up at 3am when the delivery man showed up with our luggage. 12 of us in 4 rooms arrived at that time and I was the only who woke up. We were able to go over to the luggage area and pick up everyone elses things! Upon checkout, our flight was at 6am and we had to be up and over to the bus stop at 3am! That was a little tough, but it was very smooth. I would definately use ME again.

[spaceoddity]

If your arriving that late, and don't want to have your luggage delivered late either have them check it in at front desk. Or just claim it yourself...you don't have to have the ME get your luggage. That way you'll have everything you need to start your day without being disturbed late at night :banana:

[bellenbuzz]

Glad to hear good positive feedback on this.
Will be using DME for 1st time in November.
Also, POR sounds like it will assist in return flight baggage & boarding passes, huh ??!!
We have a group of 10 ppl, will we all be together on 1 shuttle bus ???
How big are the DME busses ???
ANd they show videos ????
:rotfl: :Pinkbounc :thanks: :figment: :stitch: :tigger: :mickeyjum :donald:

[Eeyore4me764]

Well thats cool; if we do arrive late and if I pack some necessities in my overnight bag I don't have to worry about getting my luggage until the morning....I will just let them know to hold the bags until the am. :cool1:

Can't wait.....5 more days!!! :woohoo:

[Pdowning98]

We arrived home Saturday from our trip and used ME, 11 people in party. It went very smoothly. We arrived to our hotel checked in, put our carry on's in the room and had lunch, by then our luggage had arrived. We flew American so our luggage was checked at our hotel on the way home and they held our carry on's and we came back and grabbed them prior to leaving. So overall we definitely would do ME again.

Have a great trip and don't be worried! :)

[angelsmom920]

We have a group of 10 ppl, will we all be together on 1 shuttle bus ???
How big are the DME busses ???
ANd they show videos ????
:rotfl: :Pinkbounc :thanks: :figment: :stitch: :tigger: :mickeyjum :donald:

The shuttles are charter buses and hold many people. We stayed at CSR and there were people on the bus from a couple diffrent resorts. There is plenty of room for your party and then about 40 others! They do show a little welcome to Disney video which gets you more excited for the trip! Have a great trip!

[bellenbuzz]

Geezzz Even the Bus Ride Will Get Us MORE Thrilled !!
Sounds like Disney Came up With a Winner with the DME !! :tink: :smickey:

[kpk89]

Maybe the horror stories were from a year ago, when the service was just getting up and running?

We've used it twice now (and once was on Day 2 !) and both times found that even with long lines there are lots of CMS and it's a pretty efficient process. If you're sure to bring along whatever essentials you need for the first few hours of your vacation in your carryon, you'll be fine!

[Goobergal99]

We used it last August and since I am major OCD we opted to get our own luggage and just bring it to the bus (then we tipped the ME driver for handling it) But there was absoultely no line at the ME counter and the bus came in less then 15 minutes, we were alsothe first stop on the bus, but our bus was practically empty anyway. I wouldn't hesitate to use them, although I still will claim my own luggage (only b/c I am super OCD though :rotfl2: )

[Boncho]

We used it last August and since I am major OCD we opted to get our own luggage and just bring it to the bus (then we tipped the ME driver for handling it) But there was absoultely no line at the ME counter and the bus came in less then 15 minutes, we were alsothe first stop on the bus, but our bus was practically empty anyway. I wouldn't hesitate to use them, although I still will claim my own luggage (only b/c I am super OCD though :rotfl2: )

I'm showing my ignorance now, but, what is an OCD? :confused3

[Goobergal99]

I'm showing my ignorance now, but, what is an OCD? :confused3

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Like Jack Nicholson "in as good as it gets" but my compulsions involve checking instead of washing :thumbsup2

[Boncho]

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Like Jack Nicholson "in as good as it gets" but my compulsions involve checking instead of washing :thumbsup2
:lmao: :rotfl2: :lmao:

I'm right there with you - have to check everything over and over again then still think I forgot something or forgot to do something until I can relax and say ' oh well"' :rotfl2:

[CleveRocks]

Maybe the horror stories were from a year ago, when the service was just getting up and running?
Well, I used DME on May 8, 2005 (and again on May 14 back to MCO) when it was 4 days old, and everything was great.

I think the problem is that people read thread titles like "HORROR STORIES with DME" but don't read the thread and then incorrectly assume they "know" that DME is fraught with bad problems. I'm sure there have been a few actual horror stories here and there, but have we read of any on DISboards? I've read about a few glitches that got fixed, but no actual horror stories that I can recall.

But I've read many threads on DISboards started by people trying to learn about DME who express anxiety about it. So we read about a lot of people who haven't used it but are nervous and skeptical, and other people probably figure "where there's smoke there's fire" -- and then think something like, "Boy, there's all this anxiety about how bad DME might be, so it must in fact be pretty bad." Most of us know better.

Urban legend, that's what it is ....

[keishashadow]

Haven't used ME yet, couple questions for return trip to airport (AirTran)...

1) We'll be checking out & returning to parks, then will return to hotel for bus. Where do we leave our luggage.

2) Is there an actual ME desk @ resort to check in with prior to departure?

TIA

[Gerweniel]

We used ME last December we arrived MCO at 9:48AM and were checked in our room at CBR by 11:15AM!!!! Eating lunch at Earl of Sandwich by 12:00! It went off without a hitch.

To answer your questions keishashadow, the CBR at least had a separate desk for checking in the bags you want to go on the plane. We flew Song, so we could get our bags checked and boarding passes really early the morning of our departure.

We left our carry on bags with the bell captain at the hotel for storage until we came back to pick up the bus for return flight .

[keishashadow]

thanks - not so concerned about trip in, just don't want to miss flight home (DH usually insists we climb in the car far earlier than the 3 hours I hear ME follows?)We used ME last December we arrived MCO at 9:48AM and were checked in our room at CBR by 11:15AM!!!! Eating lunch at Earl of Sandwich by 12:00! It went off without a hitch.

To answer your questions keishashadow, the CBR at least had a separate desk for checking in the bags you want to go on the plane. We flew Song, so we could get our bags checked and boarding passes really early the morning of our departure.

We left our carry on bags with the bell captain at the hotel for storage until we came back to pick up the bus for return flight .

[CleveRocks]

Haven't used ME yet, couple questions for return trip to airport (AirTran)...

1) We'll be checking out & returning to parks, then will return to hotel for bus. Where do we leave our luggage. You can bring your luggage down to Bell Services yourself, or you can have them come to pick it up. Either way, Bell Services (or "Luggage Assistance" at the value resorts) can store your luggage and carry-ons for you while you're out playing at the parks one last time.
2) Is there an actual ME desk @ resort to check in with prior to departure? The quick answer is NO. Here's the long answer ....

For people like you who are NOT using a participating airline (you are flying Air Tran), you DON'T HAVE TO CHECK IN ANYWHERE for your return trip to MCO. I mean, you should certainly ask someone where exactly you should wait for the DME bus, but there's no one for you to check in with. The Resort Airline Check-In desk at each resort is NOT NOT NOT a "DME" desk, they are ONLY for luggage check-in and airline check-in for people flying one of the "participating" airlines.

You just have to know your scheduled bus time and be in the proper area to meet it. If Bell Services is storing your bags, make sure to give them at least 15 minutes to retrieve them for you before your scheduled bus time. If they are very very busy it'd be a shame for you to miss your bus because you don't have access to your luggage.

HAVE FUN! :Pinkbounc

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

I had no complaints about DME except for the fact that it took me back to the airport :rotfl: at the end of the trip.

[Tiinkerbelle]

We flew American (non-stop, arrived at 8:30pm, and returned at 4am!), we picked up our bags in baggage claim and took them down the elevator to the ME check in. There was no wait at all, only 7-8 people on the bus with us, they took our bags for us, loaded them onto the bus and brought them to our room about 10 minutes after we arrived. It was very easy, quick and I would recommend it again. We did however make stops at the Poly and Contemp but that took less then 10 minutes at each hotel.

[joshsmom]

We used DME last May and it was fabulous!!! :thumbsup2 :banana: :thumbsup2 We're looking forward to it again in 8 days!!!!

[the john]

Wow OP is so negetive.

[kimberh]

I have really been promoting this and I am soooo relieved to hear the positive responses here. The title to this Thread is terrible!

[bicker]

Well, given that the OP wasn't a registered guest (how did they get to post a message???) perhaps a moderator can fix the thread title, so other members aren't turned around by it.

[stemikger]

I used the ME last year and it couldn't have gone any smoother. My wife and I were amazed how effecient it was.

In the past we used Mears and usually waited for about 40 minutes until we boarded a bus, with ME we were on in about 10 minutes and it was much more magical then Mears. The little movie they show was timed perfectly, it ended just as we were arriving at the gates of my favoriate resort Pop Century.

On the way home it went just as smooth.

However, I'm not sure if this is the norm, but this was my experience.

[tkitty]

Used ME way back in 1999, worked smoothly. Ended with Disney Cruise, went off without a hitch. Using it again in Aug. I recommend it! :thumbsup2

[CleveRocks]

Used ME way back in 1999, worked smoothly. Ended with Disney Cruise, went off without a hitch. Using it again in Aug. I recommend it! :thumbsup2DME started on May 5, 2005. There was no DME in 1999. They may have had some sort of special promotional transportation for your 1999 trip, but twasn't DME.

[seashoreCM]

DME started on May 5, 2005. There was no DME in 1999. They may have had some sort of special promotional transportation for your 1999 trip, but twasn't DME.
DME is Disney Cruise Line transportation expanded 100 fold. One reason DME worked so well on the first day (in May 2005) is that Disney had so much experience with the various parts of the service over the years.

Not everything in DCL transportation was included in DME. For example they don't carry the luggage down from your room.

The most critical part of DME is getting back to the airport.
1. You need a bus time in writing, get it at the front desk the day before checkout if it was not hung on your room door. Make sure everyone, including the kiddoes, is named.
2. Be punctual, they say 15 minutes before bus departure. We suggest aiming to be back at the resort an hour before.
3. In the rare event of a glitch or irregularity, go after resort staff immediately. Most important, be gone within 45 minutes no matter what it takes, if you need to complain at length, do it when you get home.

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

[metsfan11]

We are using DME for the first time in August and I have heard all good things about it. :thumbsup2

[mistydoodles]

If it will make you feel any better, our experiece with DME last December was great! Probably 2 minutes waiting at the desk and no wait at boarding the bus. When we got to our room, we had been there about 15 minutes when our luggage arrived. It works great!

When in December did you go? We went on December 10th and it was awful. My husband must have been in line for over an hour before we were then able to get in the very long line for the bus. We waited another 30 minutes or more to get on the bus. Finally feeling relieved that we were heading to the hotel, the air conditioner gave out on the bus and the heat turned on. It was just awful. We all wished that we had just paid the $100 and gotten a town car to take us to the hotel.

It was not Magical at all for us.

[MOMMIEW/2BOYS]

I just back on Sunday May 14th.

We used DME and had no problem. They had people through out the airport to show us which way to go. I stood in line for about 5 mins to get to the counter, then only stood in line for the buses for maybe 15mins.

I didnt get my luggage till about 11:30 that night but I blame that on the air line not DME.

Going home they were 5 mins late but since we werent in a hurry to leave and still had 3 hrs till our plane left it wasnt a big deal. (ended up our flight got delayed 4 hrs any ways)

So I think over all we had a great experience with the DME. :wizard:

[Hope73]

We loved it in Jan we were at our resort within an half hour in Jan. Just know that your luggage will take up to 3 hours to follow you. We knew what we wore on the plane was what we would wear the first day at tthe parks. Maybe put a pair of shorts in your carry on bag to change into when you get to the hotel.

[MagicMe]

We had the DCL experience back in 2000 and loved the fact that we never touched are luggage (there they even picked it up from your room the morning we left for the cruise)! Having done that, we were looking forward to using ME last September for the first time!

It didn't take us long to check in (5 minutes - maybe) and we stood in line for our bus for about 10-15 minutes (believe me - I've waited longer for other transportation in past years!). We did have a little glitch - we were going to OKW and there were only about 10 people in our line (we were six of them) and they decided (at least the CM's inside) to put us on a bus to POR (makes sense - they're close to each other). Well, they forgot to tell the bus driver they put us on the bus!! We drove right by OKW thinking okay maybe we were last? Stopped at POFQ, then over to POR, then off to Fort Wilderness. Okay - very strange but we'll be patient. Get to Fort Wilderness - those people get off and the bus driver gets back on the bus and looks at us somewhat confused. He can't figure out why he still has passengers after his last drop :rotfl2: . After we told him where we were staying, it was a quick turnaround to OKW. As I said - a little glitch but nothing big and we had an unusual amusing story from our trip!!!

Can't wait to use ME again this year!!!

[onelumiere]

We used the magic express for the first time in february and let me tell you, you can't beat it. We arrived via southwest airlines from new orleans, walked down (escalator) to the first floor where we went straight to the magic express desk, checked in, walked straight to our resort line (there are lines for the different hotels) and waited no more than 2 - 5 minutes before they loaded us on our bus. There was only around 10 people on our bus, it took us straight to the lobby entrance and dropped us off. The best thing about all of it, you do not have to deal with your luggage. When we got off the plane, we didn't have to pick up our luggage. They do it for you and deliver it TO YOUR ROOM!!!! No carrying luggage around, no waiting for it to come off the plane in baggage. It was so easy!!!!!! Especially when you have children like we do, trying to carry around 5 or more pieces of luggage is difficult. Also, when we use to go, we would end up spending around 75 dollars for a taxi. With the magic express, your disney trip starts the moment you get off the plane. I am sure others might say different, but as I said before. my experience was GREAT and HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bushdianee]

We used ME over Spring Brreak. We had no waiting at the desk and we arrived around noon. We waited maybe 5 minutes for a bus to POP. Our luggage arrived without any problem within an hour of our arrival at POP. The return tip went as smoothly as the arrival. :cheer2:

[penguin087]

I went last May just a few days after DME started and opted not to use it. I still may not use it on my next trip. I am terrified they are going to lose my luggage. I'm amazed enough when the airline doesn't lose it. It seems to be tempting fate. Am I stressing over nothing? Anyone? Has DME lost your luggage?

[all4disney98]

We used DME a couple of weeks ago and it was wonderful! We waited in line at the ME desk for about 5 minutes then literally walked on the bus and off we went. It couldn't have gone any smoother!

I agree that the name of the thread needs to be changed, haven't read of any true horror stories, just maybe a few bumps here and there. (But I think that is with anything in life. :) )

[mom23boys]

We used DME in Jan when we went to FW Cabins. We usually rent a car but this was a short weekend trip.

It was great, very smooth coming and going. I would use it again in a heartbeat. :thumbsup2

[BeckWhy]

When my uncle and his family went last July (I think it was July) they had a great experience. I'm not sure how long they waited at the airport for a bus, but after they arrived at Fort Wilderness (they were staying in a cabin) they took their golf cart around the grounds to get aquanted and came back and their luggage had been delivered. I asked him how long he thought it was and he said they weren't gone any longer than 45 min.

I've heard stories too. But I am more scared the airline will lose our luggage than our luggage taking 4 hours to get to our hotel. I have no intentions of checkin any luggage when we go in Sept. Our luggage will consist of two 21" rollies and 1 backpack. If we buy a lot of souvies then when we come back we will have two back packs.

[FigNewton]

The only problem we had with it was that our flight out was too early in the morning to use the luggage check in at the hotel. Our flight out was at 7:30, so we were getting picked up at the hotel at 4:30 am.

The only reason we were flying out that early though was because we weren't going home, but were headed to Ft. Myers, and didn't want to lose a lot of time on our first day at the beach. :cool1:

[matysgrandma]

Hi Everyone,

Just so I have it right. If you fly southwest and use the ME when you arrive in Orlando, Your luggage will be picked up for you and transported to your resort? Its on your return that you have to check your own luggage at the airport? I also wanted to get my boarding passes 24 hours before we leave; will be bringing our laptop; but anyone know where we could print them out?

Any help would be appreciated.....Thanks.... :eeyore: pooh:
As far as your boarding passes go, any disney hotel can and will print your boarding pass 24 hours prior to departure. AND any of the parks will, too. My flight last week left at 9:00pm and I knew I'd be at Epcot at 9, so rather than wait til I got back to the hotel, I brought my flight info with me, went to guest services and they printed up my boarding pass right there. I didn't have to stress about getting an A Boarding Pass and I could go to Jellyrolls right after Epcot without having to stop back at the hotel!

[byoung]

Used ME 5 trips now with no problems.

[Unregistered]

no problem here--it was a very smooth transition. We packed anything we might have needed immediately as we were a ware that the luggage may take a few hours to get to us. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again as it was a huge savings and less hassle tathan the lines to get the rental car.

[bellenbuzz]

A Big THANKS, most of these posts are quite positive !!
So nice to hear all this good news ! We DIS'ers appreciate it !

Question:

SO......this just dawned on me, on the day of our departure (yuk, I hate that last day feeling)....anyways, we leave our luggage in our hotel room at POR, check out & head towards the parks all day right, we must return to POR to catch our DME bus to MCO ??? But, we don't need to do anything with our luggage ???

[CleveRocks]

A Big THANKS, most of these posts are quite positive !!
So nice to hear all this good news ! We DIS'ers appreciate it !

Question:

SO......this just dawned on me, on the day of our departure (yuk, I hate that last day feeling)....anyways, we leave our luggage in our hotel room at POR, check out & head towards the parks all day right, we must return to POR to catch our DME bus to MCO ??? But, we don't need to do anything with our luggage ???
OK, a coupla different questions here. Number one, you must take care of getting your luggage out of your room. You may request Bell Services to do this (while you are in the room) or you may do it yourself, but your luggage will not "magically" leave your room, the opposite of the way it "magically" appeared inside your room at the beginning of your trip. [ETA: When your bags "magically" arrived inside your room at the beginning of your vacation, Disney "pre-tips" the Bell Services CMs for that service, but if they help you with your bags at departure then the tip is on you] You will need to get the luggage to the main lobby, regardless of how you accomplish that. What you do with it from there depends on which airline you're using.

If you're flying on one of the "participating" airlines, you can check in your checked luggage (the bags that will go in the plane's cargo hold) at your resort's Resort Airline Check-In desk (RAC). You won't see or be responsible for that luggage again until you see it on your home airport's baggage claim carousel. You can check your carry-ons with Bell Services at POR, and then reclaim them later.

You DO need to go back to POR if you want to take a DME bus back to the airport. But, there's no requirement that you take the DME bus back to the airport. If you really really wanted to, you could take your carry-ons with you to Epcot and then catch a taxi from Epcot to the airport.

Now, if you're NOT flying a "participating" airline, you can have POR Bell Services store your luggage and carry-ons for you, then go out to play. When you get back to POR you'll need to reclaim your luggage from Bell Services. Bell Services will NOT take your luggage from storage and load it onto the DME bus. In my case (with 12 total bags, including carry-ons, for 6 people), the Bell Services CM brought my luggage on a luggage cart and told me I could hang onto it while I waited. When the bus came, I rolled my luggage to the bus, we took our carry-ons, and I made sure the driver loaded all the checked bags. You CAN have your carry-ons stowed under the bus, and you'll actually HAVE TO do so if they're too big to fit under your own bus seat or on the overhead shelf.

I hope this all makes sense.

By the way, I just booked my November Jersey Week trip, and I'm using DME again. I LOVE that service!

[bellenbuzz]

YES YES I totally understood your explanation. I appreciate it very much !
It's just that when you've never done something before (DME), sometimes its hard to completely "get-it"!
Kind of like when I 1st heard about Fast-Pass, and it sounded so confusing & time restricting, but now that we've done Fast-Pass, It Is Awesome !!
There is a total of 10ppl in our group, so we will have lots of luggage I'm sure....
THANKS AGAIN :wave: :lovestruc :tilt:

[CleveRocks]

Bellenbuzz, from our "tickers" it looks like I'll be leaving WDW the day before you'll be arriving. I'll be staying at POFQ -- if you need any more info just let me know and I'll leave a note for you somewhere! :rotfl2:

[bellenbuzz]

Thanks for the Offer !
I'll keep you in Mind ! :hippie: :disrocks:

[kaytieeldr]

Can anyone tell me what airlines are part of the program? OR better yet, where does Disney list the same? Since our trip is (exactly) 500 days away, we won't be able to book air right away and that list could change.... If you check the Transportation board, there are several recent posts from people who've contacted the company that provides the luggage service - and it appears that several more airlines will be added to the "participating" list in the reasonable future. Meantime, Delta, American, United/Ted, Northwest, JetBlue, Alaska Air and maybe a couple more.

I also wanted to get my boarding passes 24 hours before we leave; will be bringing our laptop; but anyone know where we could print them out? You can check in online and 're'print your boarding passes at a self-check kiosk when you get to the airport; or you can ask the front desk if they'll check you in.

We have a group of 10 ppl, will we all be together on 1 shuttle bus ???
How big are the DME busses ??? If you all check in together and are staying at the same resort, you'll all be on the same bus. If you check in together but are staying at separate resorts, you may or may not all be on the same bus depending on the routing. The buses are tour-bus size.

1) We'll be checking out & returning to parks, then will return to hotel for bus. Where do we leave our luggage.
2) Is there an actual ME desk @ resort to check in with prior to departure Leave your luggage with Bell Services/Luggage Assistance. Just allow yourself enough extra time at the hotel to claim your luggage before your DME bus arrives. Yes, there is an actual DME counter where Guests flying on participating airlines (see above) can check in and check their luggage through; at this time, AirTran is NOT one of them.

I went last May just a few days after DME started and opted not to use it. I still may not use it on my next trip. I am terrified they are going to lose my luggage. I'm amazed enough when the airline doesn't lose it. It seems to be tempting fate. Am I stressing over nothing? Anyone? Has DME lost your luggage? The closest I've ever heard to DME 'losing' luggage is from a friend who had two rooms - one for her and her husband, one for the young-adult kids. The hotel (not DME!) put all the luggage in the kids' room - and since they were off at Pleasure Island until late, my friend didn't have her checked baggage until the boys got back.

[bellenbuzz]

We are also flying AIRTRAN.....
I'll have to go to Transportation Posts to understand the difference between "participating" airlines & not.
Thanks for taking the time to respond !! :hippie: :hug:

[seashoreCM]

We are also flying AIRTRAN.....
I'll have to go to Transportation Posts to understand the difference between "participating" airlines & not.:
Participating airlines -- Those airlines for which you can check luggage at the resort when going home. Currently Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Jetblue, Northwest, Song, Ted, flights leaving after 8 AM.

There are no other differences.

[LiLIrishChick63]

i had a bad experience. we were doing a Magical Gathering event because it was my fiance and his family.


first bad thing that happened, we never got our luggage tags in the mail. one person out of the party got luggage tags, and they were for the wrong resort. so we had to bring our own luggage down to the ME bus when we arrived at the Orlando Airport.

second bad thing, ME was very new when we went, and they really didn't tell us ANYTHING about it. just "oh we'll bring your luggage to your resort for you!" so i wasn't told to keep all of your medicine in your carry-on and keep a change of clothes in your carry-on, etc. we got to our resort at around 4 and at 6 we had to leave to go to the Cirque show Downtown. and by 6 we still hadn't had our luggage, which meant i was already late on taking some of my meds and i didn't have anything to change into, so i had to go in pants and a t-shirt in 90 degree weather. we didn't even get home until midnight and that's when we had to put our luggage away.

we had his mother and his aunt staying in a cabin with us, and they even told us the luggage didn't even get there until about 8pm. the rest of the family in the Magical Gathering got their luggage about 15 minutes after getting to their resort.

i don't understand, they have your luggage in the bus with you, why can't they just drop it off with you when you get to your resort? why would it take them 4 hours to drop off our luggage when it was with us the whole ride there anyway?

[LiLIrishChick63]

When in December did you go? We went on December 10th and it was awful. My husband must have been in line for over an hour before we were then able to get in the very long line for the bus. We waited another 30 minutes or more to get on the bus. Finally feeling relieved that we were heading to the hotel, the air conditioner gave out on the bus and the heat turned on. It was just awful. We all wished that we had just paid the $100 and gotten a town car to take us to the hotel.

It was not Magical at all for us.



glad i'm not the only one who had a problem with it. we usually used Mears transportation from the airport to the hotel and it was around $100. i'd rather have my luggage ready when i get to my hotel to put it away and then start my vacation, not have to wait for 4 hours to get it, when it's already on the bus that i'm on anyway.

[penguin087]

This may have been answered and I missed it but...Can you get off the bus at your resorts and stand there and wait for them to unload your luggage and take custody of it right then ?Or do you have to wait for them to bring it to you?

[CleveRocks]

i had a bad experience. we were doing a Magical Gathering event because it was my fiance and his family.


first bad thing that happened, we never got our luggage tags in the mail. one person out of the party got luggage tags, and they were for the wrong resort. so we had to bring our own luggage down to the ME bus when we arrived at the Orlando Airport.

second bad thing, ME was very new when we went, and they really didn't tell us ANYTHING about it. just "oh we'll bring your luggage to your resort for you!" so i wasn't told to keep all of your medicine in your carry-on and keep a change of clothes in your carry-on, etc. we got to our resort at around 4 and at 6 we had to leave to go to the Cirque show Downtown. and by 6 we still hadn't had our luggage, which meant i was already late on taking some of my meds and i didn't have anything to change into, so i had to go in pants and a t-shirt in 90 degree weather. we didn't even get home until midnight and that's when we had to put our luggage away.

we had his mother and his aunt staying in a cabin with us, and they even told us the luggage didn't even get there until about 8pm. the rest of the family in the Magical Gathering got their luggage about 15 minutes after getting to their resort.

i don't understand, they have your luggage in the bus with you, why can't they just drop it off with you when you get to your resort? why would it take them 4 hours to drop off our luggage when it was with us the whole ride there anyway?Okay, a few different comments here ....

I first used DME on May 8, 2005. It was 4 days old. I actively found out everything there was to know about it, so that I could understand how it worked and thus could understand how to make my vacation experience as magical and stress-free as possible. I made lots of phone calls to ask questions and also read everything available online. So what I'm saying is, I knew the luggage would take several hours to arrive in my room. I planned for it. And no matter where I fly, I always pack a carry-on for the first 24 hours just in case the airline delays my luggage. Even the airlines tell you not to pack medication in checked luggage. It's just a smart, safe, self-protective way to travel. It's kinda the same as looking both ways before crossing the street even if you have a green light and a "walk" sign -- you SHOULD have the right of way but it makes sense to take precautions and protect yourself anyway, KWIM?

So you say you had a bad experience. Yes, you did, and it's a shame to start any vacation in such a stressful way, especially a Disney vacation. But in all honesty it wasn't Disney's fault. If you'd known what to expect, it wouldn't have been a bad experience. It's sort of like being very hungry with hungry and cranky kids, going into a waitress-service restaurant, placing your order with the waitress, and then complaining that your food took 15-20 minutes to arrive. That would be a bad experience if your expectation was that the food would be served the instant you ordered it. But since you know there's a lag between when you order and when you're served, you adapt by either going to the restaurant before you and the kids feel starved, or bringing crackers or some other little snack for the kids to help them be a little happy before the food arrives, and so on.

Back on May 8, 2005, Mothers Day. after we got to our resort, we eventually took the kids to the pool. Our luggage arrived while we were at the pool (we found it when we got back). We had all our swim stuff in our carry-ons -- we certainly weren't wearing bathing suits on the airplane!

Also, DME luggage is not transported on DME buses. The luggage is transported by trucks/vans that exist ONLY to transport DME luggage. So it's not like they have your luggage on the bus with you but refuse to give it to you.

Also, you said since you didn't have your DME luggage tags you had to go get your luggage yourself. This was an incorrect assumption. You could have gone directly to the DME Welcome Center (and totally skipped baggage claim), told them your bags weren't tagged, and they would have gotten them for you and transported them for you. I didn't receive my DME tags until the day before we left. We were prepared to do without, and I knew what to do to still use DME as designed. In fact, one very nice DME CM suggested we tie some yarn or ribbon onto each piece of checked luggage to make it easier for them to spot. My wife bought some awfully loud ribbon. She not only put a piece on each bag, but planned to bring a swatch with her to give to the DME CMs to make their identification process that much easier.

I'm sorry if the above sounds critical. I don't mean it that way. I'm trying to help just in case you find yourself in the same position again. The more you know, the better your experience will be. :goodvibes

[CleveRocks]

This may have been answered and I missed it but...Can you get off the bus at your resorts and stand there and wait for them to unload your luggage and take custody of it right then ?Or do you have to wait for them to bring it to you?
If you take the DME bus from MCO to your resort, you have the option of having them deliver your luggage (it gets transported by truck/van) OR getting your luggage from baggage claim yourself, dragging it to the DME Welcome Center, then dragging it to the bus, etc. If you bring it to the bus yourself, the driver will load it under the bus, and then he'll unload it for you when you arrive at your resort.

Using DME the way it was designed is obviously faster, since you don't have to stop at baggage claim and wait for your bags. But you can choose to do it either way.

[LiLIrishChick63]

Okay, a few different comments here ....

I first used DME on May 8, 2005. It was 4 days old. I actively found out everything there was to know about it, so that I could understand how it worked and thus could understand how to make my vacation experience as magical and stress-free as possible. I made lots of phone calls to ask questions and also read everything available online. So what I'm saying is, I knew the luggage would take several hours to arrive in my room. I planned for it. And no matter where I fly, I always pack a carry-on for the first 24 hours just in case the airline delays my luggage. Even the airlines tell you not to pack medication in checked luggage. It's just a smart, safe, self-protective way to travel. It's kinda the same as looking both ways before crossing the street even if you have a green light and a "walk" sign -- you SHOULD have the right of way but it makes sense to take precautions and protect yourself anyway, KWIM?

So you say you had a bad experience. Yes, you did, and it's a shame to start any vacation in such a stressful way, especially a Disney vacation. But in all honesty it wasn't Disney's fault. If you'd known what to expect, it wouldn't have been a bad experience. It's sort of like being very hungry with hungry and cranky kids, going into a waitress-service restaurant, placing your order with the waitress, and then complaining that your food took 15-20 minutes to arrive. That would be a bad experience if your expectation was that the food would be served the instant you ordered it. But since you know there's a lag between when you order and when you're served, you adapt by either going to the restaurant before you and the kids feel starved, or bringing crackers or some other little snack for the kids to help them be a little happy before the food arrives, and so on.

Back on May 8, 2005, Mothers Day. after we got to our resort, we eventually took the kids to the pool. Our luggage arrived while we were at the pool (we found it when we got back). We had all our swim stuff in our carry-ons -- we certainly weren't wearing bathing suits on the airplane!

Also, DME luggage is not transported on DME buses. The luggage is transported by trucks/vans that exist ONLY to transport DME luggage. So it's not like they have your luggage on the bus with you but refuse to give it to you.

Also, you said since you didn't have your DME luggage tags you had to go get your luggage yourself. This was an incorrect assumption. You could have gone directly to the DME Welcome Center (and totally skipped baggage claim), told them your bags weren't tagged, and they would have gotten them for you and transported them for you. I didn't receive my DME tags until the day before we left. We were prepared to do without, and I knew what to do to still use DME as designed. In fact, one very nice DME CM suggested we tie some yarn or ribbon onto each piece of checked luggage to make it easier for them to spot. My wife bought some awfully loud ribbon. She not only put a piece on each bag, but planned to bring a swatch with her to give to the DME CMs to make their identification process that much easier.

I'm sorry if the above sounds critical. I don't mean it that way. I'm trying to help just in case you find yourself in the same position again. The more you know, the better your experience will be. :goodvibes



i didn't have all of my medication in that certain bag, most of it was on my carry on but not everything could fit into my carry-on.


i don't think that your comparing my bad experience with a restaurant was really accurate. i understand where you're coming from, but that's completley different. if my kids were hungry and crying i'd go to a McDonald's where i knew the food was fast, not to a sit down restaurant.

we DID go to the DME welcome center and told them our bags weren't tagged, and they told us that since they weren't tagged that we would have to go and get them ourselves. when we came back with them, they were there loading all of the luggage, and took ours, and put it all underneath the bus. it wasn't an "incorrect assumption" of anything. i was just retelling what happened.

[Eeyore4me764]

Well I just got back and not sure if I would use again.

I liked when I arrived at the Orlando airport (Tuesday evening at 8:30 pm)went to the check in desk for DME and it was about a 5 min wait to check in and then was directed to the POP Century line. We waited there about 30 minutes. We were the only ones in line for POP for the first 20 min. Other resorts only had about 5 people in each line and they boarded quickly with the exception of one other resort they had to wait just a bit less than us. We got on our bus with just our carry ons (I did pack a couple of necessities just in case the luggage took a bit...a recommendation I received from fellow disers...thanks!!) We were waiting for the little movie....and no movie. :confused3 So I was a little bummed about that. But figured no big deal wasn't my first disney trip. Checked into the hotel about 10:00 pm and then decided to get something to eat at food court. By 11:00 pm when we returned back to our room our luggage was there!!! So that was great, didn't have to deal with carting it all over the place. For the return...we flew Southwest so at the suggestion of other disers...(thanks again everyone) we went to front desk 24 hours before departure and they happily printed the boarding passes for us. :thumbsup2 But we didn't use the DME on the way back. When I found out we had to head to the airport 3 hours before our flight....we decided that we wanted to spend more time in disney. Had some last minute things we wanted to accomplish. So we rented a car from the Disney Car Care Center and dropped it at the airport. This way for our 7:55 pm Flight we were able to leave at 5:00 rather than the 3:15 that DME requested we be at the bus.

I think the DME concept is a great idea!!! Depending on rental car rates, I may do the same thing again on our next trip in august and again in October. I liked not renting a car at the airport made it easier to get to resort....but i liked having a car at the end of trip to do a few things, (car rental rate was 13.50 per day....so that was awesome for an intermediate car....)and be able to get a little more time at Disney.

I too think the title should be changed....I mean things happen, have to go with the flow sometimes...I mean from the responses that I have read so far...I haven't seen any "horror" stories that are that bad, just that stuff happens......Thanks again to all the disers who gave suggestions and responded to some of my requests. We had an awesome time....cant wait to get back!!!!

[CleveRocks]

But we didn't use the DME on the way back. When I found out we had to head to the airport 3 hours before our flight....we decided that we wanted to spend more time in disney. Had some last minute things we wanted to accomplish. So we rented a car from the Disney Car Care Center and dropped it at the airport. This way for our 7:55 pm Flight we were able to leave at 5:00 rather than the 3:15 that DME requested we be at the bus.YIKES! DME assigned you a bus time 4 hours and 40 minutes before your flight departure? That's a new record for DISboards!
That kind of schedule (4 nours 40 minutes before flight) would make me very unhappy, too!

The funny thing is, you said you had a 7:55 p.m. flight and balked at the idea of DME picking you up 3 hours before the flight, so instead you rented a car and were able to leave at 5:00 p.m., which is 2 hours 55 minutes before your flight. I'm glad you got to do whatever you wanted to do, I'm just a little puzzled by the math ....

[goofy4tink]

i didn't have all of my medication in that certain bag, most of it was on my carry on but not everything could fit into my carry-on.


i don't think that your comparing my bad experience with a restaurant was really accurate. i understand where you're coming from, but that's completley different. if my kids were hungry and crying i'd go to a McDonald's where i knew the food was fast, not to a sit down restaurant.

we DID go to the DME welcome center and told them our bags weren't tagged, and they told us that since they weren't tagged that we would have to go and get them ourselves. when we came back with them, they were there loading all of the luggage, and took ours, and put it all underneath the bus. it wasn't an "incorrect assumption" of anything. i was just retelling what happened.

Any luggage that goes underneath that bus you are on, comes off at the resort the same time you get off. I'm not understanding why you weren't allowed to take your luggage with you. Usually, the driver stows the luggage under the bus, drives to the resort, unloads the bags, the customer grabs their bags, and then heads into the resort to check-in. If the room isn't ready, you then can leave your luggage with the bell services people who will then deliver it to the room when it is ready. I can't imagine why you weren't allowed to take your bags with you...that's contrary to anything I have heard or seen.

[Barbers2005]

We used ME on our trip 5/16-5/23 and we just loved it. It was nice not to hassle with getting the luggage at MCO. When we got the ME counter there was hardly any wait and we walked right onto the bus for the resort. We went shopping at DTD and when we got back (about 3 hours later) the bags were there. Our airline was spirit, so we had to check our own bags at the airport, but that wasn't too bad. We had the resort hold our luggage while we went to MK and reclaimed it right before the ME bus came. When we arrived back at our home airport, I kept remarking to Dh "I wish there was a ME to take us back home." 45 minutes peering at a luggage carousel...ugh.

...Can you get off the bus at your resorts and stand there and wait for them to unload your luggage and take custody of it right then ?Or do you have to wait for them to bring it to you?

The way it was explained to me by the folks at Disney, the airport pulls aside all the luggage with yellow tags. That luggage is loaded onto Disney trucks and sent to a central sorting location. There, it is sorted by resort and sent on trucks or vans to the individual resorts. Once at the resort, the luggage is delivered to your room. So, the only people who have their luggage on the bus with them are the ones who claimed the bags themselves and brought them to be loaded on the ME bus. Everyone else gets their bags later, but since Disney did all the work, that's A-OK with me!

[Eeyore4me764]

The funny thing is, you said you had a 7:55 p.m. flight and balked at the idea of DME picking you up 3 hours before the flight, so instead you rented a car and were able to leave at 5:00 p.m., which is 2 hours 55 minutes before your flight. I'm glad you got to do whatever you wanted to do, I'm just a little puzzled by the math ....[/QUOTE]


Well if DME took us to the airport at 3:15 then I am sitting in MCO for all those hours; instead we headed out of downtown disney at 5:45 dropped our bags at Southwest and dropped our car and made it to our boarding gate 30 minutes before our flight. This way I was able to do what I wanted to do...(shop at downtown disney :banana: ) for 2.5 hours ..... much better than lugging my carry on stuff around the airport for 3 plus hours!!!

I am originally from Jersey and I know that Jersey week in Disney very well!! Have fun!!!