Disney's Magical Express -- Luggage Tag Info

[JimboCh]

1. The luggage tags are for using DME on the way there; they're not needed for the trip home.

2. In what way?

So we can get the tags for the way home from the resort, I mean when they pick up our bags in the morning how do they know what plane they go on? or do we have to grab them from the DME bus driver and then check them in at the airport ourselves? Our flight isn't until 4:30pm, what time will we leave on the bus? If they don't pick them up in the morning what do we do with our bags until the bus leaves?

Didn't know if Southwest was in that DME program, guess it doesn't matter if we have to get our bags from the bus driver.

 

[mrstomrice]

We fly SW. You check in to the flight from your hotel the morning of departure. I think the hours may be limited so don't wait until your DME time to do so. You'll leave your bags there. Any unchecked bags can be left at bell services.

 

[goofy4tink]

So we can get the tags for the way home from the resort, I mean when they pick up our bags in the morning how do they know what plane they go on? or do we have to grab them from the DME bus driver and then check them in at the airport ourselves? Our flight isn't until 4:30pm, what time will we leave on the bus? If they don't pick them up in the morning what do we do with our bags until the bus leaves?

Didn't know if Southwest was in that DME program, guess it doesn't matter if we have to get our bags from the bus driver.

Okay....there are no special tags for your bags when heading home. You will go to the resort RAC area, in the morning, before you head out for your last day. They will check your bags and give you your boarding passes. The bags will then be taken to MCO for you, you go off and enjoy your day and return to the resort DME bus stop no less than 15 mins prior to the pickup time you are given.
RAC is pretty much the same as curbside checkin but the 'curb' is about 30 miles away!!!
SW has been a participating airline for awhile now. I would recommend getting the EBCI for your flight home. That way, you don't have to worry about that pesky 24 hr prior to departure window for checking yourselves in. SW will do it for you at the 36 hr window. Cost is about $12.50 pp each way.

For a 4:30 flight, you will be given a pickup time of around 1:30...give or take 15 mins either way. As I said earlier, you need to be at the DME bus stop, all ready to leave, no less than 15 mins before the p/u time you are given. That time is the time the bus is scheduled to leave the resort..NOT the time you should start heading to the bus stop!!! They will leave if you aren't there!!

 

[JimboCh]

Okay....there are no special tags for your bags when heading home. You will go to the resort RAC area, in the morning, before you head out for your last day. They will check your bags and give you your boarding passes. The bags will then be taken to MCO for you, you go off and enjoy your day and return to the resort DME bus stop no less than 15 mins prior to the pickup time you are given.
RAC is pretty much the same as curbside checkin but the 'curb' is about 30 miles away!!!
SW has been a participating airline for awhile now. I would recommend getting the EBCI for your flight home. That way, you don't have to worry about that pesky 24 hr prior to departure window for checking yourselves in. SW will do it for you at the 36 hr window. Cost is about $12.50 pp each way.

For a 4:30 flight, you will be given a pickup time of around 1:30...give or take 15 mins either way. As I said earlier, you need to be at the DME bus stop, all ready to leave, no less than 15 mins before the p/u time you are given. That time is the time the bus is scheduled to leave the resort..NOT the time you should start heading to the bus stop!!! They will leave if you aren't there!!

I'm asking these questions for my Father-in-law and his brother who are making this trip.

Since my Father-in-law will be using a wheel chair will they need the EBCI's?
I assume they will go to check in the night before at Saratoga Springs where they are staying and just get regular boarding passes there and then once they get to the airport just board with wheel chair people or is it best to wait to get the boarding passes the morning of their flight when they check their bags at RAC?

Which is the best way to do it?

 

[luvdzny]

We have ME ressies for 2 people in our group from MCO to AKL. I did not know that you had to book both pick up and drop off at the same time. We are renting DVC points and DS will be staying on points from 2 different owners. The DVC owner has to make the ME ressies.

My question is: Can we book ME from AKL back to MCO once we arrive?

We are 2 weeks away from our trip. Thanks!

 

[slatterie]

What runs until 10:00 is DME picking up luggage from the airport, not your luggage being delivered to you. (Meaning that if your flight arrives at 10 pm or later, you'll need to retrieve your luggage from baggage claim.) With your flight arriving at 6:40, you should be at your resort by 8. If you don't mind getting your luggage delivered between about 11:00 and 12:00, then you can get it then. But if that's later than you want to stay awake, just make sure you have what you need for the first night and next morning in your carry-on and ask the front desk to hold your luggage until morning.

As a follow up to this - our flight gets in about 10:15pm. I am aware we have to bring our bag up from baggage claim to the DME booth and load on the bus. If I have the tags on them will they still be delivered the next day? or are we out of luck and have to drag them ourselves to our room? I'm confused because the wording seems to indicate that DME will only provide transportation to your hotel after 10pm.

Yes I will have spare clothes packed in our carry ons - I do this whenever we travel because you never know. Thanks!

 

[siskaren]

As a follow up to this - our flight gets in about 10:15pm. I am aware we have to bring our bag up from baggage claim to the DME booth and load on the bus. If I have the tags on them will they still be delivered the next day? or are we out of luck and have to drag them ourselves to our room? I'm confused because the wording seems to indicate that DME will only provide transportation to your hotel after 10pm.

Yes I will have spare clothes packed in our carry ons - I do this whenever we travel because you never know. Thanks!

The tags are for getting your bags from the airport to the hotel, so if you're getting your bags yourself (which, as you know, you'll have to do since you're arriving after 10 pm) there's no reason to put the tags on. When you take your bags to the bus, you're also responsible for taking them up to your room. DME doesn't put your luggage on the same bus that takes you to your hotel, but instead puts it all in a separate vehicle (I would imagine something like a delivery truck).

 

[slatterie]

The tags are for getting your bags from the airport to the hotel, so if you're getting your bags yourself (which, as you know, you'll have to do since you're arriving after 10 pm) there's no reason to put the tags on. When you take your bags to the bus, you're also responsible for taking them up to your room. DME doesn't put your luggage on the same bus that takes you to your hotel, but instead puts it all in a separate vehicle (I would imagine something like a delivery truck).

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for your response! Now I'll definitely make sure we will travel as light as possible.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm asking these questions for my Father-in-law and his brother who are making this trip.

Since my Father-in-law will be using a wheel chair will they need the EBCI's?
I assume they will go to check in the night before at Saratoga Springs where they are staying and just get regular boarding passes there and then once they get to the airport just board with wheel chair people or is it best to wait to get the boarding passes the morning of their flight when they check their bags at RAC?

Which is the best way to do it?

If they forgo EBCI, which is okay since they will be allowed to preboard......just checkin at the 24 hr mark the day before. The morning of departure....head to the RAC counter and hand off your checked bags. They will give you the boarding passes at that time. It doesn't matter when they actually get the boarding passes. They can do it either way. Just be sure to do the actual checkin 24 hrs prior.

 

[goofy4tink]

As a follow up to this - our flight gets in about 10:15pm. I am aware we have to bring our bag up from baggage claim to the DME booth and load on the bus. If I have the tags on them will they still be delivered the next day? or are we out of luck and have to drag them ourselves to our room? I'm confused because the wording seems to indicate that DME will only provide transportation to your hotel after 10pm.

Yes I will have spare clothes packed in our carry ons - I do this whenever we travel because you never know. Thanks!

You could just go directly to the DME bus and not stop at baggage claim. Your bags would be put aside and then delivered to you the next day..if you have your yellow tags on them.
The actual DME luggage handlers stop work at 10pm. So, there is no one there to separate the bags with the DME yellow tags out from the regular, non-tagged bags. So, all bags, tagged and not, go to the public baggage claim area. If no one comes for those bags after a set time, the bags are take n away and put aside until the next day. Then, DME baggage handlers are supposed to go and get any tagged bags that came in while they were off duty. The bags are then supposed to be delivered to the resorts/rooms.
Does it always work out this way? I have no idea...most people just go to baggage claim themselves and get their own bags. The bags are then put beneath the DME bus the guest is on, and handed to them when they get to the resort. You will then either take the bags to your room with you, or you can leave them at the Bell Services/Luggage Assistence area and they can bring them to the room for you...but be aware, they will be looking for a tip for baggage duty!
I would just take them to the room myself.

 

[bumbershoot]

I got my DME packet today; 60 days out. They are REALLY getting them out early now.

 

[goofy4tink]

I got my DME packet today; 60 days out. They are REALLY getting them out early now.

I got mine last week, almost exactly 30 days out...strange how these are being sent out. No rhyme or reason it would seem.

 

[LJD2143]

I am a DVC member staying at BWV from Sept 11-16 and I just realized that I forgot to register for DME (doh!!!)
If I register now, will I get my luggage tags in time?
If not, then what?

 

[luvdzny]

Does your trip back to MCO have to be booked before your arrival? We are renting DVC points from different people and I only had the airport pick up booked. Can we book ME for our return trip after we arrive at our resort?
Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Does your trip back to MCO have to be booked before your arrival? We are renting DVC points from different people and I only had the airport pick up booked. Can we book ME for our return trip after we arrive at our resort?
Thanks!

Yes, you can!

 

[mama36]

Third trip to disney coming up First trip in 2006, DME seemed very slow (long lines, several stops before GF), so in 2008 we took private transportation to the GF. I'm wondering if DME has changed or if it is still a slow way to get the vacation started? Thank so much!!

 

[siskaren]

I am a DVC member staying at BWV from Sept 11-16 and I just realized that I forgot to register for DME (doh!!!)
If I register now, will I get my luggage tags in time?
If not, then what?

You're a month out; you have plenty of time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Third trip to disney coming up First trip in 2006, DME seemed very slow (long lines, several stops before GF), so in 2008 we took private transportation to the GF. I'm wondering if DME has changed or if it is still a slow way to get the vacation started? Thank so much!!

There are no set routes, so you never know if your resort will be first, second or third on the route. Plan on it taking about 70/75 mins from gate to resort. Disney has streamlined the DME area....waits in lines is pretty non-existent except for the actual bus line. That can be anywhere from 2 mins to 25 mins..just depends on when you get to the line and when the last bus departed.


Here are some of my average times...
DME....60-85 mins (most around 70)
Car service....with checked bags....60 mins
Car service ....carryon only.......45 mins.

 

[CapeCodFam]

Just got our DME packet today and noticed it was from zip code 41042, Florence, KY. I wonder if they all get sent from there or if they are regionalized based on where you live.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Did I read somewhere that ME now picks up from DTD for departures to the airport?