Disney's Magical Express -- Luggage Tag Info

[MomLC]

I will be using the DME for this first time this April. I have been told by some people who used this service before that to make sure my luggage makes it on my bus I should pick it up myself and request it when we arrive at our hotel. Can this be done? I was hoping to avoid having to collect the luggage myself and just hope it arrives within a reasonable amount of time at the resort. Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

[ahecht]

If you really want to handle your own luggage, you can just leave off the yellow tags, wait for the bags at the baggage claim, collect them yourselves, drag them to the DME counter, have the driver put them on the bus for you, collect your bags at the resort, and either drag them to your room or have bell services deliver them for you (and you will need to tip the driver and bell services for each bag, as tips are only included if Disney retrieves your luggage at the airport).

Honestly, I would just let Disney handle your luggage for you. I'm not aware of any stories of people who didn't get their luggage by the following morning where it wasn't the airline's fault. If the airline does loose your luggage, Disney will take care of getting them back for you. Just pack 1 day's worth of clothing and toiletries in your carry-on luggage in case your bags are delayed (and honestly, you should ALWAYS do that, no matter where you go, just in case).

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by MomLC

I will be using the DME for this first time this April. I have been told by some people who used this service before that to make sure my luggage makes it on my bus I should pick it up myself and request it when we arrive at our hotel. Can this be done? I was hoping to avoid having to collect the luggage myself and just hope it arrives within a reasonable amount of time at the resort. Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

If you pick up your luggage yourself, you won't be able to "request it when you arrive at your hotel" because you will have brought it to your bus yourself, and you will have collected it back from the driver the moment you are dropped off at your hotel.

When DME handles your luggage for you, it is brought to Disney's luggage sorting facility on the grounds of the airport, and then is loaded onto delivery trucks and delivered to your resort. At that point, your resort's Bell Services department takes over and delivers it to the inside of your room whether you're in there or not.

DME tags have barcodes on them. Those barcodes are scanned 5 times between the airplane and your resort room. In addition, the delivery trucks are tracked by GPS. In other words, DIsney knows where your bags are at all times.

There are no widespread problems with luggage delivery. There are some people out there who hate not having control over everything, and thus they recommend you get your own luggage. There are also some people out there who just can't trust that a system that sounds so good really and truly IS that good. But there are quite literally MILLIONS of us who've used DME's luggage handling and been totally satisfied with it.

You'll do what makes you most comfortable. But if you get your own bags, you'll be giving up one of the greatest perks of DME.

[shorty2313]

on when we flew in on Continental this past weekend, and while we were waiting to meet some family who flew in to the same airport, same flight, but not for Disney, we were at the baggage claim area, and there is one of our bags WITH THE YELLOW TAGS on it going around and around...I said to DH,"why in the world is our bag here, when its supposed to magically appear at our resort" anyway the agent explained mistakes can and do happen. It isn't the first time and won't be the last. Just wanted to add my comment since I have noticed people think it can't happen. I am sure someone would have noticed the mistake if we didn't, and shipped our bag to our resort. Again, it doesn't happen often but can. We are all human.

[ahecht]

Originally Posted by shorty2313

on when we flew in on Continental this past weekend, and while we were waiting to meet some family who flew in to the same airport, same flight, but not for Disney, we were at the baggage claim area, and there is one of our bags WITH THE YELLOW TAGS on it going around and around...I said to DH,"why in the world is our bag here, when its supposed to magically appear at our resort" anyway the agent explained mistakes can and do happen. It isn't the first time and won't be the last. Just wanted to add my comment since I have noticed people think it can't happen. I am sure someone would have noticed the mistake if we didn't, and shipped our bag to our resort. Again, it doesn't happen often but can. We are all human.

DME employees check all bags that were not retrieved from the baggage carousels, both for yellow tags that may have been missed and for untagged luggage from people that didn't get their tags in time. At most, having a yellow tagged bag end up on the carousel might delay it 45 minutes.

[GoofItUp]

My sister-in-law just got her luggage tags and received only 4 for her family. What if they have more checked bags than this? Do they have to handle the excess bags themselves? Could she make a copy of the luggage tags on the yellow paper, laminate and attach them? Other ideas? TIA!

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by GoofItUp

My sister-in-law just got her luggage tags and received only 4 for her family. What if they have more checked bags than this? Do they have to handle the excess bags themselves? Could she make a copy of the luggage tags on the yellow paper, laminate and attach them? Other ideas? TIA!

DME is sending out only one yellow luggage tag per guest now....seems they figured that with the checked luggage fees, most people would be checking one bag now. But, if you find you need more, just call DME and they should send what you need.
IF you don't have time to do this, and it looks like this may be the case, you can head right to the DME counter and give them you luggage claim receipts as well as a description of your bags. I would put something on your bags, a bright ribbon or such, that will stan out from the crowd. That should make it easier for the DME CMs to spot your bags at baggage claim. They will then grab the bags and get them to the resort for you.

[GoofItUp]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

DME is sending out only one yellow luggage tag per guest now....seems they figured that with the checked luggage fees, most people would be checking one bag now. But, if you find you need more, just call DME and they should send what you need.
IF you don't have time to do this, and it looks like this may be the case, you can head right to the DME counter and give them you luggage claim receipts as well as a description of your bags. I would put something on your bags, a bright ribbon or such, that will stan out from the crowd. That should make it easier for the DME CMs to spot your bags at baggage claim. They will then grab the bags and get them to the resort for you.

Thanks for the response. We are leaving this Sunday, so no time to get extra tags. I'll send your response to my SIL and let her know what to do, though.

[juliebee]

Is it correct that flying Southwest is just fine for using DME? I won't have to go get my own bags? The CM that I booked the trip with said that I would have to, but I recieved the yellow tags, so I'm seeking the real truth. LOL

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by juliebee

Is it correct that flying Southwest is just fine for using DME? I won't have to go get my own bags? The CM that I booked the trip with said that I would have to, but I recieved the yellow tags, so I'm seeking the real truth. LOL

The 'real truth' is that you can tag your checked bags with those yellow tags. When you get to MCO, go directly to Side B, level 1, and head to the DME checkin counter. Get on the bus to your resort. Checkin at your resort, go about your fun day. Your checked bags will magically appear in your room up to 3-4 hrs after resort checkin. How you arrive at MCO is of no matter.
It is only when returning to MCO that it matters.
But...even then, SW fliers still can ride the DME bus. They just have to take their luggage with them, to the bus. The bags will then be stowed underneath the bus and handed to you when your reach the terminal. You will then check the bags the 'old-fashioneded' way..inside the terminal, at your airline checkin area.

[juliebee]

Thank you so much Diane! Perfect! I'm glad I asked instead of believing the CM. Love the wealth of info here!

[DWRocks!]

1st timer here...my family and I will be taking our 1st trip in June and plan to utilize ME for our late 10:00 p.m. arrival with 2 checked bags and a checked stroller. We would prefer to not mess with our luggage and let it make it's way to us "magically" so will put the yellow tags on it. However, we will need our stroller to make it easier to transport our son and for use the next morning so we can go on out and about, whether our luggage has show up or not. If I've read through this forum and understand it correctly, we should just leave the stroller untagged and claim it on our own and proceed to ME?

Thanks for any insight!

[clkelley]

Unfortunately, as of April 1st, anyone arriving at MCO at 10pm or later MUST claim their own luggage. They will not claim any luggage arriving 10pm or later.

Also, from what I understand, even if you choose to ignore this rule, the folks at the DME desk will instruct you to head back up to luggage claim to retrieve your luggage.

[DWRocks!]

I know I read different posts that said they do transport it for you that late at night and and some said they didn't. Seems like it changes pretty frequently.

No biggie really, I guess. Probably safer to get it ourselves anyways that late at night.

Thanks for the quick reply!

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by DWRocks!

I know I read different posts that said they do transport it for you that late at night and and some said they didn't. Seems like it changes pretty frequently.

No biggie really, I guess. Probably safer to get it ourselves anyways that late at night.

Thanks for the quick reply!

This is a brand new change....just came out about two weeks ago. It would seem that there are some cost cutting measures going into place. DME has always taken your tagged checked luggage for you, no matter what time of day or night. The issue was at the resort level. Some resorts don't have 24 hr luggage service...POP is one. So, if you arrived around midnight, your luggage would get to the resort, but not to your room until the next morning.

Now...no one is getting resort delivery after 10pm. If your flight gets you to MCO after that time, as of April, you will have to get your own bags and bring them, with you, to the DME bus. Not a huge deal....as you said, at least you will have your bags with you.