9pm arrival - DME luggage express or self service?

[sharona]

Hi. Our flight lands at 905pm on a Saturday night. We are taking ME to POP. I'm worried that our luggage will be really late arriving at our room or not get delivered until the next morning. The whole purpose of flying in the night before is to get an early start in the morning (Mothers Day) as we plan to head to MK for opening.

We'll have one bag each plus whatever we carried on the plane. Should we just pick up our own luggage and bring it to ME? I hate to spend the 15-20 minutes that could take and then get to the hotel even later...

What are others experiences with late arrivals/luggage delivery with ME vs. self pick-up? Anything specific to POP that I need to know about ME or luggage delivery?

TIA

 

[seashoreCM]

For Pop Century (and All Star) you will probably get your DME luggage around dawn the next morning. The resort's own internal delivery stops around 10 PM.

Moderate (e.g Caribbean Beach) and deluxe resorts (e.g. Polynesian) will deliver later although you can specifically request they not knock on the door in the wee hours.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would go to baggage claim any time after 8pm and get my own bags. Yes, it adds a bit of time to the whole process, but it's better than waiting around for your bags to arrive at heaven knows when.
Just don't tag the bags, go down and get them upon arrival and then take them to DME with you. They will be stowed underneath your bus. The driver will expect to be tipped for this.
I have stayed at Pop many times...they seem to have the most lax luggage delivery system onsite. I have arrived at 11am, and not had my checked bags until after 5...go figure. So, there is no way I would depend on them to get me my bags in a timely fashion later in the evening.

 

[CleveRocks]

It is was me, I'd let DME take care of my bags. The reason I say that is because no matter where or when I fly, I always pack my first 24 hours worth of needs in our carry-ons just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage.

So when I've arrived at WDW at night, we make sure we have PJs, allowable toiletries, and a change of clothes for the next morning. That way, it doesn't matter to me when my DME checked bags are delivered.

But I always protect myself against an airline mistake by packing well in our carry-ons. Can you imagine how bad it would be if the airline messes up and your checked bag isn't flown to Orlando that night???

 

[Alesia]

It is was me, I'd let DME take care of my bags. The reason I say that is because no matter where or when I fly, I always pack my first 24 hours worth of needs in our carry-ons just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage.

So when I've arrived at WDW at night, we make sure we have PJs, allowable toiletries, and a change of clothes for the next morning. That way, it doesn't matter to me when my DME checked bags are delivered.

But I always protect myself against an airline mistake by packing well in our carry-ons. Can you imagine how bad it would be if the airline messes up and your checked bag isn't flown to Orlando that night???

I agree completely (on both points.)

My husband has flown three times and his luggage has been misdirected twice. So, trust me, it does happen. I will never fly without everything I need for the first 24 hours in my carry on.

 

[sharona]

Thanks all for the info on past experiences. I think we'll pick up our own bags and take them to ME. While I agree about packing at least our "must haves" and a change of clothes, bathing suits etc. in the carry-ons, I'm thinking we can unpack and get settled on Saturday night if we have our bags.

 

[clkelley]

Yep, have a 24 hour carryon, tell DME that you want your bags held till the morning, tell the front desk that you want your bags held till the morning, tell Pop Luggage Services you want your bags held till the morning. Put the do not disturb sign on your door and go to bed.

The next day, get out the door with what you brought, and then when you come back for your afternoon break your luggage will be waiting for you.

 

[Luv4Disney]

That late, we get our own bags. We like knowing we have them and we can unpack right away.

 

[doc hog]

Arriving at that time of night, my family finds it better to take care of our own bags. We have stayed at SSR and it is the second stop on the bus trip and we like being able to have our bags with us rather than wait, and wait and wait for them to be delivered.

 

[goofy4tink]

It is was me, I'd let DME take care of my bags. The reason I say that is because no matter where or when I fly, I always pack my first 24 hours worth of needs in our carry-ons just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage.

So when I've arrived at WDW at night, we make sure we have PJs, allowable toiletries, and a change of clothes for the next morning. That way, it doesn't matter to me when my DME checked bags are delivered.

But I always protect myself against an airline mistake by packing well in our carry-ons. Can you imagine how bad it would be if the airline messes up and your checked bag isn't flown to Orlando that night???

Absolutely. I do that all the time as well. Learned my lesson well a few years ago...the one time I didn't pack my carryon correctly.
I just don't want to be sitting up, waiting for my bags, late on arrival night. I figure that I can spend 20 mins at baggage claim and have my stuff with me and then get settled in and go to sleep.