Another Magical Express question

[MrsTigger]

Hi I was just wondering we will be sent anything or do we just take a copy of the email comfirmation?

thanks

 

[cazzie]

Disney no longer send out the labels for the ME, you can still leave your luggage but you have to give them the bar code number I think it is for them to be able to collect it. Not sure as we normally take ours with us as the last time we left it for Disney it didn't arrive in our room until midnight.

 

[2Tiggies]

You have to go the the ME desk to check in whether you collect your own luggage or not. You just take your luggage tags and hand them to the person behind the desk. I would suggest making a note of the numbers if you do this however.

I just collect our bags and take them with.

 

[MrsTigger]

Ok so when we arrive we collect our bags find ME, show them our confirmation email etc then when we arrive at the hotal we can collect our bags ourselves and take them with us? Sorry for the daft q's

 

[2Tiggies]

Not daft at all.

When you get to MCO you clear security/passport control.

Then you collect your luggage from the carousel.

YOu proceed to the exit as per the signs and you get to an escalator which takes you up to the monorail to get you to the next terminal (where ME is). If you can manage your luggage up the escalator you can take it with you. If not, you drop it at the bottom. There will be a member of staff there to answer any questions if you are unsure. You then take the monorail to the next terminal.

Once you reach exit the monorail you proceed to the ME desk if you have your luggage. If not, you have to wait for it which can take about 20 minutes and then collect it and go to the ME desk.

At the ME desk you will be told which line to stand in on the Red Carpet to get your correct bus.

Assuming you have your luggage when you get to the bus (if it is not ready they hold you in the queuing area until someone leads you to the bus. The ME driver will be loading the luggage compartment and will load your bags for you.

You get on board, enjoy the ride and will get your bags from the driver when you arrive.

 

[MrsTigger]

Ahhh thank you!! I've not been to MCO before so that is very helpful.

 

[2Tiggies]

Do you know, I googled MCO last year and got onto their website. They have detailed maps, floor plans and all kinds of useful things on there.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I have booked my ME via DVC member services - do they send me something as confirmation via the mail? - I booked it a few weeks ago, but haven't heard, but then the post is sometimes quite slow - do I need to chase them up or can I just arrive without any paperwork/ref no?? (I will have my DVC id and room reservation - is that enough??)

Many thanks for any info and sorry for crashing this thread!

 

[debbiebee]

I am still really torn - have booked ME and also have transfers included with Virgin Holidays - really dont know which one to go for. Staying at POR - anyone done both and can advise which will be quicker?

thanks xx

 

[debbiebee]

just to add - our trip is in aug so need to decide soon so I can cancel the transfers we wont be using x

 

[2Tiggies]

just to add - our trip is in aug so need to decide soon so I can cancel the transfers we wont be using x

Virgin have a bus. It is touch and go as to what is going to be quickest, but this bus (or maybe two) will drop all the guests at all the hotels so it depends where you are on the list. If you are first, you could beat the ME, but if you are last you will have a lot more stops than the Disney bus, which tends to to only about 3 resorts due to the sheer volume of guests arriving from various flights at MCO. The Virgin transfer will be dedicated to the VA/VH guests.

Unfortunately with all the buses, Disney ME and Virgin, there is no way of telling at this stage where they will stop first and last as the route is planned on demand closer to/at the time.

 

[MrsTigger]

Do you know, I googled MCO last year and got onto their website. They have detailed maps, floor plans and all kinds of useful things on there.

Good idea I hadn't thought about that

 

[2Tiggies]

Good idea I hadn't thought about that

Ha, neither had I. That wasn't what I was looking for when I googled, but I do think they have a great site so it was a bonus.

 

[Princess Clayre]

I was was going to ask the same question too! I've only have an email and I couldn't remember if last time we use it I had something more. I know they stopped sending out the tags but we never used those anyway but I have a booklet in my scrapbook?

 

[2Tiggies]

I was was going to ask the same question too! I've only have an email and I couldn't remember if last time we use it I had something more. I know they stopped sending out the tags but we never used those anyway but I have a booklet in my scrapbook?

I didn't get anything last year except a badly photocopied rather crumpled looking paper from Thomas Cook saying Sorry we don't have tags for you. I pitched up at the ME desk, gave my name and resort and they called me up on the system. As long as you can see on your confrimation that it is booked you should be on the system and they can call up your details.

 

[meldud]

So for us newbies who have never been to WDW or even MCO before... is it easier to just collect your luggage and take it to the ME desk because my understanding was that you don't have to go to the madness that is baggage claim and that Disney do it all for you? If that is so, how do you do customs with no baggage?

Can you tell I haven't done this before??

 

[2Tiggies]

You always do customs before you get your baggage.

You then collect your bags from the carousel.

You go with your baggage to follow the signs and when you get to the bottom of the escalator leading to the monorail you either put it onto another carousel and head to the monorail or take it with you.

If you take it with you, you can go straight to the ME check in desk.

If you sent it on the second carousel it can take up to half an hour to arrive there. You can wait for it and go to the ME desk with it to take with you on the bus, or you can just go to ME with your luggage tags and they will find your bags and bring them to the hotel. It depends if you want your cases with you when you check in. Some don't. I do as I don't carry much in the cabin.

 

[meldud]

You always do customs before you get your baggage.

You then collect your bags from the carousel.

You go with your baggage to follow the signs and when you get to the bottom of the escalator leading to the monorail you either put it onto another carousel and head to the monorail or take it with you.

If you take it with you, you can go straight to the ME check in desk.

If you sent it on the second carousel it can take up to half an hour to arrive there. You can wait for it and go to the ME desk with it to take with you on the bus, or you can just go to ME with your luggage tags and they will find your bags and bring them to the hotel. It depends if you want your cases with you when you check in. Some don't. I do as I don't carry much in the cabin.

Thanks, it is all beginning to fall into place now that I am getting my head round it.

We tend to take emergency items in hand luggage just in case our luggage gets mislaid and will be carrying swimsuits, suncream etc with us. We will also be carrying toiletries as we will be staying in a hotel the night before.

I will be taking some gluten free snacks, etc to WDW for my daughter. Will I need to declare these? (and in which case do I need my luggage with me?)
I get the impression that security are pretty intimidating!!

 

[Irish Goofy]

You always do customs before you get your baggage.

You then collect your bags from the carousel.

You go with your baggage to follow the signs and when you get to the bottom of the escalator leading to the monorail you either put it onto another carousel and head to the monorail or take it with you.

If you take it with you, you can go straight to the ME check in desk.

If you sent it on the second carousel it can take up to half an hour to arrive there. You can wait for it and go to the ME desk with it to take with you on the bus, or you can just go to ME with your luggage tags and they will find your bags and bring them to the hotel. It depends if you want your cases with you when you check in. Some don't. I do as I don't carry much in the cabin.

Can you tell me if we don't want to collect our luggage but let Disney do it and drop to our room,do we just get off plane and go straight to ME Desk after customs etc or do we still have to collect our bags from 1st carousel and place on 2nd carousel before Disney collect it.Hope that makes sense....

 

[starrysky]

Hi

First off to all the newbies don't panic it is much more simple than it sounds. If you take 2tiggies advice and look at the MCO map it will all make sense.

The ME desks are on the B side of the terminal so as long as you follow those signs then you will be fine.

Luggage must be picked up from the 1st belt and then once you have done that it it can then be placed on a second belt (if you don't want to take it on the mono rail) and taken to the main terminal where either you or ME will collect it from there.
I personally collected and took our luggage direct the first time as i wanted to make sure i had it all with me but it can be a long walk with all your cases if there are more than two of you.
It was only the two of us so it made it easier (but still after the long flight and getting the cases up the escalator was tough) i can see people with kids, pushchairs car seats etc finding it easier to collect from the first belt and then letting the second take it to the main terminal. Just make sure that if you choose to place your bags on the second belt and let ME collect that you have all the bar code tags that they give you at check in.
Also they ask for a description fo your bags as well so maybe put some thing on then to aid quick ID, we used one of DH old ties and put a bit round each handle and also those multicoloured luggage straps. Believe me when i say it made them far easier to spot in a sea of black and grey luggage.