Another ME question

[ncbyrne]

Due to a cancelled flight, in order to use free skymiles I have to add 4 days and change dates. I lost my great rate with National, but found I can pick up at WDW car care service and drop off at MCO. We will be staying first 8 nights at CSR with a dining package, and probably offsite for last 3 nights (but have not even looked into that yet) Will I be able to use ME just to get us to our resort and then take the rental car back to MCO? Are you able to pick up your own luggage and take it with you instead of waiting for them at the resort?

 

[ncbyrne]

Ok, I decided to call Magical Express and get the answers. Yes, you can take this bus service one way. And yes, you can bring your luggage with you on the same bus. Here's how: DO NOT use the luggage tags. After you arrive in MCO and go thru security, see one of the ME agents that will be waiting in that area. Tell them you will be collecting your own bags and then proceed to the Baggage Claim to retrieve your luggage. Take it with you to the Welcome Center on the A side of the terminal. You and your luggage will be escorted to your bus. When you arrive at your resort, be sure that your luggage is removed from the bus.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Are you able to pick up your own luggage and take it with you instead of waiting for them at the resort?

Why would you want to deal with your own luggage? That would be throwing away one of the biggest benefits of Magical Express.

If you use the Magical Express luggage tags, you can go straight from your arrival gate to the Disney Welcome Center. You'll be on the next motor coach to your resort. You might be on your way while others on your flight are still waiting for their bags at the luggage claim. You don't have to wait for your luggage at your resort, because you don't need to be in the room when the luggage arrives. (Disney pays the inbound bell service gratuity.) Just pack a swimsuit or theme park clothing in a carry-on, go and have fun, and your luggage will be in your room when you return.

If you don't use the Magical Express luggage tags, you'll have to go to luggage claim first, wait for your bags, and drag them all the way to the Disney Welcome Center (or tip a porter to move them for you). That could be a substantial distance, especially if your baggage claim is at the other end of the "B" side of the terminal. There's a good chance you'll on a later motorcoach than if you had gone directly to the Disney Welcome Center, so you could arrive at your resort a half hour or so later if you had used the Magical Express luggage transfers. Don't forget to bring money to tip the Magical Express driver for handling your bags and to tip the inbound bell service at your resort. And you'll have to wait around your room until your luggage is delivered (especially if the bell service staff is busy), because the bellman will only deliver if you're there.

Yes, there were some horror stories about substantial delays in luggage delivery during the first few days of Magical Express. That was largely due to tags not being mailed in time, glitches in the computer system, and inexperience. Even when delivery took many hours, the guests who didn't need their bags right away were fine.

 

[ncbyrne]

We don't mind "lugging" our wheeled suitcases and the extra time it will take is still better than have to wait hours for our bags to arrive. For the peace of mind, knowing that our bags are on the same bus, and the convenience of having all my stuff handy immediately, the slight inconvenience is worth it. I don't consider it a hassle. After all, we're used to getting our own luggage and then heading across to pick up a car, so there's really no difference - except for the price!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We don't mind "lugging" our wheeled suitcases and the extra time it will take is still better than have to wait hours for our bags to arrive. For the peace of mind, knowing that our bags are on the same bus, and the convenience of having all my stuff handy immediately, the slight inconvenience is worth it.

Obviously you should do whatever you feel is best for you.

However, others who are reading this thread should know that there's no reason to delay your own arrival at the resort so that you won't have to "wait hours for [your] bags to arrive." There's no reason to wait around the room because they'll deliver the luggage to your room even if you're not there.

Also, luggage delivery times should continue to improve as Disney fixes the service. In the future, the only time it should take a significant number of hours is if the airline delays the luggage -- in which case the luggage wouldn't be at baggage claim either.