Anyone taken their checked luggage with them on Magical Express?

[BC]

We decided last minute to use the free ME service and called today to see if it was too late as we arrive Saturday. The lady I spoke with said it was fine and we could either give them our baggage claim tickets or we could get our luggage ourselves and take them on the bus with us as there is lots of cargo space under the bus. I think I would like knowing I have my things before we leave the airport, but wondered how much room there really is on the bus as our bags are fairly large. Does the bus wait until everyone's bags or in the storage area of the bus before it leaves or is all that done later?

 

[Tozzie]

We decided last minute to use the free ME service and called today to see if it was too late as we arrive Saturday. The lady I spoke with said it was fine and we could either give them our baggage claim tickets or we could get our luggage ourselves and take them on the bus with us as there is lots of cargo space under the bus. I think I would like knowing I have my things before we leave the airport, but wondered how much room there really is on the bus as our bags are fairly large. Does the bus wait until everyone's bags or in the storage area of the bus before it leaves or is all that done later?

There is plenty of room underneath the bus for people who choose to take their own luggage. There is no waiting for luggage, anyone who claims their own luggage and brings it to the bus will have their luggage put under the bus as they get on the bus. If you use the luggage transfer service that luggage goes by truck and not on the DME busses. I use DME all the time and it is great have a good vacation.

 

[goofy4tink]

There have been guests with their checked bags on almost every DME bus I've ridden on. One trip I think that every other person had brought their checked bags with them!! It was incredible. It did add time to our trip though...with all that luggage having to be unstowed at each resort, and then the driver standing there, waiting for a tip from each family...well, an addtl 8 or so mins at two resorts adds a fair amount of time.
But, yes, there will be plenty of time to get your bags stowed underneath the bus. The buses all have plenty of luggage room. And those bags will be handed to you when you reach your resort. And the driver will be expecting a tip for handling your bags, as will any Bell Services people you use to get the bags to your room.

 

[Lewisc]

Many of our carryon bags, the roller bags that go in the overhead bins in the plane, go under the bus.

The OP didn't tell us what airline. I generally fly Southwest. I'd pay for a car service rather then drag my checked luggage to the opposite corner of MCO.

 

[clkelley]

Unless you are arriving after 10pm, I would just give the desk the claim checks and let DME handle your bags!! A lot less stress.

 

[CleveRocks]

Also, please realize that if you stop to wait for your bags at baggage claim then you'll be delaying your own arrival at the resort ... it's quite likely that in the time it took you to wait at baggage claim that the next available bus will have left for your reosrt and you'll be waiting around for the next one.