Arriving late....should I NOT use tags and get my luggage myself?

[cindyfan]

Starting to get concerned about how quickly our luggage will arrive!!
After reading so many posts about the amount of time it will take our luggage to get to the resort......
and all the suggestions to have essentials in a carry on!

We arrive at 9:15pm......figure we won't get to CSR till around 11.
Now I am really worried our luggage won't show up till the next morning!!
We have PS at 8:05 at MK......we have to have our luggage that night.

Anyone else experience late arrival? And how quickly did your luggage arrive??

 

[HLAuburn]

I'm interested to know the response to this, so I'm posting to subscribe.

I just read a trip report where it took 3 hours for the luggage to arrive, and it was during the day. We're also arriving late, and I really can't wait until midnight (or the next am) to get our bags.

If you collect your own bags at baggage claim and take them to the bus, do they get there faster?

 

[Bev J]

We too are getting in at 915pm, we are going to take a full change of clothing plus swimwear and personal stuff in a carry on. We plan to be on a bus by 8am in the morning to Epcot, we will call bell services for our luggage delivery at 6:30am when we get up.

If you pick up your own luggage and take it to the bus it will be transported under the bus and you will carry it along with you to check in.

We have cruised many times and we always are a bit nervous till we see our luggage in our cabin, but it sure is nice to not have to drag it all over!

Bev

 

[cindyfan]

Bumping to see if anyone else has any info.

 

[ktglads]

From what I saw at 2:30 AM and several extremely upset guests, I would definitely not tag my luggage and take it with me on the bus if I am arriving after 8 PM. We got delayed big time on our trip down and luckily rented a car since we were switching to a Universal hotel after a while. There were people in the lobby of the hotel since 11 PM who, 3 hours later, did not have their bags nor was anyone able to even tell them where the bags were. Personally, I would save the hassle and carry the bags down the one floor to the busses. You will be tired after flying in and will want to crash and get a good night's sleep since you will have to be moving pretty early in the AM. You could also pack the night's worth and next day's stuff in your carryon and check the rest. Then it wouldn't matter what time your stuff comes in

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We're arriving 10:15pm...at MCO. No telling when we'll actually get to the resort.
I'm planning on using the ME tags (just got them a few minutes ago! happy dance!!!) because this trip for us is just me (1 adult) and 3 young children. I simply don't want to deal with our luggage plus keeping up with 3 kids... I only have 2 hands after all. LOL (and haven't learned yet how to grab their hands with my feet... LOL)

What I plan on doing is each will have their backpack of things to "do" on the flight plus their swimsuits, swimshoes and 1 chg of clothes. I will have the carryon with the same for myself plus other valuables (camcorder, digi camera, jewelry, etc.) and other things we'll need that first night. We'll check in.. and not worry about our luggage. The change of clothes will be JUST IN CASE we still can't get our luggage in the morning. But we don't plan on getting up at dawn (or earlier) on the first morning. We're going to LATE breakfast at AK (Donald's breakfast) -so we'll sleep in a bit... get our luggage. I think that's going to work best for us.

If it was just myself (solo trip) I'd have minimal luggage and carry it myself. Or if we were going with DH- I'd probably just have him lug our luggage out to the bus and have it with us. But since the pack horse isn't coming with us......... HAHA (kidding ofcourse... but kinda not. LOL)

 

[manticore]

We just got back from our trip staying at POR and using ME. We orginally had a 9:55 pm arrival time but our flight got delayed 45 minutes due to mechanical problems (a clogged sink). We did not arrive at MCO until almost 11:00 pm. We got to POR in just about 45-50 mins, or sometime just before midnight. It was late but I waited an hour before going to bed, just in case the luggage came. They waited until 5:30 or 6:00am to deliver the luggage rather than bring it in the middle of the night. that was fine for us. I don't guarantee this is how it will go for you but we had no big problems. It worked fine for us both ways. The only almost problem was they forgot to close the luggage doors on the bus. The driver had to pull over on the highway to close them. Luckily nothing was lost. That was where our emergency carry on was. Overall though I think it worked out well. Enjoy your vacations.

 

[cindyfan]

We received our tags on Tuesday....
But I've decided not to use them.
We just can't take the chance of not having our luggage till the middle of the night or even worse....not till 6am!
With everything we would have to pack in a carry on....just as easy to grab the luggage myself.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think that's wise. We're arriving at 9:30P, and if I have anything checked, I'll probably try to get it myself.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Can you use DME (the transportation/bus part of it) without using them to transport your luggage? I mean how does that work? You get it yourself and take it on the bus with you or something? I wasn't aware you could bypass the luggage part of the system yet still use the buses- and somehow end up with your luggage with you instead of waiting for it later? How does that work? Surely there isn't enough room on the buses for everyone's luggage for us to be able to do this. If so- then why wouldn't they just put our luggage ON the bus all the time and have it unloaded when we're dropped off?

Just trying to figure out how bypassing the tags and getting the luggage yourself allows you quicker access to your luggage once you're at the resort- unless you aren't using DME transportation?

 

[ncbyrne]

Can you use DME (the transportation/bus part of it) without using them to transport your luggage? I mean how does that work? You get it yourself and take it on the bus with you or something? I wasn't aware you could bypass the luggage part of the system yet still use the buses- and somehow end up with your luggage with you instead of waiting for it later? How does that work? Surely there isn't enough room on the buses for everyone's luggage for us to be able to do this. If so- then why wouldn't they just put our luggage ON the bus all the time and have it unloaded when we're dropped off?

Just trying to figure out how bypassing the tags and getting the luggage yourself allows you quicker access to your luggage once you're at the resort- unless you aren't using DME transportation?

Yes, you can move your own luggage and have it transported with you on the same bus. ME is not advertising this because the luggage transfer is a major perk. First of all, if you want to take your own luggage, DO NOT use the luggage tags. When you arrive at MCO see the agent and explain what you want to do. Then go to Baggage Claim, retrieve your luggage and take it to the Welcome Center on the A Side of the terminal. You, and your luggage, will then be escorted to your resort bus. When you arrive at your resort be sure that your luggage is removed.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Okay I didn't know that was possible and I imagine they don't advertise that also because it would slow down the buses if everyone started getting their own luggage, had it loaded up on the bus, then had to dig it out when dropping you off at the resort. I know this is one of the most time consuming parts of using Mears transportation- and my experience was only on small mears vans... can't imagine how much more time consuming/difficult it would be with a big bus/more luggage/etc.

Also I read this on another thread:

ME reserves the right to make you "recheck" baggage at the welcoming area for automatic delivery but there is a good chance this will not happen late at night.

That is in discussing picking up their own bags since they didn't receive their DME tags. Doesn't this mean they reserve the right to make you check the baggage in for automatic delivery even if you go get it yourself and want to take it with you on the bus?

 

[cindyfan]

If we were arriving in the morning or afternoon....I would absolutely let them get the luggage and then just have it brought to the room.....
But there are too many things we will need that night and first thing in the morning.....
I am leaving right from work that day....so I will be in work clothes....YUK.

And we both use our own pillows to sleep, plus bring an extra blanket (don't like the ones at the hotel.)

And we really want to be able to get a good night's sleep....instead of worrying if and when the luggage will arrive.

so even if it means an extra half hour that is fine.

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm skeptical about bringing your own luggage onto the DME bus. I'd love to hear from even one person who actually did it, rather than hearing theories. I took DME from MCO on May 8, only the 4th day of operation. I was one of the lucky ones who got my tags, but I assume most did not. Even though the bus lines went pretty fast, I saw probably hundreds of people in the bus queues along with me (there were 6 queues), and I did not see even one single checked bag. I was actually looking for this, mind you, because I was the advance scout for another board I frequent -- I promised them to call another member later that day so she could post my experiences.

So again, I have no idea if there's any sort of rule AGAINST taking your own checked bags on the bus, I'm just saying I was actually looking for it and didn't see it. And I did read the previous post suggesting how to do it, but I really want to hear from someone who ACTUALLY did it -- not that someone's brother's uncle's cousin's ex-wife's hairdresser's boyfriend did it or some other urban myth.

ANYONE?

-- Eric

 

[cindyfan]

There can't be a rule "against" bringing the bags on the bus because what if you don't receive your tags on time....or they have the wrong info.....or you changed flights....or changed resorts?

I have read posts from people who have done this and it has gone okay.
I just don't know where the treads are...

 

[pilotmono]

Yes, you may collect you luggage at baggage claim as long as the yellow DME tags are NOT used.

The is no luggage delivery window however 3-4 hours is a good rule of thumb, similar to a cruise ship.

Late arrivals--if NOT DME tagged they should be collected at baggage claim after 11:00 pm.

One point of clarification--All airlines participate on the inbound leg as long as the DME tags are used. Only participating airlines permit hotel check in for outbound DME. (ie. If flying in on Southwest, your bags will be delivered to the hotel if DME tagged but you must check them in at the AIRPORT, not at the hotel, when outbound.)

 

[cindyfan]

Late arrivals--if NOT DME tagged they should be collected at baggage claim after 11:00 pm.

Not sure what you are talking about here??

If I get my luggage myself and put it on the ME bus with me....I will get it right off the bus and take it in with me at check in. right? At least that is what I have read....and that is what I need to do.

Thanks.

 

[pilotmono]

Right. If the luggage have the yellow DME tags on them, they should not appear on the carrosel in baggage claim. If you wish to claim your bags and take them with you on (or under) the bus, do not attach the yellow DME tags. The airline pulls all yellow DME tagged luggage prior to arriving at baggage claim.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

so even if it means an extra half hour that is fine.

I didn't figure you'd care for your own delay... it's your luggage coming with you. LOL
My comments were questioning if LOTS of people did this- would it slow down the transportation to the resort for EVERYONE. Others might care for an extra half hour (or more, if more people than just yourself did the same as you) for THEM to get to their resort... because of people taking their luggage with them.

I plan on them taking my luggage and waiting for it to arrive- but I'm not sure I want my trip to the resort to also be longer than it should- due to some people bringing their luggage with them.

 

[seashoreCM]

. Doesn't this mean they reserve the right to make you check the baggage in for automatic delivery even if you go get it yourself and want to take it with you on the bus?

There was at least one report on these boards where guests at the ME welcoming area had to surrender baggage for automatic room delivery before getting in line to board the ME buses. This of course meant that counter CM's had to pull out blank yellow ME tags and fill those out on the spot.

There was at least one report on these boards of ME CM's always around in the carousel areas taking guests' bags there for automatic resort delivery. Whether this procedure was mandatory or whether this still exists I don't know.

For arrivals into Orlando after 10 PM you need to go to the ME area as quickly as possible since this is after hours and you don't know how long they will be expecting you. Follow any written advice you get from Disney. There is always the dilemma that if you go to the ME welcoming area first (lowest level A side) they must hold the bus longer if they want to send you by yourself to get the baggage and the carousel is on the B side.