Bad experiences with DME luggage delivery?

[Kristina4109]

I have never had a bad MDE experience.

 

[tjmw2727]

Only used it once, and they did lose my bag, but it wasn't their (DME) fault. I only had one DME tag (long story) and was told to just make sure I tell the guy at the airport when I check in that I needed another DME tag (this was five years ago, so my memory is a little fuzzy!). I did and he nodded at me and said he would take care of it, grabbed my luggage and threw it on the conveyer belt behind him. I was concerned but thought, "oh well, he must know what he is doing!" LOL Of course it didn't get tagged so DME didn't pick it up with my other luggage and it was put in the unclaimed room at the airport. I contributed to this as well because I had borrowed my mother's luggage, so her name and info were on the luggage tag, so they didn't match the two bags together. However, DME (even though NONE of this was their fault) went SUPER FAR out of their way to ensure that once the airport had found my luggage it made it on the next bus and I had it within 24 hours. I was REALLY impressed with the service and my dad, who is not easily impressed, was also blown away. Like I said, the details are fuzzy, but it seems like they put someone on it really early in the morning, like 5am, to make sure I had my luggage by that day. They were really great.

Another misunderstanding/mis-communication!

For those reading along. - if you don't have the DME yellow bag tag (or need additional) and wish to use DME luggage delivery then you need to stop at the DME desk upon arrival at Orlando airport - before boarding the bus and tell them that you have un-tagged bags. They will take a description of your bags - collect your claim tags (given to you by the airline when you checked your bags at your home airport) and have them delivered to the room.

Your local airport won't have DME bag tags but if you call with enough lead time prior to the trip WDW will send you extra.

I have used the inbound DME luggage delivery service many times and will continue to use it. I love not having to stop at bag claim and heading right to the resort/parks. I don't have a time estimate on any of my trips because we head the the park and when we return our bags are in the room waiting.

For the return trip to the airport you have to use either RAC (bag check at Disney rather than the airport - like a curbside check in ) check the sticky at the top of the page for hours and restrictions. Or you can bring your bags on the bus with you but if you need to store your bags for the day you must be present in the room for the bellman to pick them up or bring them to the bell stand for storage.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We've had two bad experiences in a row, so we won't use the luggage service any longer. The first time (2 years ago), we got our luggage about 4 hours after check-in. It wasn't bad but it was annoying since they tell you you WILL have your luggage within 3 hours of check-in. Last year, it was 7 hours after check-in before we got our luggage. After that, we decided we won't use the luggage service again. I'd rather not leave the airport until we know our luggage is safely in Orlando. It's worth the hassle of lugging the luggage to DME to not know if it's ever going to show up as promised.

 

[maxiesmom]

We've had two bad experiences in a row, so we won't use the luggage service any longer. The first time (2 years ago), we got our luggage about 4 hours after check-in. It wasn't bad but it was annoying since they tell you you WILL have your luggage within 3 hours of check-in. Last year, it was 7 hours after check-in before we got our luggage. After that, we decided we won't use the luggage service again. I'd rather not leave the airport until we know our luggage is safely in Orlando. It's worth the hassle of lugging the luggage to DME to not know if it's ever going to show up as promised.

It can depend on the time of year too. During my 4th of July trip the bus driver announced the delivery window would be 3-4 hours, due to how busy they were.

But if you are the type of person who can't get settled until they have their luggage in hand, I can see how it would be a bit annoying. But to me the best parts of DME are not having to wait for your luggage at the airport, and not having to sit in your room waiting for your luggage to be delivered. I love being able to go to the parks, and then come back and have my luggage waiting for me.

 

[DonnaL]

We've also used DME and luggage service several times (we usually arrive on a late evening flight so for those trips we do not use luggage tags). For the most part it has worked beautifully for us on those trips we have used it....I will say it's great just arriving and heading to the DME area w/o needing to pick up bags. However, we did have one occasion that was not fun. We arrived late afternoon so had packed the few items we would need to freshen up for our dinner reservations in a small carryon. We checked in, freshened up and went to dinner and then fireworks. Upon arrival back to our room about 11 or so, DH's bag was there....mine was not. I called Bell Services and was greeted "Oh yes...Mrs. B...we have your bag here...we'll be right up with it". I knew something was wrong....it was almost as if they were waiting for my call. The Bell Captain came up with my bag......soaking wet and stinking with baby formula!! Someone had obviously packed liquid baby formula in their checked bag and while on the luggage truck it broke or leaked all over not only that person's bag, but, everything nearby! He asked if I would open the bag and survey what damages had been done. Fortunately, I've learned from years of winter travel and wet tarmacs at airports. I pack everything that goes in my checked bag in plastic travel space bags. My bag was ruined, but, all of my clothing was fine....not a thing got wet or had an odor to it. The outside of the plastic travel bags was damp and sticky so they did have to be replaced along with my bag. But, Disney was wonderful about it. Bell Services took my bag that evening and the next morning the desk manager contacted me and told me someone was in the process of replacing my bag with a comparable one, along with new travel space bags. When we got back to the room later in the day a new bag was sitting there waiting for me ....along with the old one wrapped in plastic so it didn't make everything in our room smell. We took it right to the trash room.

 

[Gracie09]

We've also used DME and luggage service several times (we usually arrive on a late evening flight so for those trips we do not use luggage tags). For the most part it has worked beautifully for us on those trips we have used it....I will say it's great just arriving and heading to the DME area w/o needing to pick up bags. However, we did have one occasion that was not fun. We arrived late afternoon so had packed the few items we would need to freshen up for our dinner reservations in a small carryon. We checked in, freshened up and went to dinner and then fireworks. Upon arrival back to our room about 11 or so, DH's bag was there....mine was not. I called Bell Services and was greeted "Oh yes...Mrs. B...we have your bag here...we'll be right up with it". I knew something was wrong....it was almost as if they were waiting for my call. The Bell Captain came up with my bag......soaking wet and stinking with baby formula!! Someone had obviously packed liquid baby formula in their checked bag and while on the luggage truck it broke or leaked all over not only that person's bag, but, everything nearby! He asked if I would open the bag and survey what damages had been done. Fortunately, I've learned from years of winter travel and wet tarmacs at airports. I pack everything that goes in my checked bag in plastic travel space bags. My bag was ruined, but, all of my clothing was fine....not a thing got wet or had an odor to it. The outside of the plastic travel bags was damp and sticky so they did have to be replaced along with my bag. But, Disney was wonderful about it. Bell Services took my bag that evening and the next morning the desk manager contacted me and told me someone was in the process of replacing my bag with a comparable one, along with new travel space bags. When we got back to the room later in the day a new bag was sitting there waiting for me ....along with the old one wrapped in plastic so it didn't make everything in our room smell. We took it right to the trash room.

Urg how annoying. This is why when people talk about packing wine or liquor or soda in the bags I say it's not a great idea. You can ruin not just your bag but those around your bag.

 

[sharig5576]

Our flight arrives at 830pm. Do you think we'll have the bags by midnight?

 

[Suelala]

If you arrive at 8:30, I wouldnt count on having the bags by midnight. Just be sure to pack everything you will need for the night (and maybe the next morning) in your carry on. They really do make every effort to get your bags to you quickly, but during busy times, it isnt always super quick.
Last time we went, it took about 4 1/2 hrs for the bags to arrive.
I am still very happy to have this service and would hate to go back to having to drag my bags myself!

 

[Cottager]

We've used them about 30 times or so and counting from Buffalo to Orlando. We usually take an early flight and head straight for the parks when we arrive. The bags are always there in our room at the end of the evening when we arrive after the fireworks. The few times we've taken a later flight, we've always picked up our luggage and taken it on the ME so we can get to bed early that evening and not wait up for the delivery.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks all for the replies! I appreciate the responses. Sounds like the issues are few and far between, many of which were the fault of the airline or airport. We'll give DME luggage service a whirl

 

[dtstampz]

10 trips in the last 4 year, no issues. I do pack my carry on bag with everything I
need for the next 24 hours, just in case.

 

[hollypoast]

Our flight arrives at 830pm. Do you think we'll have the bags by midnight?

If it were me, I'd grab my own bags from baggage claim. I've used DME many times and love it but that late at night, when everyone is tired waiting can be miserable.

 

[maxiesmom]

If it were me, I'd grab my own bags from baggage claim. I've used DME many times and love it but that late at night, when everyone is tired waiting can be miserable.

If you mean waiting for your bags to show up in your room, you don't need to do that either. Have the desk hold them until you call down for them the next day. That way you are not stuck wasting time at the airport getting your own bags, and you are not stuck waiting up for them to be delivered to your room.