Can you rent a car but use ME for luggage?

[DisKim]

I'm just wondering if it is okay to use Magical Express to have your luggage delivered to your room but not actually ride the bus. I'm thining of renting a car. We are a family of 5 so we have a lot of luggage and the website is showing only 2-4 pieces of luggage fitting into most cars. We will have 5 pieces plus the stroller. Thanks!

 

[shoes99]

I'm just wondering if it is okay to use Magical Express to have your luggage delivered to your room but not actually ride the bus. I'm thining of renting a car. We are a family of 5 so we have a lot of luggage and the website is showing only 2-4 pieces of luggage fitting into most cars. We will have 5 pieces plus the stroller. Thanks!

At least one member of your party must ride the bus in order to take advantage of Disney's Magical Express. Each passenger gets two luggage tags in additon to carry-on. Magical Express is not a luggage service.
Please read the "sticky" at the top of the transportation board.

 

[goofy4tink]

This seems to be the most asked question here.....according to Disney...DME is not intended as a luggage transferal service. It is primarily designed to get people from the airport to their respective resorts. Baggage transfer is a 'perk' of using DME.
There are some here who feel that your luggage will get to your resort. However...that is not what DME was designed for.
If you want to rent a car, go ahead. If you want Disney to transfer your bags, then someone is going to have to ride the bus. Understand....your bags may take up to 4 hours to get to you in your resort. Why not just grab your luggage if you are renting a car? There's no way I would rent a car, and then wait for my luggage to eventually get to my resort.

 

[DisKim]

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize the information was already on this board. I was thinking I could make my DH ride DME .

ETA - I'll probably just rent a minivan. I'm sure we can find enough space for all our bags even if we're a little squished for the quick ride.

 

[rigs32]

Or I've seen some families send one parents to rent the car and drive to the resort and the other take the kids on the bus, as it involves less waiting and the bus ride comes with videos and other excitement.

 

[Lewisc]

1) Send at least one person from your family on the bus,
2) Rent a car at WDW, the car care center and the Dolphin is serviced by National/Alamo.
3) NOT RECOMMENDED BUT TAKE YOUR CHANCES Disney says you can't use DME for luggage only but some people are convinced the luggage gets delivered even if you don't check in for DME.

I'd price out option 2.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I was wondering about this, too. We DO rent the minivan, but with 6 of us, including luggage and a wheelchair, its a tight squeeze. The minivan seats 6 of us easily, it's the wheelchair and luggage that make it tough.

We will manage. I thought it was some sort of security issue.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to ask this, and I really don't mean to sound sarcastic, but..how do all of you get to your home airports if you have so much luggage/so many people? I just read posts from so many people that tell us how much luggage they have, that all the people in their party won't fit in the rental car, the luggage won't fit.....what kind of vehicle did you use to get to the airport in the first place?
If you have too many people for a rental, then I would have a couple of people take the DME bus, with some of the luggage being checked all the way through to the resort. Since you get two luggage tags per person, you should be able to check at least 4 bags through, if you send two people on DME. Then, the rest of the party can travel in the rental with the rest of the luggage. If you are flying home on a participating airline, then you can all check your luggage at the resort, so it won't be an issue.

 

[Lewisc]

Some of the posters indicate they want to avoid having to rent a mini-van, presumably that's what they drive. Others drive full size cars at home but
the rental agencies definition of a full size car tends to be creative.

I have to ask this, and I really don't mean to sound sarcastic, but..how do all of you get to your home airports if you have so much luggage/so many people? I just read posts from so many people that tell us how much luggage they have, that all the people in their party won't fit in the rental car, the luggage won't fit.....what kind of vehicle did you use to get to the airport in the first place?
If you have too many people for a rental, then I would have a couple of people take the DME bus, with some of the luggage being checked all the way through to the resort. Since you get two luggage tags per person, you should be able to check at least 4 bags through, if you send two people on DME. Then, the rest of the party can travel in the rental with the rest of the luggage. If you are flying home on a participating airline, then you can all check your luggage at the resort, so it won't be an issue.

 

[goofy4tink]

Some of the posters indicate they want to avoid having to rent a mini-van, presumably that's what they drive. Others have full size cars hat home but
the rental agencies definition of a full size car tends to be creative.

So true...there's 'full size' and then there's 'full size'!!! I guess the rental companies have a different idea of what full size truly is!!!