Carrying luggage on Magical Express

[mitsguy2001]

I'll be taking the magical express bus from the airport to a Disney resort. I do not trust their luggage service; I fear that they will lose my luggage. Do they allow people to carry their luggage onto the bus, so that I know it's not lost? Thank you.

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes you can.

Do not use the yellow ME tags on your luggage when you check it through at your home airport and then pick it up from the carosel when you arrive at Orlando. Head to ME, you won't be able to bring it on the bus but the driver will load it under the bus in the luggage compartment and retreive it for you at the resort. I tipped for this service.

TJ

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sure, you can go from the plane to baggage claim, wait for your luggage, drag it down to the DME counter, drag it through the DME line, check in, drag your luggage to the bus line, give it to the bus driver to stow under the bus, get driven to your resort, wait for the bus driver to pull your luggage from the compartment under the bus, TIP THE DRIVER for handling your luggage, haul it into the lobby and through the check in line, drag it to your room if your room's ready or store it with Bell Services if your room's not ready, TIP Bell Services when they bring your luggage to your room...
Or you can use DME and all its services and benefits as it was designed - check your luggage in at your home airport, let DME claim it in Orlando, transport it to your resort and place it in your room within a few hours of your arrival, AND take care of all tips, while you go enjoy your resort, dine, or visit a theme park.
It's interesting that you'll trust the airline to transport your luggage several thousand miles but won't trust DME to transport it the last twenty or so miles... given that in 2005 alone, the airlines misdirected three MILLION pieces of luggage and completely lost 200,000 of those. DME, by comparison, has misdirected very few bags and lost, let me see, what was that number again? Oh yeah - NONE.

 

[goofy4tink]

You really do stand more of a chance of the airlines losing your bags than DME. If your bags get to MCO, then you can be pretty safe in the knowledge that DME will get them to your resort. However, there are people that don't want to have any wait time at the resort before getting their bags. If this is the case, then do not put the yellow luggage tags on your bags. Then, you will need to go to baggage claim, and then to the DME area. You can have your bags put underneath the bus, and then you will have them when you check-in at the resort. If your room isn't ready yet, and there is a good chance of this happening if you arrive before 1 or 2, then your bags can be held by Bell Services. Just be aware as the previous poster said....be prepared to tip the bus driver and the bell services people who deliver your bags.
I really think your stuff is going to arrive at the resort with no problems though. I've used DME three times now and never had a problem.

 

[mitsguy2001]

Sure, you can go from the plane to baggage claim, wait for your luggage, drag it down to the DME counter, drag it through the DME line, check in, drag your luggage to the bus line, give it to the bus driver to stow under the bus, get driven to your resort, wait for the bus driver to pull your luggage from the compartment under the bus, TIP THE DRIVER for handling your luggage, haul it into the lobby and through the check in line, drag it to your room if your room's ready or store it with Bell Services if your room's not ready, TIP Bell Services when they bring your luggage to your room...

This is better than having them lose my luggage.

Or you can use DME and all its services and benefits as it was designed - check your luggage in at your home airport, let DME claim it in Orlando, transport it to your resort and place it in your room within a few hours of your arrival, AND take care of all tips, while you go enjoy your resort, dine, or visit a theme park.

But then there is no guarantee that I get my luggage.

It's interesting that you'll trust the airline to transport your luggage several thousand miles but won't trust DME to transport it the last twenty or so miles... given that in 2005 alone, the airlines misdirected three MILLION pieces of luggage and completely lost 200,000 of those. DME, by comparison, has misdirected very few bags

I do not trust the airline either. But unfortunately, I have no choice there, because of carryon bag restrictions. Beleive me, if I was allowed to carry on all my luggage, I would.

Also, with the airline, I do get my luggage before leaving the airport, as long as it is not lost. And, I figure the fewer number of layers of complexity, the better. I think the airline would be more likely to lose my luggage with the Disney tags than with their own tags.

and lost, let me see, what was that number again? Oh yeah - NONE.

But I'm going on a cruise the next day, so delayed is as bad as lost, since it means I'd have no luggage for the cruise. Also, if my airline loses the luggage, they'll just blame Disney. If Disney loses it they'll blame the airline. And, I heard that with Magical Express you often don't get your luggage until 2 AM if you get it at all. I don't want to wait that long.

 

[Lewisc]

Most of us have had our luggage delivered in less than 4 hours. I don't know exactly how long it took, one trip I was at the AKL pool when it was delivered and another trip I was at the Pepper Market having lunch.

The 2 AM time comes up when passengers get to MCO after 9 or 10p. If you have a late flight and are going on a cruise the next morning I'd probably get my own luggage, but if that was my schedule I'd just get a hotel by MCO for the night.

If your flight arrives during the day I wouldn't waste my time waiting for my luggage but I see your point. If the airline misdirects your luggage you'll get a claim in earlier and have a better chance of getting your luggage before your cruise. My concern would be with the airline and not with DME.

But I'm going on a cruise the next day, so delayed is as bad as lost, since it means I'd have no luggage for the cruise. Also, if my airline loses the luggage, they'll just blame Disney. If Disney loses it they'll blame the airline. And, I heard that with Magical Express you often don't get your luggage until 2 AM if you get it at all. I don't want to wait that long.

 

[WDW4us2006]

I am going to get my own luggage with DME, only because my flight doesn't get into MCO until 9:00PM. I really want to have it when I check in so I can "settle in" to my room before going off to sleep. I'll probably only have one large suitcase, anyway. I can't imagine it's THAT big of a deal to get your own luggage. I just need a (FREE) lift to the resort!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Also, with the airline, I do get my luggage before leaving the airport, as long as it is not lost. And, I figure the fewer number of layers of complexity, the better. I think the airline would be more likely to lose my luggage with the Disney tags than with their own tags.

Sure - but you said yo don't trust Disney's Magical Express to not lose your luggage. The luggage transport portion of the service is operated by a subcontractor - ASICS, Inc (could be a little off on the name), which has over ten years experience doing exactly what they're doing for DME - transporting luggage from the plane to the hotel. Are you aware that if your luggage IS misdirected by the airline (again, far more likely based on those numbers I posted above) that DME will take care of filling out the forms, 'waiting' for the bag or bags to show up and transporting them to your hotel when they DO arrive? That's if you use the service as designed - without the yellow tags, you're on your own.

But I'm going on a cruise the next day, so delayed is as bad as lost, since it means I'd have no luggage for the cruise. Also, if my airline loses the luggage, they'll just blame Disney. If Disney loses it they'll blame the airline. And, I heard that with Magical Express you often don't get your luggage until 2 AM if you get it at all. I don't want to wait that long.

Well, no, Disney's Magical Express will NOT try to transfer blame to the airline if DME misdirects your luggage. As for 2 AM, as stated above, if you arrive late in the evening, yes, that time is not entirely unusual. They do, after all, need to pull all the DME-tagged luggage, sort it, place it on trucks and transport it to the various resorts - where it still needs to be sorted and delivered by Bell Services or Luggage Services.
Now, I admit, I know of one case where DME luggage was misdirected... by Bell Services. It arrived at the proper resort but an entire party's luggage was placed in one room, where actually they had reserved two rooms. But again, that was NOT caused by DME.
Is anyone reading this aware of any luggage lost - either temporarily or permanently - by DME?

 

[Lewisc]

I am going to get my own luggage with DME, only because my flight doesn't get into MCO until 9:00PM. I really want to have it when I check in so I can "settle in" to my room before going off to sleep. I'll probably only have one large suitcase, anyway. I can't imagine it's THAT big of a deal to get your own luggage. I just need a (FREE) lift to the resort!

It's not a big deal but if your airline uses the other end of the terminal you'll have to take your luggage up to level three, go across the airport and then go down to level one. It's not a big deal but the time it takes might be enough for you to miss a bus and you could wind up waiting 20-30 minutes for the next bus, combine that with a 20 minute wait for your luggage and you waste an extra hour.

Kay--I sort of understand the poster. If the airline misdirects his luggage he'll get a claim in earlier and will have a better shot of getting his luggage early enough to catch his cruise. Using the luggage delivery service doesn't make as much sense if a user is going anxiously wait in the room until the luggage is delivered.

 

[snowbunny]

Using the luggage delivery service doesn't make as much sense if a user is going anxiously wait in the room until the luggage is delivered.

I understand the OP too. Why the sarcasm just because someone wants to keep tabs on their luggage? In years spent traveling for business, I quickly learned never to let a bag out of my sight unless it is absolutely unavoidable, especially if anything in it is going to be needed in less than 24 hours.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I understand the OP too. Why the sarcasm just because someone wants to keep tabs on their luggage?

I don't read any sarcasm in what Lewisc wrote.

For many of us, the best feature of Magical Express is being able to breeze through airport directly to the Magical Express Welcome Center, unburdened by any luggage (except for carry-ons with valuables, medicines, fragile items, and things we need right away). It's great to be on the road to WDW while others on the same flight may still be waiting for their luggage at baggage claim or lugging it from baggage claim to the Magical Express Welcome Center. It's great to go off and have fun after checking in, and then unpacking our bags when we get back to the room.

But I've learned from this board that there are people who are not comfortable with using Magical Express as designed. They'll gladly put up with the inconvenience, the tips, and (in most cases) being on a later Magical Express motorcoach, because they like knowing that their luggage arrived at MCO and they like knowing it's on the motorcoach with them (because they don't trust Disney and its contractors to handle their luggage)

That's fine.

Please don't read this post as sarcasm. I'm just saying that different people make different choices for different reasons.

 

[Lewisc]

I understand the OP too. Why the sarcasm just because someone wants to keep tabs on their luggage? In years spent traveling for business, I quickly learned never to let a bag out of my sight unless it is absolutely unavoidable, especially if anything in it is going to be needed in less than 24 hours.

It wasn't sarcasm, your 24 hour rule will take care of any DME delays as well as any airline issues. The problem is OP will be on his ship within the that 24 hour period and in this case I don't think any information regarding the track record of DME will be enough to satisfy him. DME is of no benefit if the guest is going to be so nervous that he will literally be anxiously waiting for delivery.

Even if the airline or DME misdirect luggage your 24 hour rule works.

I wasn't intending to be sarcastic, I think his case may be the exception that proves the rule. If I use DME and my luggage is misdirected by the airline does it really matter if I get my luggage at 9:00 the next morning or 10:30? That's probably about the only thing that will be different if the OP gets an immediate claim with the airline. In his case that might make a difference.

 

[CleveRocks]

I think the airline would be more likely to lose my luggage with the Disney tags than with their own tags.

Just to clarify for anyone else reading this ....

The yellow DME luggage tags do not replace airline tags. Every checked bag that goes into the belly of an airliner has one of those white airline tags, the ones with your name and the three-letter airport code. Before you get to the airport, you put a yellow DME tag on each checked bag you want DME to deliver to your resort room for you. The DME tags are not paid attention to by anyone except the Disney subcontractor working in the bowels of MCO, at a physical point after the airline releases custody of the luggage to the airport itself. At that point, those employees fish out the DME-tagged bags before the rest of the bags reach the baggage claim carousel.

Think of DME tags as just a high-tech version of tying some yellow yarn onto the handle so that you'd more easily recognize your bag at baggage claim and distinguish it from the others.

So once again, DME tags in no way replace airline/airport tags.

 

[twotoohappy]

good luck on whatever decision you make and have a great trip and cruise

I've used ME many times without incident.

But also, I chose to pick up my own luggage the last trip because I had an early dinner reservation and wanted to make sure I had all my stuff. I went to get my bags and waited 15 min. for them to arrive (I was only 1 floor up from ME with SWA) and then 5 min. later checked in ME, 4 min later was on the bus for BWV, 2 min later I was on my way home!

Yup, tipped the bus driver, but I do that both ways anyways!
It was worth my piece of mind!!!

I'll be doing ME in May and letting my bags get picked up. It just depends on the situation.

Have fun!!!!!

 

[drogerstn]

Do they allow people to carry their luggage onto the bus, so that I know it's not lost?

Wow, so much discussion for a question than can be answered with one word.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Wow, so much discussion for a question than can be answered with one word.

Actually, the one word would have been no — but that would have been misleading.

The OP asked if they allow people to carry their luggage onto the bus. They don't. But they allow passengers to have the driver store the luggage in the baggage hold below the passenger level of the bus.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I have a question for all those who have used ME---We are staying at FW in a tent---Would it be possible for us to grab only our tent from baggage pickup and leave the rest for them to bring to us that way by the time our luggage arrives at the campsite our tent will be up?

 

[Lewisc]

I have a question for all those who have used ME---We are staying at FW in a tent---Would it be possible for us to grab only our tent from baggage pickup and leave the rest for them to bring to us that way by the time our luggage arrives at the campsite our tent will be up?

Yes, put yellow DME tags on everything but your tent.

 

[mitsguy2001]

Sure - but you said yo don't trust Disney's Magical Express to not lose your luggage. The luggage transport portion of the service is operated by a subcontractor - ASICS, Inc (could be a little off on the name), which has over ten years experience doing exactly what they're doing for DME - transporting luggage from the plane to the hotel. Are you aware that if your luggage IS misdirected by the airline (again, far more likely based on those numbers I posted above) that DME will take care of filling out the forms, 'waiting' for the bag or bags to show up and transporting them to your hotel when they DO arrive?

But since I am going on a cruise the next day, that won't help me, since even if they do rerieve the luggage, there would be no way to get it to me.

That's if you use the service as designed - without the yellow tags, you're on your own.

But at least there is one less step, and the luggage is thus less likely to be lost. And, I'd know immediately, so it would give me a slightly larger window to have my luggage found.

By the way, I beleive that the Disney Wonder has a store that sells clothing. Does anyone know what type of clothing they sell? Do they sell formal clothing? Or is it just limited to swimsuits and Disney logo clothing? I ask so that in case my luggage is lost, I know whether or not I can plan on buying clothes on the ship rather than wasting an entire port day and missing my excursions.

 

[mitsguy2001]

It's not a big deal but if your airline uses the other end of the terminal you'll have to take your luggage up to level three, go across the airport and then go down to level one. It's not a big deal but the time it takes might be enough for you to miss a bus and you could wind up waiting 20-30 minutes for the next bus, combine that with a 20 minute wait for your luggage and you waste an extra hour.

Kay--I sort of understand the poster. If the airline misdirects his luggage he'll get a claim in earlier and will have a better shot of getting his luggage early enough to catch his cruise. Using the luggage delivery service doesn't make as much sense if a user is going anxiously wait in the room until the luggage is delivered.

Exactly. I'd rather waste an hour the day before the cruise (the only reason I'm arriving a day early is so that I have some slack in my schedule in case my flight is delayed) than to have my entire cruise ruined by not having any luggage.