Check luggage with ME but rent car?

[sluggo]

Well, I guess I will put in my 2 cents worth. Things that I know for a fact:

1. When a guest checks in at the Welcome Center, the time and date are noted in the DME computer. So DME does know who has been naughty and who has been nice (so to speak).

2. Under normal conditions the bags will probably get to the guest's room even if they don't check in at the Welcome Center. This could change at any time.

3. If there are problems with the luggage and DME is notifiied by the guest that they did not get their luggage, one of the first things that is checked is how many bags did the guest say that they had versus how many have been scanned. If the computer shows that the guests did not check-in through the Welcome Center then the guest is directed to contact their airline about their missing bag(s). Just some of the problems that can occur are:

a. The airline misrouted the bag to Timbuktu.
b. The airline mistagged the bag with the wrong name and the DME tag either fell off or guest forgot to put it on.
c. The airline damaged the handle of the bag and all of the tags are missing along with the handle and the bag is sitting somewhere with no ID at all. (This does happen much more often then you think).
d. See Murphy's Law.

If for example, b or c happened then the airline would require the guest to pay for transporting the bag to the resort. If problem a occured, the guest may be required by the airline to come back to the airport to fill out a claim. Some airlines might let you do it over the phone, must quite a few will not.

I guess you have say to yourself "Do I feel lucky?".

Sluggo

 

[Lewisc]

This thread has become a few posters saying almost the same thing. Ed, Eric and you agree the luggage will probably wind up being delivered. Sluggo, weren't you the poster who originally claimed bags got pulled if a guest didn't check in at the DME desk?

None of us, fully addressed the OP. The plan was to check in at the MCO (the DME desk) and then grab a rental car instead of boarding the bus. That should work in every case. I'd probably just send one family member to the DME desk, and grab the bus, while the rest of the party goes directly to the rental car counter. Meet at the resort.

Well, I guess I will put in my 2 cents worth. Things that I know for a fact:

1. When a guest checks in at the Welcome Center, the time and date are noted in the DME computer. So DME does know who has been naughty and who has been nice (so to speak).

2. Under normal conditions the bags will probably get to the guest's room even if they don't check in at the Welcome Center. This could change at any time.

3. If there are problems with the luggage and DME is notifiied by the guest that they did not get their luggage, one of the first things that is checked is how many bags did the guest say that they had versus how many have been scanned. If the computer shows that the guests did not check-in through the Welcome Center then the guest is directed to contact their airline about their missing bag(s). Just some of the problems that can occur are:

a. The airline misrouted the bag to Timbuktu.
b. The airline mistagged the bag with the wrong name and the DME tag either fell off or guest forgot to put it on.
c. The airline damaged the handle of the bag and all of the tags are missing along with the handle and the bag is sitting somewhere with no ID at all. (This does happen much more often then you think).
d. See Murphy's Law.

If for example, b or c happened then the airline would require the guest to pay for transporting the bag to the resort. If problem a occured, the guest may be required by the airline to come back to the airport to fill out a claim. Some airlines might let you do it over the phone, must quite a few will not.

I guess you have say to yourself "Do I feel lucky?".

Sluggo

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, the wording is ambiguous. Do many people read those FAQ? No, probably not. So....when someone comes here, to the DIS, I would like to think that we try to give information based on Disney's official word. It is against board guidelines to promote any action that goes against Disney policy. So...with that in mind....DME is not a luggage transferral service. If you tag your bags but do not board a DME bus, but rather rent a car (or use a towncar service) your bags will most likely still get to your resort....that's the experience we are seeing. But, and this is my point.....I am very hesitant to tell someone to do this. I just know that that's when Disney will make a change...and someone's bags are not going to be delivered. Rather, I give out the 'official' word from Disney. I have talked to the DME people, via the phone, and have been told that DME is NOT to be used as a luggage delivery service. It is a side perk of using the bus.
Pleas refrain from advising posters to ignore what Disney, as well as DME, has said. Will they be fine and get their bags? Most probably. But do you want to be the person who gives the advice only to find that Disney/DME has decided to enforce it's own rules??? I know I don't.

 

[Edd]

2. Under normal conditions the bags will probably get to the guest's room even if they don't check in at the Welcome Center. This could change at any time.

This could possibly change when the airlines, the airport and Disney get together and renegotiate the luggage transfer clause in that particular contract. Presently all luggage tagged with Disney tags goes to Disney.

3. If there are problems with the luggage and DME is notifiied by the guest that they did not get their luggage, one of the first things that is checked is how many bags did the guest say that they had versus how many have been scanned. This may happen: If the computer shows that the guests did not check-in through the Welcome Center then the guest is directed to contact their airline about their missing bag(s). I disagree: If you have your luggage claim numbers Disney will find out where the luggage is at. Customer service prevails here and that is what Disney is about.

If for example, b or c happened then the airline would require the guest to pay for transporting the bag to the resort. If problem a occured, the guest may be required by the airline to come back to the airport to fill out a claim. Some airlines might let you do it over the phone, must quite a few will not.

There has been nobody ever reported on these boards that they had to return to the airport to pick up luggage.


Sluggo

Sorry, Sluggo I cannot agree with your post, and basically because you believe the luggage manager is the highest Disney position working at OIA.

 

[sluggo]

Sorry, Sluggo I cannot agree with your post, and basically because you believe the luggage manager is the highest Disney position working at OIA.

Okay, don't believe. I'll just keep my info to myself in the future.

Sluggo

PS. I never said that the Luggage Manager is the highest Disney position working at OIA.