Couple of Questions about Departure Day

[mpbest]

We are using ME and our flight back home is at five. We will checkout fairly early to go hit either one of the parks or DTD. I know I can have bell services come up to get our luggage. How much time does it usually take for them to come to the room? Will I see our luggage again or will I retrieve it to board the bus? Flying out on SW, if that matters. Also, I don't want to drag our carry ons around, can those be left in bell services and get them ourselves before boarding ME? Is there any problem with leaving my DS's leapster or my ipod in his backpack? I don't want them to come up missing. I know I'm stressing too much about the luggage. We usually drive, so this is our first time using ME and staying on property!

 

[Missytara]

We are using ME and our flight back home is at five. We will checkout fairly early to go hit either one of the parks or DTD. I know I can have bell services come up to get our luggage. How much time does it usually take for them to come to the room? Will I see our luggage again or will I retrieve it to board the bus? Flying out on SW, if that matters. Also, I don't want to drag our carry ons around, can those be left in bell services and get them ourselves before boarding ME? Is there any problem with leaving my DS's leapster or my ipod in his backpack? I don't want them to come up missing. I know I'm stressing too much about the luggage. We usually drive, so this is our first time using ME and staying on property!

If you are flying Southwest and staying in a value; you can use RAC for your luggage.

If you are staying at mods/deluxes, etc. you have to check your bags with guest services and they will give you a claim check for your luggage to take on the bus.

I would allow AMPLE time to get back, and retrieve your luggage -if it is a very busy time with people checking in, etc. you may have to wait some time to get your luggage from guest services.

 

[SnowWhite33]

To answer about carry on's-yes you can leave them with your luggage. And my ds has always left his DS and PSP in his zipped up carry on and we've never had an issue.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can take your own bags down to Luggage Assistence/Bell Services yourself or call to have them pick the bags up. I usually take them down myself on the way out for the morning...saves a little time.
You can leave all your bags with them...just be sure to leave enough time before DME pickup time to get the bags back.

 

[mpbest]

We are staying at POP, so we can use RAC. If I understand correctly, I will not have to worry about my luggage again. Our carryon's can be stored at luggage/bell services and then pick them up before getting on ME.

It will just be DS (4) and myself, so I wasn't sure if I could get our luggage and the stroller back to check out. Can I run our luggage down to RAC without checking out? That way I could go back to the room get the stroller and our carryons.

 

[clkelley]

Checking out is not as formal as you think!! If you have a credit card on file, you will receive your list of charges on the door and you are checked out!! The room is yours until 11am. You can go and come as you please until that time.

You don't have to turn in your keys, they are yours to keep. Your door keys will be deactivated at some point after 11am that day.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You will need to be present with your luggage at the RAC counter to check in for your flight and check your luggage through to your home airport. Apparently, as long as everybody in your room has the same last name, only one person needs to go with the luggage.

From what I understand, Luggage Assistance makes hourly runs (not as personalized or instant as Bell Services). The adult going to check in should be ready to leave the room before the CM arrives. By the way, tipping is appropriate on the way home - both to the Luggage Assistance CM because they handled your luggage, and to the RAC CM because, well, they're airport employees - the equivalent of SkyCaps - not Disney CMs. In fact, a good way to describe Resort Airline Check-in is it's curbside check-in with the curb thirty miles - instead of thirty feet - from the terminal.

If you don't want the hassle of waiting for a CM to come get your luggage, you can go to the Luggage Assistance counter and borrow a cart, bring it to your room, and bring your own luggage to the RAC counter. You MAY have to leave a credit card deposit for the cart.

You can leave any intended carry-on luggage with Luggage Assistance safely (really - they don't have the time or the privacy to go through personal bags, nor does anyone care to risk their job/reputation/etc) and they'll give you a claim check so you can pick it up when you get back to the resort.

Your Magical Express pickup time will be about 2 PM, give or take fifteen minutes. You will need to be waiting at the stop fifteen minutes before the assigned time, with your entire party and all your carry-on luggage - so if you're not AT the resort, allow at LEAST an hour to get back, pick up your carry-ons, make a last trip to the restroom, and be waiting for the bus. Your assigned time is when it LEAVES your resort, not when it arrives - and the driver won't (can't) wait, and if you miss the bus, Disney won't be responsible for getting you to the airport on time for your flight. There may or may not be another bus along in a half hour; if there is, it may not have room for you.

You only need to physically check out of the hotel if you (a) didn't leave a credit/debit card number to cover expenses and (b) have, well, incurred expenses; or if you left a cash deposit and are due a refund. You don't HAVE to leave any deposit at all, you just won't be able to charge purchases to your room.

 

[clkelley]

Here is what I would do if staying at POP with an approximate 2pm DME pickup.

1: Call Luggage Services the night before checkout and tell them I need a luggage pickup anytime after 7am, but before noon.

2: The next morning, pack up all my stuff and stack all bags including carryons by the door. I would also leave a tip on the bags. (We also donate any unopened soft drinks/water and beer to the luggage folks).

3: Head out for my morning of fun. While I am out, Luggage Service folks will go to my room and pick up my bags and take them to the luggage storage room.

4: I would be back at POP, NLT 12 noon. I would go to the luggage room and claim my checked bags, and give my checked bags to RAC.

5: Then I would go to the food court for a bite to eat and the bar for a drink, then I would go back to the luggage room about 1:15 and get my carryon bags, then I would be at the DME pick up point 20 minutes before my pickup time.

FYI, this method only works at Value Resorts because they have "Luggage Service" vs. Bell Service. Luggage Service is a scheduled service on "their" schedule and honestly is not a tipped position, but they obviously do appreciate tips.

At the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, they have Bell Services which IS an on demand, tipped position. They will not pick up your luggage if you are not there. You have to call them when you are ready and wait on them to arrive.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here is what I would do if staying at POP with an approximate 2pm DME pickup.

Yeah, that would all work, too... and it looks MUCH LESS intimidating than the "manual" I wrote!

 

[MariDisney]

...snipped

By the way, tipping is appropriate on the way home - both to the Luggage Assistance CM because they handled your luggage, and to the RAC CM because, well, they're airport employees - the equivalent of SkyCaps - not Disney CMs. In fact, a good way to describe Resort Airline Check-in is it's curbside check-in with the curb thirty miles - instead of thirty feet - from the terminal.

REALLY??? :smacks self on head: Now that you put it that way it makes perfect sense. I feel like a complete clod. I have never tipped the RAC CMs. I never thought of them as SkyCaps. If I do curbside check in at an airport of course I do tip, but didn't see this as equivalent. I have no idea why. I will be sure to get it done right next time, though. I HATE when I don't tip when I should Ugh.

 

[mpbest]

Thank you for all the great tips! I can relax about our check out and enjoy the last day. Think I'll get started packing

 

[goofy4tink]

If it were me, I would just take my checked baggage down to the RAC as early as possible that morning. Yes, you would have to have your ds up and dressed. But, that way it would be all done. Your checked bags would be taken care of, your boarding passes would be in hand.
Take your carryon items to Luggage Assistence on your way to the park bus.

Yes, it's a bit more work, but I hate leaving RAC too late. But, that's just me. I don't have a child that young anymore, so it's not an issue for me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

REALLY??? :smacks self on head: Now that you put it that way it makes perfect sense. I feel like a complete clod. I have never tipped the RAC CMs

Ah, PLEASE don't smack your head! Probably 95% of RAC users don't realize this!