Disney Magical Express

[goNsoon2WDW]

Is it possible to have our bags taken to the room via Disney's Magical Express while we rent a car and head to the parks for the day? I would feel a lot better with the bags in the room instead of sitting in the rental car in the parking lot of Magic Kingdom.

 

[mjp12831]

Why would you do this? By the time you go process the car rental, get out to the car and drive over to the resort it isn't going to be a significant time savings and will obviously be more costly. IF it's time you're worried about, DME has had us at our resort within an hour of landing both times we've used it and I think it's pretty efficient.

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

Why would you do this? By the time you go process the car rental, get out to the car and drive over to the resort it isn't going to be a significant time savings and will obviously be more costly. IF it's time you're worried about, DME has had us at our resort within an hour of landing both times we've used it and I think it's pretty efficient.

We have never used the Magical Express. We have always rented a car (personal preference). The car rental counter isn't really an issue. We go through the automated line and are in and out in no time flat.

I was thinking that we could arrive at the airport and we head straight to MK while our bags go to the resort. We were not planning on going to the resort before MK. I am just not sure if it is possible to have the bags sent to the room without us going to the resort with them. That way the bags are not in the rental car in the parking lot all day.

It may not be possible - and that is ok. We just don't know how it works.

 

[NewYorkRedNeck]

You are doing online check in first, right? I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.

 

[imthatgirl]

No you can't. They will only take bags of people who are using the service. If you don't check in, they won't go get your bags.
Plus you would not have checked into your room and would have no room to put them in.

We prefer to rent a car. When we do we go right to the resort and leave our bags. I would never leave them in the car, lol. In fact we have always been able to get in to our room, even at 8AM.

 

[seashoreCM]

DME and baggage only: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

Arriving in Orlando, if you don't follow the directions in the Magical Express brochure including checking in at the DME welcoming area at the airport, the you are on your own if baggage is mislaid by the airline.

On the other hand, to speed up delivery of yellow tagged baggage to the resorts, it is gathered behind the carousel or sooner and loaded on trucks without cross checking where the owners are or what they are doing.

Going home, you may check baggage at your resort (this is a process outside of DME) without riding the DME bus. Remove the yellow tags before going home; otherwise an error in handling could cause them to go back to Disney and appear missing from the airline's point of vew.

 

[stargazertechie]

Technally, per Disney policy this is not allowed. Per policy, you must ride the bus in order to take advantage of luggage transfer service.

However, baggage handlers are trained to get all of the yellow tagged DME luggage, and they don't check your name off before pulling your bags from the plane. As long as you have a DME reservation and bag tags, your bag will get to the resort if it arrives at MCO.

 

[MINNIEANN MOUSE]

About 3 years ago, we arrived at the Orlando airport on a Saturday afternoon, and needless to say, the line was about 200+ people deep...all for Disney's Magical Express. My husband is not the most patient person and was not going to stand in this long line. I asked a Disney Representative if we could catch a taxi to our resort and still have our bags go with Magical Express. She said, "...as long as your bags are tagged, they will make it, and if I were in your shoes, I would probaly do the same." Needless to say, we did, and our bags made it just fine. We have since used the Magical Express, and for whatever reason, we now arrive on Friday mornings and everything goes off without a hitch. So, if you do this, make sure your bags are tagged, and they will make it to your resort.

 

[k^2]

So it sounds like it could work, but why risk it? IMO it would make more sense to just put your luggage in your rental car. You could always go straight to MK and leave your stuff in the trunk. I'm a "worrier" and I like to know where my stuff is, so that's just my two cents

Though, side note, how would you get free parking if you hadn't checked in yet?

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

So it sounds like it could work, but why risk it? IMO it would make more sense to just put your luggage in your rental car. You could always go straight to MK and leave your stuff in the trunk. I'm a "worrier" and I like to know where my stuff is, so that's just my two cents

Though, side note, how would you get free parking if you hadn't checked in yet?

Hmmm. Hadn't thought about the parking fees. Good point.

I can also be a worrier and my concern comes with leaving items in the car that people can see when they walk by. We tend to empty the car of anything that looks like it could be valuable to someone peeking in so that they are not tempted to take it. If there is nothing there, there is nothing to take so move on to the next car.

In the past we have always had a few small bags in the seats on the way to the resort which were not a problem because we would take them into the room and plan on spending the day at the resort. This time we are thinking of going to a park on the day we arrive and were trying to find a way to get the most out of a short day.

Thanks all for your input.

 

[Missytara]

Hmmm. Hadn't thought about the parking fees. Good point.

I can also be a worrier and my concern comes with leaving items in the car that people can see when they walk by. We tend to empty the car of anything that looks like it could be valuable to someone peeking in so that they are not tempted to take it. If there is nothing there, there is nothing to take so move on to the next car.

In the past we have always had a few small bags in the seats on the way to the resort which were not a problem because we would take them into the room and plan on spending the day at the resort. This time we are thinking of going to a park on the day we arrive and were trying to find a way to get the most out of a short day.

Thanks all for your input.

Since you have a car, you could leave your bags with guest services, if your room is not ready yet. You can pick them back up on your way back from the park.

And as everyone else said, ME is not a luggage service for those who are not using it.

 

[sissy_ib]

About 3 years ago, we arrived at the Orlando airport on a Saturday afternoon, and needless to say, the line was about 200+ people deep...all for Disney's Magical Express. My husband is not the most patient person and was not going to stand in this long line. I asked a Disney Representative if we could catch a taxi to our resort and still have our bags go with Magical Express. She said, "...as long as your bags are tagged, they will make it, and if I were in your shoes, I would probaly do the same." Needless to say, we did, and our bags made it just fine. We have since used the Magical Express, and for whatever reason, we now arrive on Friday mornings and everything goes off without a hitch. So, if you do this, make sure your bags are tagged, and they will make it to your resort.

The issue is if your bags get lost by the airline and don't end up at MCO, DME will not know to look for them if you have not checked in. When you check in at the DME desk they ask you how many bags you have for them to gather. So in a situation like the OPs where they go to the park directly from the airport, it could be 10 hours later before they even notice that a bag is missing. Where as when people check in at the DME counter and a bag gets lost-DME can start looking for it much sooner.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm not sure I see the advantage. Since you have a car, just swing by your resort and drop the bags with the Bell Services guys out front. When you return later, all you have to do is call from your room and they'll bring the bags up.

If you have a package with dining and/or tickets, you'll need to check in anyway to get your dining credits and tickets. And as a PP mentioned, you'll be paying for parking at MK unless you get the parking pass with your name and dates of stay from your resort.

I'd rather take a half-hour out of my day to get things settled at the resort than take even a small chance that I'd come back to my room later that night and find that my bags were still at the airport.

I wouldn't recommend leaving anything of value in the car. Theme park parking lots are not immune from thieves.

 

[goNsoon2WDW]

Thanks to all for the input. We obviously had not thought it all of the way through and I appreciate everyone helping to make sure we didn't make a mistake. At this point we will plan on grabbing our own bags and taking them to the resort to leave with the bell hop services.

I appreciate you all nicely pointing out how our previous idea was flawed. Thanks.

 

[mjp12831]

I'd try to persuade you to try DME - it's amazingly efficient and to not need to touch your luggage is a huge luxury.

2x used - both times we've been going into a park around 1 1/2 hrs after landing.

DME drops you at the resort, you can check your carry ons with the resort if your room is not ready, pick up your KTTW (but sounds like you may not even need them since you don't go to the resort first) and go to the bus stop without even visiting your room.

On leaving, RAC is another huge luxury - if you have a late flight you can drop your bags, leave your carry ons with the resort to pick up later and head to the park.

 

[k^2]

have a great trip! :

 

[seashoreCM]

About 3 years ago, we arrived at the Orlando airport on a Saturday afternoon, and needless to say, the line was about 200+ people deep...all for Disney's Magical Express. My husband is not the most patient person and was not going to stand in this long line. I asked a Disney Representative if we could catch a taxi to our resort and still have our bags go with Magical Express. She said, "...as long as your bags are tagged, they will make it, and if I were in your shoes, I would probaly do the same."

I haven't seen it in operation but for all I know there are forms you need to fill out at the welcoming area to be sure your baggage is accounted for. But I think you should be abel to rely on what a CM down there says when you ask his advice. (Things can change so don't rely on the CM's advice on vacation #1 for vacation #2; ask him again if you run into the situation on vacation #2.)

The normal non-DME procedure is for you to fetch your own bags, but it is impossibleto intercept yellow tagged bags before 10 PM. So the next best thing is for DME to register you as a DME guest and then you go off on your own for more expeditious transportation.