Disney World Magical Express Question

[Nancyvv]

We are staying onsite at Disney World for the first time in January. We will be taking the Magical Express from the airport to the resort. My question is about the luggage transfer. It says on the Disney site that your luggage will be automatically transferred from the airport to the hotel for us and that we won't need to wait for it at baggage claim. My question is how will they know which luggage is ours? Will be get special tags prior to our trip or will they just look for our luggage tags that we already have on our luggage?

 

[CalicoSky]

We are staying onsite at Disney World for the first time in January. We will be taking the Magical Express from the airport to the resort. My question is about the luggage transfer. It says on the Disney site that your luggage will be automatically transferred from the airport to the hotel for us and that we won't need to wait for it at baggage claim. My question is how will they know which luggage is ours? Will be get special tags prior to our trip or will they just look for our luggage tags that we already have on our luggage?

They'll send you special tags prior to the trip--they're similar to the type of tag the airline would attach to your luggage, but brightly colored and printed with a Mickey head and codes identifying your reservation and thus the luggage destination.

It's worked wonderfully each time I've used it, but do take necessities for the first 12-24 hours in your carry-on. The luggage does magically arrive in your room, but that magic can happen 2-4 hours after you've arrived at the resort, so having medications and a change of clothes-- and, depending on the time you're arriving, PJs or a swimsuit--makes that delay a non-event instead of an annoyance at the start of the trip.

 

[Nancyvv]

thanks for your help! I booked through Orbitz not directly through Disney. Do you think I need to call the resort and be sure that we get the tags or will it be taken care of by Orbitz?

 

[CoP I Love You]

you will receive yellow magical express luggage tags prior to your trip with your hotel info on it.
Disney will transfer it directly to your room but you need to be aware that it can take several hours sometimes for it to arrive in your room so be sure to bring anything you will need in the first few hours in your carry on.
for example if you plan on swimming when you get there take your bathing suits, beach towels, sunglasses, travel sunscreen... in your carry on.

 

[a1tinkfans]

While luggage transfer Is included it is an Option none the less. We actually prefer to pull our own and bring it aboard ME. THE ADVANTAGES FOR US... We have Everything we need with us, no chance of delays thru ME, which can happen, so don't rely on the time frame. We don't have to carry more in the carry on, change of clothes for a meal out, bathing suits if it's for poo, etc. I like to get Unpacked and settled and then go about our holiday. We've really gotten our luggage /packing to much less so it's usually very little time to get fully set up at the room. If u decide to pull your own luggage, you just Don't put the ME tags on. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time! Staying onsite is a world of difference, enjoy!

 

[momto3pirates]

When is your trip? Usually ME book and tags are sent out 30 days prior. You may need to call magical express directly and set it up. You should receive yellow tags to put on each suitcase.

 

[sam_gordon]

While luggage transfer Is included it is an Option none the less. We actually prefer to pull our own and bring it aboard ME. THE ADVANTAGES FOR US... We have Everything we need with us, no chance of delays thru ME, which can happen, so don't rely on the time frame. We don't have to carry more in the carry on, change of clothes for a meal out, bathing suits if it's for poo, etc. I like to get Unpacked and settled and then go about our holiday. We've really gotten our luggage /packing to much less so it's usually very little time to get fully set up at the room. If u decide to pull your own luggage, you just Don't put the ME tags on. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time! Staying onsite is a world of difference, enjoy!

You should ALWAYS pack enough for the first 24 hours in your carryon anytime your flying. That has nothing to do with DME and everything to do with the possibility your bags won't reach the destination airport at the same time you do.

To the OP... you need to sign up for DME, it is not automatic.

 

[Nancyvv]

thank you to everyone for your helpful answers! I have went to the Magical Express site and put in my transfer requests so hopefully the packet will arrive quickly. We leave January 24th! It was my son's Christmas surprise today! He is 22 with autism and Disney is his FAVORITE place on earth. He was so excited. It has been very hard keeping this surprise from him. We have never stayed onsite at Disney. We usually rent a house. So he's extra excited to stay at Pop Century for the first time and to get to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train which was not finished on our last trip. So excited and so glad he finally knows so we can all talk about it now!

 

[lvillotta1]

This will be our 4th trip and my girls surprise for this morning was a Disney trip. We always stay onsite and use ME and have always tagged our luggage. I think this time we will not tag them and carry them with us right onto to ME so we can get settled quickly and go eat and then to DTD.

 

[kaytieeldr]

While luggage transfer Is included it is an Option none the less. We actually prefer to pull our own and bring it aboard ME. THE ADVANTAGES FOR US... We have Everything we need with us, no chance of delays thru ME, which can happen, so don't rely on the time frame. We don't have to carry more in the carry on, change of clothes for a meal out, bathing suits if it's for pool, etc. I like to get Unpacked and settled and then go about our holiday. We've really gotten our luggage /packing to much less so it's usually very little time to get fully set up at the room. If u decide to pull your own luggage, you just Don't put the ME tags on. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time! Staying onsite is a world of difference, enjoy!

This will be our 4th trip and my girls surprise for this morning was a Disney trip. We always stay onsite and use ME and have always tagged our luggage. I think this time we will not tag them and carry them with us right onto to ME so we can get settled quickly and go eat and then to DTD.

There's a thread on the Transportation Board right now started by someone whose airline lost their luggage six days ago and still hasn't found the adults' suitcase. The stroller and carseat showed up after a couple of days, the baby's suitcase after a couple more - what was supposed to be the parents' bag was actually some stranger's bicycle.

Magical Express will work to track misdirected luggage so the guest doesn't spend extra time at the airport. Also,it's customary to tip anyone who handles your luggage in your presence including skycaps, porters, bus drivers, bellhops...

 

[Batstang2000]

Another thing to consider, DME usually sends only ONE tag per traveler. If you have more than one checked bag per person, you may want to call and request additional tags.

 

[CoP I Love You]

Another thing to consider, DME usually sends only ONE tag per traveler. If you have more than one checked bag per person, you may want to call and request additional tags.

that does not ring true for my experiences.
I've used DME 8 times and soon to be 9 and I have always received 2 yellow DME tags per person and I have only ever needed one per person.

 

[bjscheel]

that does not ring true for my experiences.
I've used DME 8 times and soon to be 9 and I have always received 2 yellow DME tags per person and I have only ever needed one per person.

Last June they sent us one tag per person. I think previous trips we received 2 per person, but not in 2014. I did call for more, but didn't need them in the end.

 

[Allison]

that does not ring true for my experiences.
I've used DME 8 times and soon to be 9 and I have always received 2 yellow DME tags per person and I have only ever needed one per person.

One tag per person is now sent.

 

[mrp4352]

DME will gather untagged bags - you just have to let the know when you check in with your Magic Band and provide the claim check. I've done it before both when I had more than one bag and on a last minute trip. Have a great trip!!

 

[JanaDee]

that does not ring true for my experiences.
I've used DME 8 times and soon to be 9 and I have always received 2 yellow DME tags per person and I have only ever needed one per person.

They only send one tag per person now. If you need more, you will need to request them.

 

[JanaDee]

There's a thread on the Transportation Board right now started by someone whose airline lost their luggage six days ago and still hasn't found the adults' suitcase. The stroller and carseat showed up after a couple of days, the baby's suitcase after a couple more - what was supposed to be the parents' bag was actually some stranger's bicycle.

Magical Express will work to track misdirected luggage so the guest doesn't spend extra time at the airport. Also,it's customary to tip anyone who handles your luggage in your presence including skycaps, porters, bus drivers, bellhops...

Not to mention baggage claim is on the other side of the airport from where you board DME.

 

[Amanda999]

One tag per person is now sent.

YMMV, but I received 2 tags per person yesterday, and twice last week (I have 3 different resort reservations (I couldn't decide - darn Orbitz discounts!)).

I have more yellow ME tags than MBs now!

 

[ceecee]

We've used Magical Express since it started and it's SO easy! We drop our luggage at the Airport and the next time we see it, it's in our room. Never any issues at all. Once we changed rooms and had to wait but still got it fast. It's MAGICAL! We normally get there early and go to the parks when we get back it's there.

 

[maxiesmom]

YMMV, but I received 2 tags per person yesterday, and twice last week (I have 3 different resort reservations (I couldn't decide - darn Orbitz discounts!)).

I have more yellow ME tags than MBs now!

Are you flying Southwest? When I have, Disney has sent me 2 yellow tags per person, to go along with the 2 bags Southwest allows each passenger to check for free.