Disneys magical express luggage Delivery service

[gocubsgo]

We have an upcoming trip and I would like to use the luggage delivery service
My husband wants us to pick up our own luggage and car seats -- he is worried that the luggage /car seats will be lost.

The main reason I want to use the luggage delivery is that on our last trip/- we did not use the delivery service. There was a thunderstorm and the airport suspended the process of removing luggage from the planes- we waited 2 hrs just for the luggage.
What is your experience with luggage delivery?
Did it go smoothly?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Flawless. We have used at least 5-6 times with no issues. In fact I have not heard anyone report on here that they had issue with the service.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Disney's Magical Express (DME) has been delivering bags to guests' rooms since 2005. The process uses barcode scanning to keep track of bags at every stage. There have been millions and millions of bags successfully delivered to WDW resort rooms.

In almost nine years, I've read of one case where bell services put a family's bags in the wrong room (an unoccupied room), where those bags stayed for week. They were eventually reunited with their bags, after Disney bought new clothes for them.

There have also been cases where it took far longer than the usual "up to 3 hours after check-in" for the bags to be delivered. That happened to me once (in 2005). For all I know, our airline loaded our bags onto the flight after ours, or possibly DME was still working out staffing levels for the service.

The problem with picking up your own bags is that you're likely to be on a DME motorcoach to your resort 30 to 60 minutes later than if you go straight from your arrival gate to the DME Welcome Center -- or even longer if there's a thunderstorm or the baggage handlers are behind from an earlier thunderstorm.

The other problem is that you have to deal with your bags at the airport and at the resort, which can be okay if you're a couple traveling with one bag each, but can be an ordeal if you're traveling with children who are too young to handle their own bags. Also, there's the cost of tipping anyone and everyone who assists you with transporting your bags at the airport, unloading them from the DME motorcoach, and carrying them to your room.

There's no tipping needed for inbound baggage service if you use DME as designed.

 

[Sandi]

If your bags are lost, it is much more likely that the airline lost them than that DME lost them. We've used DME more than 10 times and it works like it is supposed to work. We've never had a problem. I have seen some people report problems, but it ends up that the problem is with the airline misdirecting luggage or that the luggage wasn't delivered as quickly as someone would have liked. They say you'll get your luggage about 3 hours after you check in at your hotel. Some people seem to read that as 3 hours after your plane lands.

To me, the best part of DME is not having to go to the luggage carousel to get bags. Be sure to pack everything you really need in your carry on (change of clothes, medications, etc.) no matter if you use DME or not.

 

[Jimsig]

We have an upcoming trip and I would like to use the luggage delivery service
My husband wants us to pick up our own luggage and car seats -- he is worried that the luggage /car seats will be lost.

Just confused about the car seat thing? Are you renting a car or taking the DME bus? You will need the car seats of course if you are renting and in that case you just don't use the Disney privided luggage tags on the car seats and pick them up at baggage claim. Any bags with the Disney tags will go to your resort.

 

[gocubsgo]

Sorry for The confusion about the car seats. We use a taxi to get from our home to the airport and therefore need the car seats. From the Orlando airport we will use Disney's magical express to get to Walt Disney World. But as long as we place Disney provided luggage tags on the car seats they should also be delivered to us just like the luggage.

I really want to try the luggage delivery service this time. Wasting precious vacation time, unnecessarily, as we did last time is not something I want to repeat again.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I really want to try the luggage delivery service this time. Wasting precious vacation time, unnecessarily, as we did last time is not something I want to repeat again.

I agree.

I chuckle when I read that people plan to get their own bags at baggage claim because they "don't like to wait."

The people who really don't have to wait are those use DME luggage transfers AND bring carry-ons with anything they'll need right away.

Instead of waiting at for their bags to appear at baggage claim, they take the first motorcoach to their resort.

Instead of waiting 30 minutes to 3 hours in their room for DME to deliver their bags, they change into Florida clothes from their carry-ons and head out to have fun. When they get back to their room, their bags are there.

 

[Alesia]

Sorry for The confusion about the car seats. We use a taxi to get from our home to the airport and therefore need the car seats. From the Orlando airport we will use Disney's magical express to get to Walt Disney World. But as long as we place Disney provided luggage tags on the car seats they should also be delivered to us just like the luggage.

I really want to try the luggage delivery service this time. Wasting precious vacation time, unnecessarily, as we did last time is not something I want to repeat again.

I would strongly urge you not to check your car seats. Baggage handlers are sometimes very rough with them. It is possible for them to receive damage that isn't visible, but makes them ineffective in the event of a future wreck.

How old are your kids?

 

[gocubsgo]

I have a toddler who definitely needs a car seat. The other two use boosters which I could stick in a carry-on. I wonder if I could bring the one car seat to the gate as you would bring a stroller and have it boarded on the plane there..

It's definitely great to know that others have had great success with the luggage delivery!!

 

[Alesia]

I have a toddler who definitely needs a car seat. The other two use boosters which I could stick in a carry-on. I wonder if I could bring the one car seat to the gate as you would bring a stroller and have it boarded on the plane there..

It's definitely great to know that others have had great success with the luggage delivery!!

I would carry the boosters on. It would be preferable to use the toddler's seat on the plane, but gate checking it would be better than checking it with the luggage.

 

[KaLyn]

I have a toddler who definitely needs a car seat. The other two use boosters which I could stick in a carry-on. I wonder if I could bring the one car seat to the gate as you would bring a stroller and have it boarded on the plane there.. It's definitely great to know that others have had great success with the luggage delivery!!

I have personally gate checked toddler car seats this way and it's worked out fine except on the one trip when the cup holder was busted off so don't expect it to be handled gently.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

One thing I would like to mention, if you flight arrives at 10:00 p.m or thereafter, your luggage won't be delivered to your room until the next day.

 

[KaLyn]

I have a toddler who definitely needs a car seat. The other two use boosters which I could stick in a carry-on. I wonder if I could bring the one car seat to the gate as you would bring a stroller and have it boarded on the plane there.. It's definitely great to know that others have had great success with the luggage delivery!!

A heads up too...because I'm not sure if you plan on pulling the boosters out for use once you get on the plane...a toddler car seat can be used in the plane but booster seats (at least the ones I've used) are not permitted to be used in the plane, they must be stowed away at all times.

 

[freewill]

I would absolutely recommend checking the booster seats at the gate.

 

[Jimsig]

Sorry for The confusion about the car seats. We use a taxi to get from our home to the airport and therefore need the car seats. From the Orlando airport we will use Disney's magical express to get to Walt Disney World. But as long as we place Disney provided luggage tags on the car seats they should also be delivered to us just like the luggage.

I really want to try the luggage delivery service this time. Wasting precious vacation time, unnecessarily, as we did last time is not something I want to repeat again.

I was trying to fiogure where the car seats came into the equation. I figured they were probbaly needed to get you to the airport, but wanted to make sure you didn't tag them for delivery and then need it for a car rental. I agree with the others, gate check, or carry on the boosters. Certian car seats can be used on aircraft, they have to be approved for flight use. There will be a lable that say something like "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." Check w your airline about any other restrictions.

If you can arrange a ride to and from the airport at home where you don't have to bring the boosters and car seat to FLA with you that would be a lot easier. Why lug them around and have to store them and take up space in your room if you don't have too. But I know it is not always possible to arrange a ride to and from the airport.

If you end up gate checking the boosters and or car seat see if you can find a duffel type bag to put them in before they go in the cargo hold.

We traveled with my then 3yo DD last April and were lucky enough to get rides to and from so we didn't have to worry about that. We used the DME and would never think about staying on property and not using it. So much easier.

 

[gdrj]

Definitely use baggage service. Put anything you might need in a carry on , get on the bus, check-in and go have fun.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

Definitely use baggage service. Put anything you might need in a carry on , get on the bus, check-in and go have fun.

used 2 times first time (2007) flawless last time (july 2012) took way over the 3 hours closer to 7 and I forgot a pull up in carry on and my youngest wanted to go to bed kinda a mess getting settled in, I however would still use them nothing was lost etc but would be more prepared with carryon.