Disney's Magical Express -- Luggage Tag Info

[goofy4tink]

No biggie everyone has different points of view on things and no one is mad (well at least I am not mad at anyone, I can't speak for anyone else) at anyone.

So I would just suggest that you call ahead and talk with SW and make sure that there will be no problems with your luggage God forbid you get there and no luggage shows up I can see it now walking around Disney in the same clothes day in and day out oh my.

Best thing is to have a GREAT FANTASTIC VACATION at HOME (DISNEY)!!

You can call SW but they aren't going to care, or worse yet, the person you get on the phone will not have the info you need and again you will get bad info.
SW is included in the luggage delivery service via DME...believe me. It's true. There will be no problems with luggage delivery when flying in on SW. It's only the departure from your resort. SW is not a 'participating airline' in the RAC service...which is not DME. It is a completely different entity. Man...I wish Disney would stop marketing it as part of DME. Just adds to travel confusion. How can it be part of DME when they offer the same service in Las Vegas!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm sorry- I'm the one who started this whole thing . So if I'm understanding this right ---

If I put my yellow tag on my luggage before I get to the airport, check in with Southwest, fly to Orlando, get on DME and arrive at POP, the bags will appear in my room in a few hours? And then when I leave, I take the yellow tag off, take my bags with me to the DME, and check in and fly home as normal... right?

EXACTLY. Good job!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

So I would just suggest that you call ahead and talk with SW and make sure that there will be no problems with your luggage God forbid you get there and no luggage shows up I can see it now walking around Disney in the same clothes day in and day out oh my.

Please re-read my post #496, the paragraph after the second time I quoted you, for an explanation about why calling Southwest is just a useless idea. I say this to be helpful.

 

[avspilot69]

NO LUGGAGE TAGS,

Folks,

We are arriving on the 17th (next week) and I dont have the yellow tags. I called Disney and was told not too worry and just go to the welcome center and hand them our baggage claim tags and they would pick em up and deliver to our room. I am extremely worried since this will be our the first time using DME and our 2nd visit since 1996. I have 2 littlle kids (4 & 2) and we are arriving at 6pm, and I'm concerned that our luggage will arrive way too late! Any advice will be appreciated.

PS - I know I goofed, I should have followed up on this weeks ago.

 

[CleveRocks]

NO LUGGAGE TAGS,

Folks,

We are arriving on the 17th (next week) and I dont have the yellow tags. I called Disney and was told not too worry and just go to the welcome center and hand them our baggage claim tags and they would pick em up and deliver to our room. I am extremely worried since this will be our the first time using DME and our 2nd visit since 1996. I have 2 littlle kids (4 & 2) and we are arriving at 6pm, and I'm concerned that our luggage will arrive way too late! Any advice will be appreciated.

PS - I know I goofed, I should have followed up on this weeks ago.

NO WORRIES!

Honestly, you have NO NEED TO WORRY. See all the stuff written below this? It's full of GOOD NEWS. I have no bad news for you!!!

First of all, the procedure they described (claim tickets, etc.) has been in place since Day One, which was over 3 years ago. It seems new and strange and risky to you, but to the DME folks it's just another day at the office.

I can tell you this. We've read MANY people expressing the same concern as you, but we've never read a single person coming back to complain that this "Plan B" (my term, not Disney's) didn't work as promised. Never one single complaint about that here on the DIS.

If you're landing around 6, expect your luggage by 10-ish. The key here is to pack your immediate needs in your carry-ons. Each ticketed passenger is permitted a carry-on item AND a personal item. For our first family trip, our 5 year old and 2.5 year old were so proud of their little backpacks they got to take on the plane.

EVen if you weren't using DME's luggage service, I'd still be here strongly advising you to pack for your first 24 hours in your carry-ons, just in case the AIRLINE delays your luggage. This way, you have a guaranteed "normal" bedtime routine and a guaranteed fresh change of clothes for the morning.

It takes up much less space than you think: PJs, allowable toiletries, favorite bedtime buddies, change of clothes for the morning, etc. I'll bet if you actually gather this stuff for the family, you'll see how it will very easily and comfortably fit into even one carry-on bag, let alone 4 or more.

In fact, for our most recent trip, we landed at 10 p.m. and arrived at POFQ 56 minutes later via DME. We planned to ask Bell Services to hold our DME luggage 'til morning, but I forgot to ask. We had all of the above in our carry-ons, and believe me the carry-ons weren't overstuffed AT ALL. We ended up getting a call at 1:16 a.m. asking if we wanted our bags delivered, and we declined. I called for them when I got up at 6:30 a.m., but we didn't even open them before we left for a park that morning, because we didn't need anything in them yet.

It's a nice secure feeling to know that you have everything you need for the first day no matter what. If you've ever suffered through delayed bags (like I have in other cities), then you know what I'm talking about.

 

[avspilot69]

Thank you Eric. We are all very excited and look forward to WDW.

 

[aurora1979]

okay i have a question. Last july when i went to WDW (did not use magical xpress)I went to baggage claim only to discover that my bag wasn't there. after 20 min i went to the room where bags that were randomly selected to be searched are. my bag was there and i had to show i.d. and sign for it. This year we are using magical xpress, and i am very nervous as to what would happen if this happened to my bag again. How would magical xpress know it was in the screening room ? I had to figure it out for myself! any thoughts out there ?

 

[goofy4tink]

okay i have a question. Last july when i went to WDW (did not use magical xpress)I went to baggage claim only to discover that my bag wasn't there. after 20 min i went to the room where bags that were randomly selected to be searched are. my bag was there and i had to show i.d. and sign for it. This year we are using magical xpress, and i am very nervous as to what would happen if this happened to my bag again. How would magical xpress know it was in the screening room ? I had to figure it out for myself! any thoughts out there ?

Most likely won't happen again. But, if it does......Disney will take the responsibility of getting any bags that are held at MCO. When you checkin at the DME counter, at the airport, they will ask you how many bags you have checked. I'm going to 'assume' that if they have plugged in '2' checked bags for you, that when they do their scans, and only one bag shows as recieved, some how that other bag will be shown as 'missing'. The baggage people will know where to look for it.
Now...on the off chance that it is overlooked and you realize that you have only one of two bags in your room, you would then notify the luggage assistance people at your resort. They will then track down the missing bag.
Or, if you are really nervous about it and will only worry about it until you see all the bags in your room....don't tag the bags, then go to baggage claim yourself and claim them. Take them with you to the DME checkin counter and they will be put underneath your bus when you board.

 

[rico567]

Well, our DME luggage tags and instructions arrived today. I must say that once I was able to get through to the correct Disney department, the packet was generated and arrived in the mail very quickly.

As for finding out who to call, and establishing our bona fides when we did, that was an out-of-body experience that's probably not appropriate for this thread.......

 

[TheSilverTherapist]

I skimmed through the thread, but didn't see this specific question addressed.

How long before our vacation should we expect to get the tags in the mail and what should we do if they don't arrive by that time.

 

[goofy4tink]

I skimmed through the thread, but didn't see this specific question addressed.

How long before our vacation should we expect to get the tags in the mail and what should we do if they don't arrive by that time.

Most people have reported getting their DME info packet, with luggage tags, about 5 weeks before departure.
If you have not recieved yours by the three week prior point, I would call DME and make sure they have you in the system.
If your packet does not come in time, for whatever reason, and you are sure DME has you in the system, you have a couple of options...
1. You can head to baggage claim yourself and get your bags and take them to the DME area with you. They will be stowed underneath the bus you are on.
2. You can go directly to the DME checkin counter, and give them your baggage claim receipts and a description of the bags. They will then send someone off to get the bags and put them on the baggage truck, headed for the resorts. You then board your bus and your luggage will get to you in about 3 hrs after resort checkin.

 

[erin1998]

Good evening all
I have a question and I apologize if it has been asked a thousand times before, but can I pick up our luggage at baggage claim, then use ME? Last time we were at WDW, we used ME. We landed at the airport at 10am, but our luggage didn't arrive until after 9pm. I do not want to wait that long for our luggage this time and figure it would be easier if I picked up our own luggage. If we can do it, how does it work? Do we just bring it on the bus with us? Any advise would be appreciated!!!!
Erin

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Good evening all
I have a question and I apologize if it has been asked a thousand times before, but can I pick up our luggage at baggage claim, then use ME? Last time we were at WDW, we used ME. We landed at the airport at 10am, but our luggage didn't arrive until after 9pm. I do not want to wait that long for our luggage this time and figure it would be easier if I picked up our own luggage. If we can do it, how does it work? Do we just bring it on the bus with us? Any advise would be appreciated!!!!
Erin

Yes... you can. Just don't use the yellow tags.

But this will only work IF your luggage is on the same plane as you. There's a very good chance that your luggage arrived 11 hours later due to the airline accidentally mis-directing your luggage, and it not being on the same flight as you.

 

[ahecht]

Can anyone tell me what the "zones" are that are printed inside the Mickey head? I've seen a picture of one that said "DD", so I assume the zones are:

DD: Downtown Disney (FW, OKW, POR, POFQ, SSR)
AK: Animal Kingom (ASSp, ASMu, ASMo, AKL, CSR, Pop)
EC: Epcot (BC, YC, BW, CBR)
MK: Magic Kingdom (CR, GF, Poly, WL)

Is this list correct? Where does Pop Century go? What color is Magic Kingdom?

 

[CleveRocks]

Can anyone tell me what the "zones" are that are printed inside the Mickey head? I've seen a picture of one that said "DD", so I assume the zones are:

DD: Downtown Disney (OKW, POR, POFQ, SSR)
AK: Animal Kingom (ASSp, ASMu, ASMo, CSR, AKL)
EP: Epcot (BC, YC, BW, CBR)
MK: Magic Kingdom (CR, FW, GF, Poly, WL)

Is this list correct? Where does Pop Century go?

Pop Century is in the AK zone. And Fort Wilderness Campground is in the DD zone, not the MK zone ... the road entrance to FWC is along the same road as the entrances to the other DD resorts.

 

[beacher]

Hi All,

We have a family group of 11 arriving on four different flights in August; I've signed everyone up for DME and luggage tags. We are now thinking that 1 or 2 of us will use a car service to make a grocery run for the whole group (all flights arrive within 45 min. of each other and we're staying in 2 2BR's with kitchens.) Will the luggage delivery be jeopardized for the folks who don't board the bus?

Thanks for your help,

 

[CleveRocks]

Hi All,

We have a family group of 11 arriving on four different flights in August; I've signed everyone up for DME and luggage tags. We are now thinking that 1 or 2 of us will use a car service to make a grocery run for the whole group (all flights arrive within 45 min. of each other and we're staying in 2 2BR's with kitchens.) Will the luggage delivery be jeopardized for the folks who don't board the bus?

Thanks for your help,

ALL of the luggage will be delivered. You don't even have to worry about little details like making sure the car service riders' tags don't get used. EVERYONE'S luggage will be delivered by DME, regardless, as long as ANY DME tags from your party are on there.

This is by Disney's verbally stated policy (numerous DME CMs), not my opinion or my guess.

 

[DVC California]

We're scheduled to check into Pop Century on 7/10 but are arriving on a late (or early flight) 12:05 am 7/10. We plan to spend the first night at either the Hyatt or other airport area hotel due to the late hour.

Do you think it will be safe to tag our luggage and have DME transport them to Pop, even though we won't be physically checking in for another 12 hours. It would save us a lot of trouble, sclepping bags around. We still plan on using DME to travel from MCO to POP later that morning.

I mean, technically we'll be checking in the same day, 7/10, just not immendiately after our flight.

TIA, Steve

 

[beacher]

ALL of the luggage will be delivered....

Thanks Eric - great forum here too BTW. Don't visit often but found tons of info just when I needed it! Best wishes for a great summer,

 

[goofy4tink]

We're scheduled to check into Pop Century on 7/10 but are arriving on a late (or early flight) 12:05 am 7/10. We plan to spend the first night at either the Hyatt or other airport area hotel due to the late hour.

Do you think it will be safe to tag our luggage and have DME transport them to Pop, even though we won't be physically checking in for another 12 hours. It would save us a lot of trouble, sclepping bags around. We still plan on using DME to travel from MCO to POP later that morning.

I mean, technically we'll be checking in the same day, 7/10, just not immendiately after our flight.

TIA, Steve

Hmmm, interesting situation. Technically, it should work but I'm not sure I'ld try it. I would just take the luggage myself to be on the safe side. To be perfectly honest, if you're paying to check into POP that night, I would just do there to begin with. I'm just not sure how it works when arriving after midnight as far as reservations go.