Disney's Magical Express -- Luggage Tag Info

[CleveRocks]

I've searched old posts and am reading some contradicting information. I've also asked my friends who went last year who also contradict what I've read.

If I'm flying out from British Columbia, Canada, what is the luggage process? I've read/heard that I do need to pick up my luggage at baggage claim once I get to Orlando, but I've also read that I can just check it in with the yellow tags and forget about it and it'll make it to my resort just like domestic US flights.

Which is accurate? Or is it case-dependent? We didn't get a direct flight and will have to stopover in a couple US cities prior to Orlando if it makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for the clarification.

It 100% depends on where you will clear U.S. Customs. For instance, I know that people flying out of YYZ (Toronto) can clear U.S. Customs right there, meaning that they don't need to clear U.S. Customs at MCO (Orlando), meaning that yes, they can use the yellow DME tags and totally skip baggage claim.

Some other people who change planes in the USA also clear U.S. Customs (along with their luggage) at that intermediate U.S. city, and therefore since they already cleared U.S. Customs they can use the yellow DME tags and skip baggage claim and forget about the bags.

But if you have to clear U.S. Customs at MCO, then you must reunite with your checked bags in order to clear U.S. Customs. After clearing, however, you would have the opportunity to use the "bag drop" and have your bags put back into the system where DME will pick them up for you. But, for me, as much as I love the luggage delivery service of DME, if I had my bags in my hand I'd just hang onto them at that point and bring them to the bus with me.

So as you can see, it is completely dependent on where you clear U.S. Customs. I hope this explanation made sense!

 

[KSGUY]

works smoothly each time i go

 

[interminable]

So as you can see, it is completely dependent on where you clear U.S. Customs. I hope this explanation made sense!

Great, thanks! YVR's website says that they're a pre-clearance airport for most airlines flying into the US. So if that's the case for our flight, I guess I'll use the luggage tags.

 

[secondchildhood]

Since there wasn't time to get tags, we're ok with picking up our luggage - but I'm really hoping we can at least still take the express service bus to Caribbean beach. We tried to put this all together in 2 weeks (had to squeeze in a little window of opp here) so I'm hoping it can work out. Two small kids in tow is going to be hard enough! thanks in advance (I did sign up, and reservation confirmed....)

 

[goofy4tink]

Since there wasn't time to get tags, we're ok with picking up our luggage - but I'm really hoping we can at least still take the express service bus to Caribbean beach. We tried to put this all together in 2 weeks (had to squeeze in a little window of opp here) so I'm hoping it can work out. Two small kids in tow is going to be hard enough! thanks in advance (I did sign up, and reservation confirmed....)

Yup.....I've made my resort reservations 5 days before arrival..got such a terrific airfare one summer that I HAD to go!! No problem with DME at all. No, I didn't get my tags either but we had just carryon luggage with us so it didn't matter.
You've made your DME reservation so you'll be good to go. IF you choose not to get your own luggage, just hold onto those baggage claim receipts...DME can send someone to get your luggage for you and deliver it to your resort.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Let me start off by saying sorry but couldn't go through all the messages for this question.

Our reservations for WDW start on Wednesday but we are flying in for Universal Studios on Tuesday. If our plane comes on Tuesday will ME take our luggage that day even though our reservations start the following day? I'm also working on finding ways for our carry on luggage to get to Disney while at Universal so any suggestions would be helpful!

 

[goofy4tink]

Let me start off by saying sorry but couldn't go through all the messages for this question.

Our reservations for WDW start on Wednesday but we are flying in for Universal Studios on Tuesday. If our plane comes on Tuesday will ME take our luggage that day even though our reservations start the following day? I'm also working on finding ways for our carry on luggage to get to Disney while at Universal so any suggestions would be helpful!

You're outa luck. You can use DME only while you have a valild WDW resort reservation. So...if you arrive on Tuesday and your WDW reservation starts on Wednesday, then you get to use DME on Wednesday. You are going to have to get your own transport to US and then over to WDW the next day...with your bags.
There is no way that your checked bags will go to your WDW resort unless you have a reservation that day. Sorry.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Damn it Jim...I'm a Doctor and not a Rocket Scientist!

You're outa luck. You can use DME only while you have a valild WDW resort reservation. So...if you arrive on Tuesday and your WDW reservation starts on Wednesday, then you get to use DME on Wednesday. You are going to have to get your own transport to US and then over to WDW the next day...with your bags.
There is no way that your checked bags will go to your WDW resort unless you have a reservation that day. Sorry.

 

[tryinginaustin]

We are travelling on June 7th, but we may change the people in our party (grand gathering). We have already received our luggage tags, so if We change a child in the party then will this be a problem. Should we just not tag that luggage? Thanks guys.

 

[goofy4tink]

We are travelling on June 7th, but we may change the people in our party (grand gathering). We have already received our luggage tags, so if We change a child in the party then will this be a problem. Should we just not tag that luggage? Thanks guys.

Well...it depends. If there are the same number of people going, then no. The 'new' person can just assume the 'identity' of the 'old' person. But, if there is an addlt person, then yes, you should call DME and have that person added. Same as the resort reservation.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We are travelling on June 7th, but we may change the people in our party (grand gathering). We have already received our luggage tags, so if We change a child in the party then will this be a problem. Should we just not tag that luggage? Thanks guys.

I agree with the advice you got from Goofy4Tink. The important information on the luggage tag points to the resort your luggage gets delivered to, the name the reservation is under, and the reservation number. So long as that information hasn't changed, you can still use the tag. The child's name on the tag is not relevant. You want to make sure every piece of your luggage has a tag on it, or it won't be picked up by DME. Use all the tags you got, including he one with the bad name. If you need even more tags, you can call them and they'll send additional ones out. They used to send out two per person. When the airlines started charging for bags, I guess they realized people weren't checking as much luggage, and started sending out just one per person.

What will be relevant is when you board the bus. You'll want to make sure you have a boarding pass for everyone in your party. The same for your resort. You'll want to make sure you have a room key for everyone. If a name has been added, deleted, or changed, you should call and have the change made.

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

works smoothly each time i go

So true! Love it---one of the great WDW inventions!

 

[tryinginaustin]

What will be relevant is when you board the bus. You'll want to make sure you have a boarding pass for everyone in your party. The same for your resort. You'll want to make sure you have a room key for everyone. If a name has been added, deleted, or changed, you should call and have the change made.

Boarding pass? I do not remember seeing anything used to board the bus. I only remember seeing the brightly colored luggage tags.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Boarding pass? I do not remember seeing anything used to board the bus. I only remember seeing the brightly colored luggage tags.

Along with your luggage tags, you should have received a booklet that looks like this:

Inside should be a ticket for each member of your party. You'll need to show this booklet when you check in at the Orlando airport. Each ticket is scanned with a barcode reader as you step onto the bus.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Here's what the actual tickets look like, inside the booklet:

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's what the actual tickets look like, inside the booklet:

Well then....aren't we thorough???!!!! Those are great shots to have on hand. Thanks for sharing them. Helpful to have something to see when we're trying to describe it.

 

[M5ward]

Here's what the actual tickets look like, inside the booklet:

This has probably been asked before, but I'm not up for back tracking through over 80 pages of posts. My group will be flying into Orlando from two different locations at two different times. Mailing the yellow luggage tags to my daughter is not an issue, but the vouchers in the booklet are a problem. Will they send two booklets to my address for me to forward, or can I copy the vouchers? I'm not sure what to do.

 

[goofy4tink]

This has probably been asked before, but I'm not up for back tracking through over 80 pages of posts. My group will be flying into Orlando from two different locations at two different times. Mailing the yellow luggage tags to my daughter is not an issue, but the vouchers in the booklet are a problem. Will they send two booklets to my address for me to forward, or can I copy the vouchers? I'm not sure what to do.

You can actually tear each voucher out and sent that along with the tags. And if that isn't anything you want to do, you can have your daughter just get new ones printed out at the DME checkin counter.
I very nicely packed my DME vouchers in my checked bags once.....was really in a panic. But, it was no big deal. They just laughed at me a bit and printed up new ones.

 

[M5ward]

You can actually tear each voucher out and sent that along with the tags. And if that isn't anything you want to do, you can have your daughter just get new ones printed out at the DME checkin counter.
I very nicely packed my DME vouchers in my checked bags once.....was really in a panic. But, it was no big deal. They just laughed at me a bit and printed up new ones.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Mickey24c]

I received 4 yellow-slips-one for each of us. Is it possible to get more? We are taking 5 suitcases for the 4 of us!