Disney's Magical Express thriving at OIA; rivals cry foul

[Mouseaholic!!!]

HI all -

Ok, ok.....I rent a car and don't use DME - but I DO have a question for those who do use DME.

For example.......Delta cannot get me AND my luggage to an airport on the same flight. Sometimes the bags come on the next flight....sometimes they travel to airports far away from my desitnation.

If you use the DME luggage service and your luggage does not arrive on the scheduled flight.......how do you know until long after you have left the airport and how do you resolve this with the airline when you were not there to check for your bags?

Coming home from our (amazingly fabulous wedding/honeymoon in Alaska last June) Alaska Airlines SOOO MUCH lost my husband's luggage...they couldn't even FIND it for 48 hours much less get it on a jet to Reagan National.

With 2007 being the WORST year for baggage handling in the industry, I just wonder how Disney handles lost DME luggage.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

With 2007 being the WORST year for baggage handling in the industry, I just wonder how Disney handles lost DME luggage.

If my bags were delayed, lost, or damaged, I'd rather deal with Disney than with the airline. I think it would be a more pleasant experience.

When you check in at the airport Magical Express counter, the CM asks if you used the yellow tags and how many bags you checked with your airline. The Magical Express computer system can flag instances then Disney doesn't get your bags from your airline in a timely manner.

In most cases, if the bags were not on your flight, they'll be on a later flight. In such cases, you'll have to wait longer than usual for DME to deliver your bags to your room.

That's still a lot better than waiting for your bags at baggage claim, not seeing your bags, filing a claim with your airline's baggage service, and eventually having them delivered to your hotel (not your room) by the airline (at the airline's convenience).

Then there are the instances when bags are not just delayed, but are lost or damaged by the airline.

According to the Terms and Conditions in the Magical Express booklet that's mailed several weeks before travel, Disney provides exactly the same liability for loss as the airlines. In fact, the paragraph even starts off, "Consistent with airline baggage policies, Disney's liability for loss or damage..."

In other words, if luggage is lost or damaged, the Magical Express passenger files a claim with Disney, not with the airline. How Disney works things out with the airline (including who ultimately pays the claim) might make a difference to the shareholders of Disney, but not to the Magical Express passenger.

 

[splash327]

We've never used magical express and I don't think we would ever will. In 2000 we rented a car and stayed at CBR. My old vision of Disney buses from when I was a kid, I conviced my wife to take the bus to MK the first day there. Three buses passed us full at the resort. Then when our day was over we waited 1 1/2 hours to get a bus back, standing with two kids asleep.

We tried Disney buses on the next two trips, one at Poly and the other at CR. Since we had the monorails to go to MK the buses were not bad. Both of those trips we used a limo service to get to the resort.

Our past trip we opted to stay at Port Orleans and use the difference between a delux and a mod to pay for the rental. We considered the "new" magical express but wouldn't do it because of the buses.

We are going in April this year and once again are renting a car and staying at Port Oleans instead of the Poly.

So you can count me as one of the ones those limo drivers lost, but they lost me because of the Disney buses and not DME.

 

[jade1]

Because, frankly, I'd rather see Disney take all the money they are spending giving people free bus trips and do something that adds value to WDW - like open up 'Wonders of Life', expand park hours, improve the quality of food.

I go to WDW to be entertained, not for public transportation. Plenty of people can run a bus, let them do what they do best and let Disney focus on what we are paying them for.

I have no problem with your suggesting of improving hours/food/attractions, but are you sure that for example they spend one million dollars on ME and it results in three million dollars of extra on site spending or luring more folks to WDW in the first place etc, giving them two million to spend on hours/food/attractions instead of the original one million?

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

We've never used magical express and I don't think we would ever will. In 2000 we rented a car and stayed at CBR. My old vision of Disney buses from when I was a kid, I conviced my wife to take the bus to MK the first day there. Three buses passed us full at the resort. Then when our day was over we waited 1 1/2 hours to get a bus back, standing with two kids asleep.

We tried Disney buses on the next two trips, one at Poly and the other at CR. Since we had the monorails to go to MK the buses were not bad. Both of those trips we used a limo service to get to the resort.

Our past trip we opted to stay at Port Orleans and use the difference between a delux and a mod to pay for the rental. We considered the "new" magical express but wouldn't do it because of the buses.

We are going in April this year and once again are renting a car and staying at Port Oleans instead of the Poly.

So you can count me as one of the ones those limo drivers lost, but they lost me because of the Disney buses and not DME.

BIG DITTO

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

If my bags were delayed, lost, or damaged, I'd rather deal with Disney than with the airline. I think it would be a more pleasant experience.

When you check in at the airport Magical Express counter, the CM asks if you used the yellow tags and how many bags you checked with your airline. The Magical Express computer system can flag instances then Disney doesn't get your bags from your airline in a timely manner.

In most cases, if the bags were not on your flight, they'll be on a later flight. In such cases, you'll have to wait longer than usual for DME to deliver your bags to your room.

That's still a lot better than waiting for your bags at baggage claim, not seeing your bags, filing a claim with your airline's baggage service, and eventually having them delivered to your hotel (not your room) by the airline (at the airline's convenience).

Then there are the instances when bags are not just delayed, but are lost or damaged by the airline.

According to the Terms and Conditions in the Magical Express booklet that's mailed several weeks before travel, Disney provides exactly the same liability for loss as the airlines. In fact, the paragraph even starts off, "Consistent with airline baggage policies, Disney's liability for loss or damage..."

In other words, if luggage is lost or damaged, the Magical Express passenger files a claim with Disney, not with the airline. How Disney works things out with the airline (including who ultimately pays the claim) might make a difference to the shareholders of Disney, but not to the Magical Express passenger.

Baggage claim at MCO is never a problem. I get off my Southwest jet, scoot to the ladies room...change into shorts, tee-shirt and adorable summer hat and by the time I arrive at baggage claim....my bags are there.

I travel for work all the time....I far prefer seeing my bags - or being pro-active with the Airline ASAP to expedite their return.

Perhaps I travel with fewer - or lighter bags than most --- but I have never found it a problem at all.

Once again....happily for everyone -- my husband and I are leaving 2 free seats on DME and Disney busses for everyone else --- they are the good seats up front....enjoy!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Baggage claim at MCO is never a problem.

In an earlier post, you wrote, "With 2007 being the WORST year for baggage handling in the industry, I just wonder how Disney handles lost DME luggage."

Now you're saying, "Baggage claim at MCO is never a problem."

Clearly, if statistics say that airlines mishandle around 2% of bags nationwide, Orlando is not immune from those airline baggage handling problems.

I stand by my statement that if an airline misdirects my bags, I'd rather deal with Disney. And people reading this thread should be aware that they're not giving up any rights by using DME luggage transfers.

In my experience, baggage claim at Orlando International tends to be slow. Last year, there were two times when I flew into MCO, but I wasn't going to WDW. From the time I got off the plane until my bag finally appeared, it took 60 minutes the first time (there had been a bad storm a few hours earlier) and 40 minutes the second time (no reason given). This year, it took 30 minutes.

I would much prefer to bypass baggage claim, go straight to DME, and be on the first DME run to my WDW resort hotel.

I travel for work all the time....I far prefer seeing my bags - or being pro-active with the Airline ASAP to expedite their return.

That's a legitimate reason not to use the DME luggage transfers. Some travelers are stressed until they're reunited with their bags after a flight.

I really doubt that "being pro-active with the Airline ASAP to expedite their return" would help much. Typically, bags would be on the next flight in either case. DME would deliver them automatically to my resort room (and I don't even have to be in the room). The airline would only deliver them to the resort, and I'd then have to get the bags to my room (either by carrying them or by using bell services). DME baggage truck runs are probably far more frequent than the airlines' baggage deliveries.

Once again....happily for everyone -- my husband and I are leaving 2 free seats on DME and Disney busses for everyone else --- they are the good seats up front....enjoy!

I'm happy for anyone who prefers to use a towncar/limo service or a rental car -- or who prefers to walk, for that matter.

I know that DME is not everyone.

I just think that people should make decisions based upon what's good and bad about each option.

 

[jade1]

Bags are not that important to us. I know it sounds weird, but each of us brings a carryon that includes what really cant be replaced (meds, couple changes of clothes, camera, IPODS, cell, laptop etc). We check our bags at the curb in MPLS and no more thinking about them until they arrive in the room later that day-they have yellow tags so they are not going to get lost for long. That way we head off the plane right to the tram and down to ME and get on the bus-way faster. On the return we check our bags (which now we really care even less about and return even more bags) at the resort in the AM and go enjoy the day, and they arrive later at MPLS. Since the trip is over we really could live without the bags for days at this point (although the airport is only 20 min from home), so it's not much of a risk to us, especially since the weather is usually so different between MPLS and Orlando-totally different clothes.

 

[Another Voice]

At least in my area, there are already several services that will show up at your home, pick-up your bags and have them waiting for you at your desitination hotel. And many hotels that I've stayed at recently already have baggage check-in services available right in the lobby - you drop your bag and don't see it again until baggage claim at home. And, if I'm not mistaken, cruise ships have been offering to move bags right from the airport to the ship for years and years. What Disney is doing is not all that unique, they've just thrown in a bus ride so they can keep you locked up on property.

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

I love the Magical Express -- and I don't see how it's any different than Hotel's offering their own complimentary shuttle services.

I agree it is no different, and that is why the "Anti-Trust" would be a long shot at best. It's a fantastic service and much better than shuttles I used to take.

 

[JimB.]

The Mears buses used to charge $30/person/1 way to WDW from the airport. That's almost $250/for a family of 4 to get to & from the airport. ME does it for no extra cost. And this is a BAD thing?

I do not buy into the "keep guests trapped on site" theory. That would apply for ANY shuttle to/from the airport. There might not be a market for this if the other companies prices were not so (IMHO) freakin' high.

If you do not want to use ME & take a rental car for the reasons others have said, that's ok by me. Frankly, I don't like to wait for buses on site myself. If a rental floats your boat to avoid this, cool.

But (IMHO) the existence of ME is a by-product of other shuttle services grabbing peoples wallet's out of their pants to get from McCoy to WDW.

 

[MNMickeyWorldMom]

When traveling with 2 young children, it makes my life so much easier when I don't have to try to mess around with my luggage at MCO. All I have to do is get the bags checked at MSP, and after that I only have to worry about my family. Even if I did want to rent a car, I'd still take DME and then rent on WDW property, just so I don't have to deal with getting my luggage. Same thing on the trip home. I just check my bags when I check out of the resort, and it's no luggage worries until we get home. DME is the greatest!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I am taking DME to the resort and then picking up a hire car from disney's car care centre. That way I don't have to worry about driving at the end of a 9 hour flight (I can also drink the free drinks on the flight as well)

 

[Magix]

Just got back from WDW and used ME. My Dad and I thought it was wonderful. Granted, we were there at a lighter attendance time period, so dealing with buses each day to the parks was no problem at all. Also, staying at AKL, there weren't as many people on those buses. I did see that the value resort buses were usually quite full.

ME was a great option for us and worked like a charm.

 

[gigsmoke]

Magical Express is one of the reasons we have gone back lst few years. The last trip we took that involved an outside transportation company, we waited forever for a bus and it cost a fortune. We had to drag our luggage around and suck in all that bus exhaust, while trying to keep our children who are excited about Disney still. Now, no luggage worries (and whoever said I would rather deal with Disney than the airline is absoulutely correct) I drop it off at the airline on departure and it arrive in the room. No one in the world is better than Disney at moving prople through lines, rides etc. The wait at OIA is never bad now. We take the bare minimums in carry-ons and if the luggage is delayed - Well I guess we will get new clothes at the begging of the trip versus the end. If peeople prefer having a car to get from out I understand that, but ME is great.
I bought into DVC and still get this service. If my annual dues are increased to cover this service- then I am happy to pay that portion of the dues

 

[mitros]

Our family members from up north have used the system, and everyone gives it a thumbs-up for convenience and ease of use.

 

[RNtheRN]

I think that if you consider the financial impact Disney World has on the Florida economy, it shouldn't be a big deal. We've taken other shuttle services while in Florida before, and the experience doesn't compare. Like most things, Disney does it best.