DME - 10am- question about luggage

[buffettgirl]

I've never used DME before and our flight will be arriving at about 10am on a wednesday. Would it be better for us to claim our own luggage and bring it with us (is that even possible?) I'm a bit worried about arriving at the hotel so early and possibly not getting our luggage until hours later.

What does everyone suggest? Thanks in advance.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

When you arrive at your hotel and your room is not ready, if you have picked up your own bags you will have to give them to bell service to hold for you, when you get to your room you will call bell services and wait for them to bring you things. If you have left your bags for ME and your room is not ready, you can go to a park,DTD whatever and your bags will be delivered to your room when it is ready without you being there.

IF your room is ready and you have your bags then you are all set, if ME has them they should arrive about 3 hours after check in at the hotel, whether you are in the room or not.

If ME handles your bags they also pay all tips invovled with those bags, if you handle them it is standard to tip( I think $1/bag) everyone who helps handle them, from the bus driver to bell service.

 

[buffettgirl]

I'm sorry, that's not exactly what I needed, my question was probabably phrased wrong. I think I really just need to know - at that time of the morning, midweek - how quickly will our bags arrive if I let DME handle them? I know they say 3 hours but I'm wondering what other's experiences are. Does it normally take the full 3 hours?

let me elaborate - we will be meeting friends (at a conference) so regardless of if our room is ready or not, we'll be able to stow our bags and change if needed, and we won't be leaving the hotel premises at that time. So is it better to just handle our own bags or will the bags arrive in a reasonable amount of time if I let DME handle them.

Thanks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Your luggage should appear in your room within three hours after you check in and your room is ready.

It is best to pack whatever items one will need for the first 24 hours at your/any destination, should the airline misdirect the luggage (and so, then, to let DME handle the checked luggage).

Guests who choose to get their own luggage at the airport and bring it to the DME bus should note that "Disney takes care of the tip" applies ONLY at the resort - not in relation to the bus or bus driver.

 

[buffettgirl]

Thanks kaytieeldr.

I think then, I will just handle my own bags. It sounds like that 3 hour is pretty hard and fast and honestly, having a room at my disposal (even if its not my own room) just makes me think I want to keep my bags with me.

Thanks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks kaytieeldr.

I think then, I will just handle my own bags. It sounds like that 3 hour is pretty hard and fast and honestly, having a room at my disposal (even if its not my own room) just makes me think I want to keep my bags with me.

Thanks.

Kaytieeldr makes a very good point, even if you are planning on getting your own bags at the airport.

 

[buffettgirl]

Kaytieeldr makes a very good point, even if you are planning on getting your own bags at the airport.

Which point is that?? Packing what we need for 24 hours? yes, we always do that. Or tipping? or....

I guess I'm still wondering if the "inconvenience" of handing my own luggage makes it worth it if it will get there HOURS earlier. I mean, if the luggage was going to show up within one hour..then I'd just let them do it. But given that we will have a place to change if we want and relax then is it worth the inconvenience...

 

[OKW Lover]

Which point is that?? Packing what we need for 24 hours? yes, we always do that. Or tipping? or....

I guess I'm still wondering if the "inconvenience" of handing my own luggage makes it worth it if it will get there HOURS earlier. I mean, if the luggage was going to show up within one hour..then I'd just let them do it. But given that we will have a place to change if we want and relax then is it worth the inconvenience...

I was referring to the packing your needs for the first 24 hours.

 

[goofy4tink]

A few thoughts....
your tagged bags, that DME handles for you, can be expected in your room about 3-4 hrs after you check in. Room ready has nothing to do with it. If you check in at 11am, and your room is ready..terrific. You can take your carryon bag(s) with you and change in your room and head off to start your fun. If the room isn't ready yet, you can change in a bathroom, head out and start the fun.
Now, if you have your checked bags with you (meaning that you have not tagged them and gotten them yourselves at baggage claim) and your room is ready, you can go directly to the room, get settled and start your vacation. If the room isn't ready, you can still change in a bathroom, then leave your bags with Bell Services (Luggage Assistence) and then head off for the day.
And it makes no difference what time you arrive at the resort as far as luggage delivery timing goes...you can arrive at 9am or at 9pm....it will still take between 3 and 4 hrs to get the luggage. Of course, there have been reports of luggage arriving 2 hrs after, but that doesn't happen often.

Your bags, if taken care of by DME, will be brought directly to your room once they arrive at the resort.....even if you are not in the room. If you have left your bags with Bell Services, because the room wasn't yet ready, you will have to call them, when the room is ready for you and you return to the resort. They will then bring the bags to you, but you have to be in the room in order for them to deliver them to you.

What you decide is up to you. Many people just pack their carryon bags with anything they will need for the first 10 or so hours of their trip...that way they don't have to worry about bags getting lost, or delayed. They can also start their vacation right away with no wait for baggage delivery.
Other guests don't like not knowing if their bags got to MCO okay...so they choose to not tag their bags, and get them from baggage claim and then bring them to the bus with them. However you need to remember that tipping is no longer covered for baggage handling..either at the bus or at the resort level. It is only covered if DME takes the bags to the resort for you...in other words, you tag 'em with those yellow tags.


Just wanted to make sure that all bases were covered. Now it's up to you to decide what will work best for you and your family. Nothing is perfect for 100% of the people...what works for one, may very well be another person's nightmare!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I guess I'm still wondering if the "inconvenience" of handing my own luggage makes it worth it if it will get there HOURS earlier.

That's a decision only you can make. My opinion is, no. Having been the victim of misdirected* luggage, I make sure I carry on what I'll need to get by for a day or more without the bulk of my stuff - even going home. You never know when you'll get unexpectedly stuck overnight.

*Well, non-directed, really. My luggage stayed in Boston overnight.

 

[Alesia]

Which point is that?? Packing what we need for 24 hours? yes, we always do that. Or tipping? or....

I guess I'm still wondering if the "inconvenience" of handing my own luggage makes it worth it if it will get there HOURS earlier. I mean, if the luggage was going to show up within one hour..then I'd just let them do it. But given that we will have a place to change if we want and relax then is it worth the inconvenience...

I would say no.

Since you'll have everything you need for the first 24 hours with you, you'll still be able to change clothes if you need to.

Why not let Disney schlep your bags for you?

 

[Debbie]

DSis and I did DME on an early morning flight a few years back. We checked in, our room WAS ready so we dropped off our carry ons and went to get some lunch. As we were sitting there, I saw the cart go by with our luggage.

In two months, DH and I are going. We land at 9:30 am. There is no way that I am dragging luggage with me! We'll have a carry on and that is it. The beauty of DME is that I don't have to worry once I pass the suitcases over at the airport. I am hoping that my room is ready, but I don't really care. If it is, ahhhhhh. If it's not, it will be off to the parks and who cares when it comes in? And, of course, the lure of no tips means an extra or for us!

 

[Missytara]

Ditto! I would rather not have to schlepp my bags, since I am traveling alone. I change clothes at the departure airport, so I am ready the minute I get off the plane.

 

[Lewisc]

Most of us don't know exactly how long it took our bags to get to our rooms. We're at the pool, at a theme park or having lunch in our resort. After I checked in at CSR I walked around for 10-15 minutes and then had lunch in the Pepper Market. My bags were in my room after lunch. I went to the pool after I checked in at the AKL, my luggage was in my room when I returned to my room to change. DME delivers luggage to your hotel room. Your hotel room might not be available for 5 hours after you check in.

JMO but I agree with the pp, let DME ship your checked luggage and make sure your carryon bags include whatever you need for your first 24 hours. I'll give you some exceptions; you have a golf tee time shortly after you arrive. Pick up your own clubs. You're staying at Fort Wildnerness and your tent is part of your checked luggage. Your checked luggage includes material you need to hand out during a business meeting--Probably NOT. Have the material shipped ahead. Why take the chance of your bags being delayed by the airline.