DME and luggage

[kdisser]

So, question and looking for opinions and personal stories:

What is your experience with DME delivering luggage to your room?

I have a huge worry of airline losing luggage, so I like to pick it up ourselves knowing right then and there if luggage has been misplaced rather then possibly waiting til we are at the resort... But this year our party will have 2 carry on suitcases+4 personal carry ons (backpacks) and a stroller, then we will have 4 checked bags (Southwest they fly free!!). I already know the basic of packing immediate items and clothes/swimsuits in carry on bags, arriving at the airport 2 hours before flight, basically all that good airport etiquette that we can do on our side to lessen the chances of airline losing luggage (or prepare if it happens). I just can not imagine going through the DME line with 6 suitcases and a toddler in a stroller

Any input, positive/negative, would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[kj2mom]

We love the service and have had no problem. Something I did learn last year that I had never thought of (and you might have as part of already knowing the basics of packing but I had never thought of it ) was instead of doing one suitcase for each person, divide it up so a little bit of everyone's things are in each suitcase. This way, if one is misplaced it is not one person suffering with nothing until it was located.

 

[goofy4tink]

You might want to ask this over on the Transportation board! They're all very experienced DME people.
In short, I have used DME more times than I have fingers and toes. Using it again in 3 weeks...like you, flying SW with 6 checked bags!! I'll be tagging those bags and saying goodby to them at my home airport.
Could your bags be misdirected by SW? Sure. But probably not. Are you flying direct...no changing planes? If so, I really wouldn't worry about it!
But...if you're going to stress, it might be better to get your bags yourself. Believe me...plenty of people bring huge amounts of checked luggage to the bus with them! Of course, I've also watched some of those people attaching the yellow luggage tags to their bags, as they are in the bus line.

 

[china mom]

Disney frequent flyer here. We had never had a lost or delayed bag on our way too our destination. We currently fly exclusively Southwest.

The only time our luggage didn't make it was due to a total travel cluster caused by flying stand by. I can't fault the airline or MDE for it.

I still always check my bags.

 

[Crystal824]

Disney frequent flyer here. We had never had a lost or delayed bag on our way too our destination. We currently fly exclusively Southwest..

This has been our experience too. Never had an issue with getting the bags. I have had a few frustrations with the amount of time it has taken to actually get bags, but they have always been there. We also only fly Southwest.

 

[Geoff_M]

We have used DME probably 5 times now, with no major problems. The only "hiccups" we've had was one time our bags didn't show up at our room until around midnight (our flight probably landed late afternoon). The second was in June our flight landed around 3:45 PM and we had 5 checked bags. When we got back from dinner there were 4 bags in our room. I was afraid one had been lost. I called the bell stand (DME?) and they asked for the Delta bag claim number. They quickly found the bag in their system and said that it was still in a cage at MCO and would arrive at the resort around midnight. Since the items in the bag weren't critical, we told them to just drop it off in the morning. They did, and all was well.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the baggage transfer is the best part of DME! No way will you catch me wasting time getting my own bags and hauling them to the bus.

 

[Farps]

I say go for it , we've never had an issue.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I have used DME many times and they only lost my suitcase once. They sent it to two incorrect resorts. Picked it up the next day.

 

[pigletgirl]

First time we used DME for luggage it took 5 hours to be delivered to my room. This next time we're using them again, but we get in at noon so we have a lot more give in flexibility with it too. I will also pack our first full day's worth of clothes in our carry-on, just incase of the what-ifs.

 

[AngiTN]

The number one reason we use ME is for luggage delivery. We have used it a lot this year. We have never had any issues with last or misplaced bags.
I'm aware of how long it takes to get bags but seeing how we are on the parks for that time it doesn't matter at all how long it takes.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Add us to the list of families who have used ME more times than I can count. We fly Southwest and it's incredibly convenient, both arriving and departing from WDW.

Side note, I see people who haul all of their luggage on the ME bus, expect the driver to load and unload it, and then never tip them a dime. We have started tipping the driver even if they never have to lift a bag for us. It just seems like the right thing to do, especially when so many people expect so much for nothing. To each their own.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The number one reason we use ME is for luggage delivery. We have used it a lot this year. We have never had any issues with last or misplaced bags.
I'm aware of how long it takes to get bags but seeing how we are on the parks for that time it doesn't matter at all how long it takes.

Us too. If your luggage is getting lost it won't be after you land.

 

[kdisser]

We land at 11:00am (if it's on time) and are planning to head to the parks. So it doesn't matter if it arrives late that day.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We love DME. We've been using it since they started and have never retrieved our own luggage since and have never had an issue. We like being able to just go straight to DME after the plane lands, it is a great time saver.

 

[Cee]

Never had a problem. LOVE IT.

 

[kashzan]

Have used it since it started and never had a problem. Love it.

 

[Aliceacc]

We love it and use it each trip. We check 5 bags each trip.

The one precaution I take when we fly anywhere is to put one entire outfit per person, from the skin out, into someone else's suitcase. That way, should the airlines lose a bag, we're covered for 24 hours.

 

[Nancyg56]

The only luggage issue we ever had was not DME, but with the airline. WE had a non stop, but the airline did not place our bags on that plane. We got them later in the evening on our arrival day, but when we checked with the luggage folks at our resort, they escalated to resort manager. He not only looked into the situation, but offered to purchase a costume for our DGD for her very first character meal. Gracious! We declined the offer because my DD remembered she had packed one JIC in the box she sent ahead, but how awesome! We always use DME and recommend to anyone who asks.

 

[addiln]

We never had an issue with this in all of our trips. Once we get to the airport on the day we leave for WDW till we arrive back home I never have to think about our baggage. They do a great job and our luggage has always been in our room waiting for us once we are back from dinner since we generally just hang at the resort our first day there,