DME ? - Can you Pick you Luggage up At The AP and Take with you?

[jasta]

We will be heading down on Saturday!!! Using DME for the first time and have been hesitant with the stories I am reading. My question - can I NOT put the DME tags on our luggage, pick up the luggage at baggage claim and take with us on the bus? or MUST we put the tags on our luggage?

 

[DISNEYNY]

You do not have to use the luggage pickup. You can get your own luggage when you arrive at the AP and the bus driver will store it under the bus for you.

 

[drew64]

You can, but it will slow both you and others on the bus down so not always appreciated.

 

[pooh98378]

We always take our luggage with us and we have had no problems with DME. I have also heard the horror stories with checking your luggage so we have been hesitant to do that also, but our technique has worked out just fine. The only potential problem is that if your bus is full, then you might have to wait at a longer line for check-in because others will be able to rush in before you. In general, we have found that it is a great service and a nice ride to WDW!

 

[cinderkeli]

We also have put our luggage on the bus as well. Never had a problem.

 

[Belleandtinker]

Do I get my luggage faster at the resort if I don't use the luggage tags?

 

[debster812]

Do I get my luggage faster at the resort if I don't use the luggage tags?

If you don't use the DME luggage tags, you will have to claim your bags at baggage claim before going to checkin for DME, since they will not get pulled behind the scenes. So yes, you will have your bags faster at the resort, since they will arrive with you. However, you'll have to wait at baggage claim to get them first.

 

[pooh98378]

Do I get my luggage faster at the resort if I don't use the luggage tags?

I think it works this way (someone correct me if I'm wrong) --- you will get your luggage faster without the tags. If you do not use the tags, you will pick up your luggage yourself at the airport, then you will give your luggage to the DME driver who will place it in the storage underneath the bus. When you arrive at your resort, the driver will then hand you the luggage when you get off the bus and you will check in with your luggage just as if you had a rental car, taxi, etc. We have done this before. Now, this is the part I'm not sure about -- I think when you use the tags, you will not see your luggage until you have already checked in and are in your room. You don't have to wait at the airport for it - it goes straight from when you check in at your departure airport to your hotel room. The problem some people have had is that their luggage will not get to their room until a few hours after they check in, which can be a problem if you want to go to waterparks, etc., or basically need anything in the luggage when you immediately get there. HTH!

 

[dis75ney]

We did not use the luggage tags when we went to WDW in October - mainly because our flight was so late and I didn't want luggage service knocking on our door at 3am. It seemed like everyone else on our bus had the same idea, as we all had our luggage stored underneath the bus! The driver didn't seem to mind at all...we did tip him rather well, though...

 

[goofy4tink]

There are not horror stories or nightmares with DME luggage service. Yes, you may have to wait 3 or so hours before getting your luggage. But...I always recommend (no matter where you are flying to) that you pack a carryon bag with you, on the plane, with anything you may need for the first day of your stay. I always have a change of clothes, a swimsuit, small toiletries, and all my paperwork in my carryon. I can then go off and do just about anything without worrying about my luggage arrival time.

But, if you wish to grab your own bags, that's up to you. You will have to go to baggage claim, and wait. I have had wait times of between 15 and 30 mins there. That, right there, will add time to your timing to the resort. Then, when you get to DME checkin, you will take your bags to the bus with you. When you get to the resort, the bags will be handed off to you...the driver will expect to be tipped.

Now..if you do bring your own bags with you, and a bunch of others do the same thing, it slows down the whole process for everyone, including those who chose to allow DME to handle their luggage. A lot of the bus drivers hold the guests on the bus until he/she unloads all the luggage first.
Then, there is a crazed dash, by those of us who were held on the bus, but had no luggage, to get to checkin as quickly as possible.

So, it is very easy to get your own luggage. But, I'm not sure what the bad stories are that people keep referring to...there just aren't all that many out there. I had to wait for 5 hrs for bags to arrive..but, that was my choice (sort of anyway) since my idiot dd didn't follow my advice and pack her carryon accordingly. Otherwise, I would have been at a park, having fun rather than realize that my bags were tardy.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Now, this is the part I'm not sure about -- I think when you use the tags, you will not see your luggage until you have already checked in and are in your room.

That's almost correct. You check your bags at your home airport, and they'll be delivered to your room a few hours after you check-in. However, the bags won't only be delivered if you "are in your room."

You can be out having fun. If you use the DME luggage service as designed, Disney pays the gratuity for the bellman. So you don't have to be in your room. The bags will be left in your room anyway.

You don't have to wait at the airport for it - it goes straight from when you check in at your departure airport to your hotel room.

And that's the best part of DME. Not only do you save 30-60 minutes at the airport, but you don't have to deal with your bags at the airport or at the resort. You arrive at WDW sooner.

The problem some people have had is that their luggage will not get to their room until a few hours after they check in, which can be a problem if you want to go to waterparks, etc., or basically need anything in the luggage when you immediately get there. HTH!

The problem is that some people don't read the instructions in the packet. DME guests should bring anything that they'll need right away in their carry-ons. Then it doesn't matter if their checked bags arrive immediately or 3 hours after they check in.

If you think about it, it makes sense that bags take longer to get to the room than guests. The bags need handling and sorting at various stages in the process, and the employees who do that work can get backed up. You could be boarding a DME motorcoach before the baggage handlers at the airport have finished unloading your airplane. The bell services staff receives batches of luggage on luggage trucks, and they need to bring those bags to many different rooms.

I realize there are some people who can't relax until they are reunited with their luggage. For the rest of us, a small carry-on bag resolves the timing issue of DME luggage delivery.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I have also heard the horror stories with checking your luggage so we have been hesitant to do that also, but our technique has worked out just fine.

What "horror stories" have you heard?

 

[pooh98378]

What "horror stories" have you heard?

I'll have to try to find the posts... I researched this topic around a year ago for our vacation (DME was newer then, so I'm sure they were still working out issues). The two that stick out in my mind was one where they didn't get their luggage until very late in the night and that caused problems with getting kids ready to go to bed, etc. The other one, which I guess isn't exactly a horror story but more of a concern, is that someone saw lots of luggage for the DME just sitting out on the curb unguarded so they were worried that anyone could just come up and grab a bag without being noticed. (That was during the busy season).

Like I said earlier though, we have never personally experienced a problem and found it to be a very nice way to get to our resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

There is no way of knowing if DME, or the airlines, caused a late delivery of the late night luggage. If the airline misdirected the bags, and then got them to MCO many hours after they should have, it would appear that DME dropped the ball and delivered the bags late. Or, there could have been a DME issue which allowed for late delivery. But, times of more than 4-5 hrs for luggage delivery are few and far between. Does it happen? Sure, but it's just not the norm.

As for the luggage standing outside the resort, that was at WL, if I remember correctly. I guess it could happen. Perhaps Bell Services got a huge amount of DME luggage arriving at the same time, which meant that they had to leave some out. But, I seriously doubt that there was much danger of someone walking off with a piece of unattended luggage. For the most part, most guests are just way too busy having a good time to stop and steal a piece of luggage, then run off with it.

Most negative DME stories have some logical reason for being. And, a lot of the time it is uninformed guests that are the problem. They either didn't take the time to get informed...not even reading the booklet. Or, they decided that those things didn't apply to them and they could expect a faster experience.

The vast majority of guests report having good experiences with DME. Many continually use DME on each trip.

 

[simzac]

I continue to be amazed at the number of guests who choose not to use the best part of DME which is not having to retrieve your luggage when they get to Orlando.

 

[CarolA]

I continue to be amazed at the number of guests who choose not to use the best part of DME which is not having to retrieve your luggage when they get to Orlando.

I agree.

Now I often travel with just carry on (Thanks Owner's Locker!) So I HAVE to take my luggage to the bus......

 

[jasta]

Hearing the story about the bell hop knocking on someone's door and asking them if they had an extra piece of luggage...to met that's a horror story! Having to wait 8 hours for a piece of luggage...that's just ridiculous! I feel better having my luggage in my hands...call me a micro-manager cause I am (lol!) There is only so much you can stick in a carry on for 4 people, especially when you have a 2 and 3 year old! All my other carry on's will be holding DVD players, DVD's, toys, etc for the plane ride.

We arrive at 9:30 AM at the AP, so maybe it won't be the crowded on the bus???? Anyone know if the mornings are less busy on DME?

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm guessing that the airline has a much better chance of losing your luggage than ME does. If you're checking a bag, may as well take advantage of what, to me, is the single best feature of ME.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There is only so much you can stick in a carry on for 4 people, especially when you have a 2 and 3 year old! All my other carry on's will be holding DVD players, DVD's, toys, etc for the plane ride.

Do what you feel is best for you.

However, if I were traveling with a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old who cannot carry their own bags, I would welcome the opportunity to have Disney retrieve the checked bags behind the scenes at the airport and deliver them to our room, without charge (not even tips). And I would welcome the opportunity to be on a motorcoach to WDW as quickly as possible, rather than spending an extra 30-60 minutes at the airport dealing with luggage (and the kids) before departing.

To me, it seems that a change of clothes and a swimsuit for two toddlers would not take up much space in carry-ons, even if those carry-ons also have some toys in them. (By the way, you should always pack your carry-ons with essential items that you'll need if the airline delays your bags, which is quite common).

We arrive at 9:30 AM at the AP, so maybe it won't be the crowded on the bus???? Anyone know if the mornings are less busy on DME?

DME schedules to appropriate levels based on the expected number of guests.

With a 9:30 a.m. arrival at the airport, chances are that when you arrive at the resort, your room will not yet be ready. You'll have check your bags with bell services. Then, after your room is ready, you'll have to retrieve your bags in the lobby or have a bellman deliver them to your room. In either case, it's appropriate to tip, so you might as well have the bags delivered to your room. You will need to wait in your room if bell services is backed up because you need to be there to tip the bellman. And, under these circumstances, you'll have your bags about the same time that you would have received them through the free DME luggage transfer service.

Again, please do what you feel is best for you. I think you've made up your mind.

The reason I'm posting this reply is to help others see that throwing away DME's inbound luggage transfer service leads to more time at the airport, having to deal with bags at the airport and hotel (especially if you have young kids), tips to the DME driver and bell services, and, overall, a more aggravating way to start a WDW vacation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hearing the story about the bell hop knocking on someone's door and asking them if they had an extra piece of luggage...to met that's a horror story! Having to wait 8 hours for a piece of luggage...that's just ridiculous! I feel better having my luggage in my hands...call me a micro-manager cause I am (lol!) There is only so much you can stick in a carry on for 4 people, especially when you have a 2 and 3 year old! All my other carry on's will be holding DVD players, DVD's, toys, etc for the plane ride.

We arrive at 9:30 AM at the AP, so maybe it won't be the crowded on the bus???? Anyone know if the mornings are less busy on DME?

If one puts out the 'privacy please' aka 'do not disturb' sign, no one is going to be knocking on your door. Waiting 8 hrs for luggage?? Do you know for sure the issue was with DME and not the airlines?? It is much more likely the airlines misdirected luggage and the luggage finally showed up and was delivered by DME...who got the blame.

Not saying 'stuff' doesn't happen. But, incidents such as that are few and far between. If someone wants to juggle all those checked bags, as well as the carryon bags and several kids, that's their business.