DME/Luggage/Airline Question

[AdventureGuru]

OK so maybe I've watched too many "Airlines" TV shows...these shows where they show you all the things that go wrong in airports...missing luggage, ruined luggage etc...
So, do you keep a list of items that you brought with you so that if they loose your luggage you know what was in it?

Doing DME I'm afraid I might loose luggage along the way...
Pls put my thoughts at ease.

Thank you!
Guru

 

[OKW Lover]

First, don't create unnecessary stress for yourself by worrying about things that are highly unlikely to happen.

Secont, in case they do happen, be sure you have your medications, a change of clothes and any other necessities in your carry-on luggage. You can buy anything else you need once you get to Orlando if your luggage gets lost or delayed.

 

[CleveRocks]

From what we've learned on this board from numerous Disney CMs, DME luggage is scanned (the DME tags have barcodes) at least 5 times between airport and resort room). In addition, the trucks they are transported on are tracked by GPS. It's a VERY reliable system, from the sum total of anecdotal reports we get here on DISboards. PERFECT? Well, no system is perfect, but I'm not aware of any reports of actual LOST luggage through DME.

As far as the lag between resort arrival and your luggage's arrival, just plan for it and you'll be fine. Most of the complaints we read here have to do with people who didn't do their homework and were shocked and angry that their luggage didn't make it to their room at the same time they did, and then felt like they had to sit around and wait for it. By the way, you never have to sit around and wait for it, because it gets delivered to the inside of your resort room whether you're in there or not (to me, that's the magical part of Disney's Magical Express).

If you use DME, go in knowing that you should pack a carry-on with what you'll need for your first few hours. I do this anywhere I fly, anyway, just in case the airline delays my luggage. It's just a smart way to travel. And although I'm not happy that ANYONE feels inconvenienced or angry, I sometimes snicker about the few posts I've read where people were livid that they had to change for a dinner ADR within 30 minutes of arrival and didn;t have their dinner clothes in a carry-on, or had a crisis because their toddler's diapers weren't in their carry-on. I mean, it's just safe and smart to take your immediate needs in a carry-on. Since I have always packed for flying this way anyway, the DME luggage lag didn't even make me blink.

When you go to a sit-down restaurant, you know there is a lag between the time you walk in and the time you are fed. You accept this as a trade-off for better food and nicer atmosphere than fast food or food court food. And since of course you know about the time lag between talking to the hostess and receiving your food, it's a perfectly normal part of the transaction that you don't resent and don't stress over. If you wanted immediate food, you knew to go elsewhere. Well, that's me and DME. I know what to expect, I accept it, and I prepare for it.

Those who aren't willing to wait for automatic luggage delivery, those who don't want to be on a bus with a bunch of strangers and their less than darling kids, have the wonderful options of paying for a towncar or taxi, or renting a car. Totally a personal decision for each of us to make.

DME isn't for everyone, but it's certainly for me!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I do have to admit I'm curious why you think using DME would cause a loss of luggage? I mean, if you don't use DME do you think your airline won't lose your luggage, but if you do use the service your luggage might get lost?

 

[goofy4tink]

I do have to admit I'm curious why you think using DME would cause a loss of luggage? I mean, if you don't use DME do you think your airline won't lose your luggage, but if you do use the service your luggage might get lost?

I think that a lot of people think it's just one more 'step' where their luggage could go astray. If they read through all these DME posts though, perhaps they'll feel better about using the service. I actually would prefer DME to handle my luggage the whole way...rather than the airlines!!! DME does a much better job of tracking luggage than the airlines do!!

 

[AdventureGuru]

well this eases my thoughts some...
its just that it seems like there are a lot of people handling my luggage...I know how to pack...I know to pack a days worth of stuff in my carry on...this is not new to me. However, does my luggage go on my flight from my starting location...I would guess so...but it just seems like there are a lot of other hands in the pot...thats all I was implying.

thanks to those of you that saw my concern.
guru

 

[justplaingoofy]

Not sure if this will help you, but this is what we do:

Pack a small bag or backpack (carryon)for activites for the plane to keep by our feet.

Pack one 21" suitcase (carryon) with toiletries, meds, bathing suits and some clothes for everyone.

Pack additonal suitcases,(checked) but divide up everyones belongings into other suitcases incase one is misplaced everyone will still have stuff.

 

[CleveRocks]

well this eases my thoughts some...
its just that it seems like there are a lot of people handling my luggage...I know how to pack...I know to pack a days worth of stuff in my carry on...this is not new to me. However, does my luggage go on my flight from my starting location...I would guess so...but it just seems like there are a lot of other hands in the pot...thats all I was implying.

thanks to those of you that saw my concern.
guru

DME luggage handling doesn't come into effect until AFTER your luggage is unloaded from your airplane. NOBODY at your home airport, inlcuidng airline employees at your home airport, has anything to do with DME. If you ask anything about DME at your home airport, the employee will look at you like you just asked for directions to Jupiter.

A few weeks ago or so, I saved a post by "sluggo" in my word processor. He had things listed by number, but I deleted the numbering system because he answered other questions and the following text didn't start with number one. But I didn't change anything else in his post, and I didn't add anything. He seemed to have very detailed knowledge. He explained DME luggage handling this way:

Most of the major airlines drop off yellow tagged luggage at designated drop off points where they are then picked up by a different contractor and taken to a sorting facility. These drop off points are supervised by Disney CM's.

Not all airlines use the drop off points. Many of the smaller ones just put the bags on the carousel. There are Disney CM's working behind the carousels pulling the yellow tagged bags off and setting them aside to be picked up and taken to the sorting facility.

There are Disney CM's assigned to every airline to catch the bags that the airlines missed taking to the drop off point. They also check every unclaimed bag against a manifest to insure that the bags are found even if by chance the guest forgot to put on the tag or it fell off (highly unlikely).

All of the bags are scanned when they get to the sorting facility, again after they are put in a cage and again when the cage is put in a truck.

The bags are scanned again when they arrive at the resort and again when taken to a guests room.

I hope this helps you more fully understand how the process works.

 

[justplaingoofy]

well this eases my thoughts some...
its just that it seems like there are a lot of people handling my luggage...I know how to pack...I know to pack a days worth of stuff in my carry on...this is not new to me. However, does my luggage go on my flight from my starting location...I would guess so...but it just seems like there are a lot of other hands in the pot...thats all I was implying.

thanks to those of you that saw my concern.
guru

Sorry about what I posted ealier.. I think I clicked to add a reply then got called way.. and didn't see that you did not need info. about carry one, and packing info.

 

[AdventureGuru]

Not sure if this will help you, but this is what we do:

Pack a small bag or backpack (carryon)for activites for the plane to keep by our feet.

Pack one 21" suitcase (carryon) with toiletries, meds, bathing suits and some clothes for everyone.

Pack additonal suitcases,(checked) but divide up everyones belongings into other suitcases incase one is misplaced everyone will still have stuff.

Justplaingoofy...
love the puppy pic!
Thanks for the game plan...I may just do that

 

[AdventureGuru]

how are the yellow tags held on? have the ever fallen off???? then what happens?

I know I'm being paranoid but I want all of my bases covered...thanks

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

The tags are like the tags that the airlines put on, the ones that wrap around the handle of the suitcase and then stick to themselves??

Could it get ripped off? No more so than the regular airline luggage tags.

I do what a PP said. In september, we will check 4 bags, 1 with toiletry-type stuff (I am usually always paranoid something will leak). Then the other 3 will be packed with 1/3 my stuff, 1/3 DH's stuff, and 1/3 DS's stuff.

If one of our suitcases goes astray, we all will still have 2/3 of our clothes, and the toiletry one?? We can always go to the store if we need to.

 

[kaytieeldr]

its just that it seems like there are a lot of people handling my luggage...I know how to pack...I know to pack a days worth of stuff in my carry on...this is not new to me. However, does my luggage go on my flight from my starting location...

Well, of course YOU know how to pack... but there've been complaints from people who didn't understand how DME works and that they didn't have their bathing suits, or their luggage wasn't in their room when they got there, or all the diapers were packed in the checked luggage and, well,,,,
So the carry-on recommendation is posted frequently in Magical Express responses, for people who don't travel much but read these message boards, or who may not quite understand how DME works but they just want to lurk they don't want to post.

how are the yellow tags held on? have the ever fallen off???? then what happens?

They're long, narrow, Tyvek-type-material bar-coded tags with peel-off backing. They come with instructions, but: insert one end of a tag under you suitcase handle, yellow side facing out. Match up the two ends of the tag. Peel off JUST the backing at each end*. Press one sticky end to the opposite/facing sticky end. Rub your thumb and forefinger across the adhered section, just to make sure they're as stuck together as possible.

*Okay, fine, you can peel off all the backing paper - but it's kinda messy

 

[Lewisc]

I don't think they can fall off, more likely you forgot to put a tag on one of your bags.

DME does visit the unclaimed baggage offices of the airlines. They check the names on the airline tags against a master list and does grab those bags. The CM at the DME desk asks how many bags you checked.

how are the yellow tags held on? have the ever fallen off???? then what happens?

I know I'm being paranoid but I want all of my bases covered...thanks

 

[AdventureGuru]

yellow sticky tags...great now I'm going to look like a fly to fly paper!!! LOL