Dme....luggage only.....don't want to ride the bus!!!!!

[mom2agirlandboy]

I understand that....and I don't mean to sound 'negative', I really don't, but it really isn't Disney's issue that you are renting a car that may be too small for all your luggage. DME is supposed to carry guests, to and from the airport, with luggage handling as a perk of using the serviced.
So, you have a few choices here...
1. rent a larger car
2. take fewer bags
3 register for DME, tag your checked bags and let Disney deliver them for you and hope nothing goes wrong (possible airline misdirection and no one realizing it for a very long time!!!)

As long as you realize all the possible scenarios.

Or option 4, which is to split up and send at least one person on DME, and the rest in the rental. That's what I would do. We've had luggage misdirected too many times to risk sending them without someone riding the bus.

Thanks for all the input and goofy4tink, don't worry I don't find you 'negative", we are here to help each other and greatly appreciate all the input and tips.

We have to clear customs in Orlando so we will have our luggage with us for sure. I am hoping we will be able to get a good rate for a bigger car and with that, we will make a decision.

If not, I can always ride the bus with my kids (pretty sure they will like that idea) and have my husband bring the luggage in our car.

Going back to the airport from hotel, do you think it is possible to get DME even if in case we didn't use DME from airport to hotel?

Thanks again for all your input.

 

[asmit4]

It's been awhile since I've used the bus....say I check 2 bags, put the yellow tags on them. Get off plane, go to check in at the bus place...tell disney I have TWO bags...then just NOT get on the bus.

Wouldn't that solve the # of bags issue? How do they know that I am physically ON the bus? Do they check off your name as you walk on? Couldn't we just check in with DME- say we have 2 bags and just not go to a bus?

 

[goofy4tink]

It's been awhile since I've used the bus....say I check 2 bags, put the yellow tags on them. Get off plane, go to check in at the bus place...tell disney I have TWO bags...then just NOT get on the bus.

Wouldn't that solve the # of bags issue? How do they know that I am physically ON the bus? Do they check off your name as you walk on? Couldn't we just check in with DME- say we have 2 bags and just not go to a bus?

When you arrive at the DME area, you are usually sent right to the bus checkin area...unless there is an issue with your reservation (usually isn't). Your MB (or paperwork) is then scanned and you are sent along to the bus line. As you board the bus, your MB is scanned again.
If you don't want to ride the bus, don't. No need to go to extreme lengths to make it look like you are. Sometimes they ask how many bags, sometimes they don't.
Just realize that Disney states that DME is not a luggage delivery service...that luggage delivery is a perk of using the DME bus.

 

[seashoreCM]

(snip) Going back to the airport from hotel, do you think it is possible to get DME even if in case we didn't use DME from airport to hotel? (snip).

Yes, you can ride Magical Express one way, here, back to the airport only.

Just be sure to make the reservation on or before morning of the day before the day you will (check out of your resort and) ride DME.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for all the input and goofy4tink, don't worry I don't find you 'negative", we are here to help each other and greatly appreciate all the input and tips.

We have to clear customs in Orlando so we will have our luggage with us for sure. I am hoping we will be able to get a good rate for a bigger car and with that, we will make a decision.

If not, I can always ride the bus with my kids (pretty sure they will like that idea) and have my husband bring the luggage in our car.

Going back to the airport from hotel, do you think it is possible to get DME even if in case we didn't use DME from airport to hotel?

Thanks again for all your input.

Yes, you can ride DME back to the airport without arriving on it. You just have to make sure you book it ahead of time. You can do that when you get to the resort. I like to do it when checking in...otherwise I tend to forget!
You can actually do it both ways...send luggage with your dh and you and the kids take the bus...to and from the airport.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

I've scrolled through for the answer and I didn't see it, but I may not have searched properly. How do I get DME tags for our luggage, please?

 

[DizDragonfly]

I've scrolled through for the answer and I didn't see it, but I may not have searched properly. How do I get DME tags for our luggage, please?

You need to call your Travel Agent or Disney (if you don't have a TA) and add transportation to your reservation. Tags will be sent to you before your travel dates.

 

[aribelle]

Getting a rental but only planning to get a compact & not sure if 4 luggages will fit.

Ok, I've never used DME so it's possible I don't know what I'm talking about, but while you may be able to bypass the requirement to ride DME to the resorts, how would you bypass it coming back to the airport? Since you and your luggage have to be at the bus stop at XYZ time, wouldn't they notice you handed them your bags and then walked out to the parking lot to get into your need-to-return-rental car? Why risk all the things mentioned in this thread and have to feel sneaky about going around the rules (and by the way, I'll guess the reason for those rules is same as the airport, so that an unattended bag containing something bad doesn't get on the plane/bus....if you aren't willing to ride with your bag, one could worry why, lol).

You might want to look instead for rental car discounts.....DIS has a board called Transportation that shows a lot of coupons and such for discounts, so does mousesavers.com. I personally like to use National....I pay for a midsize car and then get to choose what car I want out of the Executive lot (just sign up for their free loyalty program "Emerald Club" and you'll be an Executive too). It's guaranteed that the cars available will be Full Size or larger....and we usually are able to get a mini van or an SUV, so our 6 bags, plus 3 backpacks and often another carry on or two (I have girls, lol) will fit.

Another idea, though a little more risky, is to book through Enterprise. I always booked a standard, which typically would require us to use the empty passenger seat and my daughters' laps to get all the luggage in......90% of the time we would arrive with all our stuff in tow and they would guide us to a larger vehicle and not charge us. The other 10% of the time, they'd want to charge us an upfee, I'd refuse it, knowing that 20 minutes of having luggage on their lap won't hurt the girls, and the rest of our trip the luggage will be sitting in our room so no worries until that 20 minutes to get back to the airport, lol. Now...keep in mind there are only 3 of us...so we have an empty seat in the front and space between the girls in the backseat since Standards are allegedly 5 passenger vehicles (though we've never met that person small enough to fit as the 5th, lol).

 

[siskaren]

Ok, I've never used DME so it's possible I don't know what I'm talking about, but while you may be able to bypass the requirement to ride DME to the resorts, how would you bypass it coming back to the airport? Since you and your luggage have to be at the bus stop at XYZ time, wouldn't they notice you handed them your bags and then walked out to the parking lot to get into your need-to-return-rental car?

You don't have to take DME both ways, and you can have RAC (Resort Airline Check-in) take care of getting your luggage back to the airport. RAC is basically curbside check-in (only the curb is 20 miles from the airport ), and is separate from DME, so you can check-in for your flight and check your luggage with RAC, then drive the rental car back to the airport.

 

[DizDragonfly]

(and by the way, I'll guess the reason for those rules is same as the airport, so that an unattended bag containing something bad doesn't get on the plane/bus....if you aren't willing to ride with your bag, one could worry why, lol).

Your checked bags don't ride on the bus with you at all, regardless. They are collected and transported separately.

I personally like to use National....I pay for a midsize car and then get to choose what car I want out of the Executive lot (just sign up for their free loyalty program "Emerald Club" and you'll be an Executive too).

Executive is an upgrade from National's standard Emerald Club. You are supposed to choose from the Emerald Aisle. If you are choosing from the Executive Aisle, without Executive status and haven't been charged extra, you've lucked out.

You don't have to take DME both ways, and you can have RAC (Resort Airline Check-in) take care of getting your luggage back to the airport. RAC is basically curbside check-in (only the curb is 20 miles from the airport ), and is separate from DME, so you can check-in for your flight and check your luggage with RAC, then drive the rental car back to the airport.

 

[dec2901]

Or option 4, which is to split up and send at least one person on DME, and the rest in the rental. That's what I would do. We've had luggage misdirected too many times to risk sending them without someone riding the bus.

I have been considering doing this but I am not for sure how to make it work. I would like for my husband and 3 1/2 yr old son to take DME to AK while I get the rental car and pick up groceries. Can I sign half of my party up for DME? Or do I sign everyone up and just not check myself in?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been considering doing this but I am not for sure how to make it work. I would like for my husband and 3 1/2 yr old son to take DME to AK while I get the rental car and pick up groceries. Can I sign half of my party up for DME? Or do I sign everyone up and just not check myself in?

Thanks!

Sign everyone up. If you don't show up, it's not a big deal. You will need to be signed up in order to get the yellow luggage tag for your bag..if you don't, you will be able to tag just two bags.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I have been considering doing this but I am not for sure how to make it work. I would like for my husband and 3 1/2 yr old son to take DME to AK while I get the rental car and pick up groceries. Can I sign half of my party up for DME? Or do I sign everyone up and just not check myself in?

Thanks!

DME does not go to theme parks (such as AK), only to Disney resorts -- and you can take DME only to the resort where you staying that night.

But, yes, you can split your party. You can make reservations for everyone and get yellow luggage routing tags for everyone.

 

[dec2901]

DME does not go to theme parks (such as AK), only to Disney resorts -- and you can take DME only to the resort where you staying that night.

But, yes, you can split your party. You can make reservations for everyone and get yellow luggage routing tags for everyone.

I meant AKL.

 

[leebee]

I called DME two days ago to request more luggage tags; there are 3 of us traveling, they sent 3 tags, but I think we're going to have 4 bags. Because both DH and I have bad backs, the plan is to send DH and DD20 on DME while I get the rental, go to the grocery store, and then meet them at BWV so that we don't have to schlep luggage. When the DME CM pointed out that we are not currently signed up for return transportation, I explained that we'd have a rental car so that while DH and DD are taking DME to BWV, none of us will be using it on the return. She then asked me why we are splitting up to get to WDW and I explained that we wanted to reduce having to lug our luggage, she started to laugh. She said, "Oh honey, if we see a yellow luggage tag, we are gonna grab the bag and deliver it to the resort. We don't really care how YOU get there- we just worry about your luggage!" I know, not all CMs know what they are talking about, and I am not encouraging anyone to flaunt Disney's rules- because we are going to follow them- but it was interesting to hear. Sometimes I think we on the DISboards worry more about Disney's rules than Disney does!

 

[maxiesmom]

I called DME two days ago to request more luggage tags; there are 3 of us traveling, they sent 3 tags, but I think we're going to have 4 bags. Because both DH and I have bad backs, the plan is to send DH and DD20 on DME while I get the rental, go to the grocery store, and then meet them at BWV so that we don't have to schlep luggage. When the DME CM pointed out that we are not currently signed up for return transportation, I explained that we'd have a rental car so that while DH and DD are taking DME to BWV, none of us will be using it on the return. She then asked me why we are splitting up to get to WDW and I explained that we wanted to reduce having to lug our luggage, she started to laugh. She said, "Oh honey, if we see a yellow luggage tag, we are gonna grab the bag and deliver it to the resort. We don't really care how YOU get there- we just worry about your luggage!" I know, not all CMs know what they are talking about, and I am not encouraging anyone to flaunt Disney's rules- because we are going to follow them- but it was interesting to hear. Sometimes I think we on the DISboards worry more about Disney's rules than Disney does!

It really is best to state what Disney's rules actually are, and to go with that. That way no one ends up disappointed if the pixie dust of getting whatever exception they want doesn't happen.

Plus, that CM didn't mention what kind of a mess it would be if they messed up and missed one of your bags at the airport, or if the airline misplaced it.

 

[Alesia]

Plus, that CM didn't mention what kind of a mess it would be if they messed up and missed one of your bags at the airport, or if the airline misplaced it.

And this is really the main issue.

 

[charmed59]

It really is best to state what Disney's rules actually are, and to go with that. That way no one ends up disappointed if the pixie dust of getting whatever exception they want doesn't happen. Plus, that CM didn't mention what kind of a mess it would be if they messed up and missed one of your bags at the airport, or if the airline misplaced it.

When we last used DME we checked our luggage in at our home airport and were told we would see it again at our hotel within 4 hours after we checked in. Even though we rode the bus, how would we tell we were missing a bag before we got back from the parks that day? And how would we be able to tell whether the airline misplaced it or Disney misplaced it?

Has DME changed? Do you now claim luggage in MCO and then checkin your luggage to Disney when you get on the bus?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You wouldn't be able to tell.

DME has not changed: you tag your luggage, ride the bus, and let Disney/BAGS be concerned about getting your misdirected luggage to you. Yes, you can call if it hasn't arrived after an overly-long wait, but Disney acts as your agent getting your luggage.

When you claim your own luggage and bring it to the bus, you (not Disney) are responsible for tipping anyone who handles it. That might include a SkyCap, absolutely means the bus driver, and probably involves Bell Services/Luggage Assistance. You also then need to be in the room to have your luggage delivered.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's my issue nowadays. Used to be that DME asked you how many bags you checked when you got to the checkin line. Not any more. Soooo, how are they going to know to look for a missing bag, if they have no idea how many bags to look for? They aren't, plain and simple. If your family tags 3 bags, and only 2 show up at MCO, then you are going to have a huge surprise when you get to your resort room later that day. Might not be a huge issue if you arrive at MCO at 3:30, get to your resort at 5, and get into your room, and you hang around until your bags get there, so you notice a bag is missing. BUT...what happens if you check in at 10am, your room isn't ready, so you head off to the parks for the day (as many of us do), and return around 7pm, to find 2 of your 3 bags sitting in your room. Who is now responsible for finding that missing bag? Who knows where it is...could be in another resort room, could be in Detroit, or it could still be at the home airport.
But, DME is going to tell you the airline misdirected it, while the airline is going to tell you that DME messed up. This is my biggest fear with DME. It doesn't happen often, but bags get misdirected.