DME pick up your own bags or no?

[Horace Horsecollar]

Okay, I understand that some people like to have control. However, what I don't understand is why someone would trust the airline's luggage handlers with checked luggage, but then not trust Disney's luggage handlers and bell service staff with the same luggage.

If someone packs their vacation clothing entirely in carry-on bags, then it makes perfect sense to handle those bags not only on the aircraft, but also to take them along on the Magical Express motor coach.

However, if someone is checking their bags with an airline anyway, why not let those bags "magically appear" in the resort room?

It's going to be quicker for an arriving passenger to go directly to the Disney Welcome Center than to make a detour to baggage claim first. And getting to the Welcome Center sooner is likely to mean being on a departing motor coach sooner, which means arriving at the resort sooner.

It costs less to use Magical Express as designed. If you use the full Magical Express service, Disney pays your inbound bell service gratuity. If you take your luggage to the Magical Express motor coach, you really should tip the driver for handling your luggage; and if you then use bell services at the resort, it's customary to tip for those services too.

Finally, inbound passengers who bring their luggage to the motor coach are just slowing down everyone else, because the driver ends up spending time handing that luggage.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'm recommending our friends (who are flying to join us at WDW) get their own bags. Have visions of a multiple hours-long wait before ME ever got the bags to OKW.
Not a question of trust--more of "timing". Would much rather be able to unpack right away then have to wait hours for the luggage to "magically" arrive.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

It's not a question of trusting anyone. We get in at 10:23 pm (if our flight is on time). I would rather know that night that our luggage didn't make it to MCO and start getting the paperwork filled out, then to find out the next morning when we are trying to get to the parks. I would also rather get my clothes put away that night then have to deal with it the next day.

 

[pixiedust23]

I'm recommending our friends (who are flying to join us at WDW) get their own bags. Have visions of a multiple hours-long wait before ME ever got the bags to OKW.
Not a question of trust--more of "timing". Would much rather be able to unpack right away then have to wait hours for the luggage to "magically" arrive.

Same thing here. I asked DME the anticipated time for bags to get to the room or even an avereage time or any kinda time limit etc. They refused to give me an answer. I asked if there was any garuantee it would arrive the same day I did, and she said she could not garauntee that. Yea if you can't even assure me that I"ll get my luggage the day I get there I think I"ll take the extra 20 min and pick it up myself!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Not a question of trust--more of "timing". Would much rather be able to unpack right away then have to wait hours for the luggage to "magically" arrive.

There's no reason to wait. You don't have to be in the room when the luggage is delivered. You can go off and have fun.

From recent reports on this board, it seems the luggage gets to the room anywhere from ten minutes to two hours after you check in.

And you'll probably check in sooner if you go straight to the Disney Welcome Center when you arrive at the airport -- instead of detouring to luggage claim, waiting for your bags, and taking them to the Disney Welcome Center (which can be a considerable distance, depending on your airline).

It seems some folks are still concerned DME because of some real "horror stories" from the first week of DME.

 

[pixiedust23]

There's no reason to wait. You don't have to be in the room when the luggage is delivered. You can go off and have fun.

Yes but if I need my stuff to get ready for a dinner reservation and it hasnt magically appeared yet I'm going to be annoyed. I know every says just pack all the stuff you need in a carry on, but I dont want to have my special hot air brush/hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, make up, clothes, etc all in my carry on bag. I find that to be annoying. If I'm giong to check a bag that stuff is going in there.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm recommending our friends (who are flying to join us at WDW) get their own bags. Have visions of a multiple hours-long wait before ME ever got the bags to OKW.
Not a question of trust--more of "timing". Would much rather be able to unpack right away then have to wait hours for the luggage to "magically" arrive.

I suggest you reconsider. The long delays were in the beginning when most of the guests didn't have tags. There have actually been reports of the bags beating some of the guests to their rooms. In your case the room will already have been assigned before your friends even get to MCO so the bags should be quick. You don't have to be in the room when they drop off the bags.

Getting the bags may add at least 30 minutes, more if they're coming in at the "B" side. An hour wait for bags at OKW is better than spending the same hour at MCO getting the bags going to the other side of the terminal.

 

[pixiedust23]

Getting the bags may add at least 30 minutes, more if they're coming in at the "B" side. An hour wait for bags at OKW is better than spending the same hour at MCO getting the bags going to the other side of the terminal.

Yes but no one will garauntee it will only take an hour. That's my issue with this whole system. They won't even assure me that my bags will be in my room by the time I go to bed that night and I get in at 10:30 in the morning. The lack of their own confidence in their system make me very weary to trust them.

 

[Lewisc]

Yes but no one will garauntee it will only take an hour. That's my issue with this whole system. They won't even assure me that my bags will be in my room by the time I go to bed that night and I get in at 10:30 in the morning. The lack of their own confidence in their system make me very weary to trust them.

My post was directed to Uncleromulus. I get the sense that you already made up your mind.

The airlines don't guarantee your luggage will be on your flight so how can ME guarantee when you'll get it. I'd base my decision on the experiences of other guests over what some CM told me over the phone. I guess they don't want guests complaing that I was told I'd get my suitcase in an hour and it's already 70 minutes.

My flight arrives is in the morning and don't plan to be waiting around for my luggage. I don't care how long it takes, I probably won't even know.

Disney doesn't guarantee how long you'll wait for an ME bus or a bus at your resort to go to a theme park. They don't guarantee which attractions will even be open. We don't make our decisions based on guarantees.

If you have clothing you're going to absolutely need your first day it should be in your carry on luggage. Airlines don't lose luggage very often but it does happen.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We're flying on Delta and spending 1 night at WDW before leaving on our cruise the next day. I am considering getting our bags to take on the bus with us. I would hate to be without a piece of luggage for our trip.

Lori

 

[chipscinderelly]

With the way Disney has ME structured if you want to wait for your bags go for it - anyone who heads straight to the Welcome Center won't have to wait they can board the bus and go and you can catch the next bus. Be prepared to wait for an hour for bags - we fly into MCO at least 4 times a year on AA and have been known to wait atleast that long. That's why we like the new process when it works for us!

 

[legalslave]

When the airlines "lose" your luggage, it is usually not lost - it just didn't make the flight. It generally comes in on the next scheduled flight. ME will pick it up then and deliver it to your room. Even if you arrive on a late flight, you will get it sometime the next day, so why wait around filling out paperwork? Just bring what you need for the first day and night in a carryon and relax. If your luggage is really lost, hanging at the airport filling out paperwork won't find it. If it doesn't show up in a reasonable time, report it to the front desk at your resort and let someone else worry about finding it and doing the reporting.