DME Question

[Jingle]

When taking DME, can you pick up your own checked luggage and take it on the bus with you? I really don't want to wait for my luggage to be delivered.

 

[a1tinkfans]

YES, just do not put on the YELLOW TAGs disney sent you for ME, or your bags will be pulled off by disney staff.
We do it all the time,
Bags are then stored under the transport ME bus to your resort.
I always have something that distinguishes our bags, many look the same, and I would hate to either not see it on arrival OR have someone take it by accident along the route. Usually they store in bus in a specific are per resort.
If room is not ready they'll hold for you in resort.
Have great trip!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The real advantage of using DME is having them pick up your luggage and not having to wait for it at the airport. What you might consider doing is to keep with you what you will need for the first few hours of your trip in your carry on. Then you won't have to wait for your luggage at the resort after you check in. The resort will deliver your luggage to your room when it arrives.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you can. BUT.....be aware of one thing. If half the guests on the bus got their own luggage, it would be a major inconvenience to the other guests riding the bus. Let's say that there are 20 families on the bus...maybe 4 people in each family...give or take. There are 10 families that decide they don't want to be without their checked bags. So, they drag their bags to the bus with them. They, most likely, have a bag apiece, so 4 bags per family, maybe more. But, we'll use that 4 per family. So, now you have 40 pieces of luggage, in addition to any carryon bags, that are too large to fit in the passengers lap, that have to be stowed underneath the bus. That may be an addtl 15 or so pieces of luggage when you add the carryon bags.
At each resort, the bus now has to sit there, and those going on to the next resorts, have to sit and wait until the bags for each passenger going to this particular resort gets their bags handed to them. And the driver will be expecting a tip from each of those families...so, it is going to add an addtl 10-15 mins at each stop.
Maybe not a huge deal for those getting off at that first stop, but believe me, it adds up for those still on the bus. The longest trip I've had to date (5 or 6 trips so far) with DME was the time POP was the third of three stops, and the first two stops had a ton of luggage to be taken out. We were at each of those two resorts about 12 mins each vs 5 mins. It took us close to 90 mins to get to POP.
Now, I've been the third of four stops before and it took only 70 mins that time. Go figure.


So....while I'm not telling you to tag your bags and let DME handle them for you rather than to hold up everyone on the bus, I'm just letting you know what the scenario could be. I know that one time, as we sat on the bus at MCO, waiting for others to board (that's what happens when you're among the first to board!!!), we watched as family after family arrived with massive amounts of luggage. After the 4th or 5th family got on board, after handing off their bags to the driver, another passenger asked them if they realized DME would deliver their bags for them. While it was funny, the family in question was not amused!!! They informed the 'rude' person who had asked the question that they were allowed to bring their bags to the bus....was there a problem?? The other person just rolled their eyes and shrugged. I think it was a very good thing that the bus went to the questioning person's resort before heading to the 'not amused' family's resort. Was it a nice thing to say? Probably not. But man....it does slow things down.
With that said, do what you will. DME was designed to get the guest to the resort as easily as possible. And the added perk of not having to lug your bags is a huge plus. Also, remember, it will add some time to your overall time...about 15-20 mins.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

When taking DME, can you pick up your own checked luggage and take it on the bus with you? I really don't want to wait for my luggage to be delivered.

Yes. As a1tinkfans noted, simply don't use the yellow DME tags (or use them only on items that are not quite as time-sensitive).

I use DME as designed because I don't want to wait for luggage at baggage claim or at the resort -- and with DME luggage delivery, I don't have to.

Here's a more detailed answer that I posted last year.

Yes, you can collect your own bags at baggage claim. (Just don't use the the yellow ME luggage routing tags, and your bags will go to baggage claim instead of to the DME sorting area.)

There are several disadvantages of collecting your own bags:

• You'll have to go baggage claim, wait for the bags from your flight to be unloaded from the aircraft, and wait for all of your bags to appear on the conveyor.
• If the airline has delayed your luggage, you'll have to deal with the airline at the airport, which typically involves long lines, rather than being able to handle it through Disney.
• You'll have to carry your bags through the airport to the DME Welcome Center and the DME coach.
• If you get assistance from a porter at the airport, it's customary to tip.
• You will most likely be on a later motorcoach to your resort than if you had gone straight from your arrival gate to the DME Welcome Center — which means you'll get to WDW later.
• It's customary to tip the driver who stores and retrieves your bags under the motorcoach.
• You'll have to carry your bags to the resort check-in and to your room.
• If you get luggage assistance and/or luggage storage (until your room is ready) at your resort, it's customary to tip the bellman. (If you use DME as designed, Disney pays the inbound bellman gratuity.)
• If you get inbound luggage assistance, you may need to wait until the bellman has time, and you'll have to be in the room when the bellman arrives with your luggage. (If you use DME as designed, you don't have to be in the room because Disney pays the inbound bellman gratuity.)

I realize that some people just can't get into the vacation mood until they've unpacked their bags. For such people, it makes sense to throw away the yellow tags and to handle their own luggage.

There are also some cases when it makes sense to get luggage as quickly as possible, such as if one needs golf clubs a few hours after arrival or if one has checked a tent for use at Fort Wilderness.

For the rest of us, it's great to use DME as designed. Just pack a small carry-on with anything that you need right away (along with the usual valuables, medications, cameras, and film). Get to the resort as quickly as possible. Start having fun as quickly as possible — which could mean going to a park, to the pool, or to a restaurant — knowing that your bags will be waiting in the room when you return to the room in the evening.​

 

[Jingle]

Thanks everyone for all the information. It gives me some things to think about. While it will only be one piece of luggge for us, it can add up if others are doing the same. I can see where it could be an irritation for anyone who has a stop after us. I guess I'll have to decide if I really need my luggage right away or if I can do without.

 

[mizzoumom]

When using DME, when you get to your resort do they unload the luggage for people at that resort or do they come back later? I am trying to find this out before I book with ME.

 

[kaytieeldr]

When using DME, when you get to your resort do they unload the luggage for people at that resort or do they come back later? I am trying to find this out before I book with ME.

When using Magical Express as it was conceived and is designed, your luggage does NOT go on/under the bus. It is transported by GPS-tracked truck from the airport to the resorts, and luggage is scanned a minimum of five separate times from pick-up to drop-off. When Guests claim their own luggage and bring to the bus - please reread post number 4.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I guess I'll have to decide if I really need my luggage right away or if I can do without.

If you opt to claim your own luggage, it's a good idea to have a contingency plan in case your luggage is misdirected by the airline.
If you're going to have a contingency plan anyway, you may as well attach the yellow tags and let DME handle your luggage

 

[Alesia]

Thanks everyone for all the information. It gives me some things to think about. While it will only be one piece of luggge for us, it can add up if others are doing the same. I can see where it could be an irritation for anyone who has a stop after us. I guess I'll have to decide if I really need my luggage right away or if I can do without.

You will still need to pack everything you'll need for the first 24 hours in your carry-on.

 

[goofy4tink]

When using DME, when you get to your resort do they unload the luggage for people at that resort or do they come back later? I am trying to find this out before I book with ME.

If you have used DME the way Disney intended it to be used, you will have tagged your checked bags with the special yellow luggage tags DME sent you a month or so before your departure date. Then, you get off the plane and head directly to the DME checkin area, and get on your bus. Your tagged bags will be taken off the plane, and grabbed by someone who realizes those yellow tags mean it gets scanned and put into a special area. There it is taken to the appropriate resort luggage truck...after being scanned another time or two. The truck brings your tagged checked bags to your resort and they will 'magically' appear in your room up to 4 hrs after you checkin at the resort.
If you decide not to tag your bags, then you will have to head to baggage claim after you deplane. Then, you will take your checked bag(s) with you, down to DME. You will get checked in and go to the appropriate resort bus. Your bag(s) will be stowed underneath your bus. When you get to your resort, the bag(s) will be handed off to you. If your room isn't ready for you when you checkin at the resort, your bag(s) can be given to Bell Services to store until your room is ready. Then you will have to call down to them to have them bring the bags to you. And they will expect a tip...as will your bus driver on the way to the resort. Any time anyone touches a bag, they are entitled to a tip..except when using DME luggage delivery. Disney has already tipped those people.

Hope this clears up any questions you may have.

To the OP....please don't misunderstand me. A lot of guests do bring their bags. And for the most part, it isn't an issue. But, on the buses where a lot of people have lugged a lot of baggage, it does make other nudgy. That has happened on only one run that I have been on.

 

[jbdisneymom13]

I have never used DME before either and am thinking about it in the future. But my question after reading these posts is - aren't there some airlines that don't participate in DME? If so and you want to use the bus service, don't you have no choice but to retrieve your own luggage and bring it on the bus with you? Does that mean that if I am on such an airline (which I think I am) that I will have angry people staring me down the whole bus trip for something that is beyond my control? Do people just believe that only those on participating airlines should be able to use the service at all? If so, that is unfortunate and may make me think twice before trying DME.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Participating airline really only applies to the outbound portion of your flight. So for your trip to Disney on SW(just read your other post) as long as you have yellow DME tags on your bags they will be pulled(before they reach the carousel) placed on a delivery truck and taken to your resort.

For your trip home it really isn't DME that SW doesn't participate in, it is the Remote(or Resort ) Airline Check in(RAC) that they don't participate in. SW passengers and those who for other reasons(time of flight etc) can't use RAC must take their bags with them to the bus and check the bags at the airport instead of at the resort.

I would think it is more common(therefor more expected)to have your bags on the bus on the way home then on the way to Disney.

P.S. SW is doing a trial period with RAC so it may be available to SW passengers in the near future.

 

[CleveRocks]

I have never used DME before either and am thinking about it in the future. But my question after reading these posts is - aren't there some airlines that don't participate in DME? If so and you want to use the bus service, don't you have no choice but to retrieve your own luggage and bring it on the bus with you? Does that mean that if I am on such an airline (which I think I am) that I will have angry people staring me down the whole bus trip for something that is beyond my control? Do people just believe that only those on participating airlines should be able to use the service at all? If so, that is unfortunate and may make me think twice before trying DME.

"Participating airline" only has to do with when you go back home.

But on arrival in Orlando, EVERYONE on EVERY AIRLINE will have their checked bags automatically handled by DME, as long as there is a special DME luggage tag on that bag.

 

[goofy4tink]

I really do wish that Disney would stop lumping DME in with RAC..it's very confusing to most people!!!
It doesn't matter how you get to MCO...if you are staying at a WDW owned resort, you are entitled to a ride from the airport to your resort, and then a ride back to the airport. As long as those rides fall within the dates of your reservation, you're good to go.
It doesn't matter what airline you are flying in, or out, on. You can use DME.

The confusion occurs when we start talking about 'participating' airlines. These are the airlines that are part of the RAC program, not the DME program. The RAC program allows you to check your bags at your resort and get your boarding passes issued right then. But, only certain airlines do this.
If you are flying home on an airline that does not 'participate' in the RAC program, you can still use DME. You just take your bags with you, to the bus. The bags will be stowed underneath your bus and handed off to you when you reach MCO.


The only time you wouldn't be able to use the luggage delivery perk when you arrive at MCO and are ready to head to your resort would be if, let's say, you got to MCO some other way other than an airline. Maybe you were on a cruise and you rented a car to get you to MCO. Or maybe you were visiting someone and they dropped you off at MCO. In these cases you would have to have your bags with you, when you went to the DME checkin area. Your bags would then be put under the bus.
But that doesn't seem to happen very often. So...long story short....when you tag your checked bags with those special DME yellow tags before you leave home, as soon as the baggage handlers see those yellow tagged bags come off the plane, they are grabbed and put in a specific area. Then, they are put on appropriate luggage trucks to specific resorts. It makes no difference what airline those bags come in on...if they're tagged, they get pulled.

 

[jbdisneymom13]

Thank you all for helping me figure this out - you're right the concept is very confusing to someone new to the program like me. I guess I didn't ask the right questions to finally "get" it until now!