General question about Disney's Magical Express

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since my family & I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada the only way we can use Disney's Magical Express is if we would fly out from Buffalo, New york which we don't ever see happening & because in the summer we drive & in December we always rent a car. Anyway I was just curious to know for anyone who has used Disney's Magical Express if you did not want to put all those tags on your checked bags for them to pick up for you, could you go to baggage claim yourself pick up your checked bags & go on over to the DME check in counter & they would load them onto the bus, then once you arrive at your WDW Resot you could have them once you check in & not wait 3-4 hours for them arrive in your room. The main reason I am asking this is because I hate waiting at baggage claim & I can not enjoy my vacation until all my familes checked bags have arrived, so if we ever did DME I could not enjoy WDW until I saw them. I am sure other people here feel the same way I do about that. Anyway if anyone can please answer this for me I would appreciate it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, you can pick up your own luggage as long as you don't attach the DME tags. Naturally, this means you have to wait at baggage claim (which takes longer, because FIRST the DME luggage is pulled before anything comes out) and you'd be expected to tip anybody who helps with your luggage - redcap, bus driver, bellhop...

 

[seashoreCM]

You can use Magical Express with resort luggage delivery flying any airline from anywhere so long as you end up at Orlando international Airport.

(somewhat OT past here)

It has been suggested that you do not attach the yellow tags (going to Disney) until you get to the customs station. I don't know why this makes a difference other than to reduce confusing the baggage handlers. For Canada to U.S. trips usually you do "preliminary customs" before crossing the border, e.g. at Toronto Airport with no additional "real customs" at Orlando.

If you do do customs in Orlando (going to Disney) I think that happens near the gate, and then you have three choices: (a) put on the yellow tags if not already and hand the baggage back to the baggage handlers for resort delivery, (b) don't put on the yellow tags (or remove them), hand the baggage back to the handlers and then take the tram and go to the carousel, or (c) Keep the baggage and schlep it aboard the tram and go directly to the ME welcoming area. (Resort delivery also works if you never got yellow tags)

(copied from another post) If you do use resort luggage delivery you do not have to wait in your room for the purpose of tipping that bellhop.

Flying to Buffalo(1) going home and on a "participating" airline(2) and flying after 8 AM(3) you can use the resort baggage check stand. In all other cases you would take your baggage to the airport (goes under the ME bus). Yellow tags are not used at all going home.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

(still somewhat OT)

I hate waiting at baggage claim & I can not enjoy my vacation until all my familes checked bags have arrived,.

Absolutely no way around this with any airplane flight to any destination. Admittedly when using ME resort baggage delivery to Disney you will usually beat your bags there.

(1) Customs in Buffalo instead of Orlando
(2) Resort check stand deals only with these airlines
(2) Otherwise resort check stand isn't open early enough