Has magical express improved?

[Freiden8]

.. the last time I was in the world we skipped ME and went with a town car service because we didn't want to wait HOURS for our luggage to arrive to our room.

has ME picked up the pace and efficiency about getting your luggage to your room soon after your check in?

 

[nhl66pens]

I'm using DME this December and all I can tell you is that from what I read, if you want your luggage at the resort earlier than 3 hours from your arrival, don't bother with DME because you will just be unhappy. DME is setup to make your arrival at WDW stress free and simple but with the understanding that you should pack a carry on with all the things you need for the first day. I think from the choice of words that you phrased your question with, that you will be setting yourself up for disappointment if you use DME. Just my opinion.

 

[Jestocost]

DME is very reliable for what it was set up to do and what it promises; which is that luggage should be to your room within three hours of check in (or when your room is available after that). I assume that they are working to improve the percentage of time that they achieve that, but not too hard on decreasing the turn time beyond that. If you're looking for them to be better than promised, I agree that you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for a no-additional-cost service that does what it says it will do for the most part, you won't.

 

[zurgswife]

We have had our luggage pretty much at the 3hr mark every visit. Only once was it more but it was the beginning of free dining 2 yrs ago so it was really crowded and took about 5 hrs.

 

[simzac]

Based on that it's free, I can live with the luggage arriving 3 or so hours later than us. No big deal. That's what the carryon is for.

 

[Lewisc]

.. the last time I was in the world we skipped ME and went with a town car service because we didn't want to wait HOURS for our luggage to arrive to our room.

has ME picked up the pace and efficiency about getting your luggage to your room soon after your check in?

Your carry on luggage, combined with the clothing you wear on the plane, should be enough for your first day, preferably 24 hours. Airlines sometimes misdirect luggage.


There shouldn't be any reason for you to wait a single minute for your luggage. You should be at the pool, restaurant or in a theme park.

Those (few) people who can't start enjoying their vacation until their luggage in their room will always have to skip DME. Luggage goes to a central facility to be sorted, is bused to the resorts and then delivered to the rooms. You'll never see the time standard be much less then the current 3 hours (really 2-5).

 

[Freiden8]

Thanks.

yeah, I think we'll always need to skip it then.. with an infant and a toddler, I really prefer to have all our luggage as soon as possible. 3 hours after we check in is too uncomfortable of a time frame for me.

 

[Lady Lady]

What do you mean improved? Why would you think that luggage delivery would be any faster than the estimated 3 hours. People do have to pull the luggage, load it on trucks, have the trucks drive to the resorts, unload the trucks, deliver it to your room. Why would Disney make promises that the luggage will arrive at the same time as you?

And what is your luggage did not make it into MCO with you on your plane? Short layover flights have this happen all the time where the luggage comes on the next flight.

 

[zurgswife]

Thanks.

yeah, I think we'll always need to skip it then.. with an infant and a toddler, I really prefer to have all our luggage as soon as possible. 3 hours after we check in is too uncomfortable of a time frame for me.

Just remember you could check in at 12pm but your room is guaranteed to be ready until 3pm. Your luggage should reach your room the same time you did. If you get your own luggage I can't see sitting with it for 3hrs while your room is ready; you'd be handing it off to the luggage services anyway.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks.

yeah, I think we'll always need to skip it then.. with an infant and a toddler, I really prefer to have all our luggage as soon as possible. 3 hours after we check in is too uncomfortable of a time frame for me.

You need to rethink your packing strategy. Airlines misdirect luggage all the time.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

.. the last time I was in the world we skipped ME and went with a town car service because we didn't want to wait HOURS for our luggage to arrive to our room.

has ME picked up the pace and efficiency about getting your luggage to your room soon after your check in?

If you use the Magical Express luggage tags, you can go straight from your arrival gate to the Disney Welcome Center. You'll be on the next motor coach to your resort. You might be on your way while others on your flight are still waiting for their bags at the luggage claim.

Sure, if your room is ready, you'll arrive in your room before your bags do. That's understandable if you think about it. After all, the baggage needs to be unloaded from the aircraft, sorted at the airport, transported on a baggage truck, unloaded at the resort, and delivered when the bellmen aren't busy with guests who are checking in or with earlier DME baggage.

There's no reason to wait in your room for your luggage. Disney pays the inbound gratuity, so you don't need to be in your room when the luggage arrives. Just pack what you'll need in your carry-ons; go and have fun; and your bags will be in your room when you return.

If you don't use Magical Express luggage transfers, you'll have to go to luggage claim first, wait for your bags, and drag them all the way to the Disney Welcome Center (or tip a porter to move them for you). That could be a substantial distance, especially if your baggage claim is on the "A" side and at the other end of the terminal. You'll be on a later motorcoach than if you had gone directly to the Disney Welcome Center, so you'll arrive at your resort a 30-60 minutes later if you had used the Magical Express luggage transfers. Don't forget to bring money to tip the Magical Express driver for handling your bags and to tip the inbound bell service at your resort. And you'll have to wait around your room until your luggage is delivered (especially if the bell service staff is busy), because, if you don't use Magical Express luggage transfers, the bellman will only deliver if you're there.

And I agree with Lewisc. Pack carry-ons with essential items regardless of whether you do or don't use Magical Express baggage transfers.

 

[Dizzyworld]

We just got back from WDW on Sat.

We arrived on Thurs. August 15th. around noon. On our arrival it took almost 2 hours to leave the airport. I guess the reason was they were trying to fill the bus. For the longest time there was only 7 people on the bus. My Dh arrived the next night at 8 PM. We figured we'd have the luggage by midnight but we didn't. So my Dh went to bell services to make sure they weren't holding it. We were told the time period is between 3-5 hours to get your luggage. Now they knew we were waiting for his luggage, but they decided not to bring it to our room because they didn't want to distrub us. My Dh fell off to sleep in his travel clothes. He went and got his luggage at 8 AM.

As for the return trip, this was our first time using it to go back to MCO. We had a 3 hour before flight pick-up time. After picking us up on time, he went to several other resorts. What botherd me was that we didn't get to the airport until a little less than 90 mintues to our flight. Glad it wasn't crowded since Southwest starting boarding 25 minutes before departure time.

 

[CleveRocks]

Thanks.

yeah, I think we'll always need to skip it then.. with an infant and a toddler, I really prefer to have all our luggage as soon as possible. 3 hours after we check in is too uncomfortable of a time frame for me.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. When I had two toddlers, I had almost nothing for them in our checked luggage, and almost everything for them in our carry-ons. There was NO WAY I was was going to entrust their comfort and my happiness to my airline and my airline's luggage handling.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As for the return trip, this was our first time using it to go back to MCO. We had a 3 hour before flight pick-up time. After picking us up on time, he went to several other resorts. What botherd me was that we didn't get to the airport until a little less than 90 mintues to our flight. Glad it wasn't crowded since Southwest starting boarding 25 minutes before departure time.

And that is EXACTLY why Magical Express schedules pickup times approximately three hours prior to flight departure: Most times, each bus stops and picks up Guests at several resorts, as designed/routed/scheduled - to get them to the airport in time for their flights.

 

[goofy4tink]

For those of you who have excessive waits at the airport, and two hours is waaaay excessive, or have to wait more than the 3 hrs after resort checkin for your bags, I would heartily recommend writing to Disney to express your dissatisfaction. The buses are not supposed to sit there, for much longer than 20 mins before pulling out. It should take not much longer than 15 mins to get from your plane to the DME checkin line, then no more than 15-20 mins in line to checkin (I've never been in line longer than 10 mins). 20 mins should be the longest in the bus line, and 20 mins on the bus, then 30 mins to the first resort..worst case scenario would be under two hours total time, from deplaning to resort checkin. In over 5 trips with DME it has taken me usually right around an hour, one time it was 90 mins.
Once you get to your resort, you bags should be expected to be in your room within 3 hrs of resort checkin. Now, if you arrive, and checkin, at noon, and your room isn't ready until 3:00, then you stand a great chance of having your bags as you get into your room. But...if you are able to get into your room right at checkin, at noon, then no, you won't see your bags for a bit.

If you get into your room at noon, and your bags don't get to the room until 5:00, then yes, you should complain to Disney. There is no reason it should take 5 hrs for the bags to get to you. Likewise, if you don't get into your room until 3pm, after checking in at noon, and your bags don't get there until 5, tell Disney. They are the ones who made the statement to expect your bags in your room within 3 hrs. of resort checkin. Obviously if you arrive at 9am and you can't get into your room until 3pm, you shouldn't expect to see your bags at noon!!

If you think you have to have those bags, then don't tag them to begin with. You can then go to baggage claim and get them yourself, bringing them to the bus with you. They will be stowed underneath the bus, and handed to you when you get to the resort. Then, you will have immediate access to them.

I've said it before, I'll say it again...DME is not the answer for everyone. Disney does an extrodinary job of moving thousands of guests, every single day, from the airport to their resorts. They get the luggage to the resorts in a pretty timely fashion. But, it isn't going to be what every single guest needs. Some want a personal experience, so they hire towncar services. Others want a rental car. And that's okay. Just realize how DME works, then decide if it will 'work' for your family.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Just returned from WDW and trying ME for the first time - I was extremely hesitant, booked a wonderful town car service, trip was canceled then back on at the last minute, so decided to give ME a try. What a surprise!!

Diane, you were right - it was definitely worth it. I enjoyed the bus ride both ways, no concerns. Line was pretty long upon arrival, but within 10 mins we were on the bus.

Did have a concern about the long lines we'd seen at any resort check-in after an ME bus arrival, but I was at the front of the bus, so off first and walked directly to check-in - maybe 5 folks ahead of us. But the counter was full of CM's so check-in would not have taken long anyway.

My concern about when luggage would arrive in the room: we had a delightful poolside wait of about 2 hours, until a little after 4 p.m., for our room, no luggage when we got in, but it turned out we were assigned to the wrong room...we were moved to the correct room in about 20 mins and there was our luggage! Actually got to our room before us!

Due to Tropical Storm Fay, added 2 ngts to the stay and moved to POP. Called ME before moving resorts, they set everything up and told me to have POP print out the voucher at check-in, POP could not find the ME reservation. Told me to call front desk next morning. Stopped by front desk, but not in ME system. Called ME from room, they fixed issue and next time I was in the lobby picked up the voucher.

Even was able to get on an earlier bus than stated on the voucher (asked the driver if there was room). No problem.

Would take ME again, but will also enjoy a car service for some trips.

p.s. When I moved to POP it was my first time staying alone at WDW for more than a ngt. POP was wonderful! Cheerful, upbeat and a delightfully helpful CM at check-in, upgraded my room to the 60's pool view b/c I was alone! Last POP stay was not so magical due to poor condition of room, but this room had been recently painted and carpet cleaned. Very nice, if too short, stay.

 

[dburg30]

.. the last time I was in the world we skipped ME and went with a town car service because we didn't want to wait HOURS for our luggage to arrive to our room.

has ME picked up the pace and efficiency about getting your luggage to your room soon after your check in?

You DO have a carry on with important stuff right? That's what LewisC is trying to stress to you. What if your bags dont show up at baggage claim? What if they wind up in Colorado..

 

[Freiden8]

umm, you guys are being a little attacking in your posts.

we do have carry ons. yeah. I've always had AMAZING service and baggage experiences with Continental (the only airline we fly)

IMO, the possiblity of loosing your luggage in flight is a lot different than choosing to wait for it through DME.

I didn't realize how DME centric this board was.

 

[debster812]

umm, you guys are being a little attacking in your posts.

we do have carry ons. yeah. I've always had AMAZING service and baggage experiences with Continental (the only airline we fly)

IMO, the possiblity of loosing your luggage in flight is a lot different than choosing to wait for it through DME.

I didn't realize how DME centric this board was.

I don't think ANYONE was attacking, just pointing out issues that some travellers may not have thought of. You ask the question, you get the answers, that's the nature of the board.

I think your OP indicates that your mind was already kind of made up, and that's OK. DME is clearly not for everyone, and that's OK too. If the three hour timeframe is too long for you, then you probably should see out other transportation.

Personally we love DME, and use it all the time, but my DS is 11 and is pretty much responsible for his own carry one. I don't know that I'd feel differently with a toddler and an infant, but you just never know.

Have a good trip.

 

[Lewisc]

I wasn't attacking you. Airlines, even Continental, misdirect luggage. Travelers are advised to have enough in their carry ons to hold them over 24 hours. If you can't wait 3 hours for stuff you checked what will you do if your luggage is misdirected, lost or damaged?

Guests who can't start to enjoy their vacation until they get their luggage, and unpack shouldn't use DME. Sounds like you're in that category.

I just have a (small) issue with the way you phrased your post. For the most part DME luggage delivery doesn't need improvement. The three hour time standard meets the purpose of DME. Delivery of your bags in your room, while your already starting your vacation.

One trip I checked in at the AKL, put on my swimsuit and went to the pool. I had lunch and later an adult beverage poolside. By the time I returned to my room my bags had been delivered.

umm, you guys are being a little attacking in your posts.

we do have carry ons. yeah. I've always had AMAZING service and baggage experiences with Continental (the only airline we fly)

IMO, the possiblity of loosing your luggage in flight is a lot different than choosing to wait for it through DME.

I didn't realize how DME centric this board was.