Has magical express improved?

[Minnie&Nana]

Just wanted add that I was with a friend and her two yr old - she prefers ME to a towncar or renting a car. For them it is easier with the little one b/c she enjoys the "Mickey bus" and video on the ride.

She takes a carry on with any necessities and does great with her toddler.

Or you may chose to take care of the luggage by not using the ME tags, picking up luggage as usual at the airline, take it with to the bus where the driver will store it under the bus for you. Then you have it with you the entire time and are never left without your luggage.

It's not an easy decision for some of us!

 

[carolina_yankee]

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.

Since the title of your first post and the thread was "Has Magical Express Improved," several readers were probably wondering "was it ever broken?" That might be where some of the testiness has come from, too.

I go through this question in my own mind every trip. I like the efficiency, convenience, and price of DME, but I also like to be in control. So, I have to decide if the $$$ factor overrides the control needs. My issue isn't luggage (I have total confidence there, and don't need the bags right away) - just the timing. But every time I've taken DME, it has worked as well as or better than advertised.

There is no way to let Disney handle your luggage without being separated from it for about 3 hours after checking into your room. If that doesn't work for you, then you have two options. Arrange your own transportation, or collect your bags yourself and take DME. Only you can decide which method will best satisfy your needs.

Dirk

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Freiden8,

The regulars on here are not being attacking. There have been many posts from people about luggage lost by the airlines and major disasters because medicine or all the diapers, etc. were in those bags.

While Continental may have wonderful luggage service, things happen. We were on a small puddle jumper plane on a flight home. Because of the weight, they had to leave some people's bags behind, to be brought in on a larger plane the next day. This was not a case of "lost" luggage or incompetence on the part of the airline, it was something that was unavoidable and necessary. My mother waited almost 24 hours for her bags because she was unlucky enough to be one of the ones picked. Fortunately, it was the way home, and she had her meds in her carry-on, so it was not a huge problem for us.

On here, posters try to advise you as best they can. As someone with 4 kids, I would also tell you to make sure you had relatively well stocked carryons, because things happen. I worry more about the airlines losing my luggage than waiting for DME to get it to my room.

Since you have small kids, Lewisc and the others just wanted to make sure you packed carryons just in case, so if the airline screwed up or your luggage flew the coop, you would be prepared and not have a disaster trip on your hands. From reading posts on here, I personally trust Disney's luggage system far more than the airlines, and we fly nonstop flights with SW, who generally do pretty well with luggage from what I can tell.

Also, the question was "has DME improved?" as if the 3 hours was because of something they were doing wrong. That is how I perceived it, at least. I think the posters who explained DME is not for everyone and that the 3 hours is not really that much when you consider the process were not attacking you, they just want to make sure that someone who may want to use ME realizes it can be a great thing for some families. We love it because in October, when we get off that plane, I can move myself, DH, 4 kids, my mother, my sister, and my best friend from MCO to BWV without lugging the mountain of luggage I know we will have.

DME can be a great service. Yes, you have to wait for your bags. If that is not acceptable, dont use it or dont tag them, because you will not be happy with it.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

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).

No need to be rude here. I suspect luggage has more importance to some than to others - and there is nothing wrong with that.....just as there is nothing wrong with YOUR opinion of luggage. Just don't insult.

We actually begin enjoying OUR vacation far faster with a rental car at the airport. We walk out to the garage, pick a car and we are GONE We are not at all fond of the MOO factor of Disney busses so we just avoid it at all costs. There are enough lines at WDW - we are not starting by standing in one at the airport.

I am happy people enjoy DME and Disney continues to offer the free service for all who want to take advantage of it. If your comfort factor is disrupted because you have no idea where your bags are....or when they will arrive in your room...you may want to consider skipping DME.

It's all about our individual comfort and budget.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I see no rudeness in Lewis' post. He is stating matter of factly that DME is not for everyone, just as you do so below.

We used DME once in 2005 and had no delays getting to the WL. Two out of three bags arrived within 3 hours and the third arrived about 3 hours later. Normally we rent a car, but that has more to do with our daily activities at WDW than arrival.

YMMV

No need to be rude here. I suspect luggage has more importance to some than to others - and there is nothing wrong with that.....just as there is nothing wrong with YOUR opinion of luggage. Just don't insult.

We actually begin enjoying OUR vacation far faster with a rental car at the airport. We walk out to the garage, pick a car and we are GONE We are not at all fond of the MOO factor of Disney busses so we just avoid it at all costs. There are enough lines at WDW - we are not starting by standing in one at the airport.

I am happy people enjoy DME and Disney continues to offer the free service for all who want to take advantage of it. If your comfort factor is disrupted because you have no idea where your bags are....or when they will arrive in your room...you may want to consider skipping DME.

It's all about our individual comfort and budget.

 

[dburg30]

LOL if people find any of this thread as 'attacking' or 'rude'......


Well, I hope you are never involved in a thread that actually has either of those..

Bottom line is, these are cold hard facts that are given out, and as goofy4tink says "There is no pixie-dust on the transportation forum"

Do some of us 'defend' DME? It may seem that way, but we are more pointing out the OTHER things that can go wrong before you even know there is a problem Until DME seems like it doesnt work well, I'm taking it, and using it. I dont want to get myself around Florida and WDW.

 

[TravelBugJill]

We just got back from Disney and had problems with Magical Express on both ends of our trip.

When we got there we went to the theme parks. After returning to CSR we found that one of our checked bags had not made it to our room. It took several hours for this bag to be found. Not sure if this was a DME problem or CSR Bell Services.

Our worst problem occured on our return trip. We had an 8:15 pickup time with DME. We got over to where we were to be picked up at 7:45. The DME bus finally came at 8:45, one half hour late. It was already full. There was a whole line up of people waiting to get on the bus. Our family got on, but that was it. The rest of the line was turned away. I'm not sure how they got to the airport.

Finally, at the way to the airport the driver would not let us hold any of our bags on the bus, he wanted them stowed underneath. Even our ones with travel documents and money. When we got to the airport he started to give our bags to another family. My husband stepped right in and grabbed them away. The driver looked at my husband like he had a problem.

I would not use Disney's Magical express again. We also had trouble with all of Disney Trans.

For this and other headaches we had, with waiting a long time for Disney buses I would suggest you Rent a car.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Our worst problem occured on our return trip. We had an 8:15 pickup time with DME. We got over to where we were to be picked up at 7:45. The DME bus finally came at 8:45, one half hour late. It was already full. There was a whole line up of people waiting to get on the bus. Our family got on, but that was it. The rest of the line was turned away.

Your experience was my worse fear - still is - which is why each time we plan WDW trip I will re-visit the ME option.

Of course, hundred's of guests have a positive experience everyday, as I did last week, but being a worry wort about getting to the airport in plenty of time, it will always be part of my consideration when planning to use ME.

Glad you did get to the airport and hopefully, ME sent another bus for the left behind guests.

 

[CleveRocks]

Remember, the 3 hour time frame includes travel to WDW from the airport

Actually, it doesn't. Disney says it's up to 3 hours after you check in to your Resort hotel, not 3 hours from landing.

I'm not being negative towards you, Minnie, it's just that I want everyone to have accurate info ... if someone expects the luggage earlier than promised, that will lead to complaints about DME for "late" luggage when it wasn't even truly late.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Actually, it doesn't. Disney says it's up to 3 hours after you check in to your Resort hotel, not 3 hours from landing.

I'm not being negative towards you, Minnie, it's just that I want everyone to have accurate info ... if someone expects the luggage earlier than promised, that will lead to complaints about DME for "late" luggage when it wasn't even truly late.

Oops, did I write that? Thanks for the correction, Eric. I usually check facts if not sure, but goofed this time!