How to get carry-on suitcase onto Magical Express luggage transportation? Gate check?

[shortnsweet435]

Hi!

So... our yellow tags arrived in the mail, and we'd love to use them, but we're only taking our usual travel bags: 1 carry-on size suitcase and 1 duffel bag each, no checking. We were thinking though, on the last leg of our flight (LAX - MCO via Delta) we could... put the yellow tags on before the flight, and then gate check them?

We've gate checked before (with Alaska, however) and usually they will give us our bags back as we deplane in the walkway. But ALSO we've had our bag confiscated before boarding at the gate, they stuck a tag around them & whisked them away somewhere, because there was no more room in the overhead bins in the whole plane, and we ended up having to pick those bags up from the baggage claim carousel. There was no charge. I've read if your bag has a yellow tag at MCO, it'll be snatched before even making it to the carousel.

Anyway, I'm not even sure if "gate check" is the term I'm referring to for that last situation, or if it's a different airline term. It seems as though our only no-charge option to get them transported is to get them "confiscated" at the gate. Does anyone know any way to request this or what it's called?

We've got a 5am arrival and it would be very convenient if we could use our yellow tags rather than drag them around and have to visit bell services.

Thanks everyone, I love all the help I get here at disboards!

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, IF your airline offers the ability to gate check items for free, I supposed you could ask them to check them through to the MCO carousel. And if they'll agree to do that, then you could put the tags on then for ME.

But IMO...

We've got a 5am arrival and it would be very convenient if we could use our yellow tags rather than drag them around and have to visit bell services.

You'll be passing right by bell/luggage services most likely on your way to check in, so it doesn't seem like there's that much bother with them.

Oh wait...what are you going to do from the time you get to the resort until you get your room? Will you truly have everything you need on your bodies during that second part of the flight? Might you want to swim at some point before getting your room and then later on your bags? If so, make sure you have everything like swimsuits and sunscreen with you, while handing the carryons over, if Delta offers free gatecheck on that flight.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

All the bags you carry to the plane can not be sent to the resort via the Disney luggage service.

 

[shortnsweet435]

Thanks Bumbershoot!

We'll just have to ask the airline when we get to the gate at LAX, if we can't it won't be a big deal because we'll be at the hotel anyway!

We'd arrive at our hotel around 6:30 via ME, we're going to go to breakfast (which opens at 6) at the hotel and then to the parks (first bus leaves at 7). The only thing we'd need is our magic bands, sunglasses, ears, water bottle, sunscreen, & travel docs in 1 drawstring backpack, which we're fine with those being the only thing we have on the plane on our last leg, as we'll be sleeping. We thought we'd check in online with new My Magic Plus and bypass checking in at the hotel, and since we probably can't get to our room around 3pm anyway we'd just wait for our room until we got back from the parks that night. We've got a long enough of a layover between Sea-Tac and LAX to adjust all our luggage to only truly carry on what we need for the parks.

BUT, it's no big deal, since like you said, even though we're not checking in at the hotel, we'll be right by bell services if we eat breakfast there. It's a shame no one knows much about this gate check to carousel situation though.

 

[maxiesmom]

BUT, it's no big deal, since like you said, even though we're not checking in at the hotel, we'll be right by bell services if we eat breakfast there. It's a shame no one knows much about this gate check to carousel situation though.

I think that is because it can vary, depending on the airline and how they are handling things at that exact time. I've had bags that were gate checked that I then had to pick up when I got off of the aircraft, they were left on the jetway. I've had bags that were gate checked that went all the way through to the luggage carousel.

I've never heard of an airline letting a passenger gate check a bag just because they didn't want to hassle with it. Usually it has to be in the airline's best interest to have passengers gate check bags.

 

[goofy4tink]

Why don't you just check the bags to begin with? When a bag is gate checked, it is because it is either too big to fit, or there just isn't enough room remaining for addtl carry on bags to be put in the overheads.
You're going to the resort anyway...you have to if you're using DME. May just as well keep your carry on bag with you, drop it with Bell Services
/Luggage Assistence and then just get it on your way to our room later on. You would be tipping only about $1 a bag, so that's not a deal breaker.

Just a note....the first bus will be around 6:30. That's the time the buses start running to parks every day. But they tend to run a bit less frequently than regular buses do. If the park opens at 8 or earlier, they may move the bus start time to even earlier.
I'm also not familiar with the checkin process you mentioned. Is this something new? I've heard of regular online checkin, but you still have to go to the front counter and get your packet. Just curious.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi!

So... our yellow tags arrived in the mail, and we'd love to use them, but we're only taking our usual travel bags: 1 carry-on size suitcase and 1 duffel bag each, no checking. We were thinking though, on the last leg of our flight (LAX - MCO via Delta) we could... put the yellow tags on before the flight, and then gate check them?

We've gate checked before (with Alaska, however) and usually they will give us our bags back as we deplane in the walkway. But ALSO we've had our bag confiscated before boarding at the gate, they stuck a tag around them & whisked them away somewhere, because there was no more room in the overhead bins in the whole plane, and we ended up having to pick those bags up from the baggage claim carousel. There was no charge. I've read if your bag has a yellow tag at MCO, it'll be snatched before even making it to the carousel.

Anyway, I'm not even sure if "gate check" is the term I'm referring to for that last situation, or if it's a different airline term. It seems as though our only no-charge option to get them transported is to get them "confiscated" at the gate. Does anyone know any way to request this or what it's called?

We've got a 5am arrival and it would be very convenient if we could use our yellow tags rather than drag them around and have to visit bell services.

Thanks everyone, I love all the help I get here at disboards!

Will the duffel bag fit under the seat? If not, you have to check one if both have a carry on and a duffel bag.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think that is because it can vary, depending on the airline and how they are handling things at that exact time. I've had bags that were gate checked that I then had to pick up when I got off of the aircraft, they were left on the jetway. I've had bags that were gate checked that went all the way through to the luggage carousel.

I've never heard of an airline letting a passenger gate check a bag just because they didn't want to hassle with it. Usually it has to be in the airline's best interest to have passengers gate check bags.

Definitely varies. And it's important to know how they've tagged it. We once had a carseat get checked through to the carousel which was NOT what I wanted at all (though watching it come slamming down onto the carousel cured me of checking the precious carseats!).

Almost every flight I've been on the last 2 years has involved a call to gatecheck bags for free once everyone's at the gate. We even *had to* check bags at the gate on our last flight because there was "no room" only to find enough room that people were putting their heavy winter coats up there. I had left my asthma inhaler (by total accident) in that bag and my medals from the WDW Marathon weekend were in it, and we had to sprint to the gate (thought it had left already until we found out it was still there) and that sprint caused my lungs to tighten and I was just PEEVED that they weren't actually checking to see if there was room.

Sorry for the rant. Point is...they do tend to do that call for checking bags for free at the gate quite a lot. Though I've only been on United and Alaska recently, not Delta.

Why don't you just check the bags to begin with?


She mentions "no-charge option" so I think she doesn't want to pay to check the bags.

I'm also not familiar with the checkin process you mentioned. Is this something new? I've heard of regular online checkin, but you still have to go to the front counter and get your packet. Just curious.

I didn't even notice that.

Though I've read of many people just going straight to the parks. Others have said that it's only with the dining plan that you NEED to check in before using it. Other than that you don't have to check in before heading to the parks, and I would assume they'll text you your room number? I think that's how it's supposed to work at least, but I always physically check in to get my packet before doing anything so I don't know.

 

[Lewisc]

All the bags you carry to the plane can not be sent to the resort via the Disney luggage service.

Do you have any facts/links to support your statement?

Bags checked at the gate, due to bin overcrowding, are sent to the carousels. Put a yellow DME tag on the bag and Disney won't know (or care) if the bag was checked in the counter or at the gate.

Otherwise the OP could call DME. I have to think there is a place in MCO where they could drop off a yellow tagged bag. Hyatt bell services has the ability to get guests bags into the DME system.

Why don't you just check the bags to begin with? When a bag is gate checked, it is because it is either too big to fit, or there just isn't enough room remaining for addtl carry on bags to be put in the overheads.
You're going to the resort anyway...you have to if you're using DME. May just as well keep your carry on bag with you, drop it with Bell Services

They'd be saving a few dollars in tips. This is DIS where every penny counts. Their luggage will also get delivered without the guest having to be in the room. That will avoid having to call and wait for luggage delivery. I'm not sure which resort the OP is staying at. Rooms are frequently available early. Not sure if a room will be available as early as the OP will be arriving. Almost no shot if they're staying at a DVC property

 

[SteveMouse]

The "free" gate check won't likely happen unless the airline perceives that crowding will be a problem or the OP has the "right" level of preferred customer status.

 

[JanaDee]

Do you have any facts/links to support your statement?

Bags checked at the gate, due to bin overcrowding, are sent to the carousels. Put a yellow DME tag on the bag and Disney won't know (or care) if the bag was checked in the counter or at the gate.

Otherwise the OP could call DME. I have to think there is a place in MCO where they could drop off a yellow tagged bag. Hyatt bell services has the ability to get guests bags into the DME system.



They'd be saving a few dollars in tips. This is DIS where every penny counts. Their luggage will also get delivered without the guest having to be in the room. That will avoid having to call and wait for luggage delivery. I'm not sure which resort the OP is staying at. Rooms are frequently available early. Not sure if a room will be available as early as the OP will be arriving. Almost no shot if they're staying at a DVC property

We have always had gate-checked bags returned to us as we exited the plane.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ah, I kind of skimmed over the 'no charge' comment. You either get to check bags, and pay the fee, or you get to use carry on, and then deal with having bags with you. I sure would love to find a way to use just carry on bags, then hand them off so as to not have to worry about them or pay for them. But, unfortunately, that isn't how it works. Of course, there may be situations where it does work. And once someone gets that to happen, they will post about it and everyone is going to want to do it...and then we have an issue. Happens all the time. One person gets an exception made, and then everyone wants it made for them.

I'm sorry if I sound negative, but really....you either have carry on bags or you have checked bags. And I could be wrong, but don't you have to go to the resort in order to get your MBs activated for that particular trip? That is what I was told, but could be wrong. If it were me, I would just keep the carry on bags, go to the DME bus, go to the resort and leave the bags with Luggage Assistance/Bell Services. Geez, it will take all of 10 mins extra. You're going there for breakfast anyway.....take the time to do it the way it should be done and you won't have to worry about something going wrong. It will take you about 5 mins at Bell Services to give them your bags, and about 10 mins at the front desk to get checked in. Believe me, it won't be busy at that time...then go have breakfast and then head to the parks. You will have added about 15-20 mins to your overall time.

 

[distherapy]

I flew Delta to Nashville through Atlanta last month and carried a bag. I didn't want to have to wait at baggage claim when I arrived. At the layover stop BOTH WAYS, though, they announced the flight was full and asked for people to volunteer to check their bags. It was a different procedure than the typical gate check and they printed the bag tag and took my luggage (I volunteered - I was tired of dragging the bag around). The bag was checked through to my final destination and that fact was made clear to everyone who volunteered. I do not have to pay Delta baggage fees but it also appeared that no one else was charged.

I will say that this was the first time I experienced this scenario. I would never fly assuming it would happen and I don't believe you could request this scenario if they didn't offer it. In your case it would have worked out well, assuming you put the DME tags on your bags. However, if I were you, I'd just pay the bag fees and check them from the start so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[seashoreCM]

Aren't gate checked bags without yellow tags treated the same way as counter checked or skycap checked bags without yellow tags -- you can choose to show your claim check to the Magical Express welcoming area CM and DME will handle the bag off of the carousel for you?

* Exception: Gate checked bags re-united with you at the arrival gate.

 

[sam_gordon]

I try to avoid gate checking bags. I'm more concerned with the airlines misplacing my luggage (I think they're at about a 40% success rate of doing that for my trips over the last 10 years or so).

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have no idea why anyone would do what OP wants to do. Actually this type of action tends to result in more lost luggage

Airlines have pretty good tracking if you check at the counters. So they know that 50 bags are checked and they expect 50 bags at the plane. But when you gate check the baggage system doesn't know to expect the bag. I have seen gate agents dealing with a lot of "left luggage"

 

[shortnsweet435]

Hey everyone!

Thanks for the advice! I love how there are so many different experiences with airlines/ME/bell services/etc.

To answer some of the "OP" questions:

@Debbie B: Our duffel bags are the small athletic type ones, they do fit under seats and are basically the size of a large purse, but duffel shaped.

@Lewisc: Yes, our #1 priority is to save money, whether that loses convenience or not.

@Janadee: In all of our experiences, complimentary gate checked bags were returned when exiting the plane. In the one "overcrowding" experience, we had to pick it up at the carousel.

@Distherapy: That is the exact experience we've had I described above.

@Goofy4tink: We really don't mind having the bags with us. I have just been searching for a way to use our yellow tags somehow. Whether that means we take our bags with us or not, it would mean a lot to have them delivered to our room. Dropping them at bell services would not be a problem, but if they could go airport>room without us, that would be optimal. We do have ample morning time, it will just be exhausting getting back from the parks at night and going to Bell Services and carrying them to our rooms. As for activating our bands... I'm not sure. We already checked in online and chose our pins so I will have to report back about whether we need to or not.

All:
Basically, we don't really care about gate checking, it was just a possible thought I had to get around to using our yellow tags on carry-ons. Like I said, it's not really about saving convenience in the morning as much as it is in the evening. If there is any way to get them into the luggage transport after deplaning in MCO, that would be just as good. Or if our resort bell services (POP) can deliver them to our room after we arrive, still good! It's just we've used Bell Services at the Disneyland resorts and we still had to carry them to our rooms.

Thanks for any more help you can give!

 

[bumbershoot]

It's just we've used Bell Services at the Disneyland resorts and we still had to carry them to our rooms.

Whoa, really? Something went wrong there.

Pop has something slightly different from "bell" services, maybe "luggage" services? They do have carts. I was silly and didn't ask for help, and didn't see that they had carts until the next morning. Should have asked for help. So definitely ask for help! When you get of the on-site transportation from the parks that evening, stop in either with the luggage people if you see them or at the front desk, and tell them that you would like help and to get your bags to your room. With their help. And carts.

 

[JanaDee]

Whoa, really? Something went wrong there.

Pop has something slightly different from "bell" services, maybe "luggage" services? They do have carts. I was silly and didn't ask for help, and didn't see that they had carts until the next morning. Should have asked for help. So definitely ask for help! When you get of the on-site transportation from the parks that evening, stop in either with the luggage people if you see them or at the front desk, and tell them that you would like help and to get your bags to your room. With their help. And carts.

Why would they need help with two bags that are small duffel bags and a carry on size suitcase?

Seriously, OP, you are making it soooo much more difficult than it is, really.

Take the bags as carry-on on the plane. Take them on the DME with you and take them to Bell Services when you arrive.

When you get back from the parks, either stop at Bell Services and pick up the bags or go directly to your room and call for your bags.

 

[goofy4tink]

Luggage Assistance at Pop will bring the bags to your room..it won't be quick, but they'll get them there. My issue is that they tend to shut down around 11pm.

As far as not having to check-in before heading to a park? Nope. I've checked in, online, before...had my MB in hand. Had to go to check-in and get 'checked in'.

Seriously..if you want DME to take care of your bags, pay to check them when you get on the plane. Do NOT count on being able to gate check them on the second leg. You will still be charged!!! Might as well just do it up front. Then, you can get to Pop, check-in, eat breakfast and head to a park, and your bags will be waiting in your room when you return that night.
It's never a good idea to try to 'work the system'. That system is set up to work a certain way. Trying to gate check your bags, and hope that if you tag them DME will get them, is something most of us wouldn't try. I would try to combine all your stuff into one larger bag, and just check it, vs trying to gate check two smaller carry-on bags. You will still have the smallish duffles...will you be taking them to the park with you?