If you take Magical Express, can you get your own luggage?

[IheartMickey]

If you don't put the tags on? I'm a little worried about having them take my luggage based on the stories I've read of people getting their luggage very late, or getting someone elses luggage.

I don't mind taking the bus but I'd like to get my luggage myself.

 

[clkelley]

Yes, that is no problem.

However, consider this, if your luggage is on side A baggage claim then you will go downstairs to Level 2 on Side A, then have to go back up to Level 3, cross over to Side B, then all the way down to Level 1 on Side B.

 

[goofy4tink]

The average time for luggage to be delivered is about 3 hrs. I haven't heard too many instances where people have gotten others luggage. I guess it's happened but not enough to cause me any concern.
Long story short...yes, you can get your own luggage, but as was just posted, it makes sense only if you arrive on Side B of the terminal. Otherwise, you will have to go down to level 2 of Side A, wait for the luggage to appear, then back up to the main terminal level 3, then over to Side B, then down to level 1 to DME. That, in itself, could add about 45 mins to your time. If you are arriving on Side B, then it's a bit better...only add the time spent for waiting at baggage claim.

 

[OKW Lover]

When you think about it, its kind of amusing that people will trust the airline to get their bags hundreds of miles from home to MCO, but won't trust Disney to get it the 20 miles from there to their hotel.

You don't say what time your flight is, but if it arrives late at night you can have bell services hold your luggage until you call for it the next morning. You should take the standard veteran traveler's precaution of packing a change of clothes, toiletries and your medications in a carry-on, no matter where and when you are flying. Then, just don't worry about it - you're on vacation!

 

[bradk]

i'm in a bad position with this myself because this upcoming trip, i'll be arriving way late (i think the flight gets in around 11:30). i was all set to just claim my bags so i'd have everything i need for the next morning (because it's my understanding the earliest DME will deliver luggage is like 8 am which is too late for me), but the more I think about it, the more I realize how much longer it's going to delay my arrival at WDW. which i probably wouldn't mind as much at 3 in the afternoon, but late at night, i'll be cursing DME for my own actions.

i've never heard of the wrong luggage either. i've heard of extreme delays on rare occasions, i've heard of missing and damaged luggage (airline problem) and impact with DME, but in my personal experience, it's always been great. in fact, my luggage showed up less than 20 mins after i checked into my room last time, and it wasn't even the room i was originally assigned.

 

[Redbudlover]

I have also had really good experiences with ME. Let them do the work....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I remain a big fan of DME luggage delivery. The only people who complain about it seem to be the people who didn't read the part in the DME packets that explains that luggage is delivered around 3 hours after check-in. Those are the people who arrive in their winter clothes when it's 85 in Orlando, but who didn't bother to pack carry-ons.

Bring a carry-on with anything you'll need the first 12-24 hours. Don't bother to wait in your room for luggage delivery -- Disney pays the inbound tip so you don't have to be in your room.

Worry about the airline more than about Disney. Disney has a sophisticated luggage tracking system. In the unlikely event that your bag initially goes to the wrong hotel, it's not far way. But the airline could initially send your bags to Hong Kong; that takes longer to fix.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, how many reports have you read of "very late" luggage or of Guests getting the wrong luggage?

Now, compare that figure to the total number of Guests who've used Magical Express in the almost two years it's been in existence. Estimates say between 5,000 and 10,000 people per day - so let's split the difference. 7,500 Guests per day. Figure each of those Guests has an average of one piece of luggage (VERY low estimate, but...). Anyway, Magical Express has successfully transported oh, I dunno - four or five million pieces of luggage since its inception. But very few people post "Oh, Magical Express worked exactly the way it's designed. My luggage was delivered to my room". We only get to read negative experiences, so it SEEMS like there are issues.

 

[Kitzer]

Okay, how many reports have you read of "very late" luggage or of Guests getting the wrong luggage?

Now, compare that figure to the total number of Guests who've used Magical Express in the almost two years it's been in existence. Estimates say between 5,000 and 10,000 people per day - so let's split the difference. 7,500 Guests per day. Figure each of those Guests has an average of one piece of luggage (VERY low estimate, but...). Anyway, Magical Express has successfully transported oh, I dunno - four or five million pieces of luggage since its inception. But very few people post "Oh, Magical Express worked exactly the way it's designed. My luggage was delivered to my room". We only get to read negative experiences, so it SEEMS like there are issues.

I agree with katieeldr, that chances are very good that you luggage will arrive safely. Mine always has.

P.S. Katie, I'm the one who called you "Ms. Disney Can Do No Wrong" when we were debating the haunted mansion being closed over the summer. I'm honored that you kept it.