Keeping suitcase on Magical Express?

[weschmom]

OK, so it's just me and DD5 leaving in 15 days. We plan to use ME to get from airport to CBR. I swear I read on here that it was OK to get your own suitcase rather than letting the ME people get it. I just don't feel totally comfortable with that whole arrangement.

Anyhow, I emailed Disney, and they said I could only have 1 carry-on on the ME bus with me.

HELP! Has anyone else done this??? Especially with all the luggage theft these days, I just don't feel safe not getting my bag myself.

Thanks,
Mindy

 

[Lewisc]

The DME bus doesn't have overhead bins like the airlines nor can you fit much under your seat. Although you can't bring much on the bus the driver will stow as many bags as you have under the bus. You should tip around $1/ bag.

DME grabs that bags right off the tarmac. It's really not a safety issue.

OK, so it's just me and DD5 leaving in 15 days. We plan to use ME to get from airport to CBR. I swear I read on here that it was OK to get your own suitcase rather than letting the ME people get it. I just don't feel totally comfortable with that whole arrangement.

Anyhow, I emailed Disney, and they said I could only have 1 carry-on on the ME bus with me.

HELP! Has anyone else done this??? Especially with all the luggage theft these days, I just don't feel safe not getting my bag myself.

Thanks,
Mindy

 

[GEM]

You can, but it kind of takes the whole "magical" part out of the Magical Express. At least to me, anyway, the best part of the service is not having to wait for and deal with your luggage.

 

[CleveRocks]

OK, so it's just me and DD5 leaving in 15 days. We plan to use ME to get from airport to CBR. I swear I read on here that it was OK to get your own suitcase rather than letting the ME people get it. I just don't feel totally comfortable with that whole arrangement.

Anyhow, I emailed Disney, and they said I could only have 1 carry-on on the ME bus with me.

HELP! Has anyone else done this??? Especially with all the luggage theft these days, I just don't feel safe not getting my bag myself.

Thanks,
Mindy

Let me briefly explain the system, to see if it helps you feel more comfortable with the situation. If not, then at least you've made an informed decision.

Luggage with the special DME yellow tags never makes it to the public baggage claim carousels. Most of the airlines transport the DME-tagged luggage to central drop-off points supervised by Disney CMs (cast members). For the airlines that don't do this, Disney CMs do it directly, still "behind the scenes." All of the luggage from these drop-off points is them brought to a sorting facility.

In addition, Disney has CMs assigned to every airline to catch the bags that the airlines may have missed taking to the drop off point. They also check every unclaimed bag against a manifest to insure that the bags are found even if by chance the guest forgot to put on the tag or it fell off.

All of the bags are scanned when they get to the sorting facility (DME tags have bar codes), again after they are put in a locked cage, and again when the cage is loaded onto a DME luggage delivery truck.

The trucks all have GPS devices and their location can be pinpointed at any time.

The bags are scanned again when they arrive at the resort and again when taken to a guests room.

Disney is well aware of where the bags are at all times. As you can see, each bag is scanned 5 times between the airplane and your resort room.

If you decide NOT to use the DME automatic luggage delivery, THROW AWAY your DME tags. The only reason for those tags is to alert the people "behind the scenes" to pull those bags and sent them off to Disney. If you want to claim them at your airline's baggage claim then you must NOT put those tags on.

And don't worry, as other have said, you ARE permitted to bring ALL of your checked luggage to the bus with you if you choose. The driver will load it under the bus for you, and you'll get it back as soon as you arrive at your resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you decide to grab your bags yourself, be sure to not use those yellow tags that came in your info packet!! It's those tags that alert the baggage people to pull the bags out, behind the scenes so to speak. You won't see your bags on the baggage carousel if you use the yellow tags.
As far as baggage safety goes, I have yet to have a problem with my bags getting 'misdirected' by DME. But, it's a personal choice..if you aren't comfortable that's okay. But don't put those yellow tags on your bags!!

 

[iluveeyore]

Using the ME to transport your luggage is completely safe, but just a tip - if you're not picking up your luggage and taking it on the ME with you, make sure you pack your necessities in your carry-on - personal hygiene, bathing suits, change of clothes, etc. We had reservations for dinner last year for 4:30 pm, got to our room at 11 am, and the outfit I had hoped to wear to dinner was in the luggage that didn't get to our room until after 5 pm. I know last time we used ME the luggage was there within 3 hours, but sometimes things happen beyond their control and the bags get delayed. So it's safe to use ME and so much easier than lugging around your own bags, but just be prepared in case you don't get them right away upon arriving at your resort.

 

[weschmom]

I really appreciate you all helping me out with this one! I do feel much better after reading Eric's explanation of how it all works. Very interesting....I never knew that!

I'll have to think about this one. I know not to use the yellow tags if we don't want DME to get our bags.

Since it's just my DD and I for 4 days, we could probably fit it all in a carry-on just fine. At any rate, I do feel much safer with the DME option now.

Thanks again!