Late arrival into MCO...Get luggage?

[guppy1013]

We arrive into MCO after 9 pm. Does the luggage come with us on that DME bus or does luggage travel on different buses? How much of a time difference am I looking at for physically being in my room and getting the luggage? For as many times as we have stayed at Disney, never taken DME.

We have two little ones and its going to be a struggle with all the excitement that late anyways!

Are we better off claiming our luggage at MCO? Really don't want to do that, but if its going to be really late (and we will want to be asleep in bed) then I would consider....Thanks in advance.

(We are staying at AKV-KV, flying Southwest if that makes a difference)

 

[bumbershoot]

Luggage comes entirely separately from you. You can expect it to be at least 3 hours after you check in to your resort.

I believe it's at 10pm that they stop the luggage transfers, so most people here would advise you, landing after 9, to just plan on getting your luggage. Because if the plane is delayed you'll have to get it anyway (from what I understand the people who grab the tagged bags from behind the scenes leave at 10 so they would come out on the carousel). And if it isn't delayed you're probably not going to want to get that knock on the door at around 1am. So you might as well plan to get the luggage anyway.

My advice for that? Budget at least $1 per bag and just hire a porter the instant you get to baggage claim. They have big carts and they are VERY helpful. Since this is your first time using DME, it's wonderful to have someone just take you on over there (can you tell we did exactly what i'm recommending during our first DME experience); you check in to DME while they skirt around the side with all your luggage, and they wait until you are going outside to your bus. You tip them, the bags are handed over to the driver who loads them under the bus, and they go help someone else.

Of course, taking the bags yourself will also require thinking about tipping the driver that handled all your bags as well, and any bell services person at the resort who helps with bags as well! But at the end of a trip, those extra dollars per bag can end up feeling QUITE worth it, to not have to do the backbreaking work of lifting and dragging bags on your own.

 

[Happyjen27]

My advice for that? Budget at least $1 per bag and just hire a porter the instant you get to baggage claim. They have big carts and they are VERY helpful. Since this is your first time using DME, it's wonderful to have someone just take you on over there (can you tell we did exactly what i'm recommending during our first DME experience); you check in to DME while they skirt around the side with all your luggage, and they wait until you are going outside to your bus. You tip them, the bags are handed over to the driver who loads them under the bus, and they go help someone else.

Thank you for that bit of advice!! Does the porter charge above and beyond the $1 per bag tip?

We are arriving at 6:00 PM and even at that early hour I'm planning on handling our own bags. I, too, have littles and I don't want us to be waiting for luggage at bedtime. I also don't want to put the kids to bed at 8 and have the luggage arrive at 9PM waking them up.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I pack one carry on and leave the tag off one checked bag with everything we need he first 24 hrs. The bathing suits, PJ's, change of clothes, jackets, toiletries and sunscreen.
Then I let the rest come frame DME. It was late sat time we received it, so handy to have the needs at hand. It finally arrived at 1:00 am. There was a message to call for it to be brought up.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you for that bit of advice!! Does the porter charge above and beyond the $1 per bag tip?

The porters don't charge you; they work off of tips. $1 bag is the minimum I've heard; some people tip more. Some round up; 8 bags = $10. Or if some of your bags are tiny maybe some round down. I'm sure there are some people who ask themselves "what is this service worth to me?" and tip based on that. But it's all tips, not a fee.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If it was me and my flight lands at 9:00 p.m I would collect my own luggage and bring it with me on the bus. When you get off the bus there will be CM's from bell services that can help take the bags to your room. But remember to also tip those hard working CM that will be bring your bags to the room.

 

[maxiesmom]

We are arriving at 6:00 PM and even at that early hour I'm planning on handling our own bags. I, too, have littles and I don't want us to be waiting for luggage at bedtime. I also don't want to put the kids to bed at 8 and have the luggage arrive at 9PM waking them up.

You wouldn't have to worry about them waking up your children. Just tell the front desk to hold your bags until they next day. They will, no problem. You then call down when you want them and they bring the to you. Everything you need for the first 24 hours should be packed in your carry on anyway.

No need to spend time at MCO picking up luggage that Disney will handle for you. No need to schlepp it across the airport. Put the yellow tags on and let Disney handle it.

 

[guppy1013]

You wouldn't have to worry about them waking up your children. Just tell the front desk to hold your bags until they next day. They will, no problem. You then call down when you want them and they bring the to you. Everything you need for the first 24 hours should be packed in your carry on anyway. No need to spend time at MCO picking up luggage that Disney will handle for you. No need to schlepp it across the airport. Put the yellow tags on and let Disney handle it.

This is perfect. Thanks.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is perfect. Thanks.

But for you, since you are arriving after 9, there is the chance of being delayed. And many people here would really urge you to act as though you WILL be delayed, and plan on getting the bags anyway. (because if you do land after 10, the bags will come out onto the carousel and won't be picked up by the DME people)

It's not just the late delivery for you, according to many people here.

 

[Happyjen27]

You wouldn't have to worry about them waking up your children. Just tell the front desk to hold your bags until they next day. They will, no problem. You then call down when you want them and they bring the to you. Everything you need for the first 24 hours should be packed in your carry on anyway.

No need to spend time at MCO picking up luggage that Disney will handle for you. No need to schlepp it across the airport. Put the yellow tags on and let Disney handle it.

Thank you a million times!!

This gets me to the resort, checked in and enjoying the magic much faster!

I will pack my carry-ons carefully to ensure we have all we need for nighttime and our first morning in the parks.