Limo service that gets your luggage?

[CleveRocks]

Now that the search function on this website is about as useful as an udder on a bull, it's really frustrating not to be able to go back to the source. There were several threads in the way past that were responded to by someone whose screenname I'm pretty sure was "sluggo," and another person whose screenname I can't recall. I cut and pasted info from each of those posts into my word processor. One of sluggo's posts detailed the movement of bags "behind the scenes" and the scanning of the barcodes which take place, 3 times on the airport grounds and two times at the resort, which you've often seen my quote.

I also recall Tyler posting at least once about being able to look at a computer screen and being amazed or fascinated (sorry if I'm getting the word or idea wrong) at being able to track the movement of people AND luggage throughout the DME process. If there's no scanning of luggage going on, as Edd contends, then how can Tyler "watch" the movement of luggage (as data) through the system?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I've been to the Luggage Sorting Facility. It's set up like a UPS sorting facility. (In fact it was recently enhanced) Bags get taken off the airport carts, put onto a conveyor belt, and scanned as they enter. They then get sorted, and put into new cages. Those are the cages that go into trucks to the resorts. Oh, and yes... the Disney CMs at the resorts do carry handheld PDA's with built in scanners. At the sorting facility, the they have handhelds, and built-ins.

As for the GPS, it is there. Doesn't mean the driver knows that the trucks have GPS... personally, I don't know where it is. But I know it's there.

 

[clkelley]

I have actually seen my luggage being scanned at Ft. Wilderness when it came out of the cage from the delivery van. The Cast Member DID have a portable scanner.

(The one and only trip I actually waited on my luggage because it was after midnite and my tent and my bed were in there, but only had to wait about 15 minutes after I checked in).

 

[crzy4dsny]

I would think there would have to be some kind of "scanning" somewhere. If your bags never make it to your room using DME who would be responsible? I think Disney would have to some how keep track of what bags it picks up at the airport. Disney would have to have some way of knowing if they ever got your bag or not. Did the airline lose it or did Disney? If you are going to make a claim saying your bags were lost I gaurantee Disney has a record on weather they picked it up or not, just as the airline has a record of weather they gave it to Disney or not. I don't think the airlines are going to allow a third party to take all those bags without some kind of tracking system.

I think EDD is right about them not knowing if you are on a bus or not. I don't see them doing anything about it at the airport. There is just too much luggage and not enough time. Waiting to compare peoples names on a bus to luggage going on a truck would drag the DME system to a halt. But I could see them some how cross checking things at your resort. There they could take time and compare up to the minute computer lists of who got on a bus with the luggage they have. Then maybe you will have to pay some kind of fee or penalty.

I was against DME and swore I would still use a car service. That is until I used DME. As long as it is free I will continue to use it.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been to the Luggage Sorting Facility. It's set up like a UPS sorting facility. (In fact it was recently enhanced) Bags get taken off the airport carts, put onto a conveyor belt, and scanned as they enter. They then get sorted, and put into new cages. Those are the cages that go into trucks to the resorts. Oh, and yes... the Disney CMs at the resorts do carry handheld PDA's with built in scanners. At the sorting facility, the they have handhelds, and built-ins.

As for the GPS, it is there. Doesn't mean the driver knows that the trucks have GPS... personally, I don't know where it is. But I know it's there.

Thank-you Tyler.

 

[CleveRocks]

I don't care how many supposedly have seen luggage scanned by Disney, it is not a fact. I don't know of anyway an out-of-towner would be able to see luggage getting scanned and if they do work at the airport, and in that section, they could PM me and we could hook up and get everything talked out, so Disboarders get the correct information. Luggage pulling is a simple process. Because there is so much luggage going to Disney they don't have time to sit and scan the luggage they take and load into the cages that luggage is shipped to Disney in. The CM's do not carry portable scanners. The luggage is pulled off or out of the carriers and put directly into those cages which are labelled for the resort they are going to. From there the cages are shipped to Delta cargo where trucks are waiting to pick up the cages to the particular resorts they are going to. It is just really simple and it has to be because the amount of bags shipped each month gets bigger and bigger.

Also, by the way, I talked with a couple of drivers who drive the trucks with luggage to Disney. Their communications is, with their dispatcher, through walkie-talkies by motorola. The trucks are not equipped with GPS equipment. There is no need to go to that expense.

I've been to the Luggage Sorting Facility. It's set up like a UPS sorting facility. (In fact it was recently enhanced) Bags get taken off the airport carts, put onto a conveyor belt, and scanned as they enter. They then get sorted, and put into new cages. Those are the cages that go into trucks to the resorts. Oh, and yes... the Disney CMs at the resorts do carry handheld PDA's with built in scanners. At the sorting facility, the they have handhelds, and built-ins.

As for the GPS, it is there. Doesn't mean the driver knows that the trucks have GPS... personally, I don't know where it is. But I know it's there.

To paraphrase a bumper sticker, TRUTH HAPPENS.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks for the information. I thought the bags would be scanned at least once before they left MCO.

I've been to the Luggage Sorting Facility. It's set up like a UPS sorting facility. (In fact it was recently enhanced) Bags get taken off the airport carts, put onto a conveyor belt, and scanned as they enter. They then get sorted, and put into new cages. Those are the cages that go into trucks to the resorts. Oh, and yes... the Disney CMs at the resorts do carry handheld PDA's with built in scanners. At the sorting facility, the they have handhelds, and built-ins.

As for the GPS, it is there. Doesn't mean the driver knows that the trucks have GPS... personally, I don't know where it is. But I know it's there.

 

[Edd]

Okay if you have seen the facility than where is it located at MCO. How did you get back to the facility. Where and how did you get a security pass.

You said the Disney CM's carry handhelds at the resorts. I said no Disney CM carries handhelds or portables at the airport. You are just verifying the luggage is scanned on arrival at Disney. The scan off the carts, at MCO, is for each airlines luggage accounting and does not effect Disney. That scanning has been done since scanning became a way to verify luggage. There are built-ins for the airline scanners and probably some portables for the newer and smaller airlines. I think you are getting it mixed up with some kind of Disney scanning. Yes, after they are scanned for arrival at MCO the Disney CM's are allowed to take the yellow tagged bags and sort them into the different resort cages after which they are shipped over to Delta cargo where trucks are waiting to take the cages to the different resorts.

It is possible the luggage gets scanned at Delta cargo with one major scan, or it would be just as easy for Disney to scan at the resorts to account for it coming in. If a Disney CM misses any of the bags they come out on the carousels and when no one picks them out the Disney CM's are notified by the airline representatives at the baggage offices. If bags are lost they normally would be lost on the airline level. So if Disney bags are lost than no yellow tag was found on them and they will still be at the airlines baggage office at MCO.

What happens to the first driver who stops at the 7/11 to go to the bathroom or to make a stop to shop a little. If they had GPS the supervisor would find out and question the driver, Most drivers could figure out sometime down the road that their steps are being traced by something. The trucks going out don't have GPS. It is possible the trucks returning to MCO do have GPS, per a TSA regulation, and from what I understand they are a different company than the ones going out. And maybe that is why there are so many reports of so many different companies doing the luggage handling. I will see if I can find out.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Due to sensative information, I will be replying to Edd's post privately.

However, what I can say is this... the luggage is scanned after it leaves the hands of the airlines, at the Disney Sorting Facility. This is not an airport scan, this is a Disney scan of the yellow Disney tag.

 

[Edd]

Okay, now the picture is starting to take shape. From what you described and from what I know the first scan is the airline scan and than the bags are split into regular passenger, which go to the carrousels, and Disney bags with yellow tags. Than the yellow tagged bags are shipped to the Disney sorting facility. Your description of where you went sounds like it is over by Delta cargo. I could be way off though. It is possible that the operation, because of so many bags and different locations, could be different on some sides or airlines, but the luggage eventually winds up at the DSF. I can see them scanning it and putting it into the proper cages. Six months ago this was done right behind the carrousels, but Disney as efficient as they are could have everything coming to one spot, which is smart. How long ago did you make that trip?

I will find out where the DSF is and that way more accurate information can get out to the Disboarders.

 

[goofy4tink]

Edd, I'm not at all sure why those of us here need more info about the hows/whys of baggage handling and sorting for DME. They get my bags to the resort...I don't have to worry about it. That's most certainly good enough for me.
For those who wish to not avail themselves of the bus ride, yet use the luggage part of DME, knock yourselves out. Do what you wish. I will say this...I did go to Disney's DME site. I looked, and looked...I could no longer find anything that said they were NOT a luggage transferral service. So...based on what I found there, or didn't find there confused3 ), I will no longer harp on that aspect. But, I still will not encourage people to send their luggage on without them, while they rent a car/use a towncar service.
Luggage will most likely get to the resort even though you don't ride the bus. If you feel you wish to spend the extra money, that's your choice.

 

[Edd]

That is exactly the way I feel. The DME is a great asset to Orlando International. They move a lot of passengers and that helps the flow at a huge airport. I think everyone else should think the way you do and perhaps I won't have to spend so much time trying to help sort out things on this end.

 

[CleveRocks]

Edd, I'm not at all sure why those of us here need more info about the hows/whys of baggage handling and sorting for DME. They get my bags to the resort...I don't have to worry about it. That's most certainly good enough for me.

Here's why I'd like to know exactly what happens ....

People come to the DISboards for information upon which to base real decisions on real actions.

I think DME's luggage service is great because it's convenient but also unique. There are plenty of people who come here who know NOTHING about it. Fear/mistrust of the unknown is a common human trait. Most people only know of luggage handling as an airline function, and airlines have more or less earned a reputation for luggage mishandling.

Thus, a lot of people come here looking for answers, but without any basis for it are skeptical of DME's luggage service -- they just assume it's fraught with problems, and assume they should skip that great perk.

I like the idea of helping people out with information. For a lot of people, finding out that Disney's system is many notches above a gorilla flinging around a Samsonite case helps them decide to use the luggage service rather than unnecessarily taking the time to get their own luggage (I'm not talking about people who want their luggage sooner or with them for other reasons, I'm talking about people who would use the system if they thought it was a reliable system -- knowing how its done can help them decide for themselves if it's reliable). That information, that reassurance, helps them make and/or be comfortable with their travel plans.

Diane, of course you're comfortable with it, you're a seasoned veteran, you have your own experiences to inform your opinion. DISboards is here to help others who ask (and others who lurk) benefit from facts, ideas and, yes, opinions, of others who are here to share them.

Whatever the motivation, whatever the source, the facts are always good to know. Edd, I look forward to knowing what you find out. I hope you post the facts rather than just assume no one wants to know.

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree, up to a point Eric. My reasoning is this....do we really need to know that, upon arrival at MCO our bags go to point A, where they are heaved onto a converyor belt. Then, at point B, they are scanned, taken off said conveyor belt where someone takes it over to point C. At this point, another person scans it, moves it to point D. Then, yet another person puts in on a truck, point E. Truck is driven to point F, the first resort, where the appropriate bags are removed and scanned at point G, by a resort CM, then taken to bell services, point H, while the rest of the bags are driven to their particular points...I, J, K, and L.
Okay, a bit facetious I know. But, my point is this...as long as we know the bags are scanned, several times and they will appear at our resort, and if they don't, Disney will get them by tracking their whereabouts, then I don't think we need the 'nuts and bolts' of the operations. Sometimes, too much info is a bad thing. Lots of room for misinterpretation or questioning. Then, I'm going to have to keep an eye out for those who get snippy because they don't think 'we' have it right, then I have to close threads, thereby alienating people who will now go elsewhere for their info and the DIS boards will lose sponsorship and they will get smaller and smaller, and no one will need me to moderate a dead board, and I'll have no life and I'll sink into a horrible depression......whoa....got a bit carried away there.
Fine, Edd, get any and all info you want and share it.

 

[goofy4tink]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDMEPage

Okay, check out question number 5. It seems to address the issue. Now, I'm not sure that we won't get into a squabble about wording though. Does Disney mean that you can't call and book transfer of your luggage? Or do the mean that you have to be on the bus in order for your bag to be taken to your resort? I'm not going to argue the point anymore. Believe what you will. They have listed the question and their answer.
Me? I'll continue to ride the bus and have my luggage taken to the resort.

 

[Lewisc]

The Disney meeting FAQ for DME
http://disneymeetings.disney.go.com/dwm/services/detail?name=DMEAttendeesFAQDetailPage#C3Q4

says:

If you check your luggage in time to make your originally scheduled flight, your bags are likely to make it to Orlando International Airport as scheduled, even if you miss your flight. Disney representatives will pull the bags and wait for you to arrive before forwarding them to your Resort.

Ed's posts, as well as anecdotal posts, indicate all suggest bags with a DME tag go directly to the resort. Guests with missing luggage, that didn't check in at the DME desk, might have some issues.

Although I'm convinced Ed is correct I still think guests who use DME for luggage only might have a problem if Disney changes the procedure or if the luggage is missing.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDMEPage

Okay, check out question number 5. It seems to address the issue. Now, I'm not sure that we won't get into a squabble about wording though. Does Disney mean that you can't call and book transfer of your luggage? Or do the mean that you have to be on the bus in order for your bag to be taken to your resort? I'm not going to argue the point anymore. Believe what you will. They have listed the question and their answer.
Me? I'll continue to ride the bus and have my luggage taken to the resort.

 

[Edd]

Diane,

I agree with you 100 percent. Everytime new information is put out there, there are people who dispute it. Basically you can understand as much as you need to know about luggage from the information on this thread. Many times I have found out information and it gets stretched and I don't really like that. I will guarantee you luggage is safe and if Disney should find themselves responsible for losing luggage you will be well taken care of. If the airlines are responsible, you deal with them. There are obvious scans out there that can determine responsibility.

As far as I am concerned the route of passenger baggage is dead. I will speak if people try to say you can't use the luggage service unless you use the passenger service, because I factually know that to be different. Maybe sometime down the road Disney will clear it up, but at the present time, in my opinion, there is not a definite answer, either way, to that question.

Thank you, Diane.