Limo service that gets your luggage?

[Cmbar]

Hi I have a friend that said she used a limo service on her last Disney trip instead of the Magical Express. She couldn't remember the name, but said she and her hubby waited in the Limo while the driver went and picked up her luggage. They had sent them luggage tags prior to their trip so that the driver could identify the bags. Does anyone know what she is talking about?

Thanks!

 

[Edd]

No, I sure have never heard of that. She has to be talking about DME or getting it mixed up with DME. If she sat in a Limo the engine would have to be running. What driver is going back up stairs and pick up luggage with his vehicle running. Something is wrong.

 

[Cmbar]

I agree. I had never heard of this. I know she used a limo service, but I agree that I didn't think she had her luggage picked up by them. She was adamant about that but I am thinking that her husband went with the limo driver or something like that. Just wanted to put it out here in case that service really did exsist.
Thanks

 

[clkelley]

The only way that service would be valuable is if the luggage were to beat you to the carousel, which doesn't happen often at MCO.

Now at Reagan National, my luggage always beats me to the carousel, so I could see drivers providing that service in that case.

 

[bavaria]

They had sent them luggage tags prior to their trip so that the driver could identify the bags.

How on earth would they send them luggage tags in advance? The bags are tagged at the airport and the traveller receives the stubs. Are they talking about an ME type tag?

I agree with the others - I use a car service all the time and logistically it would not work (nor have I seen or would I expect this service)

 

[Cmbar]

I think she did mean an ME tag type of thing so the Limo driver could identify the bags as they came off the belt. It makes sense to me, but I agree that it wouldn't be feesible for the Limo guy to put them in the limo and then return to the luggage pickup to get their bags. I think she is definitely remembering this wrong. Just wanted to make sure I was informed in case there was something like this available. I would be curious to hear reviews.

 

[Cmbar]

Hey I just thought of something. If you get the DME and use their tags to get your luggage to your room, can you still use a towncar to get to the hotel. In other words, Can you schedule DME for just your luggage? Just curious.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Hey I just thought of something. If you get the DME and use their tags to get your luggage to your room, can you still use a towncar to get to the hotel. In other words, Can you schedule DME for just your luggage? Just curious.

Nope. DME is a Transportation service with a luggage bonus. They won't let you use it as a luggage service.

 

[Edd]

Come on Tyler. The first thing I ask people I meet going to Disney. "Did you use the yellow tags Disney provided for your luggage?" If they said yes, there is no sense waiting for the baggage to come down. Guess what, I have saved myself a lot of time waiting for luggage in the past 5 months. Also no one has come back to me not receiving their luggage.

 

[yayagoofy]

If you have the Disney yellow tags on your luggage, of course you can reserve any form of transportation you want to get you to your Disney hotel. Your luggage will get to your room. If you reserve with an Orlando towncar, limo, van, or suv service, etc., they will meet you in baggage claim and get you on your way immediately. There will be no need to get in line (like a herd of cattle) for a bus ride. You could already be in one of the theme parks enjoying yourself, if your luggage shows up in your room hours later you won't care.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay folks, lets not go down this road yet again!!! Can you use DME for just luggage transfer? Yes, but it isn't what Disney intended. They started this service as a people transportation service, with luggage transferral as a perk! Many feel that it served to keep people from renting cars and then making trips off-site and spending dollars away from Disney.

But, and this is the big but....Disney could change this with no notice!! They will tell you, if you ask them, that no, you can not put your yellow tags on your checked bags, and then have a towncar pick you up or go off and rent a car, while DME delivers your bags. Have people done exactly that? Yes, many times. But, as I said, Disney could change that. It would be very simple for them to be able to tell if the passenger with checked luggage has checked in at the DME desk and is getting on the bus. It could be that until that family/person is scanned, their luggage is unscannable at the luggage end. So if no one got on the bus, their luggage would remain at the airport. We all know that most airlines limit us to 2 bags of checked luggage. So, if a party of 6 have 10 bags checked, when only 2 people go to DME and checkin and the CM at checkin asks how many bags do you have and the answer is 10...well, that would raise a red flag wouldn't it?! Obviously, there are others in their party who have taken alternative transportation.

Will Disney change this? Who knows. But for me, I'm just not taking the chance that it will happen when I'm standing there, renting a car, hoping that my luggage goes along with the other DME tagged bags.
Perhaps we shouldn't be advising people to circumvent the 'rules' and send their bags through even though they are not using the bus. Sure wouldn't want to have someone come back and tell us that we had given bad advice and their bags didn't get to their resort and they had to go back to get them, and had to pay for a cab to do so!!

I have to say that the whole 'in line like a herd of cattle' just doesn't cut it for me. I'm going to be standing in lines for the next week! I have only gotten to my resort more quickly using a towncar just once!!! Once in 14 trips!! That one time was when I had only carryon luggage. No stopping to pick up my bags, just off to the towncar. Now....I can hear all of you out there saying..."Well, that's what people are saying....send your checked bags with DME, and get a towncar so you get there more quickly!". Yeah I get it. But, doing that, you'll get to your resort within about 50 minutes after deplaning. When I've used DME I've routinely gotten to my resort within 70 mins. That's 20 mins people!!! Only one time did it take me 85 mins...I was the last of three stops. But that's still only 35 addtl minutes!!! No way am I spending over $100 to save half an hour. But, you do what you feel works for you. Me? I love the checking in with DME, getting in my bus line with other excited guests, watching that welcome to WDW video....yep, it's all good for me.

 

[Edd]

Diane,

You are right. But when Disney wants to change this Disney will officially notify everyone. They set up the process with a contract with the airport. The luggage belongs to them when they touch it and they are responsible for getting it to your room, period. The luggage is never scanned, at the airport, until it gets to Disney and I doubt it is even scanned there because the tags hold all the information in plain English.

I object to everyone's feeling that if you use the luggage service you have to use the DME. Just like everything else in life there is a choice. The pro-Disney people that are pushing the DME write things that are not true. You may be circumventing the rules, as some people think, but the process is there for everyone to use. Disney does not make many mistakes, so maybe the idea was conceived this way. But until they officially change it I am sure there will be guests that use the luggage procedure in a way that best suits them.

 

[goofy4tink]

Diane,

You are right. But when Disney wants to change this Disney will officially notify everyone. They set up the process with a contract with the airport. The luggage belongs to them when they touch it and they are responsible for getting it to your room, period. The luggage is never scanned, at the airport, until it gets to Disney and I doubt it is even scanned there because the tags hold all the information in plain English.

I object to everyone's feeling that if you use the luggage service you have to use the DME. Just like everything else in life there is a choice. The pro-Disney people that are pushing the DME write things that are not true. You may be circumventing the rules, as some people think, but the process is there for everyone to use. Disney does not make many mistakes, so maybe the idea was conceived this way. But until they officially change it I am sure there will be guests that use the luggage procedure in a way that best suits them.

Perhaps Edd. But, you still have to realize that if you call Disney, or DME themselves, they will tell you that you must ride the bus in order to get luggage delivery service. They will tell you that DME is not a 'luggage transfer service'. I realize that people do just that all the time. Disney already has the 'rule' in place, they just don't care to enforce it, at this particular time. That's the official ruling......I don't particularly care what the cab drivers and limo drivers and car rental agents are telling customers. It doesn't matter. Disney has already stated that DME is NOT a luggage transfer service. It is a perk for guests of the WDW resorts, and getting their luggage delivered to their room is part of the magical service. That's right from Disney...not my imagination.
Yes, I do tend to be pro-Disney. But, I can also admit when they are in error or have made a mistake. And I can also see them clamping down on misuse. We saw it happen with children's APs and being able to buy one for your 7 y/o and be able to reserve a block of AP rate rooms...that's changed now due to abuse. Same thing with the DDP.....changed that due to abuse. So...it isn't such a stretch to see them changing proceedures for DME due to folks using it just to get their baggage to their rooms and getting rental cars to head off-site.
Again, I sure would hate it if a DISer came back and told us their luggage was held at the airport because they never checked in with DME. Has it happened yet? NO, not to our knowledge, but that does not preclude it's ever happening down the road. That's all I'm saying. Disney has set down the rules....some are just tweaking those rules to fit their own needs. Do what you feel comfortable doing. Just know what the stated 'rules' are beforehand just in case you have any issues.

And Edd, as far as bags being scanned, or not being scanned according to you, we have had several reports about the scanning of each bag by people that have seen it. If Disney does not scan each bag, they will have no way of tracking said bag. If it goes awol, how in heaven's name do you think Disney is then going to track it? Of course it's being scanned. Again...Disney has put the rules out there, they have said that DME is not a luggage transfer service, luggage transfer is a perk of riding the bus...to make your start a more magical experience. I still can't figure out why no one can wrap their brain around that Disney statement. They have made the rules, we choose to, again, 'tweak' them.

 

[Cmbar]

SO sorry if I sparked a sore subject. I have never considered using a limo service and then having my luggage go to Disney using the DME tags. I just thought it might have been what my friends had done since she was sure she got tags. That may have been what happened, that the Limo service told them to use the tags so they could have the luggage sent directly to the resort.

I agree that I would not spend an additional 100.00 plus to arrive at Disney possibly no more than an half hour earlier. I love the bus and yes we have gone when the line was long to check in and then we have walked directly up to the desk. Either way, we have never waited long for our bus to go and it is fun for my kids to watch the video. Plus I don't have to make up conversation with a Limo driver I don't know and because I have hearing problems, most likely won't understand. I love starting my trip with the DME! However, if it wasn't free I probably wouldn't use the service.

Just my 2cents! Again sorry if I asked a question that struck a sore spot!
Have a Magical Day!

 

[Lewisc]

The owner of one of the towncar companies, not ed, said he was having his cutomers use the DME tags so they wouldn't have to wait at MCO for their luggage. The post was more than a year ago, I don't know if they're still doing that.

Ed is right, the airlines don't want and probably won't accept, luggage. I can't see Disney making customers come back to MCO and retrieve their bags from a Disney office. Disney could still make it difficult by delaying delivery or making those guests come to some central location to do some kind of paperwork.

 

[Edd]

Personally, I wish they would clamp down on it, because than when I wait for baggage I know it is going to be there and the extra 15 -30 minutes I spend waiting is not wasted. However, there is to much work in clamping down on it. There is a contract that would have to be re-negotiated. There is software that would have to be developed and installed to hold it. They would have to have a specific holding area for those who don't check-in but sent their luggage. There are employees that would have to be trained. Disney cannot just say we will not transport bags that don't match up to an owner checking in. If a yellow tag is on the bag it goes to Disney. I just don't see the system in use being changed. Not even 5%, I would imagine, of the passengers attempt to get their luggage there and use other transportation to get them to Disney. So to change a system for them would be pretty costly. They have already dumped tons of money into the DME to make it work.

Second, 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.

 

[safetymom]

Why promote something that isn't allowed? Yes it may happen but I wouldn't want everyone to think they can skip the bus and then find out that their luggage is still at the airport. That isn't a great way to start their vacation.

Frankly part of travel is taking luggage. If you can't handle your luggage then maybe you should think about taking less. If you are renting a car then you should handle your luggage until the time that Disney announces they have a luggage handling service that isn't DME.

 

[goofy4tink]

Personally, I wish they would clamp down on it, because than when I wait for baggage I know it is going to be there and the extra 15 -30 minutes I spend waiting is not wasted. However, there is to much work in clamping down on it. There is a contract that would have to be re-negotiated. There is software that would have to be developed and installed to hold it. They would have to have a specific holding area for those who don't check-in but sent their luggage. There are employees that would have to be trained. Disney cannot just say we will not transport bags that don't match up to an owner checking in. If a yellow tag is on the bag it goes to Disney. I just don't see the system in use being changed. Not even 5%, I would imagine, of the passengers attempt to get their luggage there and use other transportation to get them to Disney. So to change a system for them would be pretty costly. They have already dumped tons of money into the DME to make it work.

Second, 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.

Just basing my opinions on what Tyler (Chip 'n Dale Express) has told us.
I'm just curious as to what happens if baggage goes astray...how is it going to be tracked once Disney takes 'ownership' of it? That would be my concern and it's obviously a concern for others that worry about airlines losing their bags, now they get to worry about DME losing them. Can't imagine that it happens often but still......

 

[Edd]

I think the chance of Disney losing luggage is almost NIL. I guarantee you if they were responsible for it you would come back with better luggage contents than you took with you. The airlines would check the luggage to the airport and that would be all everyone would need. Lewis has an interesting idea why so many have seen the scanning and why GPS has come up.

 

[Lewisc]

Guests can use the RAC desk to check their luggage for their return flight. TSA regulations appear to require GPS tracking and scanning of the luggage at every step. I wonder if some of the "experts" are mixing up the procedures for incoming and outgoing bags.I'M NOT REFERRING TO TYLER

Tyler said DME can track incoming luggage. I'll have to assume the tags are scanned at least once before the bags leave MCO.

I think the chance of Disney losing luggage is almost NIL. I guarantee you if they were responsible for it you would come back with better luggage contents than you took with you. The airlines would check the luggage to the airport and that would be all everyone would need. Lewis has an interesting idea why so many have seen the scanning and why GPS has come up.