Luggage, Magical Express Questions

[coopersmom]

Right now, we're signed up for Magical Express for our December trip, but are toying with the idea of getting a rental car since we can do it basically for free using reward points (it's like $40 total for the week since we're just paying tax).

I think having the car would be good for flexibility in the parks, but not having to deal with our bags (letting Magical Express handle it) would also be great. So, I have two questions …

First, will Disney still pick up your checked luggage at airport if you have ME tags on it, even if you don't travel ME? (I'm guessing not, but thought it was worth asking.) Do they know who actually gets on the buses or just who signs up? My husband will already be in Florida (for business) and we're meeting him, so not having to handle my checked luggage while also corralling our three-year-old would be awesome.

Second, and I think far more likely, when departing can you do the luggage check-in/boarding pass print out at the hotel even if you're driving yourself back to the airport? We leave very late on our last day (9:30 PM flight), but will obviously have to check out much earlier and just turning it over and not having to mess with it again would be great.

For those who have used Magical Express and rented a car, how much time do you save driving yourself? I'm also worried about being taken back way too early, which is a problem most airport shuttles have.

I've never used the service, so I'm totally clueless how it works other than bits and bobs I've read here, so if these are slam-yourself-in-the-head stupid questions, that's why.

 

[amyr1]

If you are there during a low crowd time, I don't know if a car is really needed, kwim?

We have friends who go often and swear by getting a car. They go in value season and tell me getting to the parks is so much easier by car. They arrive at the airport, take ME to their hotel and then hop a bus to DTD and pick up a car there. Drive it back to the hotel and park it. They just return it to DTD before they leave and head back to the airport on ME.


ETA: I don't think ME will pick up luggage if you are not riding the ME to the hotel.
Amy

 

[hammie59]

From what I understand, at least one person in your party has to take ME to have the luggage go too. We used it last trip and I loved it. The luggage showed up about 3 hours later. We were already at a park by then and they just put it in our room while we were out. Awesome.

 

[maxiesmom]

If a big part of the reason you are renting a car is for the extra time it will allow you in the parks the day you leave for home, then you should rethink that decision. You are only gaining about an hours park time for the money you spend. You still need to leave for the airport at least 2 hours before your flight departs.

Traffic around Orlando is killer. If you watch the local news they will list off accident after accident. Cut your departure time too close, get caught in an accident, and you will most likely miss your flight.

The security lines in Orlando are some of the longest I have had to deal with. My last trip I timed how long I was in line before I got thru security. It was 25 minutes. And then I still had to ride the tram over to the concourse, and walk down to my gate.

I can't remember the last time I have seen an empty seat on a flight out of Orlando. Usually they are asking for volunteers to be bumped. If you miss your scheduled flight you will have a long wait before getting on another one.

If you decide to rent a car, make sure you still leave yourselves ample time to get to MCO, park the car, get thru security, and then get to your gate. Don't try to milk out extra park time and then end up missing your flight. Just not worth it.

 

[Jestocost]

Right now, we're signed up for Magical Express for our December trip, but are toying with the idea of getting a rental car since we can do it basically for free using reward points (it's like $40 total for the week since we're just paying tax).

I think having the car would be good for flexibility in the parks, but not having to deal with our bags (letting Magical Express handle it) would also be great. So, I have two questions …

First, will Disney still pick up your checked luggage at airport if you have ME tags on it, even if you don't travel ME? (I'm guessing not, but thought it was worth asking.) Do they know who actually gets on the buses or just who signs up? My husband will already be in Florida (for business) and we're meeting him, so not having to handle my checked luggage while also corralling our three-year-old would be awesome.

Second, and I think far more likely, when departing can you do the luggage check-in/boarding pass print out at the hotel even if you're driving yourself back to the airport? We leave very late on our last day (9:30 PM flight), but will obviously have to check out much earlier and just turning it over and not having to mess with it again would be great.

For those who have used Magical Express and rented a car, how much time do you save driving yourself? I'm also worried about being taken back way too early, which is a problem most airport shuttles have.

I've never used the service, so I'm totally clueless how it works other than bits and bobs I've read here, so if these are slam-yourself-in-the-head stupid questions, that's why.

The issue of tagging your bags and not taking the DME bus is the subject of a long-term discussion on the Transportation board. Will your bags get picked up and delivered to your room? Almost certainly. Can you book a luggage only transfer? No. Does Disney want you to do this? No. Can they refuse to transport your bags if you don't take the bus? Apparently not. Is there a chance that something could get fouled up if the airline loses your bags and you didn't take the bus? Yes. Read the big thread here.

On to the other questions.

If you pick up your own bags and take a rental car, your time savings vs. having DME take your bags and taking the bus is minimal or non existent if your bags come off of the carousel promptly. If your bags take a while to come off (I waited close to two hours in one extreme circumstance) then you probably will wind up taking more time with the rental car.

On the way home, you are perfectly OK to use Resort Airline Check In and whatever transportation option you choose. RAC and DME are completely separate services and using one is not required to use the other.

Your DME pick up on the way home will be scheduled about three hours ahead of your scheduled flight departure. If you have a car or take a cab you could cram in another 30-60 minutes at WDW. The question is how much is that really worth to you?

 

[coopersmom]

If a big part of the reason you are renting a car is for the extra time it will allow you in the parks the day you leave for home, then you should rethink that decision. You are only gaining about an hours park time for the money you spend. You still need to leave for the airport at least 2 hours before your flight departs.

Traffic around Orlando is killer. If you watch the local news they will list off accident after accident. Cut your departure time too close, get caught in an accident, and you will most likely miss your flight.

The security lines in Orlando are some of the longest I have had to deal with. My last trip I timed how long I was in line before I got thru security. It was 25 minutes. And then I still had to ride the tram over to the concourse, and walk down to my gate.

I can't remember the last time I have seen an empty seat on a flight out of Orlando. Usually they are asking for volunteers to be bumped. If you miss your scheduled flight you will have a long wait before getting on another one.

If you decide to rent a car, make sure you still leave yourselves ample time to get to MCO, park the car, get thru security, and then get to your gate. Don't try to milk out extra park time and then end up missing your flight. Just not worth it.

Actually the biggest reason we're renting a car (and wouldn't if we didn't have the points) is the transportation within DisneyWorld. Because it's a points rental, we need to use Hertz, so airport pickup is our only option (unless I'm mistaken). We plan several resort dinners (not at our resort) and things like the Wildlife Excursion and would just rather have the convenience of our own transportation for those.

We travel a lot so we're very familiar with airports, travel and shuttles. I know we'll gain a bit of time on either end (coming and going) but we wouldn't rent a car just for that.

I think Disney's luggage handling sounds great (one less thing to worry about) and I did assume they didn't offer the service if you weren't riding but, again, thought it didn't hurt to ask here.

By the way, what do they do for lost luggage? I'd assume, if you don't pick up your own bags, you'd have no way of knowing it was missing for at least the three hour Disney luggage delivery window, meaning it will take even longer to be found, and I know sometimes luggage that's not reported missing at the airport never gets found. And then there's the question of whether it's lost within Disney, or with the airlines. Sounds like a potential for a big mess.

Do ME bags come out on the regular baggage and get picked up by a Disney handler? Or are all tagged bags segregated and Disney gets them elsewhere? I ask because bags just running endlessly around the baggage carousel (like when their owners aren't there to spot and claim them) can often be targeted for theft.

 

[coopersmom]

The issue of tagging your bags and not taking the DME bus is the subject of a long-term discussion on the Transportation board. Will your bags get picked up and delivered to your room? Almost certainly. Can you book a luggage only transfer? No. Does Disney want you to do this? No. Can they refuse to transport your bags if you don't take the bus? Apparently not. Is there a chance that something could get fouled up if the airline loses your bags and you didn't take the bus? Yes. Read the big thread here.

Ahh, should have known I was not the first person to have this idea cross my mind. Thanks for the link and sorry if I'd posted this in the wrong place. I was thinking resorts, because that's where MAgical Express takes you.

I don't want to break any rules, just wondered if it was an option. Thanks too for the info about airport check-in. Good to know we can handle the bags on the way out, but not on the way back.

Do you also just pay airline bag fees (if need be) at the desk or do you have to do that at airport?

EDIT: Doh, that thread answers all my questions. Sorry I started a new one. My bad.

 

[Jestocost]

By the way, what do they do for lost luggage? I'd assume, if you don't pick up your own bags, you'd have no way of knowing it was missing for at least the three hour Disney luggage delivery window, meaning it will take even longer to be found, and I know sometimes luggage that's not reported missing at the airport never gets found. And then there's the question of whether it's lost within Disney, or with the airlines. Sounds like a potential for a big mess.

If you ride the DME bus, they know how many bags you have (because you tell them at check in for the bus) and they know to be looking for them. If they don't show up, Disney will work through the airline to track down your missing bags. If you haven't checked in for the bus they don't know how many bags you have or that they should be looking for them, which is where trouble can happen.

Do ME bags come out on the regular baggage and get picked up by a Disney handler? Or are all tagged bags segregated and Disney gets them elsewhere? I ask because bags just running endlessly around the baggage carousel (like when their owners aren't there to spot and claim them) can often be targeted for theft.

DME tagged bags are pulled "backstage" before they ever reach the baggage carousel in most cases. Disney does have people watching the carousels to pull any bags that slip through.

 

[Jestocost]

Do you also just pay airline bag fees (if need be) at the desk or do you have to do that at airport?

Between being an elite FF on American and flying on SWA, I've never had to pay baggage fees so I'm not 100 percent certain. I believe that some for airlines you now can pay baggage fees at the RAC desk. With others you have to call BAGS (the company that provides the RAC service for Disney) the day before your travel and pay the baggage fees in advance.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually the biggest reason we're renting a car (and wouldn't if we didn't have the points) is the transportation within DisneyWorld. Because it's a points rental, we need to use Hertz, so airport pickup is our only option (unless I'm mistaken). We plan several resort dinners (not at our resort) and things like the Wildlife Excursion and would just rather have the convenience of our own transportation for those.

We travel a lot so we're very familiar with airports, travel and shuttles. I know we'll gain a bit of time on either end (coming and going) but we wouldn't rent a car just for that.

I think Disney's luggage handling sounds great (one less thing to worry about) and I did assume they didn't offer the service if you weren't riding but, again, thought it didn't hurt to ask here.

By the way, what do they do for lost luggage? I'd assume, if you don't pick up your own bags, you'd have no way of knowing it was missing for at least the three hour Disney luggage delivery window, meaning it will take even longer to be found, and I know sometimes luggage that's not reported missing at the airport never gets found. And then there's the question of whether it's lost within Disney, or with the airlines. Sounds like a potential for a big mess.Do ME bags come out on the regular baggage and get picked up by a Disney handler? Or are all tagged bags segregated and Disney gets them elsewhere? I ask because bags just running endlessly around the baggage carousel (like when their owners aren't there to spot and claim them) can often be targeted for theft.

And this is the issue a lot of us have. Luggage doesn't go missing all that often..it is more than likely delayed. And it will get picked up by DME, if it is tagged, when it finally gets there. BUT...if bags are truly missing, or really badly delayed, and you aren't riding the DME bus, then no one knows the bags are 'not there'. So, no one is going to be looking for them. When you checkin at the DME counter, they ask you how many bags you checked. They then put that number into the system. When the bags arrive, they are pulled, backstage (don't make it to the baggage carousel unless it's after 10pm), and scanned. So,the system knows how many bags you should have and how many you actually had arrive at MCO. They can start looking for any missing bag at that time.
Have we heard of this happening? I don't think I can remember an instance. BUT..I'm sure it's happened. Believe it or not, not everyone who travels to WDW actually reads and posts on the DIS (can you just imagine!!!).