Magical Express and getting your own luggage?

[TinkerBelle_325]

Im sure this question has been asked before, but I had no luck finding an answer to it when i searched.

Im planning a trip to WDW in May 2006 and Im just a lil bit anal about my luggage. I like getting it off the carousel myself and knowing it has arrived, then taking it with me. Normally this is no problem as I travel with my parents and we rent a car (no need for ME)

However, this upcoming trip will be just myself and my best friend and we will both be 21. Unfortunately you must be 25 to rent a car in Florida (anyone correct me if im wrong please!)

So, we feel that ME would be great for us to use. We are flying in from Toronto but we clear US Customs up here so our flight is considered domestic upon arrival at MCO.

If we were to leave the ME tags off our luggage, would it be a safe bet to say we could retrieve the baggage from the carousel ourselves (it will be in Baggage Claim A as that is where WestJet baggage goes, so its already on the ME side) and take them over to the ME check-in? Would they allow us to have them under the bus to our resort? We would glady tip the driver to load and unload them for us because we would much rather know are bags have arrived and have them go with us to our resort.

If this isn't possible, approx how long have luggage transfers been taking lately?

Thanks!

 

[Lewisc]

You can rent a car at 21 but there will be an underage driver surcharge. DME is much more cost effective.

Luggage is taking less than 4 hours. Most of us don't know exactly how long because we're not in the room waiting for delivery. Mine was delivered while I was at the pool. Checkin. Get something to eat, go to the pool go to a theme park. Your luggage will be in your room when you arrive.

Bring enough in your carryon bag for your first day and let Disney worry about your luggage.

Yes you can get your own luggage, the driver will put it under the bus and you should tip. If your room isn't ready you'll have to tip again to have it stored. Once you have your luggage stored you'll have to be in the room when it's delivered and tip a third time.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

From one anal person to another, use the ME service. It was great not having to get our bags and having them "magically" appear in our room while we were at dinner.

 

[goofy4tink]

As others have said...sure you can get your own luggage and have the driver put it under the bus. A lot of people do that. But, I have to tell you....I have yet to see on any postings here on the DIS, where someone has not gotten their luggage because it got 'lost' at the airport. And be sure...we would have heard about it!!!!!! So, yes, you can get your own bags. But be assured that your stuff will get to your resort. Maybe not within 30 minutes after you do, but it will get there.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Thanks for the replies!

Though im sure nothing would go wrong in having Disney transfer our luggage, I will likely opt for collecting it ourselves and stowing it under the bus. I'd rather have it right with me when I arrive at CSR. Plus, the flight that we will be taking arrives in Orlando around 1:15. By the time we collect our own bags, check-in at ME, get on our ME bus and arrive at CSR it should be about 2:30 or 3, right around check-in time. The chances are our room will be ready.

My other concern was that I rarely ever accept the room assigned to me on arrival. Everytime I've stayed at CSR they have tried to put me in the Ranchos. Yet, I've never stayed in the ranchos. It doesn't hurt to ask to be moved to another section. In our case we are going to request the Casitas. Im sure its unlikely that this would occur, but what if my bags were sent to our originally assigned room, when I've actually taken another room say in the Casitas.

All the what ifs make tipping the driver and bell staff worthewhile. Afterall, ME is free...what is $15? ($5 for the driver, $5 to stow bags and $5 to have them brought up to our room) Its still much less than renting a car or taking a towncar.

 

[tjmw2727]

I am using ME next week and I plan to get the luggage from baggage claim and bring it via the ME bus with us.

Our flight arrives at 9pm and with two kids I don't want a knock on the door late at night when our luggage arrives. Since I also don't want to wait until the next day I will take 1/2 hour and get it myself. We never pack more than we can easily manage and I will be sure and tip the ME driver appropriately.

TJ

 

[kaytieeldr]

To the best of my knowledge, your bags are sent to your ACTUALLY-assigned room, not your originally assigned room. I don't know what my original room was to be at Pop, but I asked for a lake view at checkin. The CM had to search a bit to find one, but once she did - THAT'S the room to which my luggage was delivered!

 

[karrit2000]

I only booked ME a couple of days before my trip last month so I picked up my own luggage & took it to the bus. They said I would just need to give a description of my bags at the DME desk but I was more comfortable with getting the bags myself since I didn't have the special luggage tags. I've heard that others have gotten their own bags because they want them to arrive when they do at the resort. I saw tagged luggage on the carousel when I got my bags. I think they wait until after people pick up their bags to take the ME tagged bags off.