Magical Express and Lost Luggage?

[heathrow42]

We've never taken Magical Express, but are recommending it to family and friends who are coming for our Disney Wedding. We know how it works, you get special luggage tags for your stuff, Disney claims your luggage and puts it in your room. But how does Disney know how many bags you have checked? How does Disney know that you have checked any bags at all? How do they know if your bags got lost? Has anyone ever lost luggage between checking in for their flight and it showing up in their room? (either by the airline or Magical Express) How do you track down that problem, who notifies you that there is a problem? Do you only notice when you get back to your room that night? (that would stink!)

Thanks in advance!
--heather

 

[goofy4tink]

Because of the bright yellow tags, it's hard to miss the bags going with DME. And they are very sturdy, so not very likely they would fall off. I have used DME several times and had no issues at all. I wouldn't worry about it. I would be more concerned with the actual airlines losing luggage than DME.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

But how does Disney know how many bags you have checked? How does Disney know that you have checked any bags at all?

When you check in at the Disney's Magical Express (DME) Welcome Center at MCO, the cast member will ask you how many bags you checked and whether you used the yellow tags. That information is entered into your record in the computer.

If you used the yellow tags, your bags are pulled "behind the scenes" instead of going to a baggage claim conveyer. The bar codes are scanned. I'm sure if your bags are not scanned within a reasonable time (because your airline misdirected one or more of your bags), the computer system would issue an alert to initiate exception processing.

If you didn't use the yellow tags because your DME packet was lost in the mail or lost by your travel agent (or if someone didn't read the DME packet and didn't apply the tags), you provide your airline's baggage claim checks and descriptions of your luggage at the DME Welcome Center. They'll send someone to baggage claim. After that, the process is the same.

If the airline misdirected my luggage, I'd rather deal with Disney to straighten things out than with the airline. With millions of guests using DME and with the airline industry's track record with delayed luggage, I'm sure Disney was plenty of experience reuniting guests with the luggage.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And that's one of the little-advertised features of DME - if one or more of your bags is missing, THEY will take care of tracking it, contacting the airline and delivering any delayed pieces while YOU start your vacation, instead of hanging around the airport, panicking and filling out forms.

DME or not, given the various airlines' experience with misdirecting or outright losing luggage*, it is ALWAYS advisable to pack travel documents, valuables, medications, basic toiletries** and immediate-need clothing changes*** in carry on luggage.

*In 2005, airlines misdirected over three million bags and outright lost about 250,000; by comparison, DME lost, um, none (although Bell Services has occasionally delivered some to the wrong room, and DME has, if at all, rarely a random bag or two to the wrong resort).
**Toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, etc.
***Swimwear if you're planning to go swimming once you check in; pajamas if you're arriving late; a change of clothes if you want to get out of your 'travel stuff'.

 

[heathrow42]

I would be more concerned with the actual airlines losing luggage than DME.

...and what happens then? Does Disney notify you? Does Disney work it out with your airline? Does Disney file your claim?

--heather

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

...and what happens then? Does Disney notify you? Does Disney work it out with your airline? Does Disney file your claim?

Please read posts 3 and 4 in this thread.

The usual practice when a passenger has any connecting flights involving two or more airlines is that the passenger deals with the final airline if there's any sort of delay, loss, or damage problem with checked luggage.

In the same way, when you use Magical Express, your luggage "connects" to Disney — so you work with Disney (as though Disney were the final airline) if there's any sort of delay, loss, or damage. Disney works with your airline(s).

I wonder how many bags that were "permanently lost" by the airlines were actually stolen from baggage claim — especially when the bags ended up on a different flight than the passenger? When you use the yellow Magical Express tags, your bags never go to baggage claim, so that's one less thing to worry about.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks guys for picking up what I missed!!! As usual, I was in a hurry, and forgot to complete my post...but, again, as usual, knowledgable DISers completed the info!!!