Magical Express and luggage.

[Boncho]

We are going to use th ME bus on our trip next month but I was wondering if we can collect our own luggage when we land in Orlando. I thought maybe if we just didn't put the tags on our luggage and picked them up ourselves we would be able to have them taken on the same bus we are on and would have them as soon as we arrived instead of waiting for them. Does anyone know if you can do that or should I phone the Magical Express hotline number? Has anyone done this?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes you can BUT why not use this wonderful perk? Instead, you should just consider packing in your carry ons whatever you will need for the first few hours after landing. After all, what do you do if the AIRLINE misdirects your luggage?

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes you can, I did just this in October as our flight arrived late evening. Just don't tag your luggage with the yellow ME tags, collect it yourself and then head to the ME desk with your luggage and check in. The driver will load the luggage under the bus for you and retreive it at your resort, I did tip the ME driver.

TJ

 

[ldb1030]

Yes you can BUT why not use this wonderful perk? Instead, you should just consider packing in your carry ons whatever you will need for the first few hours after landing. After all, what do you do if the AIRLINE misdirects your luggage?

We don't want to wait hours for our luggage to get to our room as we arrive in the evening AND if the airline does misplace your bags, you won't know for a LONG time! This way if you pick them up yourselves, or try to anyway, you can go right to the airline and let them know, they did not arrive the same time you did.

 

[lindarae]

I had the same question as you. After reading about someone who's luggage didn't arrive until late evening the first time and early morning (1:00 am) the second time I have decided to take my luggage with me. My travel agent also suggested this due to complaints by other clients.

lrae

 

[CleveRocks]

I had the same question as you. After reading about someone who's luggage didn't arrive until late evening the first time and early morning (1:00 am) the second time I have decided to take my luggage with me. My travel agent also suggested this due to complaints by other clients.

lrae

Obviously I can't speak for your TA or the clients who complained to her, but I've read a number of complaints on this board and other boards. With a very few notable exceptions, the complaints came from people who simply had no idea how DME works or what to expect. If I didn't know my luggage would arrive 2-3 hours after I did, I'd be out of my mind upset that I didn't have my checked luggage! That's the type of "complaint" I've read about the most. But if you know what to expect, then there's nothing to complain about, except in those one-in-a-million cases.

No matter whether you're claiming your own luggage or not, it's ALWAYS wise to pack for the first 24 hours in your carry-on, anyway, just in case the airline delays your luggage. I've ALWAYS done this. I did it way before DME, and to every destination I've flown to, not just MCO and WDW!

 

[goofy4tink]

While I do understand the wonderful reasons for using DME (not having to lug my bags around the airport) I do understand why others might not want to do that. I would still use DME even if they didn't deliver my luggage to my room. I love it because it's a painless way to get to WDW. I have used it with checked luggage, and it worked wonderfully, and I have used it with only carry-on. If you are arriving late at night, I can certainly understand why you would want to grab your bags yourself. My dh and dd are arriving at MCO at about 10:30 at night. But, since I arrive the day before, I will have most of their stuff with me. They will have carryon only. I would hate to have to wait until the next morning, or be woken up that night when they knocked on my door!
So, while most of us realize, and utilize, DME the way it is intended, there is no reason for not grabbing your own bags and bringing them to the bus yourself. If it makes you feel easier, then go for it!!! Just remember...don't put those yellow luggage tags on your checked bags!!! If you do, you won't see them again until you get to your resort. Those yellow tags tell the behind the scenes people to grab the bags and put them on the WDW bound truck. They never make it out to the public baggage carousel!!!