Magical Express but pick up own bags?

[Skroops]

I have used ME a few times without any problems. I have used both participating and non-participating airlines. With the non, you have to claim your luggage, and proceed to the other terminal (which is only an elevator ride to check-in level and then straight across the building to the other elevators down) and get in the ME check-in line. Another time, we made last minute reservations and didn't get our bag tags in time for departure, so we had to claim our bags again. It isn't a huge deal to claim your bags and proceed to the ME. Infact, we have been offered assistance by the airport skycaps more than once and they have helped us across the airport to ME. I almost like claiming my bags, and then heading over there better. It is nice to know immediately if the airline lost my luggage (or not)! I wouldn't attatch the tags if I knew we had a very late arrival, I'd just claim my bags myself. It is so much more convenient to have the bags with you and lug them yourself to your room. When I expect the ME drivers to handle my luggage (they'll load it for you) I will definately tip them.
I love this service, it saves us so much money! I'm glad to hear that it will be continued.

 

[Lewisc]

Not true. You can use the yellow tags with any airline. Participating airlines let you check your luggage at your resort for your outbound flight.

I have used ME a few times without any problems. I have used both participating and non-participating airlines. With the non, you have to claim your luggage, and proceed to the other terminal (which is only an elevator ride to check-in level and then straight across the building to the other elevators down) and get in the ME check-in line. Another time, we made last minute reservations and didn't get our bag tags in time for departure, so we had to claim our bags again. It isn't a huge deal to claim your bags and proceed to the ME. Infact, we have been offered assistance by the airport skycaps more than once and they have helped us across the airport to ME. I almost like claiming my bags, and then heading over there better. It is nice to know immediately if the airline lost my luggage (or not)! I wouldn't attatch the tags if I knew we had a very late arrival, I'd just claim my bags myself. It is so much more convenient to have the bags with you and lug them yourself to your room. When I expect the ME drivers to handle my luggage (they'll load it for you) I will definately tip them.
I love this service, it saves us so much money! I'm glad to hear that it will be continued.

 

[WannabeBelle25]

Well said Eric!!!! I Know what you mean about unrealistic expectations. I work with a travel agency and I literally wrote an instruction booklet for it's use which incorporates EVERYTHING you said. I think that miscocieved notions are a big part of the problem. DME Seems to have worked out just fine for me. The longest I think from the door of my plane to check in at my resort was 1 1/2 hours. This still beats the average time for Mears by a mile!!!! As far as the towncar, I had only used that service once and didnt know if it was worth the $100.00 for me personally. As others have said I generally dont leave the property, dont need a grocery stop and dont think it is a big deal for me to go to Disney in a car. It is usually just me or me and one friend so even with the $29.00 that Mears was charging we were still doing better than a taxi/ towncar service. Now with DME being free ( temporarily at least) There really is no question in my mind as to the cost/ value ratio. Belle

 

[CleveRocks]

Lewisc is right, and to continue further ....

There are only two criteria allowing you to participate in DME:
1) fly into MCO on any commercial airline
2) be named on the reservation at a Disney owned-and-operated resort

No matter what airline you fly into MCO, you get the full spectrum of DME services upon arrival. NO ONE HAS TO CLAIM THEIR OWN LUGGAGE AT BAGGAGE CLAIM!!! NO ONE. People are free to do so if they chose, but they do not have to. Also, even if you did not receive your DME tags, you do not need to claim your own luggage. You can get into the DME line, and tell them you didn't tag your bags (they'll ask you, anyway). If you bags aren't DME-tagged, the CM will ask for your baggage claim numbers and will also ask you to identify your luggage using a very comprehensive photo array.

As I said earlier, I used DME in its infancy. During those first few days and weeks, there was trouble getting the DME booklets (which contain the tags) out in time. We were prepared to do without (we received them 17 hours prior to our departure). On the advice of a DME CM a few days earlier, my wife bought some of the brightest and ugliest ribbon she'd ever seen. We tied a length of ribbon to each bag. We also decided to bring a swatch of that ribbon with us to give to the DME desk to make identification that much easier (just in case they'd be unable to recognize bright orange ribbon with purple polka dots).

 

[goofy4tink]

Lewisc is right, and to continue further ....

There are only two criteria allowing you to participate in DME:
1) fly into MCO on any commercial airline
2) be named on the reservation at a Disney owned-and-operated resort

No matter what airline you fly into MCO, you get the full spectrum of DME services upon arrival. NO ONE HAS TO CLAIM THEIR OWN LUGGAGE AT BAGGAGE CLAIM!!! NO ONE. People are free to do so if they chose, but they do not have to. Also, even if you did not receive your DME tags, you do not need to claim your own luggage. You can get into the DME line, and tell them you didn't tag your bags (they'll ask you, anyway). If you bags aren't DME-tagged, the CM will ask for your baggage claim numbers and will also ask you to identify your luggage using a very comprehensive photo array.

As I said earlier, I used DME in its infancy. During those first few days and weeks, there was trouble getting the DME booklets (which contain the tags) out in time. We were prepared to do without (we received them 17 hours prior to our departure). On the advice of a DME CM a few days earlier, my wife bought some of the brightest and ugliest ribbon she'd ever seen. We tied a length of ribbon to each bag. We also decided to bring a swatch of that ribbon with us to give to the DME desk to make identification that much easier (just in case they'd be unable to recognize bright orange ribbon with purple polka dots).

Aw, come on Eric....surely you could do better than bright orange with purple polka dots!!!! I used turquoise blanket binding, with big old bright yellow Pooh Bears all over it...then stitched lime green grosgrain ribbon to the edge..making the whole thing about 2/12" wide and about a yard long...no way you could miss my bags!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

We've used DME twice and carried our luggage on the bus both times. First time we had checked bags second only carry on. I've never found it to be much of a wait at the carousel for luggage. Actually the time we only had carryons it took us a little longer to get to the resort (about 90 min) then without. It just depends if a bus is almost full sometimes you can get on at the last minute and not have to wait in a very long line.