Magical Express - do I gotta check my bags?

[CathrynRose]

Im looking at a trip in January...

I wanna use ME - but do I HAVE to have the ME folks load my bag? Can I pick it up at Baggage Claim and ride with it on the bus??

I just dont feel like waiting all day for my bags.... I'd rather just grab and go?

Anyone?

 

[PCFriar80]

Im looking at a trip in January...

I wanna use ME - but do I HAVE to have the ME folks load my bag? Can I pick it up at Baggage Claim and ride with it on the bus??

I just dont feel like waiting all day for my bags.... I'd rather just grab and go?

Anyone?

Yes, you can grab and go. Simply, DO NOT put the yellow tags on your luggage! That's all.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Im looking at a trip in January...

I wanna use ME - but do I HAVE to have the ME folks load my bag? Can I pick it up at Baggage Claim and ride with it on the bus??

I just dont feel like waiting all day for my bags.... I'd rather just grab and go?

Anyone?

Yes, you don't have to use the free, convenient, time-saving, tip-saving luggage transfers. Read this entire thread: Nervous about Magical Express

If you don't use the the yellow tags, you will wait for your bags at baggage claim at the airport.

If you do use the the yellow tags, your bags will wait for you in your room while you're out having fun!

 

[dudspizza]

Yes, you don't have to use the free, convenient, time-saving, tip-saving luggage transfers. Read this entire thread: Nervous about Magical Express

If you don't use the the yellow tags, you will wait for your bags at baggage claim at the airport.

If you do use the the yellow tags, your bags will wait for you in your room while you're out having fun!

AND, you must tip the ME driver for loading your bags on and off the bus, the bell services folks if they help you, etc.....

One of the best parts of ME is to have them take care of your luggage from the time it leaves your home airport.....

Some prefer to grab their own bags, but it will take more time.

Have fun.

Duds

 

[disneyldwjr]

Im looking at a trip in January...

I wanna use ME - but do I HAVE to have the ME folks load my bag? Can I pick it up at Baggage Claim and ride with it on the bus??

I just dont feel like waiting all day for my bags.... I'd rather just grab and go?

Anyone?

You can pick up your luggage, BUT, you "gotta" put it under the bus, you cannot have it on the bus with you. It is, as mentioned, expected that you should tip the driver and bellman (if you use them) for the handling of the luggage.

 

[CathrynRose]

Thank you for the responses.

After reading that posted thread - I think I'll just pack a carry on with daily essentials and let ME do the rest.

Thanks!

 

[kritter]

Has anyone carried their bags onto the bus well I mean put them underneath the bus?? I was thinking of doing this since my kids are younger and I am worried to be without my bags for a long period of time...My cousin just got back and it took them 6 hours to get her bags to her????

 

[kaytieeldr]

Many, many DME Guests have claimed their own luggage and hauled it to level one, through the DME checkin line, to and through the bus line, to the bus... You are, of course, welcome to join them. Keep in mind that experienced[/quote] travelers always advise packing in your carry-on luggage: travel documents, valuable items, medications and 'the stuff' you will need for your first few (even up to 24) hours of your trip. Why? Because the airlines are SO good at misdirecting bags. What do you do if yours is among those? At least you have immediate need items in your carry-on - and with more than one young child, not having to also deal with your checked luggage too is wonderful. And if you check your bags through on DME and one or more is misdirected? Magical Express goes into tracking mode and delivers your luggage when it does arrive in Orlando; you just go on to your resort and start enjoying your vacation. If you're picking up your own bags, you end up waiting until all the luggage has come out and the belt stops; then you go to the Lost Baggage office along with probably a number of other passengers; fill out forms; THEN go check in with DME... and wait around for the airline to find and deliver whatever's missing. I mean, probably your hotel will accept the luggage and deliver it to your room, but maybe not - and since DME doesn't include any tips if you pick up your own bags, you've gotta budget for that, too...

 

[dudspizza]

Many, many DME Guests have claimed their own luggage and hauled it to level one, through the DME checkin line, to and through the bus line, to the bus... You are, of course, welcome to join them. Keep in mind that experienced travelers always advise packing in your carry-on luggage: travel documents, valuable items, medications and 'the stuff' you will need for your first few (even up to 24) hours of your trip. Why? Because the airlines are SO good at misdirecting bags. What do you do if yours is among those? At least you have immediate need items in your carry-on - and with more than one young child, not having to also deal with your checked luggage too is wonderful. And if you check your bags through on DME and one or more is misdirected? Magical Express goes into tracking mode and delivers your luggage when it does arrive in Orlando; you just go on to your resort and start enjoying your vacation. If you're picking up your own bags, you end up waiting until all the luggage has come out and the belt stops; then you go to the Lost Baggage office along with probably a number of other passengers; fill out forms; THEN go check in with DME... and wait around for the airline to find and deliver whatever's missing. I mean, probably your hotel will accept the luggage and deliver it to your room, but maybe not - and since DME doesn't include any tips if you pick up your own bags, you've gotta budget for that, too...

Very good point..... DME has an impressive tracking system set up... someone posted that once bags are in the hands of DME they are scanned 4-5 times enroute to their destination, so Disney knows where your bags are. Most bags that take over 3 hours to arrive at a guests room are probably the airlines fault. Maybe they didn't make the flight and came on a later flight or whatever.

Using the yellow tags is the way to go, IMO.

1 week to go for me! Here I come DME and CBR!

Duds

 

[kritter]

Thanks for the information....

 

[bubba's mom]

Thanks for this interesting thread.....we're going Jan. 31 and i thought about just grabbing our own luggage at mco. We fly every year and never have any problems getting luggage (maybe because we take the first flight out of PHL???). Now that you mention Disney keeps pretty good tabs on "their" luggage, I'm thinking of just letting them take care of it. Heck, if it weren't for the 3oz. liquid rule, I wouldn't be checking ANY luggage at all!! Anyway, thanks again!