Magical Express luggage delivery - disappointing experience.

[AngiTN]

I wonder if there was some sort of lack of clarity from BS.
If they felt you were extremely anxious to have your bags they may have assumed that you wanted them no matter what time they were to arrive, which would mean wee hours of the morning. So they just discussed what would happen when the bags arrived. They may have never given it a thought that you'd be ok waiting till morning so they never mentioned it as an option.
No idea, just tossing out one possible explanation

 

[MickeyMouse3!]

Well should have learned our lesson last time. Just arrived Boardwalk tonight from MCO on Magical Express. Flight got in at 7:45. Now almost 1:00 am and all bell services can tell us about our luggage is “en route” from MCO, but have been saying that for 2 hours.

This happened to us a few years ago but flight got in around 9pm that time. Why I hoped it wouldn’t happen again I don’t know.

Not sure if they expect us to stay up all night to wait for the knock on the door but this really seems unreasonable.

5 hours later and no idea when it will be arriving. And nothing they can tell us. Not very Magical!

We had a similar experience awhile back. Flight got in at 630pm. We figured luggage would be delivered by 10pm. 11pm and no luggage. We contacted BS and were told it's "in transit". 2am we got a knock on our door. Our luggage finally arrived. We later learned, on the downlow from a CM, that any flight arrivals after 5pm, guests should get their own luggage and take it to the Magical Express to avoid late deliveries.

 

[maxiesmom]

We had a similar experience awhile back. Flight got in at 630pm. We figured luggage would be delivered by 10pm. 11pm and no luggage. We contacted BS and were told it's "in transit". 2am we got a knock on our door. Our luggage finally arrived. We later learned, on the downlow from a CM, that any flight arrivals after 5pm, guests should get their own luggage and take it to the Magical Express to avoid late deliveries.

When your flight lands doesn't matter. The 3-4 hour delivery window starts when you arrive at your resort.

Also, asking the front desk to hold your bags is a good way to avoid those late night deliveries. With the added bonus of not wasting time at the airport.

 

[seashoreCM]

... was that 24 hours before I was to check out with my family, I had no notice hanging from my door with my departure "ticket" for the MDE the next morning. AKA the letter to give the driver the next morning.

.... I called the front desk who forwarded me to DME. They had me in the system and all was well. OK. They promised me my packet would be on my door while we slept that last night. OK. I slept well.

I awoke to no packet. At 530 in the morning I was down at the front desk and they can print the Letter for DME to give the driver. I didn't know that and learned it this time. So in case any of you don't get that Magical Express "ticket" the front desk can produce it for you.

If you don't get your Magical Express letter the morning of the day before the day you will sadly go home, you should go down to the front desk then and there to get the letter before heading for the parks. They can always produce it, make corrections, and even make nearly last minute changes then.

Meanwhile for those who did not eavesdrop on this thread and read the previous paragraph, the open question remains: If you waited until morning of the day of and then went to the front desk to get the letter, would/could they produce it for you even if the perfect storm happened and they could not find you in the DME system?

... and got a little worried because 3 days earlier, I had a voicemail thanking me for my stay and due to express check out could just leave tomorrow. I was like, Uhhh... we check out Monday, not 3 days earlier. ...

(OT) I hope to God that, if there was an error and the room was marked as checked out, that Mousekeeping would not sweep up everything into black plastic bags and clean up the room for the next guest. Instead they should call back down to the front desk to re-verify check out date and/or mark the room as a late check out which would straighten out by itself when the current guest got back from the parks.

 

[Disneypro1]

We only fly non stop to MCO From Ohio.
This almost eliminates any chances of luggage not getting there when you do. Nothing better than a direct flight.

 

[linzjane88]

If you don't get your Magical Express letter the morning of the day before the day you will sadly go home, you should go down to the front desk then and there to get the letter before heading for the parks. They can always produce it, make corrections, and even make nearly last minute changes then.

Meanwhile for those who did not eavesdrop on this thread and read the previous paragraph, the open question remains: If you waited until morning of the day of and then went to the front desk to get the letter, would/could they produce it for you even if the perfect storm happened and they could not find you in the DME system?



(OT) I hope to God that, if there was an error and the room was marked as checked out, that Mousekeeping would not sweep up everything into black plastic bags and clean up the room for the next guest. Instead they should call back down to the front desk to re-verify check out date and/or mark the room as a late check out which would straighten out by itself when the current guest got back from the parks.

I've had an irrational fear all my traveling life that I'm going to somehow still be in my room on checkout day. I've had an actual nightmare that housekeeping was waiting at the door because I mixed our days up and our party of 7 was still sleeping and wouldn't get up and pack

 

[Jfsag123]

We were DME noobs on our last trip, as we had always driven down previously. We got to our resort (BWI) at about 8:00pm and I figured we'd be in for a late luggage delivery, which I was fine with. I slept pretty lightly expecting to be awakened by the knock of them delivering it. However, the luggage never came. I called down to bell services early in the morning and they said they had held it for us since the delivery would have been late. I didn't ask them to do this, but appreciated that they had. Wish I had known so I could have slept better, though. Just an FYI that, if it's late, it's possible they may hold your luggage for you even if you have not requested it.

Also on the ticket for the DME trip back to the airport: Again, this was our first time using DME, so I wasn't well-versed in it. I remember reading that the packet would be dropped off the day before departure, but forgot that in practice and ours was never delivered. This was a split stay and we ended at Beach Club. Because I wasn't thinking about the missing packet it didn't even occur to me that we needed it until the driver asked for the ticket when we were boarding the bus. Oops! However, I showed him my documentation and we were able to get on just fine with minimal delay.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We only fly non stop to MCO From Ohio.
This almost eliminates any chances of luggage not getting there when you do. Nothing better than a direct flight.

Non-stop flight reduces the chance of luggage not getting there when you do, by 50%, 66%, 75%... Ddoes not eliminate it.

Connecting flight: BOS>NYC>LAS (selected due to earlier arrival at destination). Moved by airline to the non-stop flight, at the airport, two hours before original departure, six hours before non-stop. Assured by airline that our (three other passengers with same itinerary) that luggage would be moved to our flight.

Arrive in Las Vegas several hours late, to no luggage. It was never removed from the original carts (not plane, plane hadn't arrived as scheduled) and went BOS>NYC>DCA>LAS. Luggage delivers 18 hours late.

Then there's then non-stop flight from LAS to BOS where luggage took about 30 hours (not me; relative, more experienced traveler without a carry on).

 

[Boardwalk III]

We had a similar experience awhile back. Flight got in at 630pm. We figured luggage would be delivered by 10pm. 11pm and no luggage. We contacted BS and were told it's "in transit". 2am we got a knock on our door. Our luggage finally arrived. We later learned, on the downlow from a CM, that any flight arrivals after 5pm, guests should get their own luggage and take it to the Magical Express to avoid late deliveries.

Agree, not OK And this was the second time this happened to us… Although this one was much later. I’m not sure I’ll ever use the baggage delivery service again even if we arrive in the afternoon and have a carry-on. But I’ll certainly use it going home!

 

[Searc]

Agree, not OK And this was the second time this happened to us… Although this one was much later. I’m not sure I’ll ever use the baggage delivery service again even if we arrive in the afternoon and have a carry-on. But I’ll certainly use it going home!

They are two totally separate, different services. DME has nothing to do with luggage on the trip home, unless you bring it on the bus with you. RAC is the service you check bags with on departure.

 

[Boardwalk III]

They are two totally separate, different services. DME has nothing to do with luggage on the trip home, unless you bring it on the bus with you. RAC is the service you check bags with on departure.

I actually didn’t realize it was different services. Perhaps RAC could take over the incoming bags as well

 

[dansdad]

I actually didn’t realize it was different services. Perhaps RAC could take over the incoming bags as well

Actually, the same company already does handle both. Bags Incorporated picks up luggage from MCO and delivers to your resort and also delivers luggage from RAC to MCO.

 

[AngiTN]

I actually didn’t realize it was different services. Perhaps RAC could take over the incoming bags as well

What makes you think the bags move any faster TO the airport?
As mentioned already, it IS the same contractor.
Going to the airport with your bags, you don't care or know how long it takes them to get them there. Just that they DO get there for your flight. They need at least 3 hours for that. We always leave at night so heck for all I know, they take 8 hours to get them there. Which is fine with me, seeing how all I care is they make my plane.

 

[Disneyhanna]

We landed around 5PM and got our bags around 11PM shortly after calling to see if they were close. The last time we used the luggage delivery was 2017 and I'm pretty sure our flight was around the same time (we like leaving mid-afternoon, no early risers in this family!) and we got our bags right before bed then too. We always pack things we need and a change of clothes and shoes in our carryons in case anything were to happen to our checked luggage for any trip.

I think that it's a great service but I would not use it for any flight landing later than 5PM. I think Disney should do a better job letting people know about the delay since I'm sure families with children want to get to bed early. But since we knew it takes a while we did not mind the wait to avoid having to lug our bags through MCO and to our rooms. I'm kind of surprised they even send tags for flights that arrive so late (I think up until 10PM?) since I can't imagine waiting for my bags at that time.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Hopefully this has been a helpful thread as a result of my experience. I’ve also just edited the title as the word “horrible” might have been a bit too harsh in hindsight.

 

[AngiTN]

We landed around 5PM and got our bags around 11PM shortly after calling to see if they were close. The last time we used the luggage delivery was 2017 and I'm pretty sure our flight was around the same time (we like leaving mid-afternoon, no early risers in this family!) and we got our bags right before bed then too. We always pack things we need and a change of clothes and shoes in our carryons in case anything were to happen to our checked luggage for any trip.

I think that it's a great service but I would not use it for any flight landing later than 5PM. I think Disney should do a better job letting people know about the delay since I'm sure families with children want to get to bed early. But since we knew it takes a while we did not mind the wait to avoid having to lug our bags through MCO and to our rooms. I'm kind of surprised they even send tags for flights that arrive so late (I think up until 10PM?) since I can't imagine waiting for my bags at that time.

Why would you wait on them? Unless you just wanted to stay up.
They send them because you aren't required to use them. It's a choice a guest can make. I have no issues with making it. As I've stated, why not? I don't need the bags so it matter not how long it takes them to arrive. They will hold them if I'm not going to be up, deliver them if I am. If someone wants to get them, then they just don't use them. But I in no way want that choice taken away from me by their not sending tags. Though, honestly, we've gone without tags too. They aren't even required to use the service. If you don't have them, or don't have enough, then you just give the staff your claim checks and they'll grab the bags from claim and send them on.

 

[AngiTN]

We only fly non stop to MCO From Ohio.
This almost eliminates any chances of luggage not getting there when you do. Nothing better than a direct flight.

Lucky you to have a choice. Some of us don't live where a direct flight is an option. Darn airlines and their priorities to big cities, LOL

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We only fly non stop to MCO From Ohio.
This almost eliminates any chances of luggage not getting there when you do. Nothing better than a direct flight.

the time brother in law lost main case was a direct flight. it got put on wrong plane at LAX

 

[Nvrgrowup]

we fly from the Northeast usually when the snow has the possibility of showing up. We always pack a carry- on bag. I have even trained my teenage

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think that it's a great service but I would not use it for any flight landing later than 5PM. I think Disney should do a better job letting people know about the delay since I'm sure families with children want to get to bed early

Disney does and always has inform(ed) DME users to expect luggage delivered to the room within three hours of arriving at their respective resorts. Now, if that has officially changed, or if later at night they're waiting for more have to arrive, or any other ongoing or permanent procedure change, yes, Disney should disseminate the updated information.