Magical Express luggage opinion

[cincystamper]

We just booked our flights for next April's trip (thank you, Skymiles). We're going to be landing at MCO around 9:30 p.m. I know they won't pick up our luggage after 10 p.m. so if we're delayed, we're fine with grabbing our bags ourselves.

But coming in that late, I realize we may want to pick up our bags ourselves, regardless. So, if you were us (me & my 72-year old mom...one checked bag on wheels each) what would you do?

Just curious to hear opinions. We've got plenty of time to make a decision, but figured some of you guys have probably done any number of these options so I was hoping to hear some first-hand experience.


Thanks!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

If I was coming in that late, I'd just get my bags. No point waiting for the late delivery. I like to unpack, get settled, and get a decent night's sleep to be ready to GO the next morning.

 

[Moliphino]

That late at night I'd probably get my own bags either way. Then I could get ready for bed right when we got into our room and not wait up.

 

[AngiTN]

We always have what we need for the first night in our carry on bag, no matter if we land at 9:00 am or 9:00 pm.
Since I have no need for my bags, I always let them get my bags if we land prior to 9:59 pm and always have the resort hold the checked bags till morning.

 

[Hopefully]

I would get my own. I want to get up and go in the morning, not be waiting for luggage delivery
You may want to post this question on the Transportation Forum rather thn here on the Resorts Forum

 

[The13thLetter]

We just booked our flights for next April's trip (thank you, Skymiles). We're going to be landing at MCO around 9:30 p.m. I know they won't pick up our luggage after 10 p.m. so if we're delayed, we're fine with grabbing our bags ourselves.

But coming in that late, I realize we may want to pick up our bags ourselves, regardless. So, if you were us (me & my 72-year old mom...one checked bag on wheels each) what would you do?

Just curious to hear opinions. We've got plenty of time to make a decision, but figured some of you guys have probably done any number of these options so I was hoping to hear some first-hand experience.


Thanks!

We had this exact scenario last month. Our flight was due in around 940 and got in at 1005. We had put our magical express tags on but when I double checked with the magical express team and they said our luggage would not get to our room until the morning, I went to the baggage claim and grabbed them myself. So I am not 100% sure if this is always the case (meaning before 10pm), but even though they were tagged for magical express, I could still grab them myself.

 

[AngiTN]

We had this exact scenario last month. Our flight was due in around 940 and got in at 1005. We had put our magical express tags on but when I double checked with the magical express team and they said our luggage would not get to our room until the morning, I went to the baggage claim and grabbed them myself. So I am not 100% sure if this is always the case (meaning before 10pm), but even though they were tagged for magical express, I could still grab them myself.

You could pick up your bags because it was 10:05. If it was 9:55 your bags would have never made it to the carousel for you to pick up.
So, yes your bags will go to the carousel 100% of the time if you land after 10:00. Even with yellow tags.
For the record, if someone doesn't know this and doesn't go get the bags, they have a procedure. Each airline will pull the bags to the unclaimed baggage area where they will wait overnight till the Bags Inc employees return. They send someone to each baggage office to collect bags that arrive overnight, and then will deliver them to the guest.

 

[mommyrosa2]

I would get my own. I want to get up and go in the morning, not be waiting for luggage delivery
You may want to post this question on the Transportation Forum rather thn here on the Resorts Forum

This is exactly what we did too the one and only time we had a late flight into MCO ... I didn't want to wait for the delivery!

 

[bumbershoot]

We always have what we need for the first night in our carry on bag, no matter if we land at 9:00 am or 9:00 pm.

Absolutely.

Carry everything you need for at least 24 hours in carryon. That way you’re prepared if your bags go on a separate journey.


OP there are porters that can help you get your bags over to DME if you want the help. For a relative few bucks of a tip you don’t have to roll or carry anything from the carousel area.

 

[marchingstar]

We always have what we need for the first night in our carry on bag, no matter if we land at 9:00 am or 9:00 pm.
Since I have no need for my bags, I always let them get my bags if we land prior to 9:59 pm and always have the resort hold the checked bags till morning.

us too! too many possibilities for problems, especially delayed/cancelled flights and missed connections.

letting someone else deal with luggage is like relying on disney transportation to me. it wouldn’t feel the same if i had to worry about luggage and transportation (even knowing that doing both myself would ultimately be more efficient).

 

[xlsm]

Put enough for at least one day in your carry on (in case of bags getting lost), and go ahead and pick up your bags when you land. If we land after 5pm, I prefer to get them myself and not worry about when they'll show up with my stuff

 

[mommyrosa2]

We just booked our flights for next April's trip (thank you, Skymiles). We're going to be landing at MCO around 9:30 p.m. I know they won't pick up our luggage after 10 p.m. so if we're delayed, we're fine with grabbing our bags ourselves.

But coming in that late, I realize we may want to pick up our bags ourselves, regardless. So, if you were us (me & my 72-year old mom...one checked bag on wheels each) what would you do?

Just curious to hear opinions. We've got plenty of time to make a decision, but figured some of you guys have probably done any number of these options so I was hoping to hear some first-hand experience.


Thanks!

Also, wanted to mention on your survey, I chose the "Something else" category because we are not planning to check-in any bags on our next trip. Last year, we invested in 21" carry-on spinners for each of us and I also bought packing cubes. We travelled to Jamaica for a week and Cancun for a week with only our carry-ons and a personal bag each and still way over packed. I figure if we could go out of the country with just carry-ons, we most certainly can handle Disney with them too

 

[addiln]

I think if it was me I would just get my bags and be done with it since I know I would have them as I got to the resort.

 

[sharkyandbones]

I agree with most here, having come in late before it is safest to grab your own bags if you're concerned...unless you plan on being up/out late. We usually just chance it now because of the convenience and have ME take care of them. And we usually are up/out late on our first night in WDW (imagine that)

 

[jaiminee krikit]

A few years ago our flight landed after midnight so we had to grab our bags. It was so quick and easy that I always grab my own bags now. I cannot relax until I unpack, so it’s a smoother way to start our vacation.

 

[tjmw2727]

I love the luggage delivery feature of DME but if we are arriving after 8ish we do get our own bags.

 

[B. Shoe]

Just returned from an evening flight arrival last week. Got off plane at 8PM, made it to All-Star Movies for an overnight stay before moving to the Contemporary for the rest of the week, just before 10PM. Our luggage arrived just after 12:30AM, and I stayed up for the delivery.

It just depends on if A) you want to stay up, and B) what your initial plans are the next day? Are you planning on an early start and need the immediate rest? Or could you stay up and sleep in for an extra half-hour with no problems? Are you moving to a different resort after a short night stay like we did, or is this your permanent resort for the trip?

 

[_19disnA]

That late at night there probably won't be as many people waiting for luggage, so I would suggest picking it up yourself from the baggage claim area. Too many other things can go wrong if left to sit there overnight and even if you have toiletries, etc. you will still want a change of clothes for the next day.

 

[cincystamper]

Thanks for all the suggestions! To answer some questions - not an early start the next day. We were originally going to fly in THAT day but times weren't working out so we added a night at the start of our stay. So the late arrival is literally just to sleep and start the next day whenever the heck we feel like it. We're planning to ease into our vacation with a day at Disney Springs (we've really only ever explored about 1/3 of it and would like to take our time to wander). So no alarm clock.

Sundays are busy for us, though, since we're both leaders at church, so the idea of staying up late to wait for bags doesn't excite me. I have a feeling we'll just want to crash once we're checked in. For now I'll plan on grabbing our bags and getting settled in.

Thank you!

 

[dakotix]

We always pickup our own bags at the airport. These days I feel like its a security concern.