Magical Express Luggage Problems?

[wingkng]

We are planning to use Magical Express for our trip in February. I was also planning to rent a car. The Magical Express was simply a way to help with transporting luggage (we have 4 adults and 1 baby with a lots of stuff!)

Has anyone had problems with their luggage arriving in their room?

 

[riggins]

Hi wingkng-
Are you planning on actually taking the shuttle? I don't believe they will transport your luggage for you if you don't actually get on the bus. I'm sure someone else will correct me if I'm wrong. We've always had great service with our luggage, with no problems, but we've also always used the bus.

Good Luck
Leslie

 

[jbrowna]

I don't think it matters whether or not you are on the ME bus. We got bumped from a flight in Philly last year -- arrived a couple of hours later than planned. By the time we got to our resort our luggage was already in the room. So the luggage must have remained on our original flight and was transported even though, at the time, there could have been no record of our having taken the bus. I haven't of course, intentionally checked this theory of mine out yet...

 

[Amyshubby]

 

[dcamdad]

ME will not just pick up your luggage. Your party must take the bus to your Disney resort. Rental cars are available on Disney property if you really feel you need a car.

 

[goofy4tink]

And again.....Per Disney FAQ regarding DME...you may not book just luggage transfer with DME. You are 'supposed' to have at least one person in the party ride the bus. So...will your luggage get to your resort if none of you are on the bus? Most likely so.
DME was begun as a system to get the resort guest to the resort, with luggage being transferred apart in order to make is easier for the guest. It was not started as a luggage transfer system. But, once again...even if you do not ride the bus, in all probability your luggage will make it to your resort room just fine.
Of course, Disney can changes that at any time they wish.

 

[Amyshubby]

DME was begun as a system to get the resort guest to the resort, with luggage being transferred apart in order to make is easier for the guest.

I don't want to start trouble (I'm usually not the one who does on this topic) but I always thought DME was begun as a system to keep the guest on premises with no easy way to go to other places, thereby encouraging them to spend more money in WDW.

No rental car= less likely to eat off-premises, less likely to shop at outlets, less likely to go to the supermarket, etc.

Not that I'm criticizing them for it, it's understandable that they want to encourage you to spend as much of your money at WDW as possible. It's just that I can't see any other reason for the "no luggage only" transfer.

Again, I am not advocating breaking the rules. I'm just saying that the rule we are discussing would not exist if Disney was really just trying to make everything easier for their guests.

Just my 2 cents. I've read lots of posts on the subject and never posted my thoughts on it. Now I have.

P.S- let me say again, I am not criticizing Disney for how they want people to utilize ME. In fact, it makes perfect sense to encourage people to stay on Disney property as much as possible.

 

[Edd]

You might be able to look at it this way. Disney does follow the rules they set up because a passenger cannot book a "luggage only" transfer. You have to reserve (book) the DME completely for the "luggage transfer" and the "coach transfer." However, at the present time. Disney does allow for deviations in that policy. You can pick up the luggage yourself and carry it to the bus, not using the luggage transfer or you can utilize the luggage transfer and not ride the coaches. I think Disney leaves that to you to determine and they show no signs of being unhappy. Believe me they are loading those coaches to their satisfaction every day. Did anyone notice how much prices have gone up since the inception of the DME? Many people have noticed, but that hasn't stopped visitors from going to the parks or cruising.

It is my opinion that Disney, being the service oriented corporation they are, just want make it as convenient as they can for all guests to enjoy the facilities they have set up. They do not look for confrontation with guests, but go the extra miles that are needed to make everyone happy and want to return to their parks, hotels and ships. Disney does not have to keep you on their properties for you to spend money. They just make you so darn happy you don't mind spending the money on their properties.

 

[CarolA]

From Disneyworld.com

See All FAQs Disney's Magical Express FAQ
These frequently asked questions include important details about when to book your reservation, what to do when you arrive at the airport, and when you leave Walt Disney World® Resort.


Q. Can I book a "luggage-only" transfer?

A. No. To utilize Disney's Magical Express Service, you must participate in both the motor coach transportation and the luggage transfer services.

IMHO regardless of what you read on here, the above is VERY clear. They expect you to PARTICIPATE not just send your luggage.

Disney is not doing this because they love us.... they are doing this because if we take thier bus we are TRAPPED on their property.

Abuse will result in changes (see the Dining Plan)

(Anyone taking bets on how long till this gets locked? I give it less then an hour!)

 

[seashoreCM]

They ask you how many pieces of baggage you have so they know when their baggage handling is complete. They can't do that until you report to the Magical Express welcoming area.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htem

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't want to start trouble (I'm usually not the one who does on this topic) but I always thought DME was begun as a system to keep the guest on premises with no easy way to go to other places, thereby encouraging them to spend more money in WDW.

No rental car= less likely to eat off-premises, less likely to shop at outlets, less likely to go to the supermarket, etc.

Not that I'm criticizing them for it, it's understandable that they want to encourage you to spend as much of your money at WDW as possible. It's just that I can't see any other reason for the "no luggage only" transfer.

Again, I am not advocating breaking the rules. I'm just saying that the rule we are discussing would not exist if Disney was really just trying to make everything easier for their guests.

Just my 2 cents. I've read lots of posts on the subject and never posted my thoughts on it. Now I have.

P.S- let me say again, I am not criticizing Disney for how they want people to utilize ME. In fact, it makes perfect sense to encourage people to stay on Disney property as much as possible.

You are most likely correct in your assumptions. A lot of us truly believe that Disney set up DME in order to keep us on site. Now, whether or not you feel that's right isn't the issue. Disney set it up, they can handle any old way they choose.
Did they set up DME merely to make life as enjoyable and easy for the guest as humanly possible? Nah. Their bottom line was the reason. The guest is paying for DME in some way...we just can't see it. If we can't see it, we don't care about it...human nature.

But, just because Disney set up DME in order to keep guests from getting rental cars and heading off-site for better dining options, doesn't mean that we, the guest, can choose to use it any old way we want. Disney can change their rules at any time. I sure would hate to be the guest who sent their tagged 9 pieces of luggage with DME while they got a rental car, only to get to their resort to find their luggage was being held until they claimed it and paid a transfer charge, per bag. Does Disney do this? No, of course not. BUT...it is not an impossible thing to imagine. If guests continue to use DME for luggage transfer only, while using rental cars (or even towncars, but they don't impact the guests ability to head off-site) for the humans in the group, Disney may well feel that the system is being abused and start charging for luggage transfer if the guest is not on the bus. And that would not be a difficult thing to do....not with scanning of vouchers and the system that is in place now that alerts the resort that the guest is 'on their way'...no alert, no bags for free.

 

[debster812]

not with scanning of vouchers and the system that is in place now that alerts the resort that the guest is 'on their way'...no alert, no bags for free.

And with the changes that Disney made to the DDP after lots of abuses (no more pooling child and adult credits), I can really see this happening somewhere down the road if many people continue to 'work the system'.

 

[goofy4tink]

And with the changes that Disney made to the DDP after lots of abuses (no more pooling child and adult credits), I can really see this happening somewhere down the road if many people continue to 'work the system'.

That's kinda funny because as I hit submit, I had just that same though, but didn't take the time to edit my post to say just that!!

 

[Edd]

If Disney feels they need to change it, let them change it. I am sure they will notify the vast audience and numbers of visitors of their change. When they raise prices it is in the paper the next day. The good thing about it that it will be a fact, not a theory based on what 50 different people and CM's think.

The "luggage transfer" is a great benefit and I am sure there would be many passengers who will pay the extra money for Disney to carry their bags to Disney for them, while they find another way to get to Disney, whether it be by rental car, car service or by family picking them up.

 

[seashoreCM]

... if we take thier bus we are TRAPPED on their property ...

You can rent cars on site.

Abuse will result in changes (see the Dining Plan)

I call it fine tuning.

OT: Remember when non-expiring days 9 and 10 were something like three dollars each (while non-expiring day 8 of a Magic Your Way ticket cost a bundle)? Then they changed it so just non-expiring day 10 was three dollars and day 9 also cost a bundle. Today non-expiring day 10 also costs a bundle.

 

[Amyshubby]

A lot of us truly believe that Disney set up DME in order to keep us on site. Now, whether or not you feel that's right isn't the issue. Disney set it up, they can handle any old way they choose.

Diane,

I think that your quote perfectly sums up the entire issue.