Magical Express - Luggage problems?

[goofyintoronto]

Exactly. Orlando is small and very, very easy to navigate. I had to laugh where I read the one response complaining about going up and down the escalator. Really?? LOL

Yes! I find it quite easy to nagivate myself. Piece of cake! Thats why i dont mind getting it myself. im more annoyed with waiting 6-7 hours for my luggage than i am at getting it myself. Some people feel the reverse. To each their own.

 

[erc]

im more annoyed with waiting 6-7 hours for my luggage than i am at getting it myself. Some people feel the reverse. To each their own.

I'm kind of annoyed when I see the DME driver get out to fetch luggage at each stop adding to the time it takes to reach my resort. But to each their own.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

While MCO does seem small and remarkably efficient - it is actually a very busy airport. 13th busiest in the United States and 29th busiest in the world. I do find it MUCH more pleasant to navigate than most airports in the US -- I suspect the tram system helps them a lot.

Tom

 

[goofyintoronto]

I'm kind of annoyed when I see the DME driver get out to fetch luggage at each stop adding to the time it takes to reach my resort. But to each their own.

Ya but thats something you cannot avoid. There's always a ton of luggage....most people have carry-ons.

 

[jo-jo]

It's surprisingly easy to pack two weeks into a single rolling bag that fits in your overhead, plus shoulder bag and/or purse. Especially if you're going somewhere warm.
.

How do you do that? Can you give a list of what you bring? My DH's extra pair of sneakers take up half a bag.

 

[LegalEze]

I'm kind of annoyed when I see the DME driver get out to fetch luggage at each stop adding to the time it takes to reach my resort. But to each their own.

You can always contract with a car service. Then you can avoid the unpleasantness of <gasp> having to wait a few extra minutes.

 

[LegalEze]

How do you do that? Can you give a list of what you bring? My DH's extra pair of sneakers take up half a bag.

I wanna know how they bring 2 weeks worth of toiletries in a carry on with the size restrictions!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Exactly. Orlando is small and very, very easy to navigate. I had to laugh where I read the one response complaining about going up and down the escalator. Really?? LOL

Really. Some people bring a ton of stuff with them onto the aircraft--carry on bags, car seats, strollers, and of course their kids. That is a lot of stuff to haul across the airport. And then adding checked bags to all of that to haul to the DME bus?


Of course it is to each their own, but as a previous poster pointed out, not letting DME handle your bags because you are afraid they will misplace them makes no sense once you have let the airlines handle your bags. If someone wants to get their bags, great. But hopefully it is not out of misplaced paranoia about DME and their baggage handling efforts.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wanna know how they bring 2 weeks worth of toiletries in a carry on with the size restrictions!!

Maybe they use the stuff the resort provides. It doesn't work for me, but some people do use it.

 

[goofy4tink]

You can always contract with a car service. Then you can avoid the unpleasantness of <gasp> having to wait a few extra minutes.

Ok....I'll bite since I'm one of those that gets annoyed when I see 15 bags being unloaded at a resort. Here's the thing.....the bus normally stops at each resort for about 5-8 mins....if guests have no larger luggage. If there are a few families at each resort with larger bags that needed to be stowed under the bus, it adds time at each resort. When you spend 10-15 mins there, it adds up. I've had it happen to me on a few occasions. And then, the driver stands there, hoping to get a tip...and about 8 out of 10 times, nothing is forthcoming.

As for the time spent getting luggage.....I'm not saying that it takes a day and a half to get to the DME area if you arrive on Side A. But....people need to understand there are addtl steps involved. And luggage on the escalators? Yes, I do it. But...I've watched others do it, and it boggles the mind to watch how precarious the bags are. And they allow their children to do it. I've seen people lose their grip and the bags go tumbling down. I've seen people go down as they try to stabilize their bags. Especially interesting to watch one person try to deal with more than one bag. There are elevators.....more should use them. And before you say 'so, it's ok for you to take your bag on the escalator but others can't....if you cab handle the bag on the escalator, then fine. But many people can't pull a bag on the even, non-moving floor. Let alone an escalator. Bit that's just me.

I know that over on the Transportation board, we try to make sure people have the info they need to make an informed decision. Because Side A arrival, when using DME, is different than a Side B arrival....not terrible, but different. As long as guests are aware of the differences, that's all I can ask.

 

[LegalEze]

Really. Some people bring a ton of stuff with them onto the aircraft--carry on bags, car seats, strollers, and of course their kids. That is a lot of stuff to haul across the airport. And then adding checked bags to all of that to haul to the DME bus?


Of course it is to each their own, but as a previous poster pointed out, not letting DME handle your bags because you are afraid they will misplace them makes no sense once you have let the airlines handle your bags. If someone wants to get their bags, great. But hopefully it is not out of misplaced paranoia about DME and their baggage handling efforts.

Well yeah - that is silly if you're bringing all of that stuff. My kids are older. We only have suitcases.

 

[LegalEze]

Maybe they use the stuff the resort provides. It doesn't work for me, but some people do use it.

I can't use it either. Sure would make life easier though!

 

[erc]

You can always contract with a car service. Then you can avoid the unpleasantness of <gasp> having to wait a few extra minutes.

What and miss out watching all the perfect people stiffing the bus driver out of a tip? No way.

 

[amg35]

What and miss out watching all the perfect people stiffing the bus driver out of a tip? No way.

We took our luggage with us on ME, but we had the decency to be the last stop, so no one had to wait.

And we tipped, well. We are perfect.

 

[LegalEze]

We took our luggage with us on ME, but we had the decency to be the last stop, so no one had to wait.

And we tipped, well. We are perfect.

Gotta love the little people. Without them, we wouldn't be as perfect as we are

 

[Magpie]

How do you do that? Can you give a list of what you bring? My DH's extra pair of sneakers take up half a bag.

Sure! This is what our last packing list looked like (I always print it out, so it's an easy cut and paste). We went to Universal for 7 days last August, and had plenty of room to bring back souvenirs and gifts:

Family (This category gets divided between our four bags.)

Toothbrushes (4)

Toothpaste

Underarm deodorant

Sunblock

Razors (4)

Shaving Cream

Floss picks

Q-tips

Hairbrush

Kleenex

Painkillers

Lady supplies

4 glasses straps

1 Fanny pack

20 pouches of porridge, raisins, walnuts (we like to eat breakfast in our rooms)

4 plastic spoons, 4 bowls

4 Clif Bars

Health cards

Travel Papers

Passports (4)

Laptop w/charger

Phones (4)

Camera, chip & batteries

Rechargeable batteries & charger

Wallets (4)


Me! (These are items that go in my suitcase or shoulder bag.)

Shoulder bag

Puzzles

Knitting supplies

Nail Care kit

Bathing suit

1 pair of sandals

3 pairs of shorts

Belt

7 t-shirts

Pjs

7 pairs of underwear

1 pair of socks (because I really don't wear them, ever)

3 bras

Hat

My Husband

Small backpack

A book

Bathing suit

3 pairs of shorts

7 assorted shirts

Sleeping shorts

Sandals

7 pairs of underwear

7 pairs of socks

Hat

My then-16yo son:

Small backpack

Book or other form of entertainment

Bathing suit

3 pairs of shorts

7 assorted shirts

Sleeping shorts

Extra shoes/sandals

7 pairs of underwear

7 pairs of socks

Hat

My 18yo daughter:

Shoulder bag

Tablet w/charger

Ipad w/charger

Bathing suit

1 pair of sandals

2 pairs of shorts

Belt

7 t-shirts

Pjs

7 pairs of underwear

7 pairs of socks

3 bras

Hat

I wanna know how they bring 2 weeks worth of toiletries in a carry on with the size restrictions!!

See above. All toiletries are packed into clear zippered pouches and put in the front zippered pockets of the carry-on suitcases, so they can be pulled out quickly for inspection at the border.

If I wanted to expand this list to cover 14 days, it's simply a matter of doubling up on the clothing. Or putting aside time for a load of laundry, halfway through.

We've done two weeks before, and didn't come close to running out of toothpaste. But if it'd been an issue (like it was once when we forgot sunblock), there's always toiletries for sale in the gift shop.

 

[goofyintoronto]

How do you do that? Can you give a list of what you bring? My DH's extra pair of sneakers take up half a bag.

OMG my DS14 is a size 12.....his sneakers take up a ton of space too!

Well yeah - that is silly if you're bringing all of that stuff. My kids are older. We only have suitcases.

Me too! Its just my DS14 and I. Although if I had a dozen kids and a billion strollers and car seats, I can understand how important it is to let DME handle your luggage.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I wanna know how they bring 2 weeks worth of toiletries in a carry on with the size restrictions!!

Wont do 2 weeks but I can do one. Solid shampoo, solid conditioner, solid deodorant, solid facial cleanser, sunscreen wipes. None of that needs to go in the baggie. 1 mini toothpaste will do, it's only for one person. Dont' need much moisturizer for one week.

 

[LegalEze]

I just checked a car service site I use for cruises - just curious what the rate was to pick us up at the airport and take us to the hotel. Wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it was ... so I booked it Issue solved, and we will be there much faster than waiting for the bus. I really think we lucked out with the rate. Anyway, that's that.

 

[nkereina]

It isn't always that easy to get luggage to the DME bus. If you arrive on Side A of the airport, you have to travel from the gate to the main terminal, then go down to level 2, baggage claim. Wait for your bags, then back up to level 3 (main terminal) and cross over to Side B, go down to level 1 and to DME. If you arrive on Side B, then you travel to the main terminal (same as arrival on Side A), go down a level to level 2, get your bags, then take the nearby elevator to level 1 and DME.

We always fly Southwest and always land on side A. We always get our bags and it is exactly as you describe - but it's very simple and easy. The walk isn't far and there are elevators available. We're two able-bodied adults with one rolling suitcase each so it's no problem. If you have more than one bag, kids, elderly, or people with mobility issues then I do agree it could be a hassle. But otherwise, easy peasy.

Only complaint I have with doing it this way is waiting for the bags to come out on the carousel - took a good 30 minutes last time that we had to wait, but we were ok with that. MCO always takes forever to send the bags out, maybe because they are re-directing all the DME bags? Who knows.

FWIW, we choose to get our own bags because we usually go for 7+ days and my toiletries are full size (no bringing them onboard), so it makes it difficult to pack necessities in my carry-on. And I'm also the type who likes to organize everything in the room before they can relax. And lastly, we go straight to dinner somewhere when we arrive (after unpacking) and I usually need to freshen up after a long day of travel. Everyone is different!