Magical Express - Luggage problems?

[mommyrosa2]

I can honestly say that in all of our trips (hoping to not jinx myself here ), we've never had any luggage issues using DME. We did, however, choose to collect our own luggage, for the very first time last month, mainly because it was such a short trip and we needed our bags sooner rather than later. Was it difficult? No, but I will admit that I won't do it again. I hated wasting time waiting for our bags to come off the carousel (it took about 1/2 hour before we saw our bags) and I just prefer to let someone else handle them so to each is own.

Can I just say though that I do admire all the folks who can travel for over a week and pack everything they need in a carryon. We have two girls (20 & 16) and any time we've made that suggestion, they roll their eyes and laugh. To them a carryon would be just for their accessories .

 

[goofy4tink]

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!

Yep....that's what makes life so interesting. There is no wrong way or right way. Just have to do what works for you and your family.
The funny thing? One would think that with so much luggage going with DME, there would be shorter waits at baggage claim for everyone else! Evidently not.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

Maybe. Maybe not:

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!

 

[Dizzytime]

Anyone ever have their luggage lost? Or other issues using Magical Express where you are not picking up your own luggage from the airplane carousel?

Haven't read all the posts because there is so many, but wanted to say: No, never. Love it and trust it, and best thing that's ever happened to us flying from CA to get from MCO to DW without having to go to baggage claim, plus having a ride waiting. Excellent move on Disney's part to do that with Mears, and always been well appreciated on our end.

 

[tinkerone]

not sure who would be at fault for this one however on my recent trip in October I came back to my room after a day at the parks to find someone else's luggage in my room. since i was leaving again to go to dinner i called the front desk to have someone come get it but no one came. i called back and they put me through to resort checkin/baggage holding who said they would come and get it but no one came. i finally called back to the front desk and asked for a manager which finally caught some ones attention and the luggage was finally removed.

if i were a dishonest person i could have gone through the luggage and taken what i wanted. i also could have put it outside of my room and who knows what would have happened to it. the experience opened my eyes to the fact that mistakes do happen. i'll still use dme for my luggage but i view it differently now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

tinkerone, that was Bell Services' fault - so, technically, DME's. It can't be considered the airline's fault. Most likely the luggage owners were assigned your room originally but ended up in a different room.

 

[jerseygal]

Anyone ever have their luggage lost? Or other issues using Magical Express where you are not picking up your own luggage from the airplane carousel?

We landed into MCO about 12:00PM first week of December on a Saturday.
DME lines were VERY LONG! First experience using DME as we always rented a car with our family, but it was just DH and I and thought why not save some $$$. Didn't arrive to Animal Kingdom till 3:00PM which I thought was TOO LONG!

I think that Saturdays in general, especially around noon must be MORE CROWEDED! I am trying to avoid flying in on a Saturday in the future! Return trip to airport from Grand Floridian was fabulous! DME arrived right on time at 4:10PM. No problem at all with traffic or anything like that!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

not sure who would be at fault for this one however on my recent trip in October I came back to my room after a day at the parks to find someone else's luggage in my room. since i was leaving again to go to dinner i called the front desk to have someone come get it but no one came. i called back and they put me through to resort checkin/baggage holding who said they would come and get it but no one came. i finally called back to the front desk and asked for a manager which finally caught some ones attention and the luggage was finally removed.

if i were a dishonest person i could have gone through the luggage and taken what i wanted. i also could have put it outside of my room and who knows what would have happened to it. the experience opened my eyes to the fact that mistakes do happen. i'll still use dme for my luggage but i view it differently now.

If the misdirected luggage was at the right resort, wrong room, it was Bell Services fault. Wrong resort? DME/BAGS fault.
Here's the issue. We all now realize (well, most of us do) that when you call the front desk of your resort, from your room, you aren't talking to anyone at your resort. You are talking to a call center. So, you have two choices...call Bell Services, which is at your resort, or go to the front desk. Yes, it's a pain, but there it is.

We landed into MCO about 12:00PM first week of December on a Saturday.
DME lines were VERY LONG! First experience using DME as we always rented a car with our family, but it was just DH and I and thought why not save some $$$. Didn't arrive to Animal Kingdom till 3:00PM which I thought was TOO LONG!

I think that Saturdays in general, especially around noon must be MORE CROWEDED! I am trying to avoid flying in on a Saturday in the future! Return trip to airport from Grand Floridian was fabulous! DME arrived right on time at 4:10PM. No problem at all with traffic or anything like that!!!

I have to wonder if that's the day the Pop Warner groups started coming in. That happened to a friend and I one year....the line to check in at DME (back when you had to go to the counter to checkin) was back to the Mears counter!!!! But, it wasn't all that long a wait. They were moving guests fairly quickly. I think that one time it took us almost 90 mins to get from the gate to BWVs.

 

[Olaf63]

Knock on wood. To date, we have never had issues with DME. We've been using it since its inception.

 

[goofyintoronto]

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.

Solid meaning......full size???

 

[nkereina]

Agreeing with kaytieeldr on the above posts they bolded. If you think getting your own luggage and renting a car to get to WDW faster will save you any time, you may be disappointed. IMO, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. Waiting for the luggage will set you back a good 30 minutes at least. Might as well head straight for DME and save yourself the hassle of driving in a strange city. The only benefit a car would have is that you could potentially head straight to a park rather than your resort first, but I don't know how that works with parking fees, etc.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Solid meaning......full size???

No, meaning "not liquid." No bottles necessary.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Solid meaning......full size???

I think she means like a "bar" solid, not liquid.

Last year, I tried the bar shampoo and bar conditioner from Basin and I love it. Lasts longer than liquid and it's great for travel also since you can pack it in a carry on and not worry about separating for TSA.

 

[goofyintoronto]

No, meaning "not liquid." No bottles necessary.

I think she means like a "bar" solid, not liquid.

Well I must have been living under a rock because I swear I didnt know they had shampoo/condition bars. I will have to consider this on my next trip!

 

[Missytara]

tinkerone, that was Bell Services' fault - so, technically, DME's. It can't be considered the airline's fault. Most likely the luggage owners were assigned your room originally but ended up in a different room.

This happened to us similary on a cruise ship; the luggage was dropped off in the hallway at our cabin that I booked for the cruise.

The staff upgraded everyone to upper floors since it was a slow week, in order to give them some much needed breaks after the busy T-giving week.

I went to the originally booked cabin and the card would not work; went back to guest services and was informed we had been upgraded two floors up from an interior cabin to a porthole cabin. Yippee. I went back down to retrieve our baggage and the cabin steward said he would take care of it and in about 20 minutes we had our luggage.

 

[Minnesota!]

We have used DME 1 - 2x a year since their inception..so we are pushing 15 or so times? Never an issue.

One time I had to call to see if my luggage was in yet - it was, just had not been delivered yet. No big deal.

We will continue to use it as it is set up - luggage and all. Check at MSP and don't see again till my room? SIGN ME UP!!

 

[jerseygal]

I have to wonder if that's the day the Pop Warner groups started coming in. That happened to a friend and I one year....the line to check in at DME (back when you had to go to the counter to checkin) was back to the Mears counter!!!! But, it wasn't all that long a wait. They were moving guests fairly quickly. I think that one time it took us almost 90 mins to get from the gate to BWVs.

Think that you hit the "Nail on the Head"...I didn't "connect the dots"...
Lots of Pop Warner kids visible at the parks! Maybe a typical Saturday at noon would NOT be that crowded at MCO for guests using DME!

 

[LegalEze]

Agreeing with kaytieeldr on the above posts they bolded. If you think getting your own luggage and renting a car to get to WDW faster will save you any time, you may be disappointed. IMO, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. Waiting for the luggage will set you back a good 30 minutes at least. Might as well head straight for DME and save yourself the hassle of driving in a strange city. The only benefit a car would have is that you could potentially head straight to a park rather than your resort first, but I don't know how that works with parking fees, etc.

I'm not sure where the whole "renting a car" came in ... we have a limo picking us up. I've never gotten on a DME bus and just left. We've always sat there at least 30 or more minutes - usually more. Last time, it took 90 minutes from the time we got on the bus to the time we pulled in to the resort. I'm pretty confident this will be much faster, and we will be the only stop

 

[erc]

If you don't immediately board a DME bus but hang out at MCO getting something to eat, what happens to your luggage? Will it get sent along to your destination resort and wait in some holding area for a room assignment?

 

[maxiesmom]

If you don't immediately board a DME bus but hang out at MCO getting something to eat, what happens to your luggage? Will it get sent along to your destination resort and wait in some holding area for a room assignment?

You can get on the bus whenever. Your luggage doesn't travel with you, they grab it before it gets into the public area. It will sit in a holding area until you have checked in to your room.