Magical Express luggage service: You can skip baggage claim all together, right?

[Bete]

I'm a first time user of ME coming this October. Anyway, I know there are Disney cast members at baggage claim for the airlines that are recognized by Disney. This makes me feel like you need to be at baggage claim, but I thought you could skip this part if you want ME to handle your luggage. Do I need to identify my luggage to these Disney cast members at my airline baggage claim? Do they need my airline baggage claim tickets for my luggage? Are the cast members available at baggage claim to simply direct you to the transportation part of ME? I just want to make sure about it all. TIA

 

[bdklein]

You don't need to go to baggage claim. Once you sign up for ME (prior to you trip), you will get special tags to put on your luggage. These are different than the tags that the airline puts on (which you still need).
Upon arriving at Orlando Airport you go to the ME check-in, and then board a bus to your resort. Your luggage will show up in your room a few hours later (depending on when you check in).

See the below links for more info, and search this forum.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDMEPage

http://allearsnet.com/acc/mexpress.htm

 

[TravelRachael]

Just an FYI, if your flight lands after 10PM you will have to go to baggage claim and get your own luggage and take it on the ME bus w/you.

This only applies for night flights arriving after 10PM.

 

[CleveRocks]

You don't need to go to baggage claim. Once you sign up for ME (prior to you trip), you will get special tags to put on your luggage. These are different than the tags that the airline puts on (which you still need).
Upon arriving at Orlando Airport you go to the ME check-in, and then board a bus to your resort. Your luggage will show up in your room a few hours later (depending on when you check in).

EXACTLY.

Anyway, I know there are Disney cast members at baggage claim for the airlines that are recognized by Disney.

Luggage with DME tags never even makes it to the baggage claim carousels. It's all "pulled" behind the scenes. So there's no need for Disney CMs out in the open at baggage claim, and there's no need for you to be there, either.

The more important point here is that IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT AIRLINE YOU USE WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT MCO. Everyone on every airline can get the automatic luggage delivery, it's not just certain airlines. On the way back TO the airport from your resort is a different story, and that's where the list of "participating" airlines comes in, with what's called Resort Airline Check-In.

So yes, Bete, tag your checked luggage with the special DME tags you'll receive a few weeks before your trip, and then after you land at MCo just totaly skip baggage claim and instead go to the DME Welcome Center. You'll check in, be told where your bus queue is, and when your bus is ready you'll be on your way to your resort. The reported average time between landing and drop-off at resort is 70 minutes.