Magical Express Luggage Service

[emilayyx0]

Hi, ya'll!

In August, me and 3 friends are going to WDW and we're flying from NJ to Orlando. We booked Magical Express.

For Magical Express, you don't go to baggage claim when your flight lands. They bring it to the resort for you and it arrives at your room a few hours later. This luggage service stops at 10pm, so if you land after 10pm, you are responsible for getting your own luggage from baggage claim, and bringing it to the bus.

Our flight lands at 9:21PM, which technically means the luggage service is still running. Should we be okay? Do you recommend us getting our own luggage from baggage claim (but then possibly missing our bus)?? Help please!

Thanks!

 

[CarolynFH]

Personally, I would plan to claim my luggage and take it on the bus - I don't want to take a chance that my plane will arrive late and miss the 10 PM deadline, and I don't want to stay up late waiting for my luggage to be delivered. Don't worry about missing the bus - they run all night.

 

[seashoreCM]

You will not be able to get your luggage yourself if you put the yellow Magical Express tags on it and your plane gets in before ten.

So if you are concerned about being woken up by the bellhop after midnight then you should not use the yellow tags if you expect to get in during the evening hours. Then you can always get the luggage from the carousels yourself.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

First there is no way for you to "miss your bus." You're not assigned a specific bus when departing from the airport. They just put you on whichever one is leaving next for your resort.

With a 9:20 scheduled arrival I would definitely NOT tag your luggage and instead take it to the bus yourself. Even if your flight is on time, and thus you meet the 10 pm deadline, you are looking at not getting your luggage until up to 3 hours after you arrive at your resort, which could mean no luggage until 1:30 in the morning (assuming about an hour to get from MCO to your resort). With a late night arrival like that, it's always smarter to to just take your luggage with you on the bus.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Whereas I would tag my luggage, pack a smart carry-on with everything I need for the first 24 hours at WDW, and request that my luggage be delivered in the morning.

 

[goofy4tink]

Two options....
1. tag the bags, pack your carry on bags with anything you will need for that first 24 hrs. When you get to your resort, let the front desk people know that you want to have your bags held until the morning. Then, stop at Luggage Assistance and tell them the same thing. When you get to your room, hang the 'privacy please' hanger out on your door. At the values (I believe that's where you're staying), luggage assistance isn't great after 11 or so anyway. They pretty much shut down. There will be a flashing red light on your phone in the morning, alerting you to a message. That message will be informing you that your bags are ready to deliver.
or.....

2. Leave the tags off your bags, go to baggage claim and get them yourselves. Bring them to the bus with you. They will be loaded beneath the bus you are riding on, and will be handed to you when you get to your resort. Just take the bags with you to your room and get settled in. If you land, on-time, at 9:21, you should be at your resort by 11. Most trips take about 70 mins, from gate to resort. Note, I say gate, not landing.

It's up to you which you choose to do. I don't like waiting for my bags until late at night, or the next morning. So, if I'm landing later than 8pm, I'm not tagging my bags..I'll get them myself. I'm landing around 6ish in May. That will get me to my resort around 7:30ish. I'll let DME handle my bags only because we are heading right out to grab a bite to eat and then over to watch Wishes. The bags should be there when we return.

As for missing your bus....nope, not going to happen. You aren't assigned a specific bus. You will be directed to the appropriate bus line when you get to the bus podium. You can go directly from the gate, or you can stop and eat or shop along the way. Doesn't matter.