Magical Express Problems!

[Daxx]

Disney has done this with the Cruise lines so it might not be as bad as a lot of folks think it will be.

It works w/the cruise line b/c all the people on the cruise receive their luggage tags before the cruise. And, it'll work out fine for those using DME and have received luggage tags.

However, not everyone using the DME have received their luggage tags, inc. yours truly. The point is, many of us will have to deal w/our own luggage although Disney has advertised the DME as a "Disney takes care of everything" deal b/c we didn't receive the tags in time.

 

[Sally]

I had planned on going to the baggage claim and pulling our bags myself and then going to the DME CM, I want to see that all my luggage made it from VA to MCO and to the resort, I think that will make the whole DME less stressful, for me and the CMs.

 

[goofy4tink]

I could be wrong but my assumption would be that it would go like this...
You put your specially coded tags on your bags. When the plane arrives in MCO, ALL specially tagged bags get taken off the plane. I am sure they will be coded with the resort they are going to and the person's name (same that would be on the confirmation for the resort). So, all those bags with tags coded for GF will go there, to be matched with your room number.

I don't think it's all that complicated. They don't need to know exactly how many bags you are checking. They just need to know which bags to take off and scan and put on the appropriate truck. Well, at least I would imagine that's how it would work. But, it's probably oversimplified!!

 

[DebbieB]

I could be wrong but my assumption would be that it would go like this...
You put your specially coded tags on your bags. When the plane arrives in MCO, ALL specially tagged bags get taken off the plane. I am sure they will be coded with the resort they are going to and the person's name (same that would be on the confirmation for the resort). So, all those bags with tags coded for GF will go there, to be matched with your room number.

I don't think it's all that complicated. They don't need to know exactly how many bags you are checking. They just need to know which bags to take off and scan and put on the appropriate truck. Well, at least I would imagine that's how it would work. But, it's probably oversimplified!!

That is how it is supposed to work assuming you receive the tags before you go. If you don't have the tags on the luggage, then it's not so uncomplicated.

 

[Dancind]

I guess we should be ready to read some bad reports starting in about four days. If Disney was not prepared to print the number of tags needed due to a much higher response than expected, how are they going to have enough buses?

And think about all the people getting their own luggage and taking it on the bus with them. Imagine the unloading time at each stop while each person makes sure they have all their luggage.


DD and I are planning to use Magical Express in late July, I hope they have the kinks worked out by then. My brothers family has reservations for June 3, I’m thinking that might be too soon. Still, I think they will choose the extra hassle over paying for a towncar.



We arrived last December for our cruise, very late at night. We waited 40 minutes for our luggage, then about 50 minutes for a shuttle to a nearby hotel, where we caught a limo the next morning. When we arrived last October, it was 30-40 minutes for luggage, then an hour in the rental car line at Alamo!



ME has got to be better than that!

 

[marriedmarylander]

Someone I know going in a week did get their tags.

Should I call and ask them where mine are and shoudl I expect them to send me the tags and shuttle voucher or should we not count on it?

WHat is the direct number to DME?

 

[chipscinderelly]

And think about all the people getting their own luggage and taking it on the bus with them. Imagine the unloading time at each stop while each person makes sure they have all their luggage.

I think that one of the ME policies is that no luggage (other than handbags etc) gets on the ME buses with passengers, that's why those without luggage tags are being told to head to the check in FIRST and then to baggage with a ME employee to hand over the luggage.

 

[TDC Nala]

If I do not have tags, I am going to pick up the suitcase myself AND take it to the bus. These buses do have room for luggage. They will have to transport luggage on the return trip unless the owner of the luggage is on one of those "participating airlines."

I'm not going on my cruise without my suitcase if I can help it.

 

[Violetx3]

This really sounds like a mess. I thought ME sounded cool, but since a lot of people have no tags for early May I'll bet the whole process will take FOREVER. Is it too late to get a town car?

 

[goofy4tink]

That is how it is supposed to work assuming you receive the tags before you go. If you don't have the tags on the luggage, then it's not so uncomplicated.

Sorry, should have put what I was responding to in quotes. Someone, can't remember who, was asking how DME would know how many bags each group would have and how would they know where the bags were going to.
I realize that that's how is should work, but without the tags it won't. Heaven help those without the tags to begin with.

 

[kilee]

Everyone needs to remember all we can do is speculate at this point. Until the program launches, no telling what will happen. It is a free and optional service for WDW resort guests. As with anything new, I'm sure there will be some kinks that are going to need to be worked out at the start. If you read these boards, then you'll know and at least you'll be more prepared for the worst than the next guy. I think getting your luggage w/ the CM if you didn't get tags will be the best option for the time being. It's one more step than what you were supposed to do. But in the end it's really less hassle than waiting hours for your luggage and then arguing w/ the CM's in the end over it.

 

[disney queen]

this is making me nervous about our upcoming trip. we leave in 12 days and no tags for us. do i call tiffany's?

 

[seashoreCM]

Since you must check in with the Magical Express welcoming center at some point anyway, you may be required to "check your carryons" including baggage you fetched from the carousel yourself "with Magical Express" the same way airlines occasional make you "gate check your carryon". For all I know this might be done at the carousel, at the welcoming center, or at the bus boarding platform and could vary from guest to guest. This will eliminate any problems with too much luggage on the bus. But I am sure they will let you put the bag with your valuables in the bus baggage compartment.

 

[ericafny]

I think that one of the ME policies is that no luggage (other than handbags etc) gets on the ME buses with passengers, that's why those without luggage tags are being told to head to the check in FIRST and then to baggage with a ME employee to hand over the luggage.

I am starting to see that this COULD work, if Disney worked out a few minor glitches...

However, regarding the luggage not being allowed on the bus, I plan to take a small suitcase (along with my enormous one, which will be checked) on the plane with me to pack a change of clothes for me and BF and also so we will have extra room to bring home all our souvies! What am I supposed to do with that luggage if its my carryon??

Erica

 

[tinkerbellmom31]

Sorry, should have put what I was responding to in quotes. Someone, can't remember who, was asking how DME would know how many bags each group would have and how would they know where the bags were going to.
I realize that that's how is should work, but without the tags it won't. Heaven help those without the tags to begin with.

I'm sure they will have some sort of tag that will be placed on your luggage at the airport. Most likely you will have to write your name and resort name on them then they will take it. That's why its been said to go to the CM desk and go from there. It really does not seem like a big deal. And to the person in a huff about people who "have" tags for a late May trip, its not likely they are ME tags but the free tags people get.

 

[dreamingdisney]

We leave on the 7th and no tags!! When I called the ME number on Friday, they never had my information, so I was not signed up for ME - even though I gave them my info over a month ago!! I gave them my flight number and was told to come to the ME counter at MCO with my baggage claim tickets and CMs would pull the bags and we could board the bus.

I advise everyone to confirm their information with ME and be prepared to pull your own bags, if necessary. I'm putting multi-colored ribbons on my bags if I do not receive my tags before Saturday.

I'm bringing my laptop, so I'll report how things worked out!

 

[MsWitty1]

I am using DME in September. What happens if they don't claim my bags or they lose them? Do they have a disclaimer they aren't responsible for lost bags? IF they wait for the bags and then don't receive them will they blame the airlines?

A little too much liability for me here.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I am using DME in September. What happens if they don't claim my bags or they lose them? Do they have a disclaimer they aren't responsible for lost bags? IF they wait for the bags and then don't receive them will they blame the airlines?

A little too much liability for me here.

Well, if they go to claim your bags and they're not there, it WOULD be the airline's problem, not Disney's. Thats one of the reasons you should get the travel protection plan, it covers you for lost luggage.

 

[bgbruce]

In the paper confirmation I got from Disney (on the "Guest Itinerary" page), there are lines in there that say "FR MCO-DISNEY MAGICAL EXPRE" and "TO MCO-DISNEY MAGICAL EXPRE". So I am assuming that I am in the ME system. Of all the people that are claiming that they called the ME number only to discover that they were not in that system, did any of them have this line in their paper confirmation? In other words, is it possible to get a paper confirmation about ME, and still not be in the ME system? Or is the paper confirmation proof enough that we are in the system? BTW - We are leaving on the 13th and have not yet received any ME tags.

 

[KathyR]

I would suggest calling as well. I called last Friday, and while we were in the system, they had our resorts wrong, my husbands departure wrong and our guests arrival dates wrong. We would have received tags to go to the wrong resort, my husband would never have gotten home , and our guests would have had tickets to arrive 2 weeks before they were coming. Thankfully I got a great CM on the phone and she was able to straighten the whole thing out. I could tell she was quite busy, but she still was very polite and fixed it all with a smile Since they are having problems getting the information into their system from CRO and I assume DVC member services as well, I would give them a call to double check your reservation. I feel bad saying that knowing how busy they are, but I think it is in everyones best interest to know that the info they have is correct.

Best of luck to everyone