Magical express question.

[Jenzy]

Not sure where to post this question. We are leaving for WDW this thursday and havnr't received our yellow tags yet....I didn't get my flight infor to the TA till Jan 2nd. What happens if we don't have them?

 

[ChrisH127]

This happened to us last year.. no problem, you have 2 options. You can wait and claim your bags and just bring them with you to the bus and they will load them in the storage area underneath. Other option is what I did, we proceeded to the check-in desk in the airport gave our bag tags numbers and discription of our bags to them- proceeded to the resort, checked in and off to parks.. When we got back at the end of our day, bags were sitting in the room!! it was GREAT...

 

[CleveRocks]

You want advice? Do what Chris (above) did. Disney has that set up as a procedure in case someone didn't put DME tags on their bags -- it's not just something that Chris cooked up and hoped would work.

If you do it like Chris did it, it will save you time and energy. You can go to baggage claim and wait there and then drag your luggage through the airport, or you can skip all that. Your choice.

 

[Disneyolic]

Glad someone brought up magical express...

Except for the fact that you have to handle your own luggage, wouldn't be better to get your own so you have them right away at the resort? I heard that it can take hours for your luggage to make it to the resort. I would love to hear everyone's experiences with Disney handling your luggage and/or handling it yourselves.

Thanks so much.

 

[pixieprincessmom]

We had the same problem last year and got our own. We happened to be on the same side of the airport as ME, so it wasn't a problem. Also, they gave us the option to get them off of the bus when we arrived at POR, so no waiting for luggage.

 

[CleveRocks]

Glad someone brought up magical express...

Except for the fact that you have to handle your own luggage, wouldn't be better to get your own so you have them right away at the resort? I heard that it can take hours for your luggage to make it to the resort. I would love to hear everyone's experiences with Disney handling your luggage and/or handling it yourselves.

Thanks so much.

I used DME twice, loved it twice.

Smart travelers flying ANYWHERE pack a carry-on with items they'll need for the first 12-24 hours just in case the AIRLINE delays their checked luggage. If you do this, then having your luggage follow you by 3 hours or so really shouldn't make any difference at all. If I was flying to, say, Phoenix, landing at 2:00 p.m. with 7:00 p.m. dinner reservations, I wouldn't be caught dead with my nice dinner clothes in my checked luggage. What if my suitcase gets delayed by the airline???!!! Then I can't go to those nice dinner reservations I made months in advance! So I pack what I need in my carry-on, then I have nothing (immediate) to worry about.

With DME, the checked luggage gets delivered to the inside of your resort room whether you're in there or not (Bell Services/Luggage Assistance CMs are pre-tipped by Disney for the luggage delivery, so it's not like they lose out in the affair). In other words, there's no need to wait around in your room for your luggage to arrive.

The first time I used DME was on its 4th day of operations, back in May 2005. We checked in around 11:00 a.m. or so at CBR. We went to the food court and had lunch and walked around the resort, then went back to our room to change into pool attire (which was in our carry-ons), then went to the pool. When we got back from the pool, maybe around 2:30 p.m., our luggage was in our room waiting for us.

The second time I used DME was about 8 weeks ago. We checked into POFQ around 11:00 p.m. I had planned to ask that our luggage be held 'til morning, but I forgot to request this. Around 1:15 a.m., we got a phone call saying they had our luggage and asking if we wanted it now or in the morning. Um, morning, please ... zzzz .... I called for it around 6:30 a.m. or so and it came a few minutes later.

My experiences are pretty typical. Are there some negative experiences out there? Sure. No system is perfect. But also realize that DME has served roughly 3.5 million guests so far, and there are VERY few reported problems. Of course, when you have a problem, you tend to let people know, and when everything went normally you usually don't say anything unless asked. What I mean is, you almost never see threads with titles like, "DME delivered my luggage as planned," or "Mousekeeping cleaned my room every day and left me towels."

DME has worked very very well overall. It was very convenient, and best of all, FREE.

 

[Questforthemouse]

I used DME twice, loved it twice.

Smart travelers flying ANYWHERE pack a carry-on with items they'll need for the first 12-24 hours just in case the AIRLINE delays their checked luggage. If you do this, then having your luggage follow you by 3 hours or so really shouldn't make any difference at all. If I was flying to, say, Phoenix, landing at 2:00 p.m. with 7:00 p.m. dinner reservations, I wouldn't be caught dead with my nice dinner clothes in my checked luggage. What if my suitcase gets delayed by the airline???!!! Then I can't go to those nice dinner reservations I made months in advance! So I pack what I need in my carry-on, then I have nothing (immediate) to worry about.

With DME, the checked luggage gets delivered to the inside of your resort room whether you're in there or not (Bell Services/Luggage Assistance CMs are pre-tipped by Disney for the luggage delivery, so it's not like they lose out in the affair). In other words, there's no need to wait around in your room for your luggage to arrive.

The first time I used DME was on its 4th day of operations, back in May 2005. We checked in around 11:00 a.m. or so at CBR. We went to the food court and had lunch and walked around the resort, then went back to our room to change into pool attire (which was in our carry-ons), then went to the pool. When we got back from the pool, maybe around 2:30 p.m., our luggage was in our room waiting for us.

The second time I used DME was about 8 weeks ago. We checked into POFQ around 11:00 p.m. I had planned to ask that our luggage be held 'til morning, but I forgot to request this. Around 1:15 a.m., we got a phone call saying they had our luggage and asking if we wanted it now or in the morning. Um, morning, please ... zzzz .... I called for it around 6:30 a.m. or so and it came a few minutes later.

My experiences are pretty typical. Are there some negative experiences out there? Sure. No system is perfect. But also realize that DME has served roughly 3.5 million guests so far, and there are VERY few reported problems. Of course, when you have a problem, you tend to let people know, and when everything went normally you usually don't say anything unless asked. What I mean is, you almost never see threads with titles like, "DME delivered my luggage as planned," or "Mousekeeping cleaned my room every day and left me towels."

DME has worked very very well overall. It was very convenient, and best of all, FREE.

This is great advice (packing carry-on)! We've used DME twice and had our luggage in 2 3/4 hours and 3 3/4 hours. The only time I would even consider grabbing our own luggage before getting on the DME bus is if we were coming in on a late night flight (I don't think DME delivers to your room after 1am...I could be wrong...someone correct me if I am) and felt we really needed our bags for first thing in the morning. On the other hand, DW and I pack our carry-ons with a couple days worth of clothes and the neccesary toiletries for the first few days so we still would go straight to DME after getting off the plane. Love the service!

 

[Disneyolic]

Thank you CleveRocks for your in depth discussion on DME. I really appreciate it. I did think to bring a carry on of course. I guess I just feel settled once I have everything in place.

I know what you mean about people mostly only posting when they have a negative experience. I am glad to hear positive experiences just so it is reassuring to me.

I hope to hear more people post but am confident that it will be just fine to let Disney handle our luggage.

 

[zdad]

We have decided to come in late the nite before our WL stay begins. Arriving ~10:30 PM on 21 April, and will spend the night @ Pop. The next morning we truck to WL, get our Tix and such and head to MK.

How does the luggage delivery work with such late arrivals ? I think the brochures say the luggage arrives no later than 3 hours after your arrival. Will we get a knock on the door @ 2am ? A call from the Bellman @ 2 am ? Can we have the bags sent straight to WL and we have a small travel bag with a change of clothes in it?

We usually fly into Tampa, rent a car and drive up (then return the car that same day). Heaven't used DME yet.

TIA,
Z

 

[CleveRocks]

We have decided to come in late the nite before our WL stay begins. Arriving ~10:30 PM on 21 April, and will spend the night @ Pop. The next morning we truck to WL, get our Tix and such and head to MK.

How does the luggage delivery work with such late arrivals ? I think the brochures say the luggage arrives no later than 3 hours after your arrival. Will we get a knock on the door @ 2am ? A call from the Bellman @ 2 am ? Can we have the bags sent straight to WL and we have a small travel bag with a change of clothes in it?

We usually fly into Tampa, rent a car and drive up (then return the car that same day). Heaven't used DME yet.

TIA,
Z

Even though it would make perfect sense, there's no way to get them to deliver your bags straight to WL instead of Pop. If you put the DME tags on the bags, the ONLY place they'll get delivered is Pop. However, that doesn't mean that YOU will actually have to take physical possession of the bags until you are in your WL room.

Once at Pop, you can request at the front desk AND with Luggage Assistance that they hold your bags 'til morning. Otherwise, you'll get either a phone call (like I did) or a knock at the door in the middle of the night. If they hold the bags 'til morning, tell them to not even bother to deliver them, just hold them because they will soon have to be transferred to WL. I don't know how luggage transfer for split stays works, but I know that Disney does it, you don't have to cart the bags yourself. [If for some reason you WANTED to cart the bags between the resorts yourself, you'd have to call a taxi because they don't allow luggage on Disney Transport buses.]

By the way, I know the brochure says luggage within 3 hours. This is within 3 hours of your arrival at your resort, not 3 hours of the plane landing. Tricky little devils with wording, aren't they?! From what we've read here on the DIS, if it takes longer slightly longer than 3 hours that won't be highly unusual, but if it takes MUCH more than that then it would be pretty unusual.

 

[blsx3]

you will need to check the luggage tags when you receive them to see which resort they are delivering to.,,i would take a small carry on with enough for change of clothes for next day/toiletries,,etc...and have them deliver it to WL, then you can just pick up your luggage when you check in, unless they can get it to your room for your 2nd day.

remember, you are not always on the same plane as your luggage, and i think that's where some longer delays may take place.

your luggage can actually arrive to the destination airport on an earlier, or later flight. this happened our first time....they actually pulled our luggage off and stuck it in the lost and found area because it arrived 2 1/2 hours earlier than my wife and i, before ME..however, with ME you DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS.

 

[safetymom]

Your Disney’s Magical Express reservation has been made; however, you may not receive your Disney’s Magical
Express booklet with luggage tags prior to departure for Orlando. Please be assured that you will still be able to
utilize the service and receive the same seamless experience.
Once you arrive at Orlando International Airport, you have two options:
1) You can pick up your luggage at baggage claim and proceed directly to the Disney
Welcome Center. You will be responsible for taking your luggage with you on the
motor coach.
2) Or you may proceed directly to the Disney Welcome Center. You do not need to claim
your luggage. Disney will gather all of your information and collect your luggage for
you and then deliver it to your resort room.
IMPORTANT: Please pack any valuables, medications or anything needed immediately upon arrival into Orlando in
a carry-on bag.
Arrival at Orlando International Airport. Upon arrival, please take the tram from your gate to the main Terminal
and proceed to the Disney Welcome Center which is located on the B Side on Level 1 and bypass baggage claim.
If you arrive on the A Side, please proceed to the B Side before taking the elevator or escalator down to Level 1.
You may follow the airport signs to Ground Transportation.
At the Disney Welcome Center, please present your airline baggage claim checks to the Disney representative
to confirm the number of bags* checked as well as your return flight information. You will then board a
complimentary motor coach that will take you to your resort. Your motor coach may make up to 3 stops before
arriving at your resort.
Luggage delivery to the resort. Your luggage will be claimed at the airport and delivered to your room. Your
luggage may take up to 3 hours after you check-in to be delivered. You do not need to be in your room to receive
your luggage. Please note if you take your luggage on the motor coach it will not automatically be delivered to
your room.
Returning home. You will receive a Transportation Notice the day prior to check-out advising you of your motor
coach pick-up time and other general information. Your motor coach pick-up time is based on your
flight departure and will be approximately 3 hours prior to that time to allow for multiple stops by
the motor coaches.
Resort Airline Check-In Service. Upon departure, you may take advantage of Disney’s
complimentary Resort Airline Check-In Service for participating airlines. You can check
your luggage and receive your airline boarding pass at your Disney resort so there is
no need to check-in at the airport. At this time, the service is available for guests
flying domestically on these airlines: Alaska Airlines, American, Continental,
Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, and United (including Ted).
*Pet carriers not included. Disney’s Magical Express cannot transport pets
except for service animals.
©DISNEY 7276493 1006

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just a precaution (because there are very few TA's that I trust) I would recommend calling Disney's Magical Express directly yourself, and confirming that you do indeed have a reservation.

The reason I say this is because if by chance you do not have a reservation, there is NOTHING that DME can do for you. Due to airport regulations, they cannot under any circumstances transport anyone who does not have a prior reservation.

Like others have said, it's not a big deal to have the booklet... but it is a big deal to have a reservation.