Magical Express Question

[Minnie824]

We have never used Magical Express before, but will be in Oct. I just called to book it and I asked about getting our luggage ahead of time, then boarding the shuttle. She said you couldn't do that. Now, I know thats the official answer, so I said I thought I heard of people doing that, and she said not anymore. So my question is, has anyone gotten your luggage yourself first lately? Normally I wouldn't care, but we're arriving at 8:20pm with 2 small kids, and I really don't want to stay up til all hours of the night with them waiting for suitcases. I guess I could pack toothbrushes and pjs, and really thats all they'll need, if I had to, but I was hoping to just get the stuff ourselves. Can I?

 

[gigi1313]

yes, you can... they frown upon it because the bus holds more people than it does luggage for those people and if everyone did what you are suggesting, they would need another bus for the luggage or run buses only half full of people but completely full of luggage...

if you opt to do that, i suggest leaving the DME tags OFF your luggage, have one member of your party go claim the luggage while the other stands on the DME line...

also, if you opt to pack pjs and toothbrushes, you can ask that your luggage be held at the luggage services area 'til morning so you don't get a midnight knock on the door...

my experience with a late evening arrival was great... we got off DME around 9pm, checked in, grabbed a bite to eat and our luggage was in our room before we were!

 

[Lewisc]

I think what the CM meant is if you use the yellow bar coded DME tags you lose the ability to grab your luggage and bring it on the bus. Frequently those bags are grabbed off the tarmac and are trucked directly to the sorting facility.

You don't have to use the DME tags.

 

[goofy4tink]

As Lewisc said, don't put on the yellow luggage tags if you want to grab your own bags. Understand that when a lot of people do this, it does slow down the bus a bit. I was on a bus that stopped at AKL, CSR, then finally at POP and it took close to 90 mins to make the run. A lot of people at the first two stops had luggage underneath the bus and it does add time for the driver to get it all off and disbursed.

I hate having to go to baggage claim unless I absolutely have to. Now, with DME, I just pack everything I have to have for the first 12 hrs. of my stay. There are three of us so each person has their own stuff. I have yet to need anything other than that. I take a swim suit, clean undies, my travel size toiletries in my clear qt. size zip-loc baggie, shorts/tee shirt. I'm good to go.

 

[Minnie824]

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I think we may just try to bring our overnight stuff in a carryon so we don't have to worry about it. And hopefully, the luggage will still just get there early. Thanks!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'm one of the people who feels that you can have the best both worlds. Just pack carry-ons with items that you'll need the first few hours at WDW, and let Disney deliver the rest a few hours later (or the next morning with a late-night arrival) while you're out of the room having fun.

That way, you can still bypass baggage claim. You won't have to drag bags through the huge airport. And -- rather than departing later because of the time involved with detouring to baggage claim, waiting there, and then finally heading the DME check-in (typically delaying your departure from the airport by 20-60 minutes) -- you can be on the first motorcoach to your resort.

Yes, it's possible to "grab" 100% of your own luggage at baggage claim and taking them to your DME motorcoach. It's a simple matter of throwing away the yellow luggage tags and going to baggage claim before checking in for DME. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

 

[dburg30]

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I think we may just try to bring our overnight stuff in a carryon so we don't have to worry about it. And hopefully, the luggage will still just get there early. Thanks!

I know a lot of people do this anyway, be it WDW or any place they are flying to. Just in case their luggage is delayed / lost for a while, at least they will have some needed stuff for the first evening.