Magical Express Question

[lionqueen]

We will be getting into MCO around 9 at night in your opinion is it a better idea for us to go get our bags and bring them along with us on the bus or let disney take care of it and deliver it to the room. I know it takes up to three hours for the bags to be delivered and I"m not sure anyone will be awake at that time as we will be traveling with 3 kids. Is there the possibility the bags will get delivered sooner since it is close to 10 pm? Thanks for your input!

 

[sam_gordon]

We will be getting into MCO around 9 at night in your opinion is it a better idea for us to go get our bags and bring them along with us on the bus or let disney take care of it and deliver it to the room. I know it takes up to three hours for the bags to be delivered and I"m not sure anyone will be awake at that time as we will be traveling with 3 kids. Is there the possibility the bags will get delivered sooner since it is close to 10 pm? Thanks for your input!

I would make sure I have sleep clothes and whatever we're wearing the next day in carry ons (good idea regardless of whether DME is involved or not), then tag the bags for DME. When I get to the resort, I'd let bell services know to just hold the bags when they get them, and put the DND sign out. When I get up in the morning, I'd call Bell Services and have them bring the bags up then.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah. Everything @sam_gordon said.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I would get my own bags so I can unpack and have everything I need right there.

 

[holden]

I always take my own bags if I'm arriving in the evening anytime, whether it's 7pm or 10pm, I like to be able to unpack and go to bed when I want.

 

[AngiTN]

Since I have what I need for the night and the next day in my carry on bag I don't care if I get my checked bags on arrival day or not.
I always let ME get them as long as we land prior to 10:00PM. Why would I need them if I don't need anything in them?
Bell Services will hold the bags till morning if you won't be awake when they arrive. You can put the hang tag on the door to provide additional insurance they won't disturb you.
Call down the next day when you are ready for them to bring the bags.

 

[rdaky]

When we've used Magical Express, we always get our own bags no matter the time. I just like to have everything with me and we use the time when just arriving to unpack things and get settled in.

 

[Jimsig]

What @sam_gordon and @AngiTN said.

No matter where (or what time you are) going you should always what you need for the night and next morning/day in a carry on. Hit the sheets and call in the AM to have them delivered.

Depending on what airline you are arriving on getting you bags at MCO could mean going down to baggage claim on level 2 on Side A, getting luggage, bringing it back up one level, cross over to Side B, and go down 3 levels to DME. Not sure of your kids ages but you are adding 3 kinds to that mix as well. Why deal with the combo of both luggage and 3 kids if you don't have too? If you skip baggage claim go right to DME and the bus leaves quick you are way ahead of where you could be if you got your own luggage.

 

[lionqueen]

What @sam_gordon and @AngiTN said.

No matter where (or what time you are) going you should always what you need for the night and next morning/day in a carry on. Hit the sheets and call in the AM to have them delivered.

Depending on what airline you are arriving on getting you bags at MCO could mean going down to baggage claim on level 2 on Side A, getting luggage, bringing it back up one level, cross over to Side B, and go down 3 levels to DME. Not sure of your kids ages but you are adding 3 kinds to that mix as well. Why deal with the combo of both luggage and 3 kids if you don't have too? If you skip baggage claim go right to DME and the bus leaves quick you are way ahead of where you could be if you got your own luggage.

didn't think about that...we are traveling southwest...not sure what that means as far as A or B

 

[Ralph&Pam]

didn't think about that...we are traveling southwest...not sure what that means as far as A or B

Southwest is on the A side, DME is on the B side, so the scenario described in Jimsig’s post above would apply.

 

[Jimsig]

didn't think about that...we are traveling southwest...not sure what that means as far as A or B

Southwest is on the A side, DME is on the B side, so the scenario described in Jimsig’s post above would apply.

Not only that you also have to go the length of the airport to do so. There are moving walkways in the middle of the terminal on either side of the food court. Here is the DME map and I added the extra steps you will have to take in black. Gates 100-129 (which include SW) are furthest you can get from DME.

 

[AngiTN]

And Southwest tends to be quite slow at bringing bags out.
I suspect because bags are free and more people check bags
They also don't provide electronic tracking on their bags so I'm always left wondering, did they or didn't they make it. Couple that with how slow they are to come out and it gets stressful. I just let ME deal with them and I'm heading blissfully on to my trip.

 

[lionqueen]

i think i'm leaning towards letting DME deal with my bags....Sounds like a really big headache!! thanks everyone for your insight

 

[PanamaMike]

I chose to not use the luggage tag and picked up my bag myself. As it happened, my carousel was directly on the way to the Magical Express counter, so very easy.

 

[Jimsig]

i think i'm leaning towards letting DME deal with my bags....Sounds like a really big headache!! thanks everyone for your insight

I think you will be happy with that decision. It's so much easier not to have the deal with them. We each have our personal item and we use one carry on suitcase for all of us for the stuff we need right away. The last two years we have gone to DL and flew into LAX and it felt funny having to go to baggage claim on a Disney trip.

One trip we got to the resort around 9p. I figured I would stay up for a while and wait for the bags. Just after midnight I decided to go to bed. I went to call bell services to ask them to hold the bags until morning. The voice mail light was blinking on the phone but it had never rang. The VM had been left about 5 min earlier and they said they would hold the bags and call them in the AM or if I wanted them right away to call back an they would deliver. I had them in 5 min and this was at Fort Wilderness in the Cabins.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The voice mail light was blinking on the phone but it had never rang.

Yep. Intentional. They don't want to wake you