Magical Express timing

[ookitarepanda]

Less than a week til WDW! Our flight arrives at 7:55pm on Thursday, and I was wondering about when we/our luggage might get delivered via Magical Express. The last time we went (12/2018) we got in around 4pm and our luggage showed up in our room by 7:30 or so.

This time around we're staying at Yacht Club, and I currently have an ADR for Trattoria al Forno at 9:55pm. I'm starting to think we might not even be able to make that reservation and I should cancel. What do you think? Would we arrive before dinner and would our luggage arrive before bedtime?

 

[Searc]

Less than a week til WDW! Our flight arrives at 7:55pm on Thursday, and I was wondering about when we/our luggage might get delivered via Magical Express. The last time we went (12/2018) we got in around 4pm and our luggage showed up in our room by 7:30 or so.

This time around we're staying at Yacht Club, and I currently have an ADR for Trattoria al Forno at 9:55pm. I'm starting to think we might not even be able to make that reservation and I should cancel. What do you think? Would we arrive before dinner and would our luggage arrive before bedtime?

Luggage arrives to the resort about three hours after you do. You do not need to be in the room.

That would be a very tight timeline. One thing goes wrong at any time in the day and you're missing it, being charged $10 per person no show fee.

 

[ookitarepanda]

Luggage arrives to the resort about three hours after you do. You do not need to be in the room.

That would be a very tight timeline. One thing goes wrong at any time in the day and you're missing it, being charged $10 per person no show fee.

I think you're right about the reservation. We can find something else on the boardwalk or at the resort if we get hungry.

 

[goofymom68]

When we arrived on a later flight we just picked up our luggage before heading to the ME. We didn‘t want to wait for three hours. That was a couple of years ago but I think it is still an option.

 

[marchingstar]

When we arrived on a later flight we just picked up our luggage before heading to the ME. We didn‘t want to wait for three hours. That was a couple of years ago but I think it is still an option.

ditto to this!

we actually did the opposite one year. we had an evening arrival and we had put the yellow tags on our suitcases so we went right to the magical express buses. our bags didn’t make it to our room until after 1 am. we were exhausted and hadn’t prepared for the baggage delays so we were half awake in travel clothes with no toiletries. it was a rough start to a trip. we learned our lesson. if we arrive after 6 or so, i would rather not use the yellow tags and just grab the bags ourselves.

 

[ClapYourHands]

ditto to this!

we actually did the opposite one year. we had an evening arrival and we had put the yellow tags on our suitcases so we went right to the magical express buses. our bags didn’t make it to our room until after 1 am. we were exhausted and hadn’t prepared for the baggage delays so we were half awake in travel clothes with no toiletries. it was a rough start to a trip. we learned our lesson. if we arrive after 6 or so, i would rather not use the yellow tags and just grab the bags ourselves.

Or you have a small carryon with toiletries and a change of clothes. If your luggage is delayed, you have what you need until your stuff catches up with you.

Remember that delays can be with DME, but they can also be with the airline. A willingness to collect your baggage won’t help if it doesn’t arrive with you. To be safe, carry with you everything you’ll need to get through the first 24 hours without your bags.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

On our last trip we arrived at Contempo at 3pm and our room wasn’t ready, luggage was still on the way. No worries, I had packed swimsuits in our carry-ons so we headed to the pool. Got a text at 4:30pm our room was ready... luggage didn’t arrive till 9:30pm. It was stressful because we had a TS reservation for 7pm and my makeup was in my luggage so I had to go without it, and my kiddos were waiting for their pajamas that night.

We did call bell services and asked them to get us an ETA on the luggage. DH went down and waited at bell services and grabbed our bags himself as soon as they arrived. DH is super friendly so he made lots of conversation with the CMs and they mentioned there was some sort of DME mix up and a lot of people were getting their luggage late. The next night we had some pixie dust and there were cookies and milk waiting in our room for us at bedtime... there wasn’t a note or anything but we guessed it was a nice gesture to apologize for the luggage and room delay.

I was soooo glad I had packed our swim suits and extra underwear in the carry-ons! After swimming in the pool we took showers using the hotel toiletries and put back on our “airplane clothes” which I could tolerate but idk what I would have done if I had to put on dirty underwear after showering (gone commando maybe lol!) Moral of the story, I will forever pack extra underwear and a swimsuit in my carry-on and from now on I also put my non-liquid makeup in the carry-on too.

 

[holden]

If I'm arriving anytime after 5pm I always grab my luggage and put it on the bus. I like being able to unpack and start my trip without worrying what time luggage will show up.

 

[Wood Nymph]

This time around we're staying at Yacht Club, and I currently have an ADR for Trattoria al Forno at 9:55pm. I'm starting to think we might not even be able to make that reservation and I should cancel. What do you think? Would we arrive before dinner and would our luggage arrive before bedtime?

I would pick up the luggage at the airport and bring it with you to the YC. Your room will be ready by then and you can go right to your room with your luggage. That will be better than getting your luggage after your are in bed.

As far as restaurants go, you will probably be able to get seated without a reservation that late at night.

 

[marchingstar]

Or you have a small carryon with toiletries and a change of clothes. If your luggage is delayed, you have what you need until your stuff catches up with you.

Remember that delays can be with DME, but they can also be with the airline. A willingness to collect your baggage won’t help if it doesn’t arrive with you. To be safe, carry with you everything you’ll need to get through the first 24 hours without your bags.

yeah, that would have helped too!

 

[kaytieeldr]

we were exhausted and hadn’t prepared for the baggage delays so we were half awake in travel clothes with no toiletries.

i know it's been said, but any time you fly, best/standard recommendation is to carry on everything you will need for the first 24 hours at your destination.

That will be better than getting your luggage after your are in bed.

By request, or on their own based on the time the luggage gets to the resort, Bell Serviceswill hold luggage until the morning - and likely put a no-ring message on your room phone, letting you know.

 

[kiford]

Definitely tight timeline. The issue isn't your luggage it's whether or not you arrive on time and if you pick up your luggage, that adds about 15-20 minutes. Our last plan was to arrive at MCO at 7:15 pm, check into the Hyatt and have dinner at the restaurant there at about 8:30 pm. Due to mechanical issues, we landed at 11:35 pm, picked up luggage, checked in and got to our room at about 12:15 am. Dinner was two glasses of water. Not exactly what I had in mind.

Over the last 2.5 years, we've not arrived on time anywhere no matter what flight time we took or where we were going/coming from. We've been anything from 90 minutes to 5 hours late due to weather, mechanical issues, playing "musical planes" because of the 737 max fiasco, inbound plane delayed, passenger medical issues - you name it, we've experienced it over the last 15 flights.

 

[ookitarepanda]

I’m glad I canceled the ADR and left the ME tags off the luggage - our flight is delayed by over an hour already!

 

[jenmsmith]

I’m glad I canceled the ADR and left the ME tags off the luggage - our flight is delayed by over an hour already!

Good call! We love to eat at the Crew’s Cup Lounge at Yacht Club. So if prime rib sliders sound good to you and they’re still serving when you get there, check it out. Have a great trip!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Good call! We love to eat at the Crew’s Cup Lounge at Yacht Club. So if prime rib sliders sound good to you and they’re still serving when you get there, check it out. Have a great trip!

To add to this, I love the Everything Pretzel at Crew's Cup Lounge and the Lobster Bisque. The server I had was so nice too. Have a great trip.

 

[ClapYourHands]

@ookitarepanda - when did you finally arrive? Hopefully, you still got dinner!

 

[VeronicaZS]

I think you're right about the reservation. We can find something else on the boardwalk or at the resort if we get hungry.

I very much enjoyed the Crew's Cup Lounge in the Yacht Club and they are open until 11.

 

[ookitarepanda]

@ookitarepanda - when did you finally arrive? Hopefully, you still got dinner!

Walked into the lobby at 11:30pm and had sleep for dinner! Travel was kind of exhausting. But did make sure to get a cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern this morning to make up for it.