Magical Express w/ luggage!

[disney102105]

Okay so our flight comes in late on the night before Thanksgiving. We are traveling w/ 3 little ones and I will need my luggage right away. So I called and they said just to claim all of our luggage on our own and head over to Magical Express and check in. They will put our bags on the bus with us. Have any of you done this?? I dont want to get too many weird looks.

 

[shelleybell]

I have done this before, and you will not be the only one who does it. Just make sure that you do not put your DME luggage tags on your luggage before you leave home.
Have a great trip!

Shelley

 

[kaytieeldr]

But consider what you will do if the airline misdirects your luggage.

 

[localdriver]

Okay so our flight comes in late on the night before Thanksgiving. We are traveling w/ 3 little ones and I will need my luggage right away. So I called and they said just to claim all of our luggage on our own and head over to Magical Express and check in. They will put our bags on the bus with us. Have any of you done this?? I dont want to get too many weird looks.

You are welcome to bring your luggage to the bus. But do understand that the "free, all included luggage tranfers" stops at that point. Given all other service points attributed to the driver of your coach are met or exceeded, please compensate the driver as you would anyone else who handles your luggage. THEY = the driver.
We load and unload. There are no weird looks.

 

[azgal81]

Quite a few people including me did this when I used the service. It worked out well.

 

[goofy4tink]

As has already been noted, be sure to be ready to tip your driver. I realize the all DME info says that gratuities are included, but that does not apply to those bringing their luggage to the bus!!!
I only recommend that people get their own luggage late at night, otherwise it slows down the whole process. DME is built to get you to the resorts as quickly as possible. When guests bring their bags with them, to the bus, it takes the driver that much longer to get ready to pull out at the airport. Then, it takes him/her longer at each resort since the bags have to be pulled out, and disbursed to the guest.
But, when arriving late at night, it makes sense to get your own bags and bring them with you. But...be sure to still pack a carryon bag with those things you have to have to start your vacation. Your bags can be misdirected by the airlines, so you need to be prepared. You stand a much greater chance of the airlines misdirecting bags than DME doing so.

 

[canwegosoon]

Since you are 4-5 people, I would do 2-3 carry ons with all the clothes/stuff you need for your first night(these can be like children's suitcases or slightly larger-totes or zipper duffle bags are great and can always be condensed into a lightly packed big bag for the return trip) plus your carryon for the plane "stuff" for kids/adults/snacks...and save your big cases for DME to handle and bring up in the morning.

****Please when traveling at such a busy time of year, be sure to pack some food and snacks for you and the kids-the airlines usually have enough to drink-but I have been on flights that have run out of food, and it is not fun with kids

 

[disney102105]

Thanks you guys, this has been helpful. As mentioned earlier you guys think that magical express has LESS of a chance to misplace luggage than the airport itself?? Do you all agree w/ that?? It does make sense to me so now Im thinking of letting magical express deal w/ my large suitcases and just pack 3 nice size carry ons to get us through the night. Our flight should be in around 6pm if all goes well so Im thinking we shoul have our luggage by 9pm??? Thats not too bad I guess.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks you guys, this has been helpful. As mentioned earlier you guys think that magical express has LESS of a chance to misplace luggage than the airport itself?? Do you all agree w/ that?? It does make sense to me so now Im thinking of letting magical express deal w/ my large suitcases and just pack 3 nice size carry ons to get us through the night. Our flight should be in around 6pm if all goes well so Im thinking we shoul have our luggage by 9pm??? Thats not too bad I guess.

DME says to expect your luggage, delivered in your room, within 3 hrs after checking in at your resort. Now, if you arrive at, let's say, 9:00 am, and you can't get into your room until around 2:00, then I wouldn't be looking for the bags until 2, not 12, since they can't put the bags in a room, until you have a room.
But, since you'll be arriving at 6ish, your room will be ready and you should be able to get your bags delivered by 10:00ish. But, still pack carryons just in case.
And no, I don't think the DME stands a greater chance of misdirecting your bags than the airlines. Think of it this way...the airlines could feasibly send your bags to Bombay....DME can only send them to the wrong WDW resort!!! IF DME does misdirect your bags, it's a simple mistake to correct. If the airlines misdirect, there is just no way of telling how long it will take to get the bags.

 

[clkelley]

Thanks you guys, this has been helpful. As mentioned earlier you guys think that magical express has LESS of a chance to misplace luggage than the airport itself?? Do you all agree w/ that?? It does make sense to me so now Im thinking of letting magical express deal w/ my large suitcases and just pack 3 nice size carry ons to get us through the night. Our flight should be in around 6pm if all goes well so Im thinking we shoul have our luggage by 9pm??? Thats not too bad I guess.

You are arriving at 6pm. I'm sorry, but many don't consider that late. Dealing with 3 little ones is enough work. Bring carryons with their PJs and your PJs (just in case) and toothbrushes and get them ready for bed once you get to your resort. Then you and hubby relax with a beverage and wait on the bags to arrive 10ish. No need to drag the little ones all the way to baggage claim for a possibly long wait, then on to DME.