Magical Express...Yes or No?

[PrincessBear]

We are staying at Coronado Springs and our arrival time is 4:51pm. We have a dinner reservation for 9pm @ the California Grill and are trying to figure out if we should get our own luggage or let Magical Express handle it...? We want to shower and get ready before dinner but are worried they luggage won't be there in time! What do you think?

 

[mbtileguy]

you better get it they are sometimes slow in getting you your bags.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would definitely get my own luggage. In fact I always do and its not a big deal. If memory serves they say it can take up to something like five hours to get yoru luggage so if that is the case, you will not want to chance it!

 

[TDC Nala]

I would let ME handle the luggage, but pack what is needed to change for dinner in a carryon and bring it on the plane.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We have always pulled our own luggage too. Then just walked over to magical express area. Be sure you don't put the special tags on your luggage if you want to pull your own luggage though.
The other option is to take a carry on with what you think you'll need to change into, etc. and let M/E do the rest for you. Your bags will be there when you return from dinner. (keep in mind all those carrry on rules

Have a Magical Trip!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We are staying at Coronado Springs and our arrival time is 4:51pm. We have a dinner reservation for 9pm @ the California Grill and are trying to figure out if we should get our own luggage or let Magical Express handle it...? We want to shower and get ready before dinner but are worried they luggage won't be there in time! What do you think?

We have been taking our luggage with us for the reason you mentioned....I would play it safe so you can start your vacation on a positive note. Enjoy dinner!

 

[ktink]

I would let ME handle the luggage, but pack what is needed to change for dinner in a carryon and bring it on the plane.

ITA.

We loved ME. Our stay at CSR in 05 we had our luggage withing 1 hr.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Never had a problem getting the luggage in the room within an hour of our check in, but the paperwork I received recently said it can take up to THREE hours.

The luggage delivery is the best part of ME in my opinion. But I travel without my DH a lot, so I don't like to deal with the bags if I don't have to.

Like someone else said, I'd pack what I want in a carry on just in case.

 

[AnninIowa]

We arrived in Orlando at around 5 pm on January 31...our bags were delivered at 8 pm. Very few people were waiting for the ME buses, so it was definitely a slow time, but still took 3 hours for the luggage. Definitely pack a change of clothes and fill your little quart sized baggie with the toiletries you'll need if you want to clean up beforehand (although the new H2O toiletries at the deluxe resorts are awesome!).

 

[CleveRocks]

I guess I see it differently than most others. To me, "playing it safe" is packing your immediate needs in your carry-on just in case the AIRLINE delays your luggage. I do this no matter where I fly.

Even if you decide to get your own luggage, I'd STILL advise you to pack your dinner clothes in your carry-on. It's just the safest way to do it.

But for the sake of argument, let's just say that you're wearing an evening gown or a suit of armor or something else that absolutely couldn't fit in your carry-on. In that case, you'd be foolish NOT to get your own bags. They say bags are delivered about 3 hours after you arrive at your resort, not three hours after you arrive at the airport. In a best-case scenario, you're at your resort around 6:00 p.m., which means even if your bags are "on-time" they could arrive at your room at 9:00 p.m., which would make you either miss your ADR or attempt to eat at California Grill in your underwear.

 

[bab31]

Pack what you need for the evening- We arrived at 6:15 -at the resort by 7:30 - I am not sure what time we got back from eating dinner but our bags were in our room when we got back. I trusted the system and loved it!

 

[storzo]

I agree with the other poster. ME is one of the best parts of staying at Disney. Not lugging bags around...perfect start of a vacation to me. Pack a change of clothes in your carry on and the toiletries are supplied in room. We did that when we traveled from Jersey in the colder winter and worked perfectly for us.

 

[OKW Lover]

I wouldn't bother with getting my bags. Tell them when you check-in that they should hold your bags until the morning if you are afraid that they will arrive too late. So long as you've followed the prudent travel practices of packing your first day's worth of stuff (especially including any meds) in your carry-on you should be just fine.

 

[PrincessBear]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I wouldn't bother with getting my bags. Tell them when you check-in that they should hold your bags until the morning if you are afraid that they will arrive too late. So long as you've followed the prudent travel practices of packing your first day's worth of stuff (especially including any meds) in your carry-on you should be just fine.

OKW Lover,

The OP is scheduled to land at 4:51 p.m. Why should the OP want to request that the luggage not be delivered until the next day?

PrincessBear,

Eric (CleveRocks) has the right idea. Pack carry-ons with items that are needed right away (as well as the usual valuables, fragile items, and medicines). Check the rest, and let Magical Express deliver them to your room. That way, you won't have to waste any time at the airport waiting for bags and dragging them from baggage claim to the Magical Express motorcoach. Then it won't matter if your bags are delivered to your room at 7:00 p.m. (soon after you check in) or at 10 p.m. (when you're enjoying dinner at the California Grill).

 

[OKW Lover]

OKW Lover,

The OP is scheduled to land at 4:51 p.m. Why should the OP want to request that the luggage not be delivered until the next day?

Perhaps I misread the OP, but I thought their concern was that the luggage would get in too late at night.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Had the impression that OP's concern was that luggage would arrive too late to change for dinner.