Magical Express, you might want to read this for your information..

[Mackey Mouse]

I am so glad that WMRegina posted this on the updates on the Dis Home Page as it needed to be said. I was with her when we saw many pieces of luggage just left on their own in a secluded area of the Wilderness Lodge with the Magical Express tags on them. We both looked at each other and thought anyone could walk off with this luggage...Please read her update here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm

 

[Lewisc]

Most of us don't pack expensive stuff in our checked luggage. The concern isn't just DME but theft in the airport luggage handling area and even someone stealing the bag from the carousel (if I don't use DME).

The times I've used DME I was assigned a ready room, 10:00a and my luggage was promptly delivered to my room.

You mentioned WL and BC. I wonder if the issue is with the DVC accommodations that generally aren't available early.

I can see the luggage storage rooms being filled with guests who checked out without leaving enough room for incoming guests.

edited to add:

I wonder what would happen to the bags of a guest who checked in early and had the bellhop store the bags. This "overflow" storage area might be used for others.

 

[seashoreCM]

Yellow tags are not used for the homebound trip and therefore should be removed at or before checkout time to reduce airport baggage handling confusion.

Normally it is impossible to retrieve yellow tagged baggage yourself at the airport carousels.

So does this mean that a guest carrying yellow tagged baggage about the resort should be sufficiently unique in appearance or singular as to attract attention and reduce the potential for problems the OP fears?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Mackey Mouse]

This is just an FYI... not sure what color the tags were, just noticed all this luggage sitting there unattended and no one around.. Obviously, we both thought it was worth telling our Disers about.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

This is just an FYI... not sure what color the tags were, just noticed all this luggage sitting there unattended and no one around.. Obviously, we both thought it was worth telling our Disers about.

You're not sure what color the tags were? All Magical Express tags are an unmistakable bright yellow. Are you sure this was DME luggage?

I've seen many instances over the years of rows of luggage in lobbies — at hotels on several continents. Typically, when tour groups arrive or leave, everyone's luggage is lined up until it is handled.

My understanding is that at OKW there is a DME luggage handling area "backstage" (presumably in the service area near building 15). I hope that all Disney resorts have similar staging areas for DME luggage. I hope that inbound DME luggage is not left unattended in the lobby (or in a public space off the lobby).

 

[Mackey Mouse]

It did say Magical Express on it, but sorry I do not remember the color.. I had just gotten off an 11 day Disney cruise and have this weird affliction were you continue to rock even though you are on land...headache, fuzzy head, but I did read it and it said Magical Express and WM Regina saw it as well and obviously felt the need to post it about on the official Dis Home page under updates. I believe I linked it in my first post, and just wanted to make sure that our Disers saw it. Not sure what they do at other resorts, we saw this at the Wilderness Lodge.

It was on a walkway....not in a holding area and not in a lobby and no one was around... if you did not read what she reported, here it is again: http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm Think about it this way, unattended luggage maybe scheduled for the bus, Magical Express, anyone could slip anything into it and onboard the bus it goes.. I am not sure if Disney is checking this luggage before putting it on the bus???Putting it through a security machine???

 

[Lewisc]

Sounds like the "staging" area for VWL and BCV is a semi-public, out of the way walkway. DVC rooms aren't generally available early and the limited storage room may be filled with guests who are checking out. I'd hope there is a CM watching the bags most of the time.

I don't like checking anything that is valuable. Even without DME there are too many opportunities for someone to steal.

My understanding is that at OKW there is a DME luggage handling area "backstage" (presumably in the service area near building 15). I hope that all Disney resorts have similar staging areas for DME luggage. I hope that inbound DME luggage is not left unattended in the lobby (or in a public space off the lobby).

 

[Lewisc]

It did say Magical Express on it, but sorry I do not remember the color.. I had just gotten off an 11 day Disney cruise and have this weird affliction were you continue to rock even though you are on land...headache, fuzzy head, but I did read it and it said Magical Express and WM Regina saw it as well and obviously felt the need to post it about on the official Dis Home page under updates. I believe I linked it in my first post, and just wanted to make sure that our Disers saw it. Not sure what they do at other resorts, we saw this at the Wilderness Lodge.

It was on a walkway....not in a holding area and not in a lobby and no one was around... if you did not read what she reported, here it is again: http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm Think about it this way, unattended luggage maybe scheduled for the bus, Magical Express, anyone could slip anything into it and onboard the bus it goes.. I am not sure if Disney is checking this luggage before putting it on the bus???Putting it through a security machine???

It has to be incoming luggage, waiting for a room to be ready. Outgoing luggage wouldn't have the yellow DME tags on it. Outgoing luggage that's checked in at the resort, has to go into locked cages, as per TSA regulations.

I guess it could be outgoing luggage, but on the way to the port for cruise passengers BUT I don't think cruise passengers stay in the DVC properties and those bags wouldn't generally have DME tags on them.

I'd hope a CM is watching the luggage most of the time but thanks for the heads up. I'm conerned with airport luggage handlers going through my bags so I don't check anything of value, even if I don't use DME.

 

[Regina]

The tags were bright yellow and they were Magical Express. You could see that they were sorted. In other words, there were rows of bags that were "together". If you're familiar with the WL, there's a walkway against the building on the right. On one side there's shrubs, the walk is in the center, then there's the building. I would estimate that there were at least 20 rows of bags. They went quite a distance down this path.

At the Beach Club, they were towards the corner on the far left of the main entrance. These were more "visible" but still, seeing how busy it was, I wondered how secure the bags are.

It was surprising to see so much luggage left out in the open. I looked around and didn't see anyone paying attention to them.

Again, I may be wrong, but when you're called at 9:30pm about a missing bag, you tend to question the security of the luggage when it appears to be left unprotected.

 

[Lewisc]

Those are probably seperate issues, the guest with the missing bag may have a similar name to you or their luggage may have been on the same cart as yours.

I suspect we'd see more posts in the internet boards if luggage was actually being stolen.

I appreciate the heads up. I hope that CMs are normally watching the bags. What time of day did you see the bags?

Again, I may be wrong, but when you're called at 9:30pm about a missing bag, you tend to question the security of the luggage when it appears to be left unprotected.

 

[goofy4tink]

You know, now that you mention it, I have seen rows of luggage, sitting out before. I wondered about it at the time, but then it just dropped out of my mind. It must be overflow. But, I have to tell you...it would be nice if they figured out some way to keep the luggage under wraps until delivered to rooms. That wouldn't make me very comfortable, knowing my luggage could be sitting along a pathway someplace!!

 

[Regina]

Those are probably seperate issues, the guest with the missing bag may have a similar name to you or their luggage may have been on the same cart as yours.

I suspect we'd see more posts in the internet boards if luggage was actually being stolen.

I appreciate the heads up. I hope that CMs are normally watching the bags. What time of day did you see the bags?

There wasn't an inch to spare on our cart. We had just returned from the 11 night cruise and had a ton of stuff. (So much so that we made a run to the UPS store to ship some of it back home.)

I agree, if luggage was being stolen we'd be hearing about it. I just wanted to raise awareness.

On both occasions, the luggage was out there in the afternoon.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We went to the Bahamas, a few years ago. The resort we stayed at had a van pick up their guests at the airport and bring them to the resort. All the luggage sat out in the lobby until the rooms were ready. We got there around 11am and the rooms weren't ready until close to 4pm...every room! I thought it was odd that all the luggage was just sitting there, but I guess that's how a lot of resorts do things.

This past July, we used DME, for the first time. We arrived early afternoon, checked in, our rooms were ready so we dropped off our carry-ons and went to a park until late. When we came back to our room, our luggage was there, along with someone else's! We called down to the front desk and they had someone come pick it up. They didn't seem too upset about the fact that we had access to someone else's suitcase and didn't really have to call them and let them know. I don't know if the other people were looking for it or if they didn't even know it got delivered to the wrong room.

 

[donmil723]

Thanks for the heads up. Guess I'll worry a little about our luggage using ME as I have in the past with DCL. I have always been leery of leaving my luggage outside my stateroom on the last night of our Disney cruises and worried about them being unattended in the big room where you pick them up when you disembark. After our first cruise, someone picked up one of our suitcases by mistake and it took a little while to find it. Thankfully, they realized it wasn't theirs and returned it to a CM at the port. Then on our last cruise, my Mickey Mouse luggage straps were taken off all 3 pieces of our luggage sometime between the time we set them out and then picked them up the next morning. Next cruise, I will probably just take my luggage with me the next morning as it is obvious they are not being watched by DCL. Since there have not been any reports of missing/stolen luggage by ME users, I will give them a chance. Hopefully, I won't regret it.

Donna

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"I have always been leery of leaving my luggage outside my stateroom on the last night of our Disney cruises and worried about them being unattended in the big room where you pick them up when you disembark."

This bothered me too, although anything of value I kept with me and locked in the safe until we were to leave, but you are correct in thinking really your luggage is up for grabs.....When I came off the cruise and looked at the way that big room was and luggage everywhere, I thought this could be a free for all. Anyone could have taken anyone's luggage, we would like to think that things like this do not happen at Disney, but they happen everywhere. I thought I was so smart this time not to have black luggage as everyone seems to have that color....silly me, had very nice Vera Bradley luggage, brand new....maybe better to have an old beaten up suitcase.. I am thinking about that for my next trip.

We are right to watch where our possessions go and who is transporting them?

 

[donmil723]

This bothered me too, although anything of value I kept with me and locked in the safe until we were to leave, but you are correct in thinking really your luggage is up for grabs.....When I came off the cruise and looked at the way that big room was and luggage everywhere, I thought this could be a free for all. Anyone could have taken anyone's luggage, we would like to think that things like this do not happen at Disney, but they happen everywhere. I thought I was so smart this time not to have black luggage as everyone seems to have that color....silly me, had very nice Vera Bradley luggage, brand new....maybe better to have an old beaten up suitcase.. I am thinking about that for my next trip.

We didn't put anything of any real value in our suitcases either that we set out the night before. And the luggage straps were not that big of a deal ($10 each x 3 = $30). I called DCL lost and found but they couldn't find them and they sent me 3 DCL luggage tags (not sure if they misunderstood what was taken) but it was nice they did that for us. I also turned it in to our travel insurance, upon DCL's advice, and they reimbursed me $18. Even though it wasn't an expensive item that was taken and we received some reimbursement, I was upset because it was MY MICKEY MOUSE LUGGAGE TAGS that were taken and it happened at Disney/DCL. As Disney fans, I'm sure you can understand that the Disney magic was a little tarnished for me because things like that shouldn't happen at Disney. But, being the overly optimistic person that I am, I will be purchasing 3 more luggage straps later this month on our trip to WDW!!!! So if you see any unattended luggage with Mickey Mouse luggage straps on them, PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY STRAPS!!!!!!

Donna

 

[dis mom]

Just back for 7 days in WDW. It was wonderful. We used DME and had no problems. We stayed at the AKL . They had a specific place to put DME luggage. We had no problems with the service. The luggage was not left out at all.

Earned my EARS!!!

DH Me and DS

 

[CarolA]

Folks this is nothing.

Right after liquid "Ban" was put into place I was at ATL and MCO. The airlines had TONS of luggage just sitting in the baggage area which had not made the same flight as its owners. It was unattended, right next to a door etc... It would have been SUPER easy for someone to just walk off (or as someone on flyertalk.com posted super easy for a terrorist to plant a bomb in....) So your luggage is probably SAFER on DME then letting the airline process it. With Disney if your luggage gets delayed Disney still pulls it and delivers it to you, with the airlines the luggage will first go ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND the carousel for an hour and then be just pulled off and left in a pile. At SOME point SOMEONE will deal with it, but......