Magical Express

[Drea2500]

Hey everyone! I'm going to be going to Disney World with my husband in February for our one year anniversary. Last year, when we went, we just used Tiffany Towncar (which we loved) to get to POFQ. This year, we are trying to save a little money and so we decided to go with the Magical Express to take us to Pop Century.

I know that we can pick our bags up from baggage claim and go to the Disney Magical Express Counter, but will they go on the bus with us and get off at the hotel with us or will we have to wait for them? Secondly, when we go back to the airport, will we be able to do the same thing (take our bags with us on the bus and take them off at the airport)?

Thanks for any and all answers!

 

[DVC California]

I know that we can pick our bags up from baggage claim and go to the Disney Magical Express Counter, but will they go on the bus with us and get off at the hotel with us or will we have to wait for them?

You certainly may claim your bags from the carousel; however, I think most folks utilize the DME luggage delivery service. About 2-3 weeks before your trip, you will receive your DME packet with motor coach tickets and special luggage tags. If you place the tags on the bags you check with your airline, you will not have to claim from the carousel. DME luggage staff pull all the bags that are tagged, scan them, and transport them to their assigned resorts. The bags will be delivered directly to your room, approx 3 hours after arrival.

If you decide you would like to claim your bags yourself, DO NOT attach the tags to your luggage! Claim them as usual, head to the Welcome Center (Terminal B, 1st Floor) and you will be directed to the motor coach for POP. Your bags will be stored in the cargo hold of the bus. When you arrive at POP, the driver will pull out bags but you should watch and make sure he/she pulls your bags out! You will take your bags with you to check-in and to your room.

Secondly, when we go back to the airport, will we be able to do the same thing (take our bags with us on the bus and take them off at the airport)?

Yes, your bags can go back on the same bus, stored in the cargo hold.

Or, you can use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) and check your bags at POP, to transfer to MCO and your participating airline.

HTH, Steve

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Drea2500,

May I ask what you hope to gain from not using the free DME luggage delivery service (inbound) or Resort Airline Check-in (outbound)?

 

[Drea2500]

Drea2500,

May I ask what you hope to gain from not using the free DME luggage delivery service (inbound) or Resort Airline Check-in (outbound)?

I just like knowing where my bags are instead of letting someone else take them. It's nothing against Disney, it's just that I know some people that had to wait nearly six hours for their bags to show up. I want to get to my hotel room and get in my comfy clothes and relax before hitting the parks the next day (my husband and I are not getting in til nearly 8 pm). As for going back to the airport, I just want to make sure my bags get on the plane. My husband and I are a little paranoid I guess

 

[Alesia]

I just like knowing where my bags are instead of letting someone else take them. It's nothing against Disney, it's just that I know some people that had to wait nearly six hours for their bags to show up. I want to get to my hotel room and get in my comfy clothes and relax before hitting the parks the next day (my husband and I are not getting in til nearly 8 pm). As for going back to the airport, I just want to make sure my bags get on the plane. My husband and I are a little paranoid I guess

We seem to be magnets for having luggage misdirected. I have had the joy of spending the first few hours of vacation in the airport waiting for luggage and then filling out paperwork when it didn't show up. I am more than happy to let DME deal with that.

 

[siskaren]

I just like knowing where my bags are instead of letting someone else take them.

But you let someone else take them when you check them.

As for going back to the airport, I just want to make sure my bags get on the plane. My husband and I are a little paranoid I guess

But unless you actually see your bags get loaded on the plane, how do you know they got on the plane?

 

[Alesia]

But unless you actually see your bags get loaded on the plane, how do you know they got on the plane?

Trust me, you don't. Sometimes they go to Huston, or Boise, or Timbuktu.

You should always pack everything you'll need for the first 24 hours, as well as any valuables, in your carryon.

 

[siskaren]

Trust me, you don't. Sometimes they go to Huston, or Boise, or Timbuktu.

Oh, I know things like that can happen. (Although fortunately, they haven't happened to me. ) I was just responding to Drea2500's explanation of why she doesn't want to use RAC.

 

[Alesia]

Oh, I know things like that can happen. (Although fortunately, they haven't happened to me. ) I was just responding to Drea2500's explanation of why she doesn't want to use RAC.

I know that was my point. The fact is, once you turn your bag over to the airline, you have no idea where your bag is going to go. Hopefully they go on the plane with you, but sometimes they don't. When we came back from our honeymoon, one of our bags didn't show up for two weeks. My luggage is much more well-traveled than I am.

If you are willing to trust the airline with your stuff, I see no reason not to trust DME with it.

 

[wdwrich]

I know If you are willing to trust the airline with your stuff, I see no reason not to trust DME with it.

Completely agree!

Actually, if luggage gets misdirected when using DME, at least your wait time is spent at WDW. If you don't use DME and your stuff doesn't show up at baggage claim, you're stuck waiting and filling out forms at the airport.

 

[JanaDee]

Trust me, you don't. Sometimes they go to Huston, or Boise, or Timbuktu.

Or Vegas!!

Without you.

 

[siskaren]

If you are willing to trust the airline with your stuff, I see no reason not to trust DME with it.

Completely agree!

I agree, too. I've never understood why some people aren't willing to trust DME with their luggage when they're willing to trust the airline with it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Or Vegas!!

Without you.

Or you go to Vegas and your luggage goes to New York, then Washington DC. That smartly-packed carry-on is the best travel tip.

 

[Alesia]

I agree, too. I've never understood why some people aren't willing to trust DME with their luggage when they're willing to trust the airline with it.

You know what I think it is? I think that some people who have never had their luggage misdirected think that it would be an absolute disaster. The thing is, It really isn't. The worst part (assuming you've packed all of your necessities in your carryon,) is the waiting at the airport getting it straightened out when you could be enjoying your vacation. I think that a lot of times DME gets the blame when luggage arrives late, when it is actually much more likely that the delay was the airlines fault.

 

[mjohnson96]

You certainly may claim your bags from the carousel; however, I think most folks utilize the DME luggage delivery service. About 2-3 weeks before your trip, you will receive your DME packet with motor coach tickets and special luggage tags. If you place the tags on the bags you check with your airline, you will not have to claim from the carousel. DME luggage staff pull all the bags that are tagged, scan them, and transport them to their assigned resorts. The bags will be delivered directly to your room, approx 3 hours after arrival.

If you decide you would like to claim your bags yourself, DO NOT attach the tags to your luggage! Claim them as usual, head to the Welcome Center (Terminal B, 1st Floor) and you will be directed to the motor coach for POP. Your bags will be stored in the cargo hold of the bus. When you arrive at POP, the driver will pull out bags but you should watch and make sure he/she pulls your bags out! You will take your bags with you to check-in and to your room.



Yes, your bags can go back on the same bus, stored in the cargo hold.

Or, you can use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) and check your bags at POP, to transfer to MCO and your participating airline.

HTH, Steve

Thank you to OP for asking this and for posting the response too. Usually my mom picks us up from the airport but this time since we are arriving around 8pm I told her I would take the bus to the hotel and meet her in the morning.

I wanted to know about not using the DME luggage delivery since it will be so late and once we get to the hotel we plan on pretty much going straight to bed and I did not want to worry about waiting on luggage

 

[sam_gordon]

Thank you to OP for asking this and for posting the response too. Usually my mom picks us up from the airport but this time since we are arriving around 8pm I told her I would take the bus to the hotel and meet her in the morning.

I wanted to know about not using the DME luggage delivery since it will be so late and once we get to the hotel we plan on pretty much going straight to bed and I did not want to worry about waiting on luggage

Just to give you another option... pack everything you need for the first 24 hours in your carryon (a good idea anytime your flying, DME or no DME).

When you get to your resort, let the baggage folks know to not deliver the bags to your room that night, but feel free to deliver after 'x' time the next day.

The next day, head to the park and when you get back, your bags should be in your room.

Not saying you have to do this (obviously) but wanted to give you an option.

 

[DebbieB]

But you let someone else take them when you check them.

But unless you actually see your bags get loaded on the plane, how do you know they got on the plane?

Some airlines have online tracking on their app. I know Delta does. I flew PIT-CVG-LAX last year to Disneyland. I had a short connection at CVG (Cincinnati). Even though my connecting gate was close, I just had time to go to the restroom and board the second plane. I pulled out my phone and checked the app, my luggage was on the second plane before I was.

 

[seashoreCM]

... May I ask what you hope to gain from not using the free DME luggage delivery service (inbound) ...?

Only applies to a small number of guests but if they have a lot of stuff in the luggage that they want to use right away then carrying the luggage with them onto the Magical Express bus avoids the three or so hour wait at the resort for the luggage.

 

[DisReno]

When we had a late flight arriving into Orlando, we picked up the bags ourselves. Like you, we did not want to wait hours for our bags-We just wanted to check in and go to bed...it was around 10:30 at night when we arrived.

 

[wdwrich]

When we had a late flight arriving into Orlando, we picked up the bags ourselves. Like you, we did not want to wait hours for our bags-We just wanted to check in and go to bed...it was around 10:30 at night when we arrived.

For any flight arriving 10pm or later, you must pick up your own luggage at baggage claim. DME luggage service ends at 10pm.