magical express!!

[grimley1968]

Here's another question, even though I don't plan to use ME on my upcoming trip:

There was a thread a month or two ago about getting to a Disney resort that does not "participate" in ME. Can this be done? For instance, let's say I'm staying at an EPCOT area resort that does not participate in ME (let's use Swan or Dolphin in this example), and the closest ME resort is Beach Club. Could I not just ride the ME bus, bring my luggage with me as if I flew on a non-participating airline, and when dropped off at BC, walk with my luggage next door to Swan & Dolphin? This seems like it would be easy to accommodate. I recommended this approach on the earlier thread, and someone posted that ME will not accept passengers on the bus who do not have ressies at one of the ME resorts. I can't believe you wouldn't be able to just hitch a ride on the bus, then walk over to your resort from the closest ME-participating resort you can get dropped off at.

 

[CleveRocks]

What happens if I never receive them. I was really hoping not to have to LUG our luggage. DH and I are not as young as we used to be!!

Sure, things will be a little easier if you receive the tags, but don't fret, all will go well if you don't.

When you arrive at the DME desk, tell them you never received your tags. They will ask for a description of your bags, as well as some other information. A Disney CM will retrieve your bags for you and send them on their merry DME way. Just like everyone else, you won't see them again until they "magically appear" in your room.

We received our tags one day before we left, so we were prepared to do without. My wife went to a fabric store and bought about the loudest, ugliest ribbon I ever saw (orange with yellow polka dots), so that it would be very visible. We tied a big piece of ribbon to each of our bags, and we had planned to bring a length of that ribbon with us in a carry-on so we could give it to the people at the DME desk, to aid them in quickly and correctly identifying our bags so they could be shipped to our resort.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! My parents just had their 51st. Congratulations!

-- Eric

 

[CleveRocks]

There was a thread a month or two ago about getting to a Disney resort that does not "participate" in ME. Can this be done? For instance, let's say I'm staying at an EPCOT area resort that does not participate in ME (let's use Swan or Dolphin in this example), and the closest ME resort is Beach Club. Could I not just ride the ME bus, bring my luggage with me as if I flew on a non-participating airline, and when dropped off at BC, walk with my luggage next door to Swan & Dolphin? This seems like it would be easy to accommodate. I recommended this approach on the earlier thread, and someone posted that ME will not accept passengers on the bus who do not have ressies at one of the ME resorts. I can't believe you wouldn't be able to just hitch a ride on the bus, then walk over to your resort from the closest ME-participating resort you can get dropped off at.

I believe it. Disney is operating DME, in part, to help attract people to stay at Disney resorts. More resort guests equals more profit. Swan and Dolphin are located on Disney property but are not owned or operated by Disney. While Disney is certainly happy that Swan and Dolphin stay in business (those hotels pay rent to landlord Disney!), they don't want to "reward" Swan and Dolphin guests by giving them a perk that's used to entice people to stay at Disney resorts. DME is a business tool, not a public utility. If they gave it away to Swan and Dolphin guests, they would be, in fact, enticing people to stay at Swan and Dolphin, which would mean less money for Disney.

-- Eric

 

[grimley1968]

I believe it. Disney is operating DME, in part, to help attract people to stay at Disney resorts. More resort guests equals more profit. Swan and Dolphin are located on Disney property but are not owned or operated by Disney. While Disney is certainly happy that Swan and Dolphin stay in business (those hotels pay rent to landlord Disney!), they don't want to "reward" Swan and Dolphin guests by giving them a perk that's used to entice people to stay at Disney resorts. DME is a business tool, not a publoc utility. If they gave it away to Swan and Dolphin guests, they would be, in fact, enticing people to stay at Swan and Dolphin, which would mean less money for Disney.

-- Eric

Okay, let me change out S&D in my scenario with, say, Boardwalk as a non-participating resort. Maybe BW does participate in it in reality, but my question remains: can you take the ME bus to a nearby participating Disney resort, then walk over to the non-participating Disney resort with your own luggage? Will the bus driver, or someone else, check to see if you're staying at a participating resort before allowing you to board?

 

[LIFERBABE]

My experience was that we didnt schedule our trip from POP to MCO until the night before.

There was a CM at our scheduled pick up, that was writing down names and accepting vouchers to use ME.

We didnt have vouchers (wasnt told we needed it) so she asked my room # and # of passengers and wrote out a voucher.

Since Mears operates ME, Im guessing they get paid based on the number of passengers they transport and the vouchers are used to keep track. The CM asked the driver how many passengers were on the bus before we departed. The driver conducted a head count and let her know and then we were off.

There would be no incentive to let others on the bus as they would not count for reimbursement. There are also ME Reps at MCO, that perform the same function.

 

[CleveRocks]

Okay, let me change out S&D in my scenario with, say, Boardwalk as a non-participating resort. Maybe BW does participate in it in reality, but my question remains: can you take the ME bus to a nearby participating Disney resort, then walk over to the non-participating Disney resort with your own luggage? Will the bus driver, or someone else, check to see if you're staying at a participating resort before allowing you to board?

Here's the bottom line: If you do not have reservations at a DME-participating resort, you will not be in DME's database and you will not receive a DME packet. This means that whether at the DME counter or by mail you will not receive DME bus vouchers, and thus you won't be permitted to board a DME bus. No voucher, no ride.

On my return trip, I couldn't find my return bus trip vouchers for me or my family. I told this to the driver, and he replied that he would let us on the bus if I could show him any Disney-produced documentation that I stayed at CBR (where I stayed and where he was picking me up). I had my WDTC itinerary with me, and that was fine with him. My mother-in-law couldn't find her vouchers, either. She didn't understand what he meant when he said documentation produced by Disney. She kept trying to show him the itinerary printed up by her travel agent, and he kept telling her that was not good enough. She kept producing papers that were not sufficient, but I grabbed her things and showed the driver her WDTC itinerary, printed on WDTC stationery.

-- Eric

 

[grimley1968]

Here's the bottom line: If you do not have reservations at a DME-participating resort, you will not be in DME's database and you will not receive a DME packet. This means that whether at the DME counter or by mail you will not receive DME bus vouchers, and thus you won't be permitted to board a DME bus. No voucher, no ride.

On my return trip, I couldn't find my return bus trip vouchers for me or my family. I told this to the driver, and he replied that he would let us on the bus if I could show him any Disney-produced documentation that I stayed at CBR (where I stayed and where he was picking me up). I had my WDTC itinerary with me, and that was fine with him. My mother-in-law couldn't find her vouchers, either. She didn't understand what he meant when he said documentation produced by Disney. She kept trying to show him the itinerary printed up by her travel agent, and he kept telling her that was not good enough. She kept producing papers that were not sufficient, but I grabbed her things and showed the driver her WDTC itinerary, printed on WDTC stationery.

-- Eric

That answered my question. Thanks.

Now all they need to do is either expand the service, once it's a paid-for service, to all Disney resorts, or allow it to be used by Disney resort guests in a way that would allow them to at least be dropped off within walking distance of their resorts, as in the Beach Club to Boardwalk example.

I can understand not delivering people to all the resorts just yet, since they are offering it free of charge as of now and can use it as an incentive to get people to stay at certain resorts they want to fill up, but once it's a paid-for service, I'd feel pretty strange about it if I paid the same amount for a "non-participating" Disney resort as I would at a "participating" Disney resort.

Until they do this, that allows a niche market for the limo companies, since they'll at least get you to your resort AND they usually allow a grocery stop. If they do start delivering people to all the resorts, even when it's a paid-for service: bye bye limo companies.

 

[Lewisc]

Okay, let me change out S&D in my scenario with, say, Boardwalk as a non-participating resort. Maybe BW does participate in it in reality, but my question remains: can you take the ME bus to a nearby participating Disney resort, then walk over to the non-participating Disney resort with your own luggage? Will the bus driver, or someone else, check to see if you're staying at a participating resort before allowing you to board?

The bus driver won't let you board without your voucher and you won't get a voucher if you're not staying at a WDW resort.

Mears won't take reservations but you can go to the Mears desk and buy a ticket to a Disney resort. Mears will transport you an a ME bus.

You won't get on a bus without either having a voucher or having a ticket you bought from Mears.

At least two guests on my DME bus had paid Mears for a ticket. One person was staying at CSR but dropped a rental car off at MCO and was told he already has his free bus trip and was sent to Mears. The other passenger was a person who lives in the Orlando area and took the bus to AKL to make it easier for her son to pick her up.

 

[studog100]

Where is the DME desk when arriving at MCO? You said don't go to the baggage claim....will I see signs to direct me to the DME desk?

Thanks so much

Ken

 

[yooperfan]

Do they wait until a bus is totally full or do they have a time limit how long they will make you wait on the bus at the airport before they head for Disney resorts? I'm asking because we are going the week after MLK day in Jan. and I'm thinking it will be a lot slower at the resorts that week, therefore less people arriving on flights than during busier times.

 

[Lewisc]

The DME desk in on level one, the ground transportation level, which is one level below baggage claim. It is on the A side of the terminal. It used to be a car rental desk.

 

[mikkiwikki]

Ok here is a silly question.

Say I really like the idea of not having to TOUCH my baggage...but I still dont think waiting in a 'bus que' is all that kewl. And I decide to spring for a limo via FL TOURS for the family. Can I do that? I mean can I ship my luggage via DME ...and still rent a limo to transport my family?


Thanks

 

[lverga]

Is Midwest a participating airline? Or will we have to go through checking in our own luggage on the way back.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ok here is a silly question.

Say I really like the idea of not having to TOUCH my baggage...but I still dont think waiting in a 'bus que' is all that kewl. And I decide to spring for a limo via FL TOURS for the family. Can I do that? I mean can I ship my luggage via DME ...and still rent a limo to transport my family?


Thanks

No no no - a thousand times no! Sorry, Mikkiwikki, nothing against you. I just think this same question has been asked about a thousand times in different threads and/or on other forums since Magical Express was announced

Anyway - if you don't check in at the DME counter, your luggage will not be transported to Disney. If you check in and then don't wait in line, or don't get on the bus - ditto, your luggage doesn't get transported. It's all or nothing. You and your luggage go DME, or you and your luggage go some other way.

On the return trip, though, as long as you're flying a participating airline, you CAN check in for your flight at your Disney resort and check your luggage through to your destination airport - then get to MCO any way you choose.

 

[mikkiwikki]

HAHA...NO PROBLEM - Im sure I couldve found the 1000 posts you mention - although I did try. Just easier to ask I guess. Sorry to annoy you.

No no no - a thousand times no! Sorry, Mikkiwikki, nothing against you. I just think this same question has been asked about a thousand times in different threads and/or on other forums since Magical Express was announced

Anyway - if you don't check in at the DME counter, your luggage will not be transported to Disney. If you check in and then don't wait in line, or don't get on the bus - ditto, your luggage doesn't get transported. It's all or nothing. You and your luggage go DME, or you and your luggage go some other way.

On the return trip, though, as long as you're flying a participating airline, you CAN check in for your flight at your Disney resort and check your luggage through to your destination airport - then get to MCO any way you choose.

 

[DizMare]

Inside the bus, are there overhead bins for carryon storage? Or room under the seats?
TIA!

 

[dialane]

Three weeks or less before your trip, you'll receive a DME packet in the mail. Included in the packet will be 2 DME luggage tags per person. These tags are actually sticky paper, the same type of paper they use at the airports to tag your luggage with the 3-letter airport code, etc., except that the DME tags are bright yellow and skinnier. Put a DME tag on each piece of checked luggage before you leave home.

OK. Now it's time to fly to MCO. Do everything at your home airport as you would any other time. They don't know anything about DME and they don't have to. All the DME stuff is done at MCO and NEVER before that.


-- Eric

Could you please clarify part of your instructions? You say "Do everything at your home airport as you would any other time." Do you mean we need to check our luggage with the AIRPORT LUGGAGE TAGS attached as well as the DME tags? Sorry, I'm a little confused.

 

[CleveRocks]

Could you please clarify part of your instructions? You say "Do everything at your home airport as you would any other time." Do you mean we need to check our luggage with the AIRPORT LUGGAGE TAGS attached as well as the DME tags? Sorry, I'm a little confused.

The airport luggage tags, the white tags put on at curbside check-in or at the ticket counter, are VITAL! Without those tags, your luggage is going nowhere fast. At home, you already put the DME tags on. These tags are ignored at your home airport and are also ignored when your bags are first taken off the plane at MCO. The DME tags are put into play after the luggage is released by the airline to the control of the airport itself. Before the luggage goes to the baggage claim carousels, there are people who's job it is to search out the DME-tagged luggage and pull it from the normal luggage stream. Those DME-tagged bags then go by truck to the proper resorts. Your DME tags will have all sorts of pre-printed information on them, to help the Disney subcontractor (a company called BAGS Inc.) route the luggage to the proper place.

When I said do everything at your home airport as you normally would, that's exactly what I meant. You already put the DME tags on at home. You've now done all you can do untiul you arrive at MCO and walk to the DME Welcome Center. I guess what I mean is, there was a poster a few months ago who thought that when he arrived at his home airport he needed to tell his airline's employees that his luggage is going to be handled by DME. I advised him that American Airlines employees at Chicago O'Hare, or USAirways employees at Philadelphia International, will have no idea what the heck he's talking about with DME. They don't need to know, because the FIRST DME handling of luggage occurs, as I said, after the luggage is already indoors at MCO.

I think I explained it to someone else this way. Let's say you are flying to Tulsa to visit Aunt Becky. Aunt Becky arranges for her gardener Steve to go to the airport to pick up your checked suitcases so you don't have to bother with it, and he'll bring them to Aunt Becky's for you later that day. He'll know which bags are yours because you put a special lime green tag on them that you know Steve will recognize. When you check in for your departing flight from San Francisco, you don't have to tell them that you specially tagged your luggage so Steve will recognize your bags. The airline employees in San Francisco couldn't care less what arrangement you and Aunt Becky's gardener have; all they care about is getting you and your bags to Tulsa safely and on-time.

It's the same with DME. Your departing airport couldn't care less about DME, and in fact the only way anyone there knows about it is because they're contemplating staying at WDW themselves and they read the DISBoards.

I hope this all made sense to you and doesn't cause you any MORE confusion!

-- Eric

 

[kritter]

I'm set to travel to WDW on the 26th of Sept. I've called them 2X (on 8/11 and 9/10) to give my flight info for the magical express. So far, I haven't received my express luggage tags. On this coming Monday, it will be a week till I leave. I will give them another call if I haven't received the tags by then. Has this happened to anyone else. What happens if I never receive them. I was really hoping not to have to LUG our luggage. DH and I are not as young as we used to be!! We will be celebrating our 52nd anniversary at the parks. Other than this problem, I can't wait. I love WDW. It truly is a magical place for all ages. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

mine came fed ex three days before I left..

 

[CleveRocks]

Inside the bus, are there overhead bins for carryon storage? Or room under the seats?

There is an overhead shelf, and there is space under the seats. If the bus is nearly full, you aren't permitted to hog up a seat with carry-ons too big to fit in either of the above, and the driver will stow them underneath the bus (you will get them back as soon as you arrive at your resort). You can voluntarily have any and all of your luggage stored in the cargo hold. If the driver handles any of your bags, please don't forget to tip accordingly.

-- Eric