ME - Can you hand carry your luggage?

[seashoreCM]

How do you know if you are on the later coach to your resort? :

You won't know that for a fact unless someone in your party reported directly to the DME welcoming area to observe and saw a coach destined for your resort take off before you got down there.

Going to Disney, you don't have to be punctual. You could arrive a little early or late and after checking in at the welcoming area, line up to board the coach in the same fashion as when taking Disney transport to and from the parks.

Going home using DME you must be punctual for your assigned coach, being at the platform 15 minutes before the time printed on your confirmation.

 

[dburg30]

Agreed; however I wish they would change one thing. I wish they would let all of us off first who chose to let ME handle our luggage. They hold you prisoner in the bus, until all the luggage for that resort is offloaded. I think they should let all of us who chose to let ME handle our luggage off first, since we are helping to keep the process moving. Then they unload all the luggage for that resort, and make just the people who brought all of their luggage with them wait......they are the ones that hold up the process.

Again, I think someone that is at MCO a lot in the transportation industry (not WDW but another company) has asked about this, and IIRC they are NOT supposed to be doing this, but the only way we can get it addressed is if this happens to you, get the bus info, time and the drivers first name, and report it to DME!

 

[ironz]

How do you know if you are on the later coach to your resort? We are not in a hurry at the airport. We will actually be getting something to eat at the food court before we get our luggage and will get on the next available coach to our resort when we get there. How will we know if we just missed one or not? How often do they leave for any given resort?

We will have been up since 6am and have a 2hr drive to the nearest airport so we are not rushing off to the park as fast as we can. We are planning on resting in the room until 4 or 5pm. I just don't want to take a chance that our luggage won't arrive in time.

Have a great week & Happy planning!

Not being in a hurry to get from the airport to WDW...then, no problem. You can be eating while the bags are heading to baggage claim, then you will get your bags, and head on to the DME bus when you get there. Sounds like a reasonable plan, and it makes sense, for THIS situation, and for the reasons you have listed, to go ahead and get your bags. Yes, there will be some extra tipping involved, but it sounds like that isn't an issue.


Have a great trip!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Many of the replies are intended for others reading this thread. You've already made your decision.

DME buses seem to leave every 20-30 minutes. It takes at least that long to get your luggage from the carousel and walk over to the DME bus. It's all but inevitable you'll be taking a later DME bus.

Airline makes a difference. SW passengers have to go back up to level 3 and walk to the opposite corner of MCO before going down to the DME location.

It sounds like you have enough time for DME luggage delivery. The issue would be if he airline put your luggage on a later flight.

Lewisc summed it up perfectly.

Threads like this one are read by many people. Anyone considering the idea of retrieving their own bags and then going to DME needs to understand the pros and cons of doing so.

 

[tjmw2727]

Again, I think someone that is at MCO a lot in the transportation industry (not WDW but another company) has asked about this, and IIRC they are NOT supposed to be doing this, but the only way we can get it addressed is if this happens to you, get the bus info, time and the drivers first name, and report it to DME!

Interesting - we had this happen on the way from WDW to MCO.

The driver got off and closed the doors, unloaded all the bags and then stood by the door of the bus "hands out" as we got out of the bus. I would say more than 1/2 the bus didn't have bags under the bus (probably used RAC) and it was very frustrating for those in that situation.

 

[FireDancer]

How do you know if you are on the later coach to your resort? We are not in a hurry at the airport. We will actually be getting something to eat at the food court before we get our luggage and will get on the next available coach to our resort when we get there. How will we know if we just missed one or not? How often do they leave for any given resort?

We will have been up since 6am and have a 2hr drive to the nearest airport so we are not rushing off to the park as fast as we can. We are planning on resting in the room until 4 or 5pm. I just don't want to take a chance that our luggage won't arrive in time.

Have a great week & Happy planning!

I'm much like you when I go down to WDW. I always get down there the day before I have any plans so that I am not in a hurry and any delays don't ruin anything for me. If I have to wait for another bus or spend a few more minutes on the bus I don't care. I won't let these little inconveniences ruin a trip, I'm on a vacation after all

 

[dburg30]

Again, I think someone that is at MCO a lot in the transportation industry (not WDW but another company) has asked about this, and IIRC they are NOT supposed to be doing this, but the only way we can get it addressed is if this happens to you, get the bus info, time and the drivers first name, and report it to DME!

Interesting - we had this happen on the way from WDW to MCO.

The driver got off and closed the doors, unloaded all the bags and then stood by the door of the bus "hands out" as we got out of the bus. I would say more than 1/2 the bus didn't have bags under the bus (probably used RAC) and it was very frustrating for those in that situation.

Here is the post
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34380360&postcount=30

and here is the text since linking above, at least on my system makes it a wierd faded text and hard to read..

I called Mears this morning, but ended up with all the phone transfers at the Magic Express. The policy is this:

Drivers are taught to welcome the guests to WDW and step off the bus allowing the passengers to follow behind them. Those with luggage will be helped by the driver and those with no luggage can go on into the resort and check in. Drivers are not allowed to keep passengers on the bus while they set up luggage outside at the resort or at the airport. Drivers are not allowed to solicit tips as tips to drivers are not required. You can tip a driver if you feel like he has gone out of his way to help you.

The busses should have no drivers signs requesting gratuities. The lady wasn't sure but didn't think there were any official signs on the bus requesting gratuities. Like she said, tips are not a requirement whether the drivers handle baggage or not.

She gave me a long website where passengers can go to if this is happening. I checked it out and ended up at the following site. If this is happening to you she suggested you report it on the site. I would think you would go to Contact us as I see no other way to get to them. You might find another way. If this happens to you get the number of the bus, the time of day, the day it happened and if possible the drivers name. This information is necessary for them to follow up on the complaint. The site is:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

also I suppose you could call DME and let them know.. 866-599-0951

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, now THAT would be interesting - a dozen people trapped on a bus by the driver, all calling the Magical Express direct line...

 

[tjmw2727]

Oh, now THAT would be interesting - a dozen people trapped on a bus by the driver, all calling the Magical Express direct line...

LOL - some were angry enough to do it too! It was actualy a full motor coach so more like 50 some odd passengers, a fairly hot day and the bus wasn't running (no ventilation). Although it was only 10/15 minutes it was getting very uncomfortable on that bus.

 

[dburg30]

LOL - some were angry enough to do it too! It was actualy a full motor coach so more like 50 some odd passengers, a fairly hot day and the bus wasn't running (no ventilation). Although it was only 10/15 minutes it was getting very uncomfortable on that bus.

Wait, was the 10/15 minute wait while at MCO waiting to head to resorts, or at one of the resorts why they were unloading bags from under the bus???

 

[kaytieeldr]

It looks like the latter - at a resort, with the passengers 'trapped' aboard the bus while the driver unloaded that resort's under-bus luggage.

 

[seashoreCM]

Was the door snapped shut or could it be pushed open.

When it gets uncomfortabley hot inside, that's a good time for passengers to try to open the door themselves if not sooner.

Since cooping up the guest on the bus happens so often, there must be a conspiracy among drivers to do that.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm sure the current "procedure" is designed to give all passengers the opportunity to "tip for exceptional service".

That said I can't imagine the zoo if the driver let everyone out first. Guests would be crawling in the luggage bay to grab their stuff. Yelling at the driver to please get their remaining bag out of the bay before taking care of other passengers.

I suspect the majority of family groups have at least one carryon sized bag stowed under the bus. How long does it take the driver to get ready? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? Are you held "hostage" on the plane during the time it takes to secure the jetway? Are you held "hostage" if the flight crew lets first class passengers leave first?

Passengers without bags under the bus have a right to be annoyed but it's more then a little hyperbolic to say they're held hostage. Passengers are "held" on the bus until the luggage is ready. Passengers who don't tip are allowed to leave along with those passengers who decide to tip. Claiming passengers are "held hostage" suggests only those guests who tip are allowed to leave. I can assure you guests who don't tip get to leave the bus at the same time as passengers who tip. Non-tippers don't get immediatley bused back to MCO.

The current system is orderly.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Just curious but some of you speak as if every airline could accomodate DME and find it annoying that some people take their own luggage to the bus (albeit, more annoyed at the bus driver, I suppose). I thought there were some airlines that you had to take your luggage because they're not in the program.

We're planning on picking up our luggage at the carousel before going to the DME desk and bus. We're actually planning to "rest" at the resort when we get there and I know my mom will want her bags with her and not 3 hours later.

 

[Lewisc]

Airline only matters for your return trip. DME will handle the luggage of any guest who arrives before 10p, every airline.

You mother is planning on resting. Letting DME get her bags will get you to your resort 30-60 minutes earlier. Put a pair of PJs in her carryon bag.

Just curious but some of you speak as if every airline could accomodate DME and find it annoying that some people take their own luggage to the bus (albeit, more annoyed at the bus driver, I suppose). I thought there were some airlines that you had to take your luggage because they're not in the program.

We're planning on picking up our luggage at the carousel before going to the DME desk and bus. We're actually planning to "rest" at the resort when we get there and I know my mom will want her bags with her and not 3 hours later.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Airline only matters for your return trip. DME will handle the luggage of any guest who arrives before 10p, every airline.

You mother is planning on resting. Letting DME get her bags will get you to your resort 30-60 minutes earlier. Put a pair of PJs in her carryon bag.

We'll just collect our own bags. There is something to be said about feeling comfortable knowing our bags made it with us. And yes, we've already made up our minds. Twas not an easy decision (to do or not to do) but it's been made.

 

[dburg30]

Yea, as Lewisc said, going TO WDW, DME will deliver any bag that has the yellow tags on them.

As far as 'resting' at your resort on the day of arrival, that's fine, but what time do you get in? If it's before 3 or 4 pm, there is a CHANCE that your room wont be ready, if that's the case, have a back up plan ie: have 'disney' clothing in a carry on or something like that so you dont have to go thru your real luggage to find something to change into if the weather requires it. ie: you leave 20 degree weather and land in 80 degree weather

And to Lewisc, maybe Edd was given bad info, but the way the drivers seem to do it now, appears to be against policy. I dont remember being held on the bus, and it wasnt a zoo, even though there was a fair amount of luggage being unloaded.

 

[ironz]

We'll just collect our own bags. There is something to be said about feeling comfortable knowing our bags made it with us. And yes, we've already made up our minds. Twas not an easy decision (to do or not to do) but it's been made.

Please do what makes the people in your travel party most comfortable.

I'm getting a little perplexed why several of the respondents to this thread are trying to change people's minds about how they choose to use the features of DME.
pxlbarrel and the OP have made decisions to pick up their bags. In both cases, it seemed that they were aware of the options and implications. Yes, the luggage delivery--to me, and to most/many visitors to WDW-- is one of the wonderful, free, key features of DME. I've personally had to wait over 30 minutes to get a bag from baggage claim at MCO, and if I don't have to do that ever again, I am more than happy to get my bags whenever DME delivers them.

But both of these posters I have mentioned have stated reasons they would like to have their bags (or in one case, their lack of hurrying off to the resort). So let them! I know there are instances I have picked up my bags and taken them to the DME bus myself, most notably when I am travelling with my bike for the triathlon events out there. No way am I going to "wonder" if my bike made it across the country with the case *****turbed. I watch that bike get loaded onto the plane and I will wait for it at baggage claim.

So, you see..there are legitimate reasons for wanting to get your bags.
Maybe "your" way isn't the preferred way for lots of people. I think as long as we, here on the no pixie dust/transportation board realize that...then good.

I do realize there is a bit of delay on the unloading end (and agree that the bus drivers should let people out and then unload), but that is not completely the fault of the people who get their bags. By the theory that they prolong the whole process, then no one should even carry on a bag larger than something they can keep on their lap, and that's not always reasonable. My carryon rollaboard would still have to go under the bus.

Thanks...

 

[Lewisc]

I thought there were some airlines that you had to take your luggage because they're not in the program.

Please do what makes the people in your travel party most comfortable.

pxlbarrel and the OP have made decisions to pick up their bags. In both cases, it seemed that they were aware of the options and implications. s

Pxlbarrel didn't understand the fact that incoming DME luggage delivery has nothing to do with your airline. Failing to correct the post would provide bad information to others. It wasn't clear from Pxllbarrel's first post if he realized he could use DME luggage delivery.

Many, if not , most of the "pick up your own luggage" posters don't realize the real "issue" is an airline putting bags on a later flight. Usually a mistake but sometimes for weight or space reasons. Other posters don't realize some airlines (SW) baggage claim is some distance from the DME desk.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Pxlbarrel didn't understand the fact that incoming DME luggage delivery has nothing to do with your airline. Failing to correct the post would provide bad information to others. It wasn't clear from Pxllbarrel's first post if he realized he could use DME luggage delivery.

Many, if not , most of the "pick up your own luggage" posters don't realize the real "issue" is an airline putting bags on a later flight. Usually a mistake but sometimes for weight or space reasons. Other posters don't realize some airlines (SW) baggage claim is some distance from the DME desk.

Yes, correct me about the airlines....but I never said that it was because of that we were collecting our own luggage.

As for when do we get in, our flight arrives around 12:45 or so, barring any weather delays.... so by the time we got to the resort, it will be close to check-in. Should add, we have nothing planned for that day so we're not, as usual, going to rush around frantically. We're going to take our time so I'm not ready to tear my hair out with having to coral my wayward parents or brother. LOL