ME for luggage only?

[stacy6552]

Has anyone used ME just for their bags?

We are trying to decide between car rental and DME. If I tag my bag, and check it, will it still make it to our room if we dont get on the bus?

What about the return trip? If we do the early check in, with a participating airline, at the resort, will our bags make it home whether or not we ride the bus? What if we take the bus back but didnt take it over?

It would sure be nice to have the convenience of the rental car w/o the inconvenience of the bags.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sorry, the ME service cannot be used for luggage only. If you don't check-in at the ME desk and get on the bus, your bags won't be sent to your hotel.

 

[stacy6552]

That's what I needed to know! Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

From the airport to Disney, you must check in for and ride the DME bus in order to get your luggage transferred "magically" from there to your hotel (otherwise, you'll likely find yourself driving back to the airport hours later, finding and paying for a space to park, and locating your airline's Unclaimed Luggage office; don't forget to hold on to your claim checks!).

Returning to the airport, if you're flying on a participating airline, yes, you can check in at the Resort/Remote Airline Counter at your Disney resort, three to twelve hours in advance and during the hours the counter is open; check your luggage through to your home airport, get your boarding passes and then find your own way back to the airport. Remember that ALL members of your party must be present to do this - it's just like checking in at the airport, ID requirements and all.

Now, personal observation: If you feel handling your checked luggage to be an inconvenience, you might want to consider paring down what you bring so it all fits in a regulation-sized carry-on.

 

[Edd]

Recent research has verified that your bags if tagged with the Disney sticker will end up at the hotel on the reservation. The bags go directly from the plane to the bins, set aside for each hotel, locked for security and are shipped out from the Delta Cargo area at Orlando International Airport to each hotel participating in the DME. There is no conceivable way for Disney to wait and see if you board the busses before they ship your luggage.

There is to much luggage coming in for Disney to concentrate on those who may not be on the DME.

 

[safetymom]

I agree with the other posters. I wouldn't chance that my luggage would make it to my resort if I didn't take DME. That is the rules. It wasn't meant just to haul everyones luggage without the guests.

 

[goofy4tink]

Please, while we have had some reports of bags making it to WDW resorts, without the owners being on the DME bus....do you want to take the chance that you may be the one who doesn't get their bags and has to go back to the airport to get them? Disney has told us that they are not a 'luggage transfer' service. If you don't want to ride the bus, and use a rental instead, terrific. But you are taking your chances if you try to send your luggage on the DME trucks without anyone on the bus.
Not trying to start an argument, or even a discussion here....just trying to give the most insight into the situation. I still can't understand why people rent a car yet don't want to claim their luggage and have it with them. With the DME truck, you stand the chance of not getting your luggage for hours after you check in. I wouldn't put up with that if I wasn't getting a 'free ride' to WDW. If I were paying to get there, I would expect my luggage to be with me!!! Just my opinion though.

 

[CarolA]

However, as others have pointed out the return to the airport is not at all dependent on you using DME. It's contracted service who takes your luggage and deals with it. You don't have to ride the bus and they don't care if you do or don't.

 

[Lewisc]

All of the written information indicates you can't use DME for luggage only transfer on your trip to WDW. Edd is probably right, anecdotal evidence as well as common sense seems to indicate all luggage is going to the resorts BUT I wouldn't want to risk the inconvenience of having a different experience.

I'd either rent a car at WDW or have at least one guest sign in at the DME desk.

 

[Edd]

People rent cars to get around Disney and the area. In many cases the luggage trunk or the car, with its occupants, is not big enough to carry all the luggage that is brought to Orlando and Disney. Disney has collected any money that that is due from you riding the DME and shipping luggage. There is no report on the Disboards about people returning to the airport to pick up luggage that is left behind. So the statements that luggage will be left at the airport appear to be a fallacy.

 

[stacy6552]

Bahahaha.....pare down my packing......good one


Seriously, my question comes from traveling with my kids on a different day from DH and the debate over who gets the car and who gets the bag....

 

[paults]

If you use it ( DME) by the rules THEN you have reason the complain if something goes wrong. If you ( MEANING ANYBODY) go against the rules (which it seems people like to do to Disney ) than be prepared to suck it up if your bags don't show up.

Disney is not a baggage delivery service to the resorts. Disney wants you to come to the resort with your bags to spend money, not rent a car to go elsewhere while they handle your bags.

When you leave WDW they don't care if you walk to MCO.

 

[pugdog]

Here goes EDD again. A known flame starter and limo driver trying to stir the pot.

 

[Edd]

You are not breaking any rules. Visitors to Disney World are paying for the DME and the luggage service whether you know it or not. Disney doesn't put many millions of dollars up front without a plan to collect it back. They are great marketer's and it doesn't stop short of DME.

 

[Lewisc]

You are not breaking any rules. Visitors to Disney World are paying for the DME and the luggage service whether you know it or not. Disney doesn't put many millions of dollars up front without a plan to collect it back. They are great marketer's and it doesn't stop short of DME.

Edd--all the written "rules/FAQ" for DME prohibit using DME for luggage only (from MCO to WDW). There have been very few posts from guests that tried to use DME for luggage only.

 

[Edd]

Lewis,

Have you seen any posts that have not checked in with Disney, but received their luggage at Disney or said their luggage was back at the airport and they had to go back and pick it up.

 

[safetymom]

Edd, I don't think you are doing anyone any favors by posting this. Once Disney sees it is getting out of hand they will tighten the rules for everyone.

It's a simple rule Disney has. It doesn't have to become more complicated.

 

[Lewisc]

Lewis,

Have you seen any posts that have not checked in with Disney, but received their luggage at Disney or said their luggage was back at the airport and they had to go back and pick it up.

There were a couple BUT it was indirect. I've seen NO CREDIBLE POSTS from anyone who tried to use DME for luggage only inbound. A few said it worked and a few said it didn't but not the posts were from people who heard.....

The FAQ is clear, I agree with the previous posters. Too many guests try luggage only and Disney will crack down. They could just hold the luggage in the resorts and aggravate guests.

 

[CarolA]

Here goes EDD again. A known flame starter and limo driver trying to stir the pot.

And Disney has CLEARLY stated that if YOU don't get on the bus THEY don't have an obligation to deal with your luggage. I don't know HOW much clearer Edd needs it be, but that's the RULE!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Recent research has verified that your bags if tagged with the Disney sticker will end up at the hotel on the reservation. The bags go directly from the plane to the bins, set aside for each hotel, locked for security and are shipped out from the Delta Cargo area at Orlando International Airport to each hotel participating in the DME. There is no conceivable way for Disney to wait and see if you board the busses before they ship your luggage.

Well, that recent research was a discussion with an airport official who explained where the luggage goes once it's pulled. The bar coding on the luggage tags (which is scanned five times between the plane and the room) and the bar coding on the Guests' boarding voucher (which is scanned as the Guest boards the bus) along with current technology WOULD enable Disney to determine which bags belong to DME-transported Guests and which are 'orphans'.

People rent cars to get around Disney and the area. In many cases the luggage trunk or the car, with its occupants, is not big enough to carry all the luggage that is brought to Orlando and Disney.

It should be noted it's the responsibility of the renter/Guest to make sure they reserve a vehicle with storage capacity large enough to contain ALL the luggage they may be bringing. It's not Disney's, or any other free transport service's, responsibility to move luggage for people unable/unwilling to plan ahead.

You are not breaking any rules. Visitors to Disney World are paying for the DME and the luggage service whether you know it or not. Disney doesn't put many millions of dollars up front without a plan to collect it back. They are great marketer's and it doesn't stop short of DME.

We've been over and over and over that in various DME-related threads. Disney room pricess did not increase when DME began, nor did they increase at a higher rate than in the past for 2006. Ohters can explain it more clearly, but by transporting Guests from the airport to Disney at no additional cost to any Guest, Disney is getting more of that Guest's projected spending money. DME is cost-effective for Disney at the current cost (of FREE) to the Guests.

Have you seen any posts that have not checked in with Disney, but received their luggage at Disney or said their luggage was back at the airport and they had to go back and pick it up.

Have you seen any posts from Guests who have not checked in with Disney and DID get their luggage delivered to their Disney rooms? I haven't seen any - could you please post links? Thanks!

Bahahaha.....pare down my packing......good one
Seriously, my question comes from traveling with my kids on a different day from DH and the debate over who gets the car and who gets the bag....

Thanks. I'm considering a career change to comedy writing
Now, seriously - if SOME of you ride the bus, and one or more of you takes the rental car, and you can put DME-riders' luggage tags on all the suitcases, yes, Disney will transport the luggage from your plane to your hotel room.