ME luggage only with MBs

[jensen]

We always rent a car at the airport, but use ME for the luggage service. I go check in at ME while DH checks in at the car rental counter. Them we meet in the garage to pick out our car.

Has anyone done this since MBs have been in use? When do they check you in? Do I just get in line for my bus and then duck out after I check in?

Oh, and sorry that I posted this as a separate thread instead of on the sticky on the subject. I couldn't find the sticky on my iPhone app... weird.

 

[letsgoreds]

Not sure...but why check-in at ME at all? If the yellow tags are on your bags, won't they just push them through to your resort?

We like renting a car too...but considering sending the family with the bags on the bus, and I will drive. My nerd side wants to do an official comparison to see which way is faster. Plus, I think that the boys would enjoy riding on ME, and never have.

We are arriving in the evening, so I am tempted to keep a bag or two with me for the rental car (ones we need), and pushing the extra clothes through with ME. I just have fears of 5 hour turn around on luggage.

 

[jensen]

The reason I check-in is because the experts on these boards say that if a piece of luggage is lost and you haven't checked in at ME, they'll have a harder time finding your lost luggage.

Since we've got a little system worked out and it doesn't take any extra time, we do it as a precaution.

 

[seashoreCM]

The sticky: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

[color=#90909]You don't actually check in to your resort and receive tickets, meal confirmations, Disney Quest vouchers (some packages), etc. when you are at the Magical Express counter at the airport so having your Magic Band makes no difference.

It has been said that when guests are sent to the bus lines, signals are sent to the respective resorts so CMs there can get started on preparing those guests' reservations for quicker registration when the guests arrive there. Of course, if the resort CMs are busy, perhaps with the previous DME busload, then nothing happens with respect to this step

There may be a roving CM at the welcoming area who, after asking guests a few questions, sends some DME guests directly to the bus lines, bypassing the counter. Whether or not there is, if you ducked out and headed for the rental car counters after getting into the bus line, nobody would notice.[/color]

 

[DebbieB]

I used ME on Sunday. I had to scan my magic band at the line assignment area and then again right before exiting the building to the bus.

There was a cm greeting people as they got off the bus at BW. They will be expecting you on that bus.

 

[jensen]

I used ME on Sunday. I had to scan my magic band at the line assignment area and then again right before exiting the building to the bus.

There was a cm greeting people as they got off the bus at BW. They will be expecting you on that bus.

So, if I check-in at ME and then don't ride the bus, forget the luggage... they'll be sending out a search party for me.

I think I'll skip the check-in this time and just take a chance on my luggage getting lost.

The sticky: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

[COLOR=#90909]You don't actually check in to your resort and receive tickets, meal confirmations, Disney Quest vouchers (some packages), etc. when you are at the Magical Express counter at the airport so having your Magic Band makes no difference.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#90909]It has been said that when guests are sent to the bus lines, signals are sent to the respective resorts so CMs there can get started on preparing those guests' reservations for quicker registration when the guests arrive there. Of course, if the resort CMs are busy, perhaps with the previous DME busload, then nothing happens with respect to this step[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#90909]There may be a roving CM at the welcoming area who, after asking guests a few questions, sends some DME guests directly to the bus lines, bypassing the counter. Whether or not there is, if you ducked out and headed for the rental car counters after getting into the bus line, nobody would notice.[/COLOR]

Looks like someone should update this information to account for Magicbands.

 

[seashoreCM]

I used ME on Sunday. I had to scan my magic band at the line assignment area and then again right before exiting the building to the bus.

There was a cm greeting people as they got off the bus at BW. They will be expecting you on that bus.

Neat! Now no need to stand in line at the resort registration desk. Instead a roving CM comes out to the Magical Express bus and hands you your registration packet.

Theoretically, this does not need Magicbands to accomplish.

 

[goofy4tink]

So, if I check-in at ME and then don't ride the bus, forget the luggage... they'll be sending out a search party for me.

I think I'll skip the check-in this time and just take a chance on my luggage getting lost.



Looks like someone should update this information to account for Magicbands.

I'm not updating anything. DME isn't a luggage delivery service. So, all the same rules/situations are still in place. You arrive at DME, you get checked in at the bus line entrance and usually at the bus. Whether you use your actual voucher or your magic band makes no difference.

Neat! Now no need to stand in line at the registration desk. Instead a roving CM comes out to the Magical Express bus and hands you your registration packet.

This does not need Magicbands to accomplish.

There hasn't been a need to go to the counter in years. I haven't gone there in about 6 years now! Just right to the bus assignment podium. the only reason for standing in line at the counter is if there is some issue with your voucher.

 

[seashoreCM]

It's not worth Disney's while sending out a search party if you are not on the Magical Express bus you scanned your Magic Band for.

Hmmm. If DME counts your checked bags at the DME baggage area given the number relayed over from the welcoming area, and searches for missing ones while you are en route to WDW on the bus, then maybe searching for missing persons might be a goal.

But this reminds me of the Extra Terrestrial ride at Universal Studios. At the start of the ride you put a card up to the scanner and at the end of the ride, ET addresses you by name. (Been many years ago since I last rode the ET ride and the voice was so soft I missed it.)

 

[jensen]

I'm not updating anything.

Nice attitude... these boards used to be a place where someone could come and get valuable information to help plan their Disney vacation. Now, it's just a bunch of jerks treating people like idiots for even daring to ask a question or make a suggestion. Thanks for nothing!

 

[anonymousegirl]

Nice attitude... these boards used to be a place where someone could come and get valuable information to help plan their Disney vacation. Now, it's just a bunch of jerks treating people like idiots for even daring to ask a question or make a suggestion. Thanks for nothing!

There was no attitude in this response. Just a clear statement of facts. You says thanks for nothing, but you got an answer to your question, so I think it is you that has the attitude.

Disney's official policy is at least one member of your party rides DME with the luggage. IT is against the policies of the DIS boards to encourage or incite illegal activities or activities contrary to Disney policies.

 

[bumbershoot]

Disney's official policy is at least one member of your party rides DME with the luggage. IT is against the policies of the DIS boards to encourage or incite illegal activities or activities contrary to Disney policies.

Except for that whole sticky thread exactly for the purpose of info about luggage only, totally allowed by the mods lol. Which I support and don't want taken away. But I mention because its existence goes against what you are saying about this subject.

And, alas, I was taken aback by the "not changing anything" statement so it wasn't just the op hearing something that I hope wasn't actually behind the statement.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not updating anything. DME isn't a luggage delivery service. .......

There hasn't been a need to go to the counter in years. I haven't gone there in about 6 years now! Just right to the bus assignment podium. the only reason for standing in line at the counter is if there is some issue with your voucher.

I think the op was just trying to suggest that the new mb stuff, the description of things, be included.

I agre that the counter isn't needed. I've only used DME twice, once in feb and once in oct, and I haven't gone to the counter area at all. Just at the freestanding podium kiosk thing with a person there who told me what line to go to.

So that procedure isn't new.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

ME is not a luggage service. While you check in at the podium the go to your rental car to get there faster, the people on the bus you checked in for are delayed while the ME employees try to figure out why the number of people on the bus don't match the number that checked in to the podium.

On our last trip out bus waited an extra 10 minutes for a family that checked in and then didn't get on the bus. The driver said he wanted to give them time in case they had a bathroom emergency, but they never came back.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm sorry if anyone took offense with my response. That was not my intent. But the fact remains.....it doesn't matter whether you use a MB or a paper voucher to use DME. There is no reason to update anything.
And as far as that stickies thread goes.....there has been a lot of discussion regarding using DME for just luggage. I don't much care if people do that. Up to them. Disney says you must ride the bus in order to get luggage delivered. We all know that isn't the case. But again, people need to know what the official word is and what possible consequences there could be. That is why that thread is there...the only spot this issue is to be discussed.

 

[goofy4tink]

Nice attitude... these boards used to be a place where someone could come and get valuable information to help plan their Disney vacation. Now, it's just a bunch of jerks treating people like idiots for even daring to ask a question or make a suggestion. Thanks for nothing!

I'm going to assume you aren't calling me a jerk. Everyone is allowed to ask pretty much anything they want, as well as make suggestions. They may not like the response. But there are usually good reasons for decisions made here.

 

[seashoreCM]

(snip)

On our last trip out bus waited an extra 10 minutes for a family that checked in and then didn't get on the bus. The driver said he wanted to give them time in case they had a bathroom emergency, but they never came back.

This is a bad reason for scanning Magic Bands at the Magical Express welcoming area.

If you are not ready to take DME to Disney then you should just take the next bus.

However it could be a disguise for waiting for the bus to fill up more before heading off to Disney.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is a bad reason for scanning Magic Bands at the Magical Express welcoming area.

If you are not ready to take DME to Disney then you should just take the next bus.

However it could be a disguise for waiting for the bus to fill up more before heading off to Disney.

Is it any different than collecting (do they collect them or make note of them) the paper "tickets"?

 

[goofy4tink]

Is it any different than collecting (do they collect them or make note of them) the paper "tickets"?

I doubt there is any difference. The paper vouchers are scanned...so the exact same thing would happen. The issue was that the guest had no intention of riding that bus. They wanted to cover their bases if something went wrong with the bags. So, they checked in at the bus line as they would do when taking the bus, but rather than get into the bus line, they reversed direction and probably went off to get their rental car. The drivers shouldn't be holding buses for any later comers...if you're in the line, then you get on the bus and the bus leaves...simple.

 

[sam_gordon]

I doubt there is any difference. The paper vouchers are scanned...so the exact same thing would happen. The issue was that the guest had no intention of riding that bus. They wanted to cover their bases if something went wrong with the bags. So, they checked in at the bus line as they would do when taking the bus, but rather than get into the bus line, they reversed direction and probably went off to get their rental car. The drivers shouldn't be holding buses for any later comers...if you're in the line, then you get on the bus and the bus leaves...simple.

I got that's what the OP was trying to do. I was responding to seashoreCM saying that's a bad reason to scan MB. As you point out, they scanned the paper tickets, so it's no different.