ME & Luggage

[Terk-1]

Magic Express is included with my package for my upcoming vacation. Having never used it before, was wondering the following:

1. How long is it usually taking for luggage to arrive at your resort after arriving at the airport?

2. Can I go get my luggage and can they put it under the bus that I will be riding in?

3. How many resorts does each bus go to? Do they break them up by areas?

4. How long does it usually take to get to your resort from the airport (am staying at POFQ)?

5. How long do you usually have to wait for a bus at the airport?

 

[bjscheel]

Can't answer all of your questions, but you can take your luggage with you if you want. I hear the time to get your luggage back varies. I think the busses run about every 20 minutes. Check out the sticky threads at the top of the page about ME. Lots of good info.

 

[slimplaw]

1. It takes about 3 hours for your luggage to get to your room. If you have a late flight, pick it up yourself or tell them to bring it in the morning.
2. Yes, you can pick up your luggage and take it with you in the bus you ride in.
3. We've used ME 3 times and I've gone to as many as 3 resorts. I did not pay attention if they were divided by areas. I would think they would be.
4. My trips took 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours before getting to resort.
5. I've waited as short as 20 minutes to as long as 40.

 

[goofy4tink]

Magic Express is included with my package for my upcoming vacation. Having never used it before, was wondering the following:

1. How long is it usually taking for luggage to arrive at your resort after arriving at the airport?

2. Can I go get my luggage and can they put it under the bus that I will be riding in?

3. How many resorts does each bus go to? Do they break them up by areas?

4. How long does it usually take to get to your resort from the airport (am staying at POFQ)?

5. How long do you usually have to wait for a bus at the airport?

Okay...
1. It can take up to three hours for your luggage to get to the room. However, if you arrive at 10 am, and your room isn't ready, then it will take longer. They can't deliver luggage to a room until they have a room to put it in.

2. Yes, you can retrieve your own luggage at MCO. If you choose to do this, do NOT put the yellow tags on the checked bags. If you do, those bags will be taken off the truck before they ever hit the public baggage claim. After you have gotten your bags, head to the DME checkin desk. Then, when you get to your bus, the driver will put your bags underneath the bus.

3. Yes, the buses are routed by areas. Say you are staying at Beach Club. Your bus will stop at CBR (most likely, we did) then YC, then BC and then finally BW. There aren't more than 4 stops per run.

4. It seems to be about 70 minutes from deplaning to the resort check-in desk. That has been my experience...10 minutes from plane to DME desk, 10 mins. to check-in, 10 mins in bus line, 10 mins on bus waiting for others to board, 35 mins to resort. Obviously it can be longer, but not usually more than 90 mins.

5.The longest I have had to wait, so far, is 15 minutes. I just missed the bus that I would have taken if I had not used the ladies room when I got off the plane!

I will say that the only time I have ever gotten to WDW faster was when I used Tiffany Towncar and had only carry-on luggage. I still had to wait for about 10 minutes while my driver went back and retrieved the car. That time it took about 55 minutes from deplaning to resort. When we had checked luggage it took the same amount of time with the towncar service as it did with DME.

 

[Terk-1]

Thanks eveyone for your info. I'm a little on the fussy side as to my luggage, so I like to have it with me. That way if my room is ready when I get there, I can unpack, put everything away (another weird thing I like to do), then head for a park. Will remember not to put the tag on it. Was thinking of just bringing a rolling carry on, but as I always end up buying stuff while I'm there, I thought a larger bag may work out better (either that or just ship stuff home from there). Thanks again!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Welllllll... okayyyyyyyy... buuut.... It's interesting that anyone will trust airlines to transport their luggage several thousand miles, but not trust ASIG, Inc. (the DME luggage subcontractor) to move it the last twenty miles or so - especially given the airlines' propensity for misdirecting (three million pieces) or out and out losing (200,000 pieces) of luggage annually.

If you really think you can get all your stuff in a regulation-sized carry-on bag, why not throw a canvas duffel bag in there as well. Then you won't have to check any bags on the way down, and you can check the bag with your purchases (if you really, really need to make any ) on the way home.