Need help with big group and Magical Express

[jekjones1558]

There will be 21 of us flying in October. We have rented 3 minivans at the airport to use during our week long stay. Obviously the minivans will not have room for the people and the luggage. Even on the return trip, when we can use RAC for our big suitcases, we will still have carry-ons and a couple of strollers. So we will need to have some of us riding Magical Express back to MCO.
Question #1: We would prefer to wait until we arrive at MCO and when we leave WDW to decide who rides Magical Express and who rides in the minivans. Will there be any problem (either arriving or departing MCO) if I just book everyone on ME and some don't show up?
Question #2: What happens if someone who rides from MCO in a minivan has luggage tagged for ME and that luggage is lost?
Question #3: During my search I think I understand that we could send all of the luggage on ME even if only part of our group rides. Is that correct?

 

[gmeh1]

There will be 21 of us flying in October. We have rented 3 minivans at the airport to use during our week long stay. Obviously the minivans will not have room for the people and the luggage. Even on the return trip, when we can use RAC for our big suitcases, we will still have carry-ons and a couple of strollers. So we will need to have some of us riding Magical Express back to MCO.
Question #1: We would prefer to wait until we arrive at MCO and when we leave WDW to decide who rides Magical Express and who rides in the minivans. Will there be any problem (either arriving or departing MCO) if I just book everyone on ME and some don't show up?
Question #2: What happens if someone who rides from MCO in a minivan has luggage tagged for ME and that luggage is lost?
Question #3: During my search I think I understand that we could send all of the luggage on ME even if only part of our group rides. Is that correct?

I would consult the ME topics at the top of this board.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sign everyone up for DME. Tag the bags you want DME to take care of. When you get to MCO, you can decide who rides the bus and who doesn't. Give them the appropriate voucher to take to DME with them. Much easier to just sign everyone up, rather than worry about who gets what.
When those taking DME get to the checkin area, they will be asked how many bags they have checked....they will give the number of bags. This is how DME knows how many bags to look for. I would be sure to have at least one person per room reservation riding that bus...that way, the number of bags per room reservation will be imput into the system.

 

[jekjones1558]

Sign everyone up for DME. Tag the bags you want DME to take care of. When you get to MCO, you can decide who rides the bus and who doesn't. Give them the appropriate voucher to take to DME with them. Much easier to just sign everyone up, rather than worry about who gets what.
When those taking DME get to the checkin area, they will be asked how many bags they have checked....they will give the number of bags. This is how DME knows how many bags to look for. I would be sure to have at least one person per room reservation riding that bus...that way, the number of bags per room reservation will be imput into the system.

Thanks, goofy. I was hoping that you might reply. I know that you REALLY understand how this works. I have only used Magical Express once and I was going solo that time. Your post gives me exactly the info I need. Thanks again.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks, goofy. I was hoping that you might reply. I know that you REALLY understand how this works. I have only used Magical Express once and I was going solo that time. Your post gives me exactly the info I need. Thanks again.

Looks like you arrive right after I leave BWV....have a great trip!!! Always happy to help.

 

[miprender]

Sign everyone up for DME. Tag the bags you want DME to take care of. When you get to MCO, you can decide who rides the bus and who doesn't. Give them the appropriate voucher to take to DME with them. Much easier to just sign everyone up, rather than worry about who gets what.
When those taking DME get to the checkin area, they will be asked how many bags they have checked....they will give the number of bags. This is how DME knows how many bags to look for. I would be sure to have at least one person per room reservation riding that bus...that way, the number of bags per room reservation will be imput into the system.

Actually they don't even ask anymore how many bags. We were there last month and when we check in at ME she just looked at our vouchers. I asked her if she needed to know how many bags and she said not anymore. They updated the system so it isn't even required. Plus she added that most people always forgot how many bags they had

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually they don't even ask anymore how many bags. We were there last month and when we check in at ME she just looked at our vouchers. I asked her if she needed to know how many bags and she said not anymore. They updated the system so it isn't even required. Plus she added that most people always forgot how many bags they had

I wonder how they track bags if they don't know how many bags were checked. That would make me nervous to say the least. Hope they aren't figuring on one bag per guest...a lot of people don't use each tag. That would mean some useless searching for that bag that doesn't exist. Makes me want to travel with just carryon even more.
I can't imagine a traveler not remembering how many bags they checked.

 

[seashoreCM]

Actually they don't even ask anymore how many bags.

It is possible that the preliminary welcoming CM who may or may not send you directly to the bus line instead of the Magical Express welcoming counter might not take a baggage count. In that case DME is taking the once in a blue moon chance that baggage does not arrive in Orlando and the count is not reconciled until the guest finds bags missing up in his room (possibly in the wee hours after Extra Magic Hours ended at a park). The standard DME baggage claim procedure kicks in (guest must make the claim upon discovering items mssing), a behind the scenes baggage tracing activity commences as best as possible, and the only part visible to the guest is similar to a situation where DME were a connecting flight with the resort as the final destination.

(Food for thought, don't y'all jump up and answer in the next 30 seconds) Hmmm. How did Airline B get a count of each passenger's baggage from Airline A at a connecting city?

 

[bytheblood]

Sign everyone up for DME. Tag the bags you want DME to take care of. When you get to MCO, you can decide who rides the bus and who doesn't. Give them the appropriate voucher to take to DME with them. Much easier to just sign everyone up, rather than worry about who gets what.
When those taking DME get to the checkin area, they will be asked how many bags they have checked....they will give the number of bags. This is how DME knows how many bags to look for. I would be sure to have at least one person per room reservation riding that bus...that way, the number of bags per room reservation will be imput into the system.

This is similar to what I was going to suggest. I was even thinking you should all use ME...sure would save some cash.

Goofy, you are ALWAYS so wonderful and helpful.

 

[bytheblood]

Originally Posted by miprender
Actually they don't even ask anymore how many bags.

This is the first thing the CM asked us, even before saying hello.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I usually go solo and with a carry on and I head straight to the bus lines when I arrive. I am never asked how many bags I have, or if I have checked any bags. The CM there verifies my information is correct and sends me into the correct queue.
I guess I look like a light packer?

 

[goofy4tink]

This is similar to what I was going to suggest. I was even thinking you should all use ME...sure would save some cash.

Goofy, you are ALWAYS so wonderful and helpful.

I try, but it doesn't always work out the way I planned. Thanks for the nice words though.

I usually go solo and with a carry on and I head straight to the bus lines when I arrive. I am never asked how many bags I have, or if I have checked any bags. The CM there verifies my information is correct and sends me into the correct queue.
I guess I look like a light packer?

This really bothers me....I have always been asked if I have checked bags. How the heck does DME figure they can start looking for a lost bag if they have no idea how many bags are checked to begin with??? I find it hard to believe that all the home airports are logging into some special system that alerts DME in Orlando that passenger goofy4tink checked 3 bags!!
So...now what happens if I checked those 3 bags, but JetBlue decided to send one of 'em to Detroit, instead of Orlando??? Guess I'll be checking that one out in Dec...maybe someone traveling sooner than that can ask how they can get the right number of checked bags if they have no number to begin with.

 

[miprender]

I wonder how they track bags if they don't know how many bags were checked. That would make me nervous to say the least. Hope they aren't figuring on one bag per guest...a lot of people don't use each tag. That would mean some useless searching for that bag that doesn't exist. Makes me want to travel with just carryon even more.
I can't imagine a traveler not remembering how many bags they checked.

I will admit I was nervous too as we had 10 bags for 5 people. But we did receive them all with no problems.

 

[seashoreCM]

Question #2: What happens if someone who rides from MCO in a minivan has luggage tagged for ME and that luggage is lost?

The results can differ depending on whether the person who actually files the baggage claim at the resort rode the DME bus versus rode in the minivan or other non-DME vehicle. How the CM handles it can depend on the exact words used in the conversation at that time. If the baggage got into the DME system undamaged then DME will take responsibility for it.

Tangential information: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788