Nervous about Magical Express

[Lewisc]

Back to your list, any passenger that plans on waiting in their room for luggage delivery, probably with a stop watch, might as well just get their own baggage.

edited to add

Leann...Much of the carryon luggage winds up going under the bus. The driver has to handle luggage. How long extra if one or two famlies also took checked luggage. An extra minute or two at the resort? DME doesn't wait for guests that are at baggage claim, they wind up taking the next bus.

What's so bed about 4 1/2 hours?

This is an example why it's a good idea to pack carry-ons with anything you'll need for the first 6-12 hours (or even the first 24 hours).

However, I don't see why this example should make anyone feel the need to throw away their yellow tags, delay their arrival at the DME Welcome Center by 20-40 minutes to get their own luggage, be on a later motorcoach to WDW, have to deal with the burden of luggage at the airport and at the resort, and spend their own money on tips (rather than having Disney pay the inbound luggage delivery tip).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Back to your list, any passenger that plans on waiting in their room for luggage delivery, probably with a stop watch, might as well just get their own baggage.

Good point! Here's the updated list:

There seem to be six main reasons why some DME guests choose to wait at baggage claim rather than getting the benefit of free luggage delivery to their resort room:

1. Some guests absolutely need immediate access to something that absolutely cannot be taken as carry-on luggage. For example, someone who is tent-camping at Fort Wilderness and is arriving later in the day would check the tent with the airline and would then want to set it up at the campsite as soon as possible.
2. Some guests cannot relax and don't feel like they're on vacation until they've unpacked their bags in their room. (This is something I learned on this board.) So they handle their own luggage, even though this means an extra 20-40 minutes at the airport.
3. Some people don't understand how Magical Express works or don't trust Disney, and they think it's better or smarter to "grab" their own bags.
4. Some people don't understand the definition of "participating airlines," so they incorrectly believe they're not entitled to inbound luggage transfers.
5. With a late night arrival, some people prefer to handle their own luggage (even though this makes a late arrival at the resort even later), rather than relying on carry-ons for the first 12 hours.
6. Any passenger who plans to wait in the room for luggage delivery, probably with a stop watch — rather than going out to enjoy a theme park, pool, or restaurant — might as well just get their own baggage.

 

[goofy4tink]

The thing you have to keep in mind is this.....your luggage can't be put into a room until a room is ready for you. So, while you may get checked in at your resort at noon, the official checkin time isn't until 3:00, so technically they don't have to have a room for you until 3. Now, of course, many of us have been able to get into our rooms much more quickly. But, if you get there at noon, have to wait for your room until 3, then it's going to be at least a 3 hr. wait for your luggage!! Arrive sooner, and the wait could be longer since you have to wait longer for a room.
As others have said, put what you will need for the first day in a carryon....change of clothes, swimsuit, travel sized toiletries/suntan lotion. That should get you through until your room is ready and your luggage arrives.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I haven't used ME yet, because we drove to Flordia the last 2 times....however this June we are not driving and I can't wait to use ME. I wonder what all the posters who don't want to wait 4 hours for luggage do on a cruise.....do you carry all your luggage on board with you too?

 

[bnorm27]

TRUST THE MOUSE......AND MAGICAL EXPRESS!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I came back from disneyworld on monday (overnight flight) travelling from the UK. I had been undecided whether or not to put the yellow tags on the cases until I got there. After collecting my cases from the first baggage claim I stuck on the yellow ticket. Followed the instructions to get to the DME desk (with a side trip to buy a pair of crocs) and got on the bus. It took us straight to Pop Century (I think it was about 4.30 when I got there) and I went down to DTD at 5 pottered about and had dinner at 9pm the case was there when I got back. I can't say about the way they ahndle baggage on the way back as I did Virgin's downtown disney check in.

 

[Flossbolna]

Thanks for all the encouragement on using ME. We will be arriving at 7 pm from Europe, so we will feel like 1 am at that time. I allways thought it would be better for us to get our own bags, but now I am sure we will use the yellow tags, go directly to AKL and if we are already asleep, when the bags arrive, we will be up early enough the next morning to get the bags and settle in!

 

[zoomouse]

We just got back and did get burned on the luggage service. It took about 7 hours for our bags to arrive and that was after waiting around at the luggage room at the resort for the "cage" from the airport to be opened (well after bedtime for the kiddies). I think it's a great service, but next time I'll be sure to at least keep one small bag with me that has a night's worth of supplies. DD did get some snazzy new Pooh jammies and luckily everyone was tired enough to fall asleep without blankies and stuffed critters from home.

 

[CleveRocks]

next time I'll be sure to at least keep one small bag with me that has a night's worth of supplies.

That's good advice no matter where you fly, just in case the airline delays your luggage. I'd never fly anywhere without a well-stocked carry-on bag.

 

[kimmikayb]

Count me in for another fan of ME! What a wonderful service! We checked 8 bags in all and had no problems. We arrived in our room around noon and by the time we got back that evening, all our bags were there. Loved it!

BTW, we had a small carry on packed with stuff we'd need too! Always a great idea!