Nervous about Magical Express

[Stellaro]

This is my first time flying to Walt Disney World and I am a bit skeptical of my bags "magically appearing" at my room after I get there.

Is there anything I should know and should I even worry about this?

Thanks in advance

 

[CPT Tripss]

Don't worry , be happy
The bags will be there within a couple of hours (at the longest).

 

[Ariel8676]

I wouldn't worry at all..we have used ME 4 times now and never had any problems at all!!!!!

 

[texasthree]

We thought ME was fantastic and will use it anytime we go to WDW.

 

[OKW Lover]

While I'm sure somebody has had difficulty with this, especially considering how many people ME handles, I wouldn't worry about it.

However, I would continue to take the standard traveling precaution of having a change of clothes and medications in a carry-on bag.

 

[havencruiser]

If you are that worried, pick up the bags yourself and take them with you to the bus and they will ride with you. If you are doing this, do NOT put the yellow tags on the bag.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

This is my first time flying to Walt Disney World and I am a bit skeptical of my bags "magically appearing" at my room after I get there.

Just bring a carry-on with anything you'll need the first few hours and other essential items (as Disney recommends). Disney spent years designing a reliable, secure luggage delivery service. I trust Disney (and Disney's contractors) much more than I trust the airlines.

The yellow-tagged, inbound luggage does not go to baggage claim. It's separated behind the scenes. The luggage is delivered to Disney resorts on trucks.

It takes longer for the luggage to make it to the room than for the guest. That makes sense. The luggage handling takes various steps, each of which requires time — such as unloading bags from the aircraft, transferring the bags from the airline to Disney, sorting the bags at the airport, loading them on the appropriate truck, delivery to the resorts, unloading at the resorts, and finally delivery to the guests' rooms. You could be boarding a DME motorcoach while the airline baggage handlers are still pulling the bags off the aircraft. Also, at your resort, bell services can get backed up several hours, as the bellmen assist other guests (including those who are not using DME, and expect immediate service).

Disney says the luggage may take up to 3 hours to be delivered, so they recommend packing a carry-on bag with essential items. In reality, it can take more than 3 hours. The carry-on is a very good idea. You don't have to be in the room when the luggage is delivered because Disney takes care of the inbound bellman gratuity.

If you are that worried, pick up the bags yourself and take them with you to the bus and they will ride with you. If you are doing this, do NOT put the yellow tags on the bag.

Yes, that's an option.

However, you would waste a lot of time at the airport — and you would almost certainly be on a later motorcoach. Plus you would have to drag your bags around the airport and your resort. Also, you would then need to plan on tipping anyone who assists with your luggage, such as a porter at the airport, your Magical Express driver, and bell services at your resort.

 

[puglove]

Here's another question.... What if you're getting in late? Our plane gets in around 10p and I'm going to want to get a good night's sleep before hitting the parks early the next day. Are they going to to be knocking on our door at 1am with our bags?

 

[CleveRocks]

Here's another question.... What if you're getting in late? Our plane gets in around 10p and I'm going to want to get a good night's sleep before hitting the parks early the next day. Are they going to to be knocking on our door at 1am with our bags?

Not if you don't want them to.

We'll be arriving around the same time in about 5 weeks (6 year old, 4 year old, wife and I). Here's my plan:

1) Pack our carry-ons with everything we'll need for the first 24 hours (which I always do no matter where I fly just in case the AIRLINE delays my luggage).

2) When I get to the resort, ask at the front desk AND at Bell Services to have my DME luggage held until morning.

3) Just in case no one pays attention to #2, I'll put the Do Not Disturb sign on my doorknob.

This plan should keep us from being startled by a knock at the door at 1:00 a.m.

 

[CleveRocks]

This is my first time flying to Walt Disney World and I am a bit skeptical of my bags "magically appearing" at my room after I get there.

Is there anything I should know and should I even worry about this?

Thanks in advance

DME averages about 7,000 passengers A DAY, and has been doing so since May of 2005. It was supposed to be done with by now, but was so successful and popluar with guests and Disney management alike that it's been extended through 2011.

They really don't mess around with the luggage. And everything is handled "behind the scenes" at the airport. A few months back, someone who seemed very much "in the know" posted the following info (I changed some of the language/grammar, but it's all his info, not mine):

Most of the major airlines drop off DME-tagged luggage at designated drop off points where they are then picked up by a different contractor and taken to a sorting facility. These drop off points are supervised by Disney CM's.

Not all airlines use the drop off points. Many of the smaller ones just put the bags on the conveyors. There are Disney CM's working behind the carousels pulling the yellow tagged bags off and setting them aside to be picked up and taken to the sorting facility, BEFORE they ever make it out onto the public baggage claim carousels.

There are Disney CM's assigned to every airline to catch the bags that the airlines missed taking to the drop off point. They also check every unclaimed bag against a manifest to insure that the bags are found even if by chance the guest forgot to put on the tag or it fell off (highly unlikely).

DME luggage tags have barcodes on them. All of the bags are scanned when they get to the sorting facility, again after they are put in a cage and again when the cage is put in a truck. That's 3 scans so far.

The DME luggage delivery trucks all have GPS devices and their location can be pinpointed at any time.

The bags are scanned again when they arrive at the resort and again when taken to a guest's room. That's 5 separate barcode scans during the luggage's journey from airport to resort room.

Disney is well aware of where the bags are at all times.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Relax! Disney "magic" begins as soon as you check your luggage, with those DME tags attached.
HAKUNA MATATA ! Have a great worry-free, magical trip!

 

[havencruiser]

They don't automatically deliver bags after 11PM. WHen they are at the resort, you will get a voicemail, no ring--only a flashing light on the phone. If you want them, call downstairs. If not, they will be delivered the next day.

 

[kaddjr]

They don't automatically deliver bags after 11PM. WHen they are at the resort, you will get a voicemail, no ring--only a flashing light on the phone. If you want them, call downstairs. If not, they will be delivered the next day.

Okay, I don't know about late flights, but the last time we flew down, we arrived at MCO at 1:00 pm. We took DME to the resort, checked in, dropped off the carry-ons, took a bus to the CCC to pick up our rental and went shopping. Came back to the room- no bags. Had dinner, checked out the resort, and was back at the room at 10:00 pm- still no bags. I made the mistake of not packing the carry-ons for the "what ifs" and we didn't have any pj's to sleep in. DH called three times (6:00 pm, 10:00 pm, 11:30 pm) and was told each time they had our bags, they just didn't know what time they would deliver them. He even offered to walk down and get them, but they told him he couldn't do that. They finally arrived- at 12:15 am and we had just fallen asleep! This was last October.

As someone else mentioned, make sure you have your essentials for the first 24 hours in your carry-on and have them hold your bags if you're coming in late. Your bags will arrive at your room, it's just a matter of WHEN.

 

[Lewisc]

What resort were you staying at? Sounds like the problem was with your resort.

Okay, I don't know about late flights, but the last time we flew down, we arrived at MCO at 1:00 pm. We took DME to the resort, checked in, dropped off the carry-ons, took a bus to the CCC to pick up our rental and went shopping. Came back to the room- no bags. Had dinner, checked out the resort, and was back at the room at 10:00 pm- still no bags. I made the mistake of not packing the carry-ons for the "what ifs" and we didn't have any pj's to sleep in. DH called three times (6:00 pm, 10:00 pm, 11:30 pm) and was told each time they had our bags, they just didn't know what time they would deliver them. He even offered to walk down and get them, but they told him he couldn't do that. They finally arrived- at 12:15 am and we had just fallen asleep! This was last October.

As someone else mentioned, make sure you have your essentials for the first 24 hours in your carry-on and have them hold your bags if you're coming in late. Your bags will arrive at your room, it's just a matter of WHEN.

 

[*love*2*shop]

ok, this will be OUR 1st time using ME...ANother DISRs recommends NOT putting your TAGS onthe bags and when you arrive into MCO..GET your OWN BAGS/luggage and TAKE them ON the ME BUS with you, that way NO waiting HOURS for BAGS OR Losing them ( we wont be flying in to MCO until after 10pm,we will 8NEED* our bags for bed ASAP) ...ON the way HOME, FINE use the ME tags ,because hey your going home lol...

SO< We will be Getting our OWN BAGS at MCO and carrying them on the BUS with us!

 

[goofy4tink]

ok, this will be OUR 1st time using ME...ANother DISRs recommends NOT putting your TAGS onthe bags and when you arrive into MCO..GET your OWN BAGS/luggage and TAKE them ON the ME BUS with you, that way NO waiting HOURS for BAGS OR Losing them ( we wont be flying in to MCO until after 10pm,we will 8NEED* our bags for bed ASAP) ...ON the way HOME, FINE use the ME tags ,because hey your going home lol...

SO< We will be Getting our OWN BAGS at MCO and carrying them on the BUS with us!

I've used DME about 3 times now. This is how I would handle my luggage...if I were to arrive before 8:00 pm, I would use my yellow luggage tags and have Disney deliver my bags to my room. If I were to fly into MCO any later than that, I would be sorely tempted to leave off the tags, and retrieve my own bags and have them put underneath the bus. You won't be missing park time..it's late anyway. Better to spend 20 minutes waiting at the baggage carousel, then have no bags until the next day.
For the trip home...there are no luggage tags needed. Tags are only for your arrival at MCO.

 

[Stellaro]

Thank you for your responses!

I am now much more confident in the service and can't wait!

 

[crusoemom]

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since I last visited the boards, but it seems that everyone is as friendly and helpful as always!
We were last at WDW in April 2005, one month before DME started. We're returning in February 07 and want to use DME. I have just one question. What happens if the airline loses our luggage, not DME? Normally, we go to the service counter at the airport, but in this case we wouldn't know if it is lost or not, since we would assume DME has it.
We haven't lost any luggage since 2004 (knock wood), but just wondered how a situation like that would be handled.
Thanks!

 

[seashoreCM]

ANother DISRs recommends ...ON the way HOME, FINE use the ME tags ,because hey your going home lol...

WRONG! Repeat, yellow tags are not used or needed for going home. Remove them from baggage before checkout.

 

[CleveRocks]

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since I last visited the boards, but it seems that everyone is as friendly and helpful as always!
We were last at WDW in April 2005, one month before DME started. We're returning in February 07 and want to use DME. I have just one question. What happens if the airline loses our luggage, not DME? Normally, we go to the service counter at the airport, but in this case we wouldn't know if it is lost or not, since we would assume DME has it.
We haven't lost any luggage since 2004 (knock wood), but just wondered how a situation like that would be handled.
Thanks!

When you check in at the DME Welcome Center, you tell them how many bags you checked with the airline, and whether they are tagged with DME tags or not.

DME scans the barcodes of each bag it handles (actually, 5 times during the course of its trip). If you say you checked 3 bags but only 2 are scanned during the DME process, DME will automatically begin searching for/inquiring about your one missing bag. They do this for you, as your agent. You wouldn't have to mess with the baggage office at the airport, or any forms, etc. Theoretically, DME does all the legwork for you.

This process explains why some people have had luggage delivered many many hours after arrival -- perhaps, for example, some of the luggage was sent by the airline on a later flight. DME gets and delivers that luggage for you, and you don't even know about it! This is in contrast to waiting at baggage claim and not having a bag, then having to delay yourself by waiting and completing paperwork at your airline's baggage office, etc.

This is the way it's been explained to us on this forum by people who seem to be very much in-the-know about DME's behind the scenes procedures.