Not a great start

[mjr0483]

We arrived in MCO at 7:00pm.

Started with worst Magical express ever. 20 minutes waiting to be assigned. The another 20 on the bus waiting to load. Then 4th resort.

We finally get to Kidani Village and decide to bag late night at MK and instead chose dinner at Sanna. Dinner was. Very good.

Ask front desk how to get to room and they guide us the wrong way. So we are wandering around when we seek a bellman with 2 of our 3 luggage.

Bellman was like your section is beyond a section being rennovated. You have to walk past it and walk back. Just great. Get to the room and the savanna is dark. Call the front desk and she could care less. Says it takes between 3 and 5 hours for the luggage to show. Call bell services and he said it was still at the airport and he thinks it will make the last run out. So he says it can take up to 4 hours. Website says it can take up to 3 hours. They bend the response to fit the situation. So it is 11:50pm and still no luggage almost 5 hours later.

Lessons learned. Magical Express is NOT a reliable service if you expect a certain level of service. You are at their mercy.

I am hoping this isn't an omen for this trip and things turn around tomorrow.

 

[Shanti]

We arrived in MCO at 7:00pm.

Started with worst Magical express ever. 20 minutes waiting to be assigned. The another 20 on the bus waiting to load. Then 4th resort.

We finally get to Kidani Village and decide to bag late night at MK and instead chose dinner at Sanna. Dinner was. Very good.

Ask front desk how to get to room and they guide us the wrong way. So we are wandering around when we seek a bellman with 2 of our 3 luggage.

Bellman was like your section is beyond a section being rennovated. You have to walk past it and walk back. Just great. Get to the room and the savanna is dark. Call the front desk and she could care less. Says it takes between 3 and 5 hours for the luggage to show. Call bell services and he said it was still at the airport and he thinks it will make the last run out. So he says it can take up to 4 hours. Website says it can take up to 3 hours. They bend the response to fit the situation. So it is 11:50pm and still no luggage almost 5 hours later.

Lessons learned. Magical Express is NOT a reliable service if you expect a certain level of service. You are at their mercy.

I am hoping this isn't an omen for this trip and things turn around tomorrow.

It sounds like you're tired, that's all. It does take several hours for bags to arrive- nothing unusual about that. The items you need the same night as your evening arrival should be in your carry-on bag, not your check-in bags. Disney is taking care of obtaining and lugging those bags around so you don't have to, but the service is not instantaneous.

The Magical Express bus picked you up, as promised, and transported you to the resort, as promised, in a comfortable, clean motor coach, as promised, for no extra charge, as promised. It wasn't as snappy quick as you were hoping (if you need that, pay for a taxi or town car), but you weren't waiting for an unreasonably long time.

WDW is not a luxury resort, it's a family resort. It does provide solid service, though. Not the "your wish is our command" service of a luxury 5-star resort, but the "we'll make sure you get what you paid for" service of a high-quality, mass-market resort. Your bags will be there by morning. In the meantime, get some rest.

Remember that you're there to relax and have fun.

 

[wilkeliza]

So sorry to hear about the rough start!

The Savannah being dark just wondering was it night already when you got to your room. I don't think they light out there so guests and animals can sleep.

Besides that it is the pits. An estimated 3 hours taking 5+ is so frustrating. I hope you get your luggage soon so you can go to bed.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Ive never used the luggage delivery for ME but I thought that's how it worked. You arrive. Your luggage arrives 3-5 hours in your room. Am I wrong? Is there immediate delivery of the luggage?

 

[wilkeliza]

Ive never used the luggage delivery for ME but I thought that's how it worked. You arrive. Your luggage arrives 3-5 hours in your room. Am I wrong? Is there immediate delivery of the luggage?

Disney advertises it as "may take up to 3 hours from the time you arrive at your resort". So it has always been kind of unclear if it is when you check in or when you land.

 

[mjr0483]

We have our meds and that's about it. You put all your toiletries in your carry on? So it sounds like you have no problem with your luggage showing up 12 hours later.

 

[Shanti]

We have our meds and that's about it. You put all your toiletries in your carry on? So it sounds like you have no problem with your luggage showing up 12 hours later.

The resort provides shampoo and soap. Didn't you at least put a small tube of toothpaste in your carry-on? One change of clothes in case your check-in bags were misdirected by the airline? Do you travel much? It doesn't seem so.

Why do you need "all your toiletries" so late at night at Disney World? You don't really need anything but the basics until morning. Anything you need immediately upon arrival should always be packed in your carry-on. That's Travel 101.

 

[mjr0483]

We have stayed at savanna view before and they do have animals out all night and they moon light and it is magical.

Update on luggage is they don't know where it is.

 

[wilkeliza]

We have stayed at savanna view before and they do have animals out all night and they moon light and it is magical.

Update on luggage is they don't know where it is.

I never realized that. We have had savanna and it was always dark at night. Will check on our next trip if it is moonlight or not.

Sorry to hear about luggage. Hopefully the airline didn't lose it!

 

[wilkeliza]

The resort provides shampoo and soap. Didn't you at least put a small tube of toothpaste in your carry-on? One change of clothes in case your check-in bags were misdirected by the airline? Do you travel much? It doesn't seem so.

Why do you need "all your toiletries" so late at night? You don't really need anything but the basics until morning. Anything you need immediately upon arrival should always be packed in your carry-on. That's Travel 101.

I travel pretty frequently and I don't often put an extra change of clothes or night clothes in my carry on. If I am checking luggage I'm carrying on just a backpack so not a lot of extra space.

Also define immediately. OP has been in Orlando for 5 and a half hours so that isn't immediately to most people.

 

[Shanti]

I travel pretty frequently and I don't often put an extra change of clothes or night clothes in my carry on. If I am checking luggage I'm carrying on just a backpack so not a lot of extra space.

Also define immediately. OP has been in Orlando for 5 and a half hours so that isn't immediately to most people.

A. That's that's not the wisest course of action. It can lead to the kinds of problems the OP's experiencing.
B. I'm obviously referring to the same night that the OP arrived. Duh.

Signing off from this pity party. My condolences to the OP for having to be on a trip to Disney World.

 

[mjr0483]

12:30am my bag is here.

 

[wilkeliza]

12:30am my bag is here.

Glad your bag finally arrived. Hope the rest of your trip is magical.

 

[DisneyCAL]

We won't be doing express next time either. Had a sizable wait at airport to load. Then we were the 5th, yes the 5th resort, and I might add most expensive resort to stay at, so I don't see the reasoning in this. It was 3 hours by the time we made it to our room from the airport. Kids were starving and so was I. We will probably do taxi or uber next time. I'd rather pay then allow my stomach to growl while listening to the kids asking "are we there yet" and "my tummy is so hungry mommy". At least you had a nice dinner. Hope the rest of your trip goes nicely.

 

[DreamFlightCpt.]

I took DME to Saratoga springs to meet up with my family once. My bag was lost for almost 2days after landing in MCO, turns out they had put it in the room next door to mine by accident. That was the only negative experience I've had with DME. I've used them for every WDW trip I've had before or since and haven't had an issue. Everyone isnt on top of their game 100% and Disney guests rightfully expect top quality service during their experience, so I can see how it is concerning when things go awry. Just remember you're there to have fun, don't let that stuff get you down and enjoy where you are.

 

[ariane37]

I know it's annoying to wait for DME, but unfortunately it's the luck of the draw. We've had many trips where our bus pulled up 10-15 minutes after we got on line, was filled quickly so left right away, and we were the 1st or 2nd resort to be dropped off. Always a nice start However our last 2 trips involved getting on the bus fairly quickly but then sitting on it, in both cases, for 30 and 40 minutes before it left - not so fun, but if you choose to use ME that's the chance you take. DH got grumpy but I chose to sit back and breathe deep lol. For some people not using ME is the better choice.

As for your bags arriving at 12:30, again of course I like my bags in my room quick, who doesn't! However Disney states up to 3 hours after arrival at resort. If you landed at MCO at 7, from your timetable I'm guessing it was at least 8 before you got to AKL, probably closer to 8:30. So they were off by an hour on their delivery of your luggage. Yes that stinks, especially so late at night. All resorts, not just Disney, aren't always perfect, which is much easier for me to say since it wasn't my issue. However overall I don't think they messed up big-time (can't speak to the savannah being dark as we didn't stay in savannah view room there). I do hope you're having a good day today!

 

[adelaster]

Sorry for your rough start!

The Disney FAQ states the following:

Q. If I use Disney’s Magical Express and I check my luggage, when will it be delivered to my hotel room?

A. If you arrive between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM, be aware that it can take up to 3 hours after you arrive at select Disney Resort hotels for your luggage to be delivered. Please pack a carry-on bag with your valuables, medications and anything you’ll need immediately upon your arrival. You do not need to be in your room to receive your luggage.

Be sure not to pack your MagicBands in your checked luggage, as they will be used to check in with Disney’s Magical Express at Orlando International Airport and to unlock your room when you arrive at your Disney Resort hotel.

If you arrive at Orlando International Airport after 10:00 PM, you must collect your luggage at Baggage Claim and bring it with you on the Disney’s Magical Express motorcoach.

Also, from a tourist blog post dated August 2015:

In total, the commute from your plane (via walking and an airport monorail) to the Magical Express area will take about 10-12 minutes, the wait from the time you arrive in the Magical Express area until your bus departs will be about 5-30 minutes, and the commute from the airport to the Walt Disney World main entrance is about 30 minutes. After that, add about 7 minutes for each hotel at which the bus stops. In other words, plus 7 minutes if you’re stop 1, plus 28 minutes if you’re stop 4. The whole process will take a minimum of about an hour and a maximum of just under two hours. Oh, and trying to bribe your bus driver with a generous tip will not get you there any faster (although it is customary to tip him, regardless).

We will be using ME in a few days, but we're arriving earlier in the day than you did. It seems like arrivals outside of what are "normal business" hours seem to take longer. I've read several places that they wait until the buses fill up to a certain amount before heading to the resorts. As several people mentioned above, it seems like it is a bit of a "luck" situation. Hopefully you get to cash in on your luck somewhere else along the trip! As far as the bags, it sounds like they were delivered not too far past the estimated time- but I understand your frustration. We aren't planning to check any luggage on our flights- I didn't like the odds on the risk game you have to play with both the airline and Disney to get checked bags around. Backpack and carry-on has always been my travel game.

 

[loves to dive]

I drive down but my son and his wife have used DME and they got to YC about a hour after they texted me that they were in the airport. Not sure when their luggage arrived since as soon as they got to the resort and checked in, we left to go to Epcot and their luggage was there when we got back but it had been a number of hours. I think part of it depends on the time of day you arrive, the later in the day the longer it takes for the luggage to get there. For a free service they do pretty good.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

This is one reason I pick up my own luggage even when using DME.

 

[Ciandella915]

OP had a similar transportation situation regarding wait time to what we did last time, but we just assumed that's the price of free travel. Unless you're a member of a rental loyalty club where your car is waiting, it's going to take that long to wait for your luggage, go to a desk, wait in line, find your car, load up, etc.

That is a long time to wait, but like Shanti said, prepare for it with some clothes to sleep in and some light toiletries. Any time your luggage is separated from you, it's a possibility that it gets delayed. The same thing goes with cruises - they encourage you to bring extra stuff.

It's unfortunate, but a lesson learned. Focus on enjoying the rest of your time in WDW!