Pre-Cruise question

[geoff112001]

We are getting ready to sail on our first Disney cruise this Saturday - we have been on a few other lines, but this will be our first Disney Cruise - we are beyond excited!!! The information on these boards are so helpful - they really helped us plan everything. thank you everyone!

I just have one question/concern I just started thinking about. We are flying in the day before and staying at a The Beach Club. We will be taking Disney transfers both from the airport to Resort and then the resort to the Port the next day. I understand we won't get to the ship until later, but I think with or kids (6 and 9) it will be a less stressful and fun way to travel. We have a character breakfast scheduled at Cape May in the morning so that should help us kill time.

my question - our flight arrives around 10:00 am, should we use Magical Express for our luggage to transfer to the resort? from my understanding Disney will pick up our luggage around 8:00 pm the night before for the cruise transfer the next day. So that SHOULD give us plenty of time to get it and get situated. But the more I think about it, would it be easier/smarter to just get our own luggage and not worry about Disney handling it on DME? we will obviously have a carry on with our swim suites and stuff we need,. i'm just wondering if getting our own luggage from the baggage claim might be smart in this situation. Especially with the cruise the next day - I would hate for something crazy to happen.

What has been your experience in the past and what does everyone normally do?

thanks again for all the help!!!

 

[tankin]

@geoff112001 I've never had an issue getting my bags within about 5 hours. Worst case, you'll just put them on the bottom of the bus the next day. Not as convenient but still works

 

[PrincessShmoo]

from my understanding Disney will pick up our luggage around 8:00 pm the night before for the cruise transfer the next day.

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. It's been my experience that, taking the Magical Express (free shuttle service from MCO to resort) we had to claim our bags and bring them to the bus.

For the DCL transfers to the ship (not free), our bags were picked up from our room (inside the room) at 8:00 am the day of the cruise and delivered to our room onboard.

 

[Marc D]

Contrary to what you write, they will begin collecting luggage at 8AM the morning of the cruise, not the evening before.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We use magical express all the time. But I never have our bags delivered. I know most people do, but I just prefer to get them, put them on the bus and then leave with bellman if the room isn’t ready. The few extra minutes it takes to wait at the luggage carousel is well worth it to me. I like to know where they are. That would especially be true if I were leaving the next day for the cruise. And they do pick them up about 8 am on the morning you leave for the cruise.

 

[Marc D]

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. It's been my experience that, taking the Magical Express (free shuttle service from MCO to resort) we had to claim our bags and bring them to the bus.

If the yellow DME tags are placed on the luggage at the home airport, they are retrieved by Disney directly and never make it to the baggage claim. They mention that you can expect them to show up at your room in the next 3 hours.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If the yellow DME tags are placed on the luggage at the home airport, they are retrieved by Disney directly and never make it to the baggage claim. They mention that you can expect them to show up at your room in the next 3 hours.

OK, that's a change. Since OP is only staying one night precruise, I'd suggest actually picking up the bags and taking them to the ME bus At least, that's what I'd do.

 

[diznymom]

DCL will pick up your luggage around 8 AM the morning of the cruise. The luggage will be transported to the ship via a truck along with lots of other luggage. Then you will meet in a designated area at a specified time and board a DCL bus and be transported to the ship (around lunch time). You should receive a letter in your room the night before the cruise (or early morning of the cruise) from DCL telling you all the specifics. DCL works separately from the WDW resorts. I have found that the WDW resort CMs know nothing about the procedures for the cruise (sad).

The letter will tell you to have your luggage ready and in your room for them to pick up.

*****NOTE**** You will have 2 different sets of luggage tags. **One will be for the Magical Express. Put these on your luggage at home. ME will collect your luggage from MCO and take to your resort. ***The other tags are for the cruise (DCL). You will put these tags on your luggage after you get to your resort. (Take the ME tags off at this time) These tags let the DCL people know where to send your luggage (your stateroom). ****If you accidentally put your DCL luggage tags on your luggage before you get to MCO, your luggage could end up on a different ship (not good).

We like to stay at a WDW resort the night before the cruise. We take the Magical Express to the resort from MCO. Then take the DCL bus to the ship. They handle all of our luggage for us and do all of the driving. (Makes DH very happy).

You will have plenty of time for everything to happen as it should.

 

[Lisa F]

I think the confusion here is the OP thinks the bags are picked up same day as arrival and not the next morning. None of those should conflict with each other.

 

[Marc D]

OK, that's a change. Since OP is only staying one night precruise, I'd suggest actually picking up the bags and taking them to the ME bus At least, that's what I'd do.

While I don’t remember exactly when DME delivery started, it has been going on for a while. I just retrieved an official Disney document dated 2014 where they explain how it works.

https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/WDW/DME_SampleGuestDocuments.pdf

 

[geoff112001]

thank you so much - yes, I was wrong - I though DCL picked up the luggage the night before so that did have me a little concerned. If they don't pick up until 8:00 am the day of, that does change things. we have always used ME during our Disney trips and never had issues but I do see the benefit in maybe just getting the luggage myself this time - Just to be safe. For just the little extra time/effort it might be worth it.

thanks everyone for the info!

 

[Caboosey]

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