Question about Magical Express

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

I am not new to Disney at all but am new to ME. We have always gotten a car because we usually take a day or two to go to Universal. This year we aren't going there so I see no need for a car or the expense of a car. Trying to save the $200 plus dollars. What happens if you want to pick up your luggage yourself and take it on the ME bus. I am pretty sure this is allowed, just not sure if it still is and what the procedure is. Can someone help me? We don't use the yellow tags, right? Do we just pick up our luggage and then put it on the bus and then take it off at our resort?

 

[Jestocost]

I am not new to Disney at all but am new to ME. We have always gotten a car because we usually take a day or two to go to Universal. This year we aren't going there so I see no need for a car or the expense of a car. Trying to save the $200 plus dollars. What happens if you want to pick up your luggage yourself and take it on the ME bus. I am pretty sure this is allowed, just not sure if it still is and what the procedure is. Can someone help me? We don't use the yellow tags, right? Do we just pick up our luggage and then put it on the bus and then take it off at our resort?

If you want to pick up your luggage yourself, just leave off the yellow DME tags and go to baggage claim as you normally would. Your bags will appear (unless there are issues with the airline) and you will have to drag them to the DME welcome center and then out to the bus. The driver will load them under the bus at the airport and unload them at your resort. A tip would be appropriate for any bags that the driver handles. If your plane arrives after 10:00 p.m. you will need to do this regardless.

If your room is not ready when you arrive at your resort, you will need to store your bags with bell services until the room is ready and you return to the resort. Again, tips would be appropriate for any bell services CMs that handle your luggage.

The trip to baggage claim will add at least 20 minutes to your trip, so plan on being at your resort about 80-110+ minutes after you get off of the plane.

If you use the DME luggage transfer service, you can save around 20 minutes, skip all of the tips and not worry about your bags once you get to your resort. They will be delivered to your room if you are there or not.

 

[bear_mom]

You can, there are always people in line with their luggage and the bus drivers will just put it under the bus for you.

But, I have to say the best part of ME, for us, is not having to get our luggage. Checking it at our home airport and not seeing it again until it is delivered to our room (while we are gone at the parks).

Emily

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

Thank you so much for your reply. If it were up to me I would do it your way and not have another thought about it, but my DH is another story. He is the one who is so concerned about the luggage not getting there, or needing something right away out of it and not being able to access it. I would absolutely tip the driver, how much do you suggest, is it per bag or per passenger.

 

[Jestocost]

Thank you so much for your reply. If it were up to me I would do it your way and not have another thought about it, but my DH is another story. He is the one who is so concerned about the luggage not getting there, or needing something right away out of it and not being able to access it. I would absolutely tip the driver, how much do you suggest, is it per bag or per passenger.

I would tip $1-$2 per bag.

Given that the airline is much more likely to lose/misdirect/delay your bags than DME, it's a good idea to have anything you might need right away in your carry-on bags regardless of whether or not you use the DME luggage transfer service.

 

[Alesia]

Thank you so much for your reply. If it were up to me I would do it your way and not have another thought about it, but my DH is another story. He is the one who is so concerned about the luggage not getting there, or needing something right away out of it and not being able to access it. I would absolutely tip the driver, how much do you suggest, is it per bag or per passenger.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you don't let ME get your bags and the airline does delay them, you will spend the fist couple hours of your vacation at the airport dealing with that.

However, if you let ME take care of the bags and the airline delays them, ME will take care of everything while you are enjoying your vacation. If you go to a park right away, you would probably never even realize that your luggage was delayed.

 

[Missytara]

I would pack a day bag with what I needed until my luggage arrived, and let hubbie deal with waiting for his luggage at the baggage carousel.

You go off to the resort and have a great time. He will be along in a while.....

 

[Lewisc]

What airline? SW baggage claim and DME are at opposite corners of MCO. SW passengers would have to go to level 2. Get their bags. Go back up to level three. Walk to the opposite corner of MCO. Go down to level 1 then over to the DME area.

Your luggage doesn't show up. It will be on a later flight. DME will deliver it when it shows up. No big deal.

Luggage delivery is one of the best parts of DME. Also saves a few dollars in tips.

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

It's Continental, I think I can persuade him into doing things my way.

 

[ccgirl]

Thank you so much for your reply. If it were up to me I would do it your way and not have another thought about it, but my DH is another story. He is the one who is so concerned about the luggage not getting there, or needing something right away out of it and not being able to access it. I would absolutely tip the driver, how much do you suggest, is it per bag or per passenger.

The last time we used ME it took 3 hours to get our bags. I thought I had packed everythign I needed for the immediate future in our carryons - making another bag I had to lug on the plane. Guess what, I forgot an ummm...necessity shall we said and said necessities cost $20 in the gift shop. Having said that....I am still going to let them get our bags next trip. My DH despises baggage claim and, personally, I don't want to try to juggle our bags either. I will just do a lot better packing the carryon. Don't forget the 3 oz.rule so the sunscreen should be less than 3 ozs and has to be in a clear quart ziploc bag.