Question re: Magical Express and a late arrival at MCO

[karensi]

I read somewhere that if you use Magical Express services, and you are arriving at Orlando Airport after 11 PM, that you dont receive your baggage until the next morning Does anyone have any knowledge about this? Thanks, we just booked a quick "Disney fix" for Labor Day weekend,haven't yet booked the air but it will probably be a late Friday night flight. Staying at GF for the 1st time

 

[CRCrazy]

Actually - we also are arriving at MCO after 11 pm on Thursday night of Labor Day weekend. I got my ME tags already, but called to let them know that the arrival flight information was incorrect.

I got a great CM when I called - here's the scoop.

After 11 pm, they do not have anyone working behind the scenes collecting the bags before they hit the luggage carousel. If you use the yellow tags (and you probably wouldn't, if you just booked - you are not likely to get them in time for your trip!), your bags will still go on the carousel for self pickup. (If you don't pick them up - they will be put aside to be delivered in the am). You should get your bags from the carousel yourself, then go over to the welcome center to check in for your bus trip.

The bus will transfer you to WDW no matter what time you arrive. The driver will put your bags into the luggage hold under the bus, so they stay with you for the whole trip. People who arrive during regular business hours do not travel with their checked bags - they are brought by a separate van to the resort according to the bar code on the tags.

When you arrive at the resort - you just check in as you normally would. The CM at the check in desk should have everything ready to go for you - as the ME computers alert the resort when you've boarded the bus.

Good Luck and have a great trip.

 

[seashoreCM]

After 10 PM at least someone in your party should report to the Magical Express welcoming area (side A lowest level) first, to make sure ME knows you are there. This may mean that someone might have to go back up and over to side B to help with the luggage.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[karensi]

Thanks CRCrazy and seashore, that clears it up for me now I just hope we can make it work. I will be traveling with my (adult)DD and 1 1/2 year old grandson. We will have a stroller and car seat with us already plus our carry ons. I thought that the idea of the ME handling our bags would be a major help but now I'm back to wondering how we (DD and I) will manage all our stuff We're only going for the weekend but I'm sure with the baby we will have more than enough suitcases with us. Maybe I can talk my DD into leaving work early so we can get an earlier flight

 

[jndmommy]

We got into MCO shortly after 11 p.m. We used DME. The front desk called around 1:20 a.m. to tell us our bags were there. We slept through the call so they left a message. We waited up as long as we could. Dh got up the next morning & went for the luggage. Bell Services will bring it too you, we were just tired of waiting & needed our stuff.

 

[SB in KY]

My SIL used DME a couple of weeks ago...arriving about 11PM and did not get her own bags. She did stop at the bell stand on the way to check in and ask them to hold her bags until the AM....they asked her what time she wanted them delivered in the AM and she told them....they knocked on the door the next AM 10 minutes before she had asked them to be delivered....I thought it was pretty amazing....don't know how long it would have taken them to come the night before though.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Here's the deal on late night luggage:

After 10pm, They have one truck delivering the luggage to all of the resorts. Because the GF is so far in, it's the last stop. This is why if you arrive late, your luggage will take longer to arrive. Now, its always suggested to pack a day bag... so if you pack what you will need to get ready for bed and what not, you'll be fine. Just let Bell Services know to deliver your bags in the morning, rather then when they arrive at like 2am.

However, since you might not recieve the tags in time anyway, you might as well just go to baggage claim, get the bags, and then take the bus.

 

[karensi]

Thanks everyone for all the help, as usual the Dis people are the best . My DD was able to arrange to get out of work alittle early so we now will arrive on the 8:50 PM flight. The CM that I just spoke with, to arrange the ME,assurred me that we would get the bags the night of arrival. If you dissers say its so, then I'll feel better. Can anyone tell me about arriving at 9 PM (as oppossed to 11 PM, which I originally asked about)? It would be such a help if we didn't have to get the bag(s) ourselves, as it is just me, DD and DGS. TIA, Karen