Splitting Disney Express?

[Jletendre]

I have gotten conflicted information from our TA about this so I would think someone has done this:

We would like to get a town car for the ride from MCO to our hotel, and use the DE bus for the return to MCO. We found it a major hassle NOT having our luggage as we wanted to get changed for dinner last year and our luggage took forever to arrive.

TA said it is not possible to book one way (return only). I just want a definate answer as if needed we will just got with a town car for both.

Jeff

 

[bradk]

DME most certainly allows for one way use.

seems like an expensive alternative just out of fear for your luggage though. one could easily not use the yellow tags and claim their own luggage and bring it to the DME bus.

 

[Jletendre]

I wasn't aware you could collect your luggage and bring it to the bus. Do many people do that, does the driver get annoyed?

 

[bradk]

well, quite a large percentage need to do it while going back to the airport. i think DME as a whole tries to discourage it, but plenty of people do it. it's no skin off the driver's back, plus it's courtesy to tip him $1-$2 per bag he stores/retrieves.

 

[Taja]

Another option would be a carry-on with what you need for the day.

My luggage has gone astray--due to the airlines, not Disney!--so many times that I'm paranoid. I always pack a small bag with necessities for two days and special clothing for the trip (i.e., business or party attire). As I said, I'm paranoid!

 

[tjmw2727]

You can definately use ME just for the return trip or as pp's mentioned just get your own bags at the carosel and bring them with you. (Don't use the yellow tags). The driver will load them under the bus and retreive them at your resort.

I have used ME 3x and love it, I used the luggage delivery feature 2x and got my bags myself once due to a late evening arrival and young kids. FWIW I love the luggage delivery feature!

TJ

 

[CleveRocks]

I have gotten conflicted information from our TA about this so I would think someone has done this:

We would like to get a town car for the ride from MCO to our hotel, and use the DE bus for the return to MCO. We found it a major hassle NOT having our luggage as we wanted to get changed for dinner last year and our luggage took forever to arrive.

TA said it is not possible to book one way (return only). I just want a definate answer as if needed we will just got with a town car for both.

Jeff

As everyone has already said, your TA is just plain wrong on that one. One-way in either direction is cool with Disney.

If you know about the lag in luggage delivery (touted as about 3 hours after you arrive at your resort), then you can also plan accordingly and pack your immediate needs in a carry-on.

I do this no matter where I fly, because I don't want an airline mistake to cost me a fun start to my vacation or a productive start to my business trip. So I don't just do this because of Disney's Magical Express ... I pack this way when I fly to San Francisco or Cleveland or San Antonio, not just Orlando. When I go to Disney, I want my kids to have immediate access to their bathing suits. When I fly for business, my carry-on has whatever clothing I'm going to be wearing "on the job" the first time I have to show up somewhere. Even if the airline delays my luggage an entire day, I'm prepared. My competitor wearing a tank top and shorts could whine to the client that his luggage was lost by the airline, while I look professional even though my luggage is lost with the other guy's.

To answer a subsequent question of yours ... if you want to give up the very cool feature of the DME automatic baggage delivery, simply DO NOT put the yellow DME luggage tags on your bags. GO wait at baggage claim for them, then lug them to the bus. I'll bet the driver would be happy to see you with your bags ... bags generally mean tips!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've done it myself! Had to fly ds's cat to him, so couldn't take DME to my resort. So, ds dropped me off. But I did take DME back to the airport.
As for taking your luggage on the bus, lots do it. The driver won't get annoyed...at least not if you remember to tip him per bag!! If you choose to go this route, do not put your yellow luggage tags on your checked bags. When you get to MCO, head to baggage claim, grab your bags and then head down to DME checkin.

 

[KJF]

Has anyone ever tagged some luggage w/ the yellow tags but not all? Does ME have to pick up the same # of bags that you originally checked in at the airport? I'm thinking of putting the tags on my 2 bigger bags, but the smaller of the 3 I'll go & pick up. That way, I can put all my liquids in there so we can freshen up before hitting the parks - also will need the suntan lotion. I can have some clothes in there - like shorts to change into, but won't need the stuff in the other 2 until later.

 

[bradk]

you can use the tags on just certain baggage. it doesn't matter.

 

[Jletendre]

This was my thought as my wife has to bring half to Macy's cosmetic dept with her

I will likely not tag them on the flight down and retrieve them, use DME to the resort.

For years we always pack the carry on with needed ithems .. it's just harder now as many of the "needed" items are not just clothes and they can't be in the carry on anymore. Last year (we went in August also) it was right after the overseas terrorist attempt and we basically could have nothing to carry on. We would up shipping everything via UPS to the resort (makeup etc) and even that takes disney a bit to get to you as it doesn't go RIGHT to your resort and goes to a central mail hub.

 

[CleveRocks]

Has anyone ever tagged some luggage w/ the yellow tags but not all? Does ME have to pick up the same # of bags that you originally checked in at the airport? I'm thinking of putting the tags on my 2 bigger bags, but the smaller of the 3 I'll go & pick up. That way, I can put all my liquids in there so we can freshen up before hitting the parks - also will need the suntan lotion. I can have some clothes in there - like shorts to change into, but won't need the stuff in the other 2 until later.

Disney doesn't interface with the airlines' computer databases to find out how many bags you checked with the airline ... they just pull every bag that has a DME tag on it and ignore the rest. So you won't be baffling anyone if you put DME tags on some of your checked bags but not all of them. But when you check in at the Disney Welcome Center, make sure you give them an accurate count when they ask how many bags you put the DME tags on. If you put them only on two bags but you mistakenly tell them 3, some dedicated CM is going to be pulling his/her hair out trying to find your "lost" bag.