Taking your own luggage on DME?

[rjordan]

If I'm using Magical Express, do I have to use the luggage tags? Or can I just wait for my luggage at baggage claim, then head over "with my luggage" and take the ME bus to my resort?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can, but why pass up on one of the best features of Magical Express?

 

[rjordan]

I was just thinking about doing this on the way to Disney, not coming home. I do agree that it's a great feature when you are checking out. I'm just nervous about not getting my luggage for hours, or worse, them getting lost!

 

[goofy4tink]

I know I'm going to sound repetitive here but.....
be sure to pack anything you need for the first 6 hrs or so, in your carryon bag. Even if you get your own luggage. People need to understand that in most cases, it is the airlines that lose the luggage, not DME! Once in DME's hands, the worst that may happen is that your luggage gets sent to a different resort...easily tracked. But, when luggage goes missing, or is delayed, it is generally the airlines at fault. But, it doesn't happen often.
So, yes, you can get your own luggage and have it put underneath the bus. But remember, although it says in all DME that gratuities are included, that is based on DME taking your luggage directly from the plane and taking it to your room. If you choose to get your own luggage, you should be prepared to tip the bus driver who stows, and then removes, your luggagem, and then the person from Bell Services who delivers the bags to the room.
The only time I recommend getting your own luggage is if there is a chance the bags won't get to the room until very late in the evening. Other than that, you are pretty safe in having DME transport the bags.

 

[Ham Ham]

I was just thinking about doing this on the way to Disney, not coming home. I do agree that it's a great feature when you are checking out. I'm just nervous about not getting my luggage for hours, or worse, them getting lost!

This is more of a chance of your luggage being delayed or lost with the airlines than Disney. Increase those odds if your flight is not direct.

Pack a carry on with a bathing suit and a change of clothes.

Relax don't worry about the things you have no control over.

 

[baileybelle]

We've decided to pick up our own luggage. Our flight arrives at 5:20pm. We don't want to take a chance of not having it delivered till the following morning.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The only way your luggage from a 5:20 arrival would not be delivered until the next morning would be an airline delay/misdirect/loss. If you let Magical Express handle your luggage and it didn’t arrive by 9 or 9:30, you could call them and they’d track/locate it for you, and deliver it. Oh - that includes airline-delayed bags.
In the more likely case of an airline delay, you’d be first waiting at the luggage carousel (delaying your arrival at your resort), then bringing your luggage to the Welcome Center (maybe missing yet another bus), and if anything didn’t show up, you’d be spending time in Lost Luggage filling out forms. Your vacation, your choice

 

[lisareneeo]

What about if we are not getting in until 8:00pm ?
Would you get your luggage yourself or wait? If we wait what time do you think we would get it?

I have used DME before and they delivered the luggage. This was when we arrived in the early morning. We went to a park and when we returned our luggage was waiting.

This time we will arrive at the airport at 8:00pm I don't want to wait until morning for my luggage. I would like to get settled in when we get there.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I'm using ME for the first time in December. I plan on retrieving my luggage before checking in with ME. I only have one suitcase so that isn't a big deal. I've never had to wait very long for luggage to come off of the carrousel. I'm planning on tipping the ME driver. I won't be using Bell services because I can handle getting my own suitcase to my room. Always have.

Make it easy on yourself if you're going to handle your own luggage. Don't over-pack.