Using DME

[zuulio]

Anybody used the Disney Magical Express Service?
I've already booked free airport transportation with Virgin but was considering switching to DME.
Just reading through the info and it says:
"International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in"
Sounds a bit like it's defeating the object of bypassing baggage claim to me there!
So after customs and border protection do you yourself take your luggage to the "Disney Welcome Center"?

 

[Elise79]

All international arrivals have to collect their luggage to pass through Customs incase they want to search your cases etc.

After that you can pop it back on the belt and you can just take yourself to the Welcome centre and leave the luggage and Disney will collect it for you OR you can take it on the monorail with you and take it on the bus up to you.

 

[Twinkly-Tink]

I'd be interested in any views on this one? To collect your own baggage or not - that is the question!!

Have read mixed reviews but think at the moment am swaying towards collecting and taking to DME myself - assume that way it'll get to my room quicker? I can do this can't I? Don't want my bags arriving in the middle of the night! or worse still, going missing

Any advice/opinions welcome

 

[ChristieK0310]

Hi,

you'll get lots of different views on this one.

We keep hand luggage with a set of clothes for the 3 of us (which we change into on the plane) and some stuff for the little one and then send all our bags with DME - they arrive within a few hours and we don't have to worry about carrying them.

We never venture far on our first night though, just dinner at hotel, bit of an explore and then off to bed for a very early start! Bags have been left in our room for us on both while we've been looking about.

Enjoy,

Christie

 

[Young Pooh]

We will be using it for the first time in August and I think that I will be taking one wheeled holdall with DD's booster seat and a couple of changes of clothes in it plus the usual 2/3 cases.

We will leave the cases for Disney to pick up and take the holdall on the bus with us.

 

[tink too]

We used DME last May and will be using it again in April. It's a great service!

If you are arriving at MCO directly from the UK, it doesn't matter which airline you travelled with, you must collect your luggage at least once. As someone else mentioned previously, you then have the option of taking it yourself to DME or putting it back on the belt to leave for the DME staff to pick-up and transport. It all depends on your personal preference, but I would advise taking a holdall (or similar) with your valuables, essentials and maybe a change of clothes. Our luggage arrived promptly while we were out having dinner after our arrival, so can't say exactly how long it took to arrive in the room.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have used dme in in 2006 staying at Pop Century, 2007 staying at POFQ, 2008 staying at CSR and will be using them again this year staying at the Beach Club (a pattern here maybe ) I have never had problems with my luggage, got someone else's as well the last time but got given a rollaway bed free for the trouble of taking it to the check in desk so can't complain.

 

[cazzie]

We have used ME a few times now. When it comes to letting Disney take your luggage or taking it with you we have done both. It is easier I think to let Disney take it as you don't have to go and collect it again from the second carousel you can go straight to the ME desk. It normally takes about a couple of hours or so to get to your room but in December ours didn't show up until after midnight, luckily we always take a small case with a change of clothes etc so that you have something for when you arrive.

 

[rachelanne]

hi, we used M.E in November and Ididn't like the idea of just leaving the bags,but I was just with my 2 lads and so decided to have them brought to the room.We had 4 cases ,2 arrived after about three and a half hours later and we all had fallen asleep,and the other 2 came 2 hours later after that.These had been checked by customs (there was a leaflet inside saying so)Just have your dollars ready to tip,not a mad scramble like us with hair like Bart simpson We would do it again though

 

[gemmybear83]

We used ME and collected our own bags (but there was only 2 of us and no kids), I thought it was a great service - we walked straight onto a coach and were first to be dropped off at POP even though everyone else was staying at the deluxes.

We had complications booking a bus home though - the ME call centre is through Mears and communication between the too isnt too good but we got it sorted and got to the airport in plenty of time!

 

[cliveywolves]

how do you book DME ? Do you have to call DW or can you do it online ??

cheers

 

[Elise79]

Here is a link to MCO walk through of the arrivals process.

You can re-drop your luggage at the 3rd step.