We won't get our Magical Express stuff in the mail before our trip July 28th ...help!

[Pkdcoastrs]

Hey!

We just booked a trip to WDW after having to cancel our trip to California for medical reasons. Of course since there is not much time before we leave (July 28), the person at AAA told us that we will not get the packet with the tags that will enable us to not ahve to worry about the bags at all.

I was dissapointed because she was more interested in leaving because AAA was closing in 1/2hr versus finding out EXACTLY what to do when we reach the airport.

Since we will not have those yellow tags, how do we handle our luggage? Can we still possibly have it so that we don't have go to baggage claim, or will we have to? It's not the biggest deal in the world, just wondering!

Any help would be great!

Mike

 

[ganggreen4jc]

Not to worry!!

All you have to do differently is to pickup your own luggage from the baggage claim area and take it to the DME counter at MCO next to the rental car counters. There, they will check you in and take your luggage from you and give you your vouchers for use on DME. Be sure and explain to them your lack of tags. After that, it's on to your bus and away you go.

Not bad at all!

 

[KevinB]

Trust me on this one....Relax, you are on vacarion. DW and I on our last trip did not have the tags either. She stood in line and no problems in getting our luggage.

As a suggestion, we use these large CD sized disks that are our name ID tags. Bright pink and obnoxious. However, we made sure that it was marked in the remarks block when we gave the decsription and go figure, when we got to our room that night, the sticky tag / description tag that was placed on the bag with the rest of the hotel information had in the remarks block was "Look for big bright pink name tags".

Just an idea for you

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Best advice : DO NOT USE THE LUGGAGE TAGS.

Get your own bags when you get to Orlando, then go to ME. Will save you a headache, trust me!

N.E.D.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Since we will not have those yellow tags, how do we handle our luggage? Can we still possibly have it so that we don't have go to baggage claim, or will we have to? It's not the biggest deal in the world, just wondering!

Any help would be great!

Mike

To the best of my knowledge, you do not have to go to baggage claim. When you check in at the DME counter, they apparently have pictures of MANY different pieces of luggage. You simply pick out what yours look like and DME will pull them behind the scenes and deliver them to your hotel.

 

[paulh]

according to an piece in the orlando sentinal everyone who books a room at disney is has the right to use ME weather they have booked it or not so if you decide at airport to use it and havent booked it you can:-

Limousine owners came away from a meeting with Orlando International Airport officials Thursday with a promise for a handful of reserved parking spaces but otherwise a large dose of frustration.

Airport officials and representatives of the Greater Orlando Livery Association met for the second time this month to discuss concerns raised after the May introduction of Disney's Magical Express, which offers Disney guests a free bus ride from the airport to any Disney hotel or resort.

Limousine owners say the new shuttle service is getting preferential treatment. They say limos have been moved to make room for buses, which has made it more difficult for drivers to pick up passengers.

Airport Executive Director Bill Jennings said he's committed to reserving four spots at each terminal for limousines, and there will be additional spaces open for any commercial vehicle. "I just have to figure out what the wording on the sign should be," Jennings said.

However, livery association officials said they're frustrated their chief concern -- that Disney representatives have greater access to the airport than limo drivers -- wasn't addressed. The two sides will meet again in early August along with Disney officials.

Airport regulations say that limousine drivers must wait for passengers near baggage claim and may not solicit business. By contrast, Disney employees whose job it is to direct passengers to Magical Express buses have greater access. Limousine owners complain that they're losing business.

"As long as Disney Magical Express maintains a presence on the third level, we'll never have an equal playing field," said Michael Mckenzie, an association executive board member.

At issue is whether Disney employees are violating the airport's solicitation policy by speaking to people who haven't already arranged to take a bus. After the first meeting with the limo owners, Jennings said Disney employees shouldn't be speaking with people who hadn't already arranged for a ride. He softened that stance Thursday.

"Disney's position is that when you book a hotel you automatically have admission to Disney Magical Express," Jennings said.

Jennings said he wants to sit down with Disney officials before coming to a final decision on the rules regulating Disney's greeters. That the issue hasn't been resolved left some frustrated.

"We feel as though we came away with nothing except another meeting," said livery association president Randy Terranova.
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hope this puts your mind at rest we go onfriday and havent recived our tags we will just get our bags and go to desk as advised by disney
Paulh

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

To the best of my knowledge, you do not have to go to baggage claim. When you check in at the DME counter, they apparently have pictures of MANY different pieces of luggage. You simply pick out what yours look like and DME will pull them behind the scenes and deliver them to your hotel.

Which is exactly why I reccomend getting your own.

I was there doing ME early when TONS of people didn't get their tags in time, and I saw dozens of poor people pointing out pictures in catalogs saying, "it sort of looks like that one, but with a green trim...I think my husband had two bags...wait, he had just one. It was our son..."

I mean, it was just ridiculous. And the whole time your luggage is sitting a few hundred yards away going round and round a luggage carousel with everyone elses while you do this. If there are no tags, they can't do it "behind the scenes" - it sits there (with the possibility of someone else "accidentally" picking it up) until it gets sent back in.

Even if you do get your tags, there are too many stories of delays and such (even now that the system is several months old). Also, what happens if your bag never arrives? How can you prove the airline lost it and Disney didn't?

Too many variables for me. This is why even when I use DME, I get my own luggage. Saves so many possible headaches - and although it's a nice idea I like my luggage traveling with me, assured that it made it off the plane, instead of waiting for them to put it on some other transport seperate from me later and best case scenario arrives a few hours after me.

N.E.D.

 

[Goobergal99]

Which is exactly why I reccomend getting your own.

I was there doing ME early when TONS of people didn't get their tags in time, and I saw dozens of poor people pointing out pictures in catalogs saying, "it sort of looks like that one, but with a green trim...I think my husband had two bags...wait, he had just one. It was our son..."

I mean, it was just ridiculous. And the whole time your luggage is sitting a few hundred yards away going round and round a luggage carousel with everyone elses while you do this. If there are no tags, they can't do it "behind the scenes" - it sits there (with the possibility of someone else "accidentally" picking it up) until it gets sent back in.

Even if you do get your tags, there are too many stories of delays and such (even now that the system is several months old). Also, what happens if your bag never arrives? How can you prove the airline lost it and Disney didn't?

Too many variables for me. This is why even when I use DME, I get my own luggage. Saves so many possible headaches - and although it's a nice idea I like my luggage traveling with me, assured that it made it off the plane, instead of waiting for them to put it on some other transport seperate from me later and best case scenario arrives a few hours after me.

N.E.D.

Amen! I agree, I am getting my own luggage, whether the tags arrive or not and for the same exact reasons!

 

[Lizzybee]

I'll admit I was a bit concerned about my luggage making it too. I think I will go with the option of not using the tags and claiming my own baggage when I get to Orlando. It would be nice not to have to do that because it will just be myself and my 2 children, but we'll have to manage O'hare ourselves before we get there anyway who cares if I have to drag my luggage from the carrousel to the ME desk.
Now...for the trip from the resort to the airport...
We will be checking out and going to AK pretty early in the morning, I know our bags can go to the luggage area, but can I reclaim them and take them to the bus myself? Call me paranoid, but I figure the fewer hands my bags have to pass through the more likely I'll see em again.
BTW- maybe a bit of my concern comes from looking at my ressie online and seeing that my ME info is incorrect (completely wrong day and time) on my outbound flight

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

It would be nice not to have to do that because it will just be myself and my 2 children, but we'll have to manage O'hare ourselves before we get there anyway who cares if I have to drag my luggage from the carrousel to the ME desk.

EXACTLY!

I think this is why this issue strikes a chord with me - I think sometimes when we talk about it we get all caught up in thinking the baggage thing is more than it is. Aren't we all used to getting our own bags most of the time anyway? When I see people spending many minutes going crazy trying to "describe" their bags and then worrying how long it will take to get them (sometimes many hours after arrival) - and I think, why are you going through all of this? LOL.

Now...for the trip from the resort to the airport...
We will be checking out and going to AK pretty early in the morning, I know our bags can go to the luggage area, but can I reclaim them and take them to the bus myself? Call me paranoid, but I figure the fewer hands my bags have to pass through the more likely I'll see em again.
BTW- maybe a bit of my concern comes from looking at my ressie online and seeing that my ME info is incorrect (completely wrong day and time) on my outbound flight

From Resort to Airport you take your own luggage anyway. It travels on the bus with you, so no worries there. As to the ME info being incorrect, 1) don't worry about it now, they may have your correct info and the online info is being reported incorrectly (notorious for happening on Disney's site), and 2) you can just take care of it when you get to the ME counter and again confirm at the resort. You won't get left behind.

Good luck!

N.E.D.

 

[bridget8822]

You have all just answered my questions!! I leave July 28th also and no tags have arrived. I'll just go get my own bags and not worry about it!

Thanks!

 

[Lizzybee]

I called and got them to fix it and it's all correct online now too. I was just thinking I wonder if I could just pack it all in carry ons and skip ALL the drama, we're only going for 3 nights, my kids are small so their clothes don't take up much space. I just wonder if there are things like a razor to shave my legs and hairspray that might not be allowed in a carry on. I guess they could be weapons, I could do without the hairspray I give up on the hair at Disney, but I can't go ala Yeti legs in shorts.

 

[localdriver]

At issue is whether Disney employees are violating the airport's solicitation policy by speaking to people who haven't already arranged to take a bus. After the first meeting with the limo owners, Jennings said Disney employees shouldn't be speaking with people who hadn't already arranged for a ride. He softened that stance Thursday.

"Disney's position is that when you book a hotel you automatically have admission to Disney Magical Express," Jennings said.

Jennings said he wants to sit down with Disney officials before coming to a final decision on the rules regulating Disney's greeters. That the issue hasn't been resolved left some frustrated.

I believe Disney's original FAQ indicated reservations 10 days in advance to use DME was required.

Guess that is changed. Now what a surprise from Disney.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree it's a little crazy but MCO is divided up into an A and B side. Car rental agencies and other transportation have counters on each side of the airport. Magical Express is only on one side, I think A. Guests getting their own luggage may have to go up the main level, across the airport and then down to level one.

ME only has one location since it's intended that guests will be skipping baggage claim.

EXACTLY!

I think this is why this issue strikes a chord with me - I think sometimes when we talk about it we get all caught up in thinking the baggage thing is more than it is. Aren't we all used to getting our own bags most of the time anyway? When I see people spending many minutes going crazy trying to "describe" their bags and then worrying how long it will take to get them (sometimes many hours after arrival) - and I think, why are you going through all of this? LOL.



From Resort to Airport you take your own luggage anyway. It travels on the bus with you, so no worries there. As to the ME info being incorrect, 1) don't worry about it now, they may have your correct info and the online info is being reported incorrectly (notorious for happening on Disney's site), and 2) you can just take care of it when you get to the ME counter and again confirm at the resort. You won't get left behind.

Good luck!

N.E.D.