Will Disney deliver our luggage if we don't ride ME?

[utahkennedys]

We have decided (I think) to all ride together in our rental car this time. We are only checking one suitcase, but if I put the ME tags on it will it be delivered if no one rides the ME bus? Usually DH and the kids hop on the bus while I get the car and meet them at the resort, but this time we thought we would skip the bus. TIA!

 

[Anthony1971]

There is a phone number with yor tags for ME I would call and ask...
I know you can check your bags at the end no matter how you are going to the airport... I would think it will work the same going to WDW
The busses do not carry checked luggage.

 

[Pakey]

You are supposed to ride the bus if you use ME tags. If your luggage is lost and you did not check in at the ME desk, they won't know to look for your bags. If your luggage does not arrive at the resort and you didn't ride ME, you will have no recourse or assistance from Disney in locating the bag.

I'm sure many people do it anyway.

 

[Cindyrellablue]

I called and asked this question on for my Dec 2010 trip. I was told that if I rented a car and was not riding the bus, I had to collect my own luggage and take it with me.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Your travel voucher and your bag tix are bar coded.

If all goes well, your luggage will arrive at your resort based on the bag ticket.

If things dont go well and your bag is lost or rerouted, that is where there could be an issue, because they will look to see if you checked in (scan)for ME and if there is no record, it could delay your bag at the airport as they try to sort it out.

 

[utahkennedys]

Thanks everyone. It appears our DDs want to ride the bus, so I'll let DH collect the car and we'll ride!

 

[ktbugsmom]

I have done that before - and my bags showed up. But chickened out last time. They seem to have a more indepth system of checking in at ME - so I was worried they would lose my bags - then I would be SOL. So - I would either ride the bus - and let the bags follow - or pick up your bags - and take the rental.

 

[simmons_m]

There is a phone number with yor tags for ME I would call and ask...
I know you can check your bags at the end no matter how you are going to the airport... I would think it will work the same going to WDW
The busses do not carry checked luggage.

Does this mean you can check your bags in at the hotel, when you check out, even if you do not use magic express?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) First, luggage and riding the bus are not connected.
2) Even though some say they are.
. . . WDW wants to keep you on the bus
. . . this stops car rentals so you are less likely to leave the property
3) They are two separate and non-related activities.

4) Bus
. . . you check in at counter
. . . you get the info and where to board bus
. . . you take paperwork to driver and go (eventually) to the resort
5) Luggage
. . . luggage is pulled off due to the DME tag *
. . . it is placed in a rolling cage and plastic tag secured *
. . . usually there is one family per cart, but there can be more
. . . it is loaded to truck *
. . . delivered to resort by a small truck directly to DME luggage area *
. . . the DME person unlocks and sorts the bags *
. . . the DME bell person delivers to room *
. . . the luggage is left, even if room is unattended *
. . . guest do not tip DME, as they are tipped by Disney by union contract
. . . the (*) refers to places each bag is hand-scanned into computer
. . . the bag is traced every step
. . . bell service and concierge have access to software to "see" where the bag is
. . . example: it is "on truck", "in luggage room", "delivered to room"
. . . if not scanned, airline responsibility - once scanned, Disney responsibility
6) At no time does the DME scan inter-relate to whether you took the bus


NOTE The people who deliver the bags to hotel and then take to airport when you go home are not Disney employees. The company works under strict guidelines by government rules. That is one reason why BAGS, Inc does not inter relate to DME bus operations.

 

[n2mm]

Does this mean you can check your bags in at the hotel, when you check out, even if you do not use magic express?

This is correct. It's called RAC. We don't use DME (rental car only) and always use this service to check our bags and get our boarding passes. We've used this service at least 25 times now at a variety of WDW resorts. Just remember this is a tipped position and is similar to curbside service at the airport (just alot better).

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks everyone. It appears our DDs want to ride the bus, so I'll let DH collect the car and we'll ride!

I have a question for you. When you have done both (rental car and DME), who arrives at the resort first, and by how much time? We always rent a car and use Emerald Aisle, so it takes very little time to get the rental car. Do you find the bus people are greatly delayed or not?

 

[keishashadow]

This is correct. It's called RAC. We don't use DME (rental car only) and always use this service to check our bags and get our boarding passes. We've used this service at least 25 times now at a variety of WDW resorts. Just remember this is a tipped position and is similar to curbside service at the airport (just alot better).

i'm still confused.

If renting a car for trip I don't need to sign up for ME, just go to lobby the morning of departure & check the luggage the morning we depart?

 

[kristenrice]

i'm still confused.

If renting a car for trip I don't need to sign up for ME, just go to lobby the morning of departure & check the luggage the morning we depart?

That is correct. It is just like using the baggage check at the airport but at a more remote location. Just remember that the process of checking your luggage must be COMPLETED no less than three hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. (For domestic flights, not sure for international) Make sure to allow ample time in case there is a line. And, as a PP mentioned, this is a tipped position so remember an appropriate gratuity.

 

[n2mm]

i'm still confused.

If renting a car for trip I don't need to sign up for ME, just go to lobby the morning of departure & check the luggage the morning we depart?

My friend, how do you not know about this, you've helped me so many times! There are some rules regarding timing that you need to check on, but most times this works perfectly. Yes, you don't need to do anything but show up. Give them your confirmation number and they will print your boarding passes, weigh and tag your luggage and you are set! You don't see your luggage again until you get to your home airport! The same desk does both DME and RAC. This is why we always do US/IOA first and Disney last, so that Disney can move our luggage for us!

Some rules: They open at 5:00AM or 5:30AM (not sure exactly as that time does not exist for me while on vacation). You have to allow the checkin 3 hours or more. (So if you have a 7:30AM flight, that's a no go.) The RAC/DME desk only stays open until around 1:00PM (double check). If you have to pay for luggage, you can call the airlines and pay via phone and take your confirmation number with you. I don't follow this, since we have only been flying Jetblue (they don't charge for luggage). The whole process is similar to curbside or counter checkin. They ask for ID, ask you the required questions about your luggage, then they tell you about your flight, but often the gate number is not always available, so you have to check at the airport. Then we tip. We actually choose to tip $2.00 a bag since there is alot of handling involved and we love this perk and don't want it to ever go away! I've used it from BWV, BCV, WLV, AKV, CR, BLT, CSR, Pop, OKW and it has always gone smoothly for me! Of course I leave in 10 days for my spring trip and just jinxed myself!!

 

[keishashadow]

n2mm apparently, i'm asleep @ the wheel, how will i ever live this down?, enjoy that spring trip, i'm jealous.

 

[smidgy]

My friend, how do you not know about this, you've helped me so many times! There are some rules regarding timing that you need to check on, but most times this works perfectly. Yes, you don't need to do anything but show up. Give them your confirmation number and they will print your boarding passes, weigh and tag your luggage and you are set! You don't see your luggage again until you get to your home airport! The same desk does both DME and RAC. This is why we always do US/IOA first and Disney last, so that Disney can move our luggage for us!

Some rules: They open at 5:00AM or 5:30AM (not sure exactly as that time does not exist for me while on vacation). You have to allow the checkin 3 hours or more. (So if you have a 7:30AM flight, that's a no go.) The RAC/DME desk only stays open until around 1:00PM (double check). If you have to pay for luggage, you can call the airlines and pay via phone and take your confirmation number with you. I don't follow this, since we have only been flying Jetblue (they don't charge for luggage). The whole process is similar to curbside or counter checkin. They ask for ID, ask you the required questions about your luggage, then they tell you about your flight, but often the gate number is not always available, so you have to check at the airport. Then we tip. We actually choose to tip $2.00 a bag since there is alot of handling involved and we love this perk and don't want it to ever go away! I've used it from BWV, BCV, WLV, AKV, CR, BLT, CSR, Pop, OKW and it has always gone smoothly for me! Of course I leave in 10 days for my spring trip and just jinxed myself!!

if you read the small print, there is a small possibility that you can not to resort baggage check in. this happened to us. I caleed the day before, paid for the bags. morning of departure, went to do the airling check in (ckech the bags, get boarding passes printed out... NOPE! we were randomly chose to not be able to do this!!!
there was NO talking anyone out of this (even tho hubby's back "went out" and couldn't carry luggage.)

also, we had to pay again for the luggage, at MCO, and then apply for a refund when we got home for the money we spent on pre payin gfor the luggage the day before. it took a couple weeks, cause the y have ony one person handling this, who works only 2 days a week, and you leave a message with them nad you BETTER answer the phone when they call , cause you can't call them what a hassle!!!

 

[manning]

Thanks everyone. It appears our DDs want to ride the bus, so I'll let DH collect the car and we'll ride!

Want to save some money? Rent the car on property, not at the airport. That way you don't pay the airport tax , just state sales tax. I think the airport tax os around 10% give or take.

 

[smidgy]

Want to save some money? Rent the car on property, not at the airport. That way you don't pay the airport tax , just state sales tax. I think the airport tax os around 10% give or take.

AND.. you don't have the hassle of driving from the airport.
manning, do they pick you up at your resort?

 

[utahkennedys]

I have a question for you. When you have done both (rental car and DME), who arrives at the resort first, and by how much time? We always rent a car and use Emerald Aisle, so it takes very little time to get the rental car. Do you find the bus people are greatly delayed or not?

The last 2 times we have done this my family has arrived just as I am walking out of check in with my balloon flowers, folder and room keys in hand!

 

[utahkennedys]

Want to save some money? Rent the car on property, not at the airport. That way you don't pay the airport tax , just state sales tax. I think the airport tax os around 10% give or take.

We have done this before twice, renting at the Regal Sun resort I believe through Dollar. You can walk from DTD. However, it wasn't super convenient...anyone had better luck or service from the Car Care Center rentals? The Dollar shuttle is spotty and that location at Regal Sun has limited hours.