Yet another ME question...

[Bjarni]

Like this board needs another question about this service. I searched the posts, but found nothing that answered my question.

My family and I will be traveling in clothes and shoes that aren't going to be very park friendly. We would like to change into shorts and sandals when we arrive at the resort. The problem with the ME system seems to be the 2 hour or more lag between when you arrive, and when they actually deliver your bags.
My question is, can I just do it the old fashioned way and grab my own bags and place them on the bus that takes us to the resort? Just by-pass the whole ME service?
Thanks all!

 

[pennst8r]

I don't know if you're able to get your own bags, but wouldn't it be easier to pack a change of clothes in a carry on?

 

[*Fantasia*]

I have used DME 3x and always grabbed my bags. I want the bags with me, so when we get to our resort, they are there also. I hate to wait 2-4 hours for my bags to get there. If you received your tags for your bags, do not put those on if you are planning to pick up your bags yourself from the bag claim. If your airline is at the B terminal... you must walk to the A terminal to meet the Disney rep with Mickey gloves on. And they will lead you to where you need to go.

 

[klwdisney]

My advice would be to wear a light short sleeve shirt and a light jacket with pants/sneakers to travel. Pack a pair of shorts in your carry on. When you arrive at your resort, just lose the jacket in your room and change into your shorts and you're good to go until your luggage arrives.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Lewisc]

There isn't any reason to wait in your room for your luggage. Just go to the pool, a theme park or a restaurant and your luggage will be in your room when you go back to your room.

No reason to take an extra 30 minutes getting your luggage.

 

[CleveRocks]

My family and I will be traveling in clothes and shoes that aren't going to be very park friendly. We would like to change into shorts and sandals when we arrive at the resort. The problem with the ME system seems to be the 2 hour or more lag between when you arrive, and when they actually deliver your bags.
My question is, can I just do it the old fashioned way and grab my own bags and place them on the bus that takes us to the resort? Just by-pass the whole ME service?
Thanks all!

Sure, you can get your own checked luggage. My question is, why bother??? You don't HAVE to wait for your luggage to arrive in your room. The Bell Services CMs are "pre-tipped" by Disney to compensate for the fact that they are usually delivering DME luggage to empty rooms.

When my luggage arrived, my wife and my kids and I were in the pool. We didn't wear our bathing suits on the airplane! We packed our bathing suits and sandals (for the walk between the pool and the room) in our carry-ons. No matter where I travel by air I ALWAYS pack a carry-on with supplies for the first 24 hours just in case the airline delays our luggage. So in addition to the above, we also had, for each of us, a complete change of clothes, medications, toiletries, etc. You'd be surprised how very little space and weight that takes up, especially because we're not talking winter-weight clothes here. We didn't have large, bulky, or heavy carry-ons. Seriously, try it at home. Gather all of your sandals and neatly-folded "park clothes" and check out how little space that takes up in a little carry-on bag. In my opinion, it's so much easier to do that than to lug your luggage around AND delay yourself by waiting for it at the baggage claim carousel.

To me, the luggage delivery is the most "magical" aspect of DME. It was great to not have to worry about lugging our suitcases around, or wait at the baggage claim carousel.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

-- Eric

 

[ncbyrne]

As others have already stated, the answer is yes, you can get your own luggage and take it with you on the ME bus.
DH and I are staying offsite for the last three days of our trip. We will be moving from CSR to the Best Western on Hotel Plaza Blvd. in DD. We are renting a car at the CCC in WDW and will return the car to MCO. By renting a car you will be able to stay longer on your last day. ME requires that you leave earlier than we like.

 

[Bjarni]

Thanks everyone for some great replies!
To tell you the truth, I hadnt really thought of packing our "park clothes" in a carry on. Its the simple ideas you miss. Its a good idea and one I think we will try.
Thanks again everyone.