magical express question

[fudwrapper]

We are headed to WDW next week, and are set up to use the Magical Express from the airport. On the ticket is says that it could take up to 3 hours for our luggage to arrive at our room. Since we are getting there at about midnight, it would really stink to have to wait until 3 am to get our stuff! Does anyone know about how long we can expect to wait? Is 3 hous the norm, or the worst case scenario? thanks!

 

[wannabeBelle]

I have had it be all types of times, most of the time I never notice simply because I usually arrive in the morning so I Am in a park when it is delivered but 3 hours is supposed to be the norm. I would strongly suggest one of two things. Either pack a carry on to go on the plane with everything you would need so that way you wont need to worry if you dont get your luggage. The other option ( and probably the one I would do) Is to NOT Tag your luggage with the yellow tags provided by DME, go to baggage claim on arrival at Orlando international, grab your bags then go to DME and register in. Your bags will be placed under the coach and wil travel with you to the hotel. Mostly I would do this to avoid having my bags delivered at some really late hour when I would most likely be asleep!! Hope this helps!! Belle

 

[hrmom26]

it didn't take long for ours to get to the room but just in case pack some stuff in your carry on you think you might need in the mean time. pj's and toiletry's and such. also remember you will need to check in and so on when you get there so that will take some time most likely by the time you do everything they will have your bags ready in your room.

 

[smk]

I have had it be all types of times, most of the time I never notice simply because I usually arrive in the morning so I Am in a park when it is delivered but 3 hours is supposed to be the norm. I would strongly suggest one of two things. Either pack a carry on to go on the plane with everything you would need so that way you wont need to worry if you dont get your luggage. The other option ( and probably the one I would do) Is to NOT Tag your luggage with the yellow tags provided by DME, go to baggage claim on arrival at Orlando international, grab your bags then go to DME and register in. Your bags will be placed under the coach and wil travel with you to the hotel. Mostly I would do this to avoid having my bags delivered at some really late hour when I would most likely be asleep!! Hope this helps!! Belle

I agree with Belle.

 

[davewasbaloo]

We arrived at Orlando at 5pm, we checked in to the hotel at 7pm. Our luggage arrived at our room at 9:30pm. So I agree. If you want the convenience of luggage delivery - pack your Pjs in carry on. The luggage desk can hold your luggage to the next morning if need be.

Or don't tag it and carry it yourself. Either way, it works.

But it does take a while as they collect all the luggage, check they have a tally of bags with the number you say are checked. Take them to a hub at WDW. Then they send the bags from the hub to your hotel. Once it reaches the hotel, they organise which buildings/rooms they need to go to. They then deliver the bags. It takes some time.

 

[DizFanatic]

We used DME on Nov. 30th. Our flight had a delay & we arrived at MCO just before midnight. This was not a problem. We got to the Wilderness Lodge a little after 12:30am. The front desk told us that they would leave a voice mail for us when the luggage arrived because they don't call in the middle of the night. But I asked them to call anyway, and they did, about 2:30am, and they brought the luggage up to our villa.

We did pack a carry-on, just in case, with pajamas, a change of clothes and toiletries. DME worked out well for us. We usually hire a van for $90, which makes a staop at the grocery store so we cn stock up with goddies. This time we didn't have the stop so we bought everything in the "trading post" down at the lobby. Their prices are higher than the super market, but not $90 more expensive. The best part was not having to retrieve our luggage from the carouselle at MCO. Also, we were able to check-in our luggage right at the Wilderness Lodge (our airline, Continental, participated in this), so we didn't have to wait on the long airport check-in line. (just security of couse)

I will use DME again.:wave:

 

[EpcotGrl]

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that if you arrived after 11pm you were to retrieve your own luggage (http://www.wdwmagic.com/magicalexpress.htm) That's how I've always done it, anyway :wave:

 

[wannabeBelle]

As far as the luggage being held till the next morning, that was NOT my experience on one of my trips. We had packed carry on's and were prepared to do without our luggage as we were changing resorts after the first night so why bother having the bags delivered right? We went to Luggage and told them that this was the plan and the person there was grateful as it was a VERY busy night for them so one less room to deliver was a good thing!!!
Well at like 2:30am there was a knock on my friend's door with Luggage services bringing over the bags!!!! Needless to say I was a little confused when she had told me what happened. So to avoid being woken up like that, I would grab my bags at the airport and bring them with me if I am coming in very late. Belle

 

[tjkref418]

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that if you arrived after 11pm you were to retrieve your own luggage (http://www.wdwmagic.com/magicalexpress.htm) That's how I've always done it, anyway :wave:

I think you may be right. Unless things have changed since early 2006. Upon arrival at 1130 at MCO, I was informed that luggage would be my own responsbility. However, it was loaded onto the bus and we were fairly promptly taken to our hotel.

Again...I know everything is subject to change

 

[eroyee]

:wave: dont forget you can only put 3 oz. sample travel toiletries in a quart size zipper bag for the airport for carry on or they will take it away from you. check with your airport guidelines for travel. save you a lot of hassle. enjoy your magical trip to the world!!:sohappy:

 

[fudwrapper]

once again, these boards prove to be an instant wealth of information! thanks to everyone!