Question about luggage and magical express

[ninjaprincesst]

We flew Southwest last year, I told the girl when I made my ME that we were flying southwest and our me package came with 8 tags. The year before I only got four, but I called Disney and requested the extra four and had them in my hands two days later. The CM also told me if for any reason I did not get the extras in time that I could make color copies of the tags and attach them to our luggage and it would work just fine.

 

[Mr. Pricklepants]

DME doesn't stop it from being lost, but they do all the legwork to recover it on your behalf so you don't have to.

Often, guests aren't even aware there was an issue with their luggage because it's in their room when they get back from having fun in the parks. The one time my luggage was "misdirected" by the airline, I actually only knew because there was an extra "rush" tag on the luggage when I did get back to my room.

That is good to know, thanks. I have seen some horror stories play out in front of us either at the airport or checking in at the hotel, so i guess i'm paranoid.

 

[WWWD]

DME doesn't stop it from being lost, but they do all the legwork to recover it on your behalf so you don't have to.

Often, guests aren't even aware there was an issue with their luggage because it's in their room when they get back from having fun in the parks. The one time my luggage was "misdirected" by the airline, I actually only knew because there was an extra "rush" tag on the luggage when I did get back to my room.

With our January trip, ME mixed up our reservation and didn't send the luggage tags out in time. There was some big mix-up on their end and we finally received them 3 weeks after our vacation. ME informed us that we could retrieve the bags ourselves or give them our luggage claim tickets at the airport and they would get them. Well with visions of our luggage going around and around the carousel, we decided to claim our own bags.

So after awful flights with delays (we were suppose to land in Orlando at 6pm, but landed at 1:30am), we went to claim our luggage and it wasn't on the plane. Lucky for me, I went to baggage service before almost half the plane and filed a claim (tip - take pictures of your bags as they want very specific information). The baggage agent said the luggage should come in on the morning flights and they would contact me for delivery.

The first "night" we were at OKW (arrived to our room at 3:30) and then were to transfer to AKL. I called the airlines several times that day and they always said "there is no status update on your baggage" (man was I getting mad). After checking in at AKL, I hopefully asked bell services if they had any of our bags. They basically gave us that empathic look and said "good luck with that." One lady even said something about the horror stories she could tell. I wasn't much in the mood for a story.

Of course we had no change of clothes and it rained most of the day. After the 7th call at a 11pm, finally a airline rep who wanted to help us. He said that they would pay for necessary items and said we would be the first to know when they found our bags. I specifically asked if they would deliver the luggage to our hotel and he said no because people move around so much on vacation, they would call me first. I warned him that I was at MK with no car so my only option was Disney. So with needing everything for two adults and three kids, we marched into the Emporium and bought all the clothes we would need for the next day or so. That nice little shopping trip cost over $375.00. Before this , I never knew Disney sold male adult character boxers. This shopping trip was in addition to our toiletry shopping trip in OKW that morning.

So loaded down with our new clothes (my 11 year old daughter was in heaven with her new outfits), we returned to AKL and in our room were all our bags. Some were damp, I'm guessing from sitting on a snow covered Tarmac overnight. I still have no idea how Disney got ahold of them, they even had ME tags on them. We went from thinking we were going to have to spend the whole week without our stuff to having everything - talk about a happy dance. Oh, and after a letter to the airline; they covered our entire Emporium bill and the OKW bill. Also, we now own several carry-on bags.

 

[Disneyhardin]

They are great with the luggage - even if it doesn't have the yellow tag, they can find it and get it to the right place with just the Airline luggage code on it. We had to gate check a suitcase once and they checked it all the way through instead of just letting us claim it in the hall when we got off the plane like usual. I was a nervous wreck, but I just gave the ME desk the claim number the flight attendant who checked it gave me and it was with the rest of our luggage in the room when we came back from the park.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

We are leaving next week for our Disney trip staying at the Contemporary Resort. It says in my documents that Disney will pick up my luggage and bring it to the room. My question is how do they know how much luggage I have? I am a little worried that luggage may get left at the airport. Has anyone done used this option before... maybe I am just a little nervous

Thanks
Kevin

As long as you have those yellow tags, it'll be fine. If you do have a late flight that will put the luggage arriving at your resort after midnight, they will keep it at the resort's luggage services and deliver it first thing in the morning so not to wake guests.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

With our January trip, ME mixed up our reservation and didn't send the luggage tags out in time. There was some big mix-up on their end and we finally received them 3 weeks after our vacation. ME informed us that we could retrieve the bags ourselves or give them our luggage claim tickets at the airport and they would get them. Well with visions of our luggage going around and around the carousel, we decided to claim our own bags.

So after awful flights with delays (we were suppose to land in Orlando at 6pm, but landed at 1:30am), we went to claim our luggage and it wasn't on the plane. Lucky for me, I went to baggage service before almost half the plane and filed a claim (tip - take pictures of your bags as they want very specific information). The baggage agent said the luggage should come in on the morning flights and they would contact me for delivery.

The first "night" we were at OKW (arrived to our room at 3:30) and then were to transfer to AKL. I called the airlines several times that day and they always said "there is no status update on your baggage" (man was I getting mad). After checking in at AKL, I hopefully asked bell services if they had any of our bags. They basically gave us that empathic look and said "good luck with that." One lady even said something about the horror stories she could tell. I wasn't much in the mood for a story.

Of course we had no change of clothes and it rained most of the day. After the 7th call at a 11pm, finally a airline rep who wanted to help us. He said that they would pay for necessary items and said we would be the first to know when they found our bags. I specifically asked if they would deliver the luggage to our hotel and he said no because people move around so much on vacation, they would call me first. I warned him that I was at MK with no car so my only option was Disney. So with needing everything for two adults and three kids, we marched into the Emporium and bought all the clothes we would need for the next day or so. That nice little shopping trip cost over $375.00. Before this , I never knew Disney sold male adult character boxers. This shopping trip was in addition to our toiletry shopping trip in OKW that morning.

So loaded down with our new clothes (my 11 year old daughter was in heaven with her new outfits), we returned to AKL and in our room were all our bags. Some were damp, I'm guessing from sitting on a snow covered Tarmac overnight. I still have no idea how Disney got ahold of them, they even had ME tags on them. We went from thinking we were going to have to spend the whole week without our stuff to having everything - talk about a happy dance. Oh, and after a letter to the airline; they covered our entire Emporium bill and the OKW bill. Also, we now own several carry-on bags.

This is a good lesson to ALWAYS ALWAYS be prepared for the worst and carryon essentials for one day.

 

[WWWD]

This is a good lesson to ALWAYS ALWAYS be prepared for the worst and carryon essentials for one day.

Yup, lesson learned! I now carry-on two to three days worth of clothes for a weeks trip so at least we can survive. Everything in checked bags is just gravy now. You hear stories about lost luggage - that would just ruin a trip. I had visions that day of all my luggage being auctioned off on the Travel Channel show Baggage Battles.

I also now put an additional luggage tag inside my suitcase that way if the exterior one gets destroyed, my bag, if lost, can still be identified before being shipped out to auction.

 

[dreamfinder]

As long as you have those yellow tags, it'll be fine. If you do have a late flight that will put the luggage arriving at your resort after midnight, they will keep it at the resort's luggage services and deliver it first thing in the morning so not to wake guests.

I think they changed policy so that if your flight lands after 10 PM you need to grab your own luggage.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

I think they changed policy so that if your flight lands after 10 PM you need to grab your own luggage.

That is still correct but if your plane lands at we'll say 9:30 pm (which we've had a few) the luggage will still be be eligible for DME (until 10 pm) BUT given the three hours for it to get to your resort will be 12:30 am. They will hold your luggage until first thing in the morning unless you request at check-in to have it delivered to your room no matter what time. Believe me, the first time we had a late arrival we landed at 9:50 pm. The DME desk assured us our luggage would get to our room. We checked in around 11 pm and didn't give a thought about it. Not being able to sleep we were up after 1 am. Worried why our luggage hadn't been delivered by 1:30 am, we called the front desk and that's when they explained it had been delivered to the resort and would be held until the morning. They then offered for it to be sent right away if I preferred, which I did, and it was delivered to our room in ten minutes.

 

[kevinscruising]

I am leaving on this Tuesday the 15th of April !!! So I will let everyone know my experience with the Magical Express.

 

[cat5dog1]

It won't stop them from losing it, however it lets DME be the go between. They should call the airlines, track down the luggage, get it put on the next plane etc. If you don't put the tags on, you have to call the airlines, have them track it down, etc. Should eliminate some of the stress and hassle.

As mentioned a few times, always pack the essentials in your carry on. That's just good practice anytime you check luggage.

They didn't do that for me last year when 1 of our bags was never put on the plane. I had to make numerous phone calls every day until it was finally found at our departing airport.