I would like to know more about this. We are using ME for the first time and I understand that we will be getting yellow tags. So you just collect your luggage and put it on the bus?
knock on wood - we have never lost anything. I just don't need/want any stress. That is actually why I like driving.
hee hee So I just want to make the best decision. I just don't know what to do.
If you get the yellow tags, and put them on your luggage, you do nothing with them. They will automatically be pulled prior to getting on the carousels, and will be delivered to your resort/room. The exception to this is if you arrive between like 10P and 6A. In that window, you would grab your own luggage and bring it to the bus with you for transport.
Thanks for all the tips!!!!! We are flying Air Tran. I have looked up the sizes of the carry on and the suitcase that can be taken on the plane. I am thinking I might attempt to get most of our items in the carry-on bag and the suitcase we can carry on and then ship some items too. So that is 2 carry ons and 2 suitcases. Step 1 - I will get some new suitcases to make sure they are the best size (I have two that are kind of old and smaller then the max allowed on Air Tran and I want to maximize that space). Step 2 - I might look into the space savor bags. Has anyone used them? I have seen and used the roll up kind for travel but has anyone flown using the vacuum kind? Step 3 - I will ship the items like toiletries, extras, shoes, what nots and do-dads that for some reason, I can not live with out.
However, there are two issues with this plan. The first, no vacuum cleaner to use the bags on the way back home, and the second, how do you ship from a WDW resort?
I think I am making this more complicated then it has to be and my paranoia of not having my perfectly coordinated outfits is clouding my judgement!!!
SpaceSaver/compression bags do work well. Some people feel that packing properly is a better alternative, as the bags work best with certain types of clothing. If you are packing sweaters, down jackets, stuff like that, they have alot of air that can get compressed out. If you ever watch the demos on tv, they only show you big puffy items that can compress easily. But if you are traveling with mostly cotton, or other tight weaves that doesn't have much excess space for air to hide in, you won't get nearly as much benefit from the compression packing. I like them as I can stick my running clothes in them at the end of the week, and not have to worry about that stinking up the rest of my stuff. However, once compressed the bags typically have a few inches of excess plastic on the edges (from where you compressed the air out) that ends up taking space as well.
Shipping from a WDW resort is actually really easy. You just bring the boxed items to the concierge/business center. They will provide you with a UPS/FedEx form to fill out. They will then charge your room/credit card the cost of the shipping plus a handling fee, tape up your box and get it sent on its way.
Regarding the vacuum bags, there are now compression bags that I think work just as well. It is a matter of rolling the air out of the bags. I know Walmart has them in the luggage department-but I am sure Target, etc. do also. Most people don't have canister vacuums these days.
Most travel/outdoor stores sell them as well.
A few thoughts. If your luggage gets delayed, DME will still automatically get it to your room for you. If you are in the park, you may never even know it was delayed. And if it gets lost/damaged/delayed, airlines typically cover your out of pocket expenses for so many days to buy clothes and essentials. (Not sure if DME will automatically file the claim, or if you will need to) If you ship something to the resort, you need to allow enough time to ensure it gets there in advance. There will be the chance that the box gets misplaced after delivery (especially if you go to a convention resort where you need to pay a fee for them to receive your box). In either situation, or if the box/contents get damaged, you will need to pay for any out of pocket your own, and then file a claim with the shipper and wait for them to decide if it is covered or not.
Remember that you can do laundry on property. Even my DW (who has changed as many as 4 times a day on a trip) has never brought more than her carryon with us for a 10 day trip. Picking a few tops that coordinate with a few bottoms, and then washing midtrip can cut your needs in half.
