Sorry - a Magical Express Question

[Buttercup]

I'm sure this has probably been asked before, but, has something changed with Magical Express? I haven't used it since 2008 since we usually drive to Florida, so I wanted to give myself a "refresher" on what will happen when we land in Orlando.

We are flying from Detroit to Orlando, so it will be a domestic flight. It gets in at 10:30am (so it's during the day, not overnight).

I went to look at the official Disney website, and this is what it says (note the part that I have bolded:

How It Works

Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, claim your baggage at baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.

So wait -- we have to pick up our own luggage and bring it down to the Magical Express area? I thought that's what the yellow M.E. tags were for; so that we DON'T have to stand around the carousel and wait for our luggage.

Can someone break it down for me? What should I be doing when I step off the plane? Because I'm sure I'm missing something...

[JenniferS.]

I just went the end of Oct and we didn't have to claim any luggage. I don't know if this is something new. I'm sure someone will come around that knows more...sorry.

[Scar]

Not sure where you got that from, but this is from disney's website.

2.Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.

[btharvey]

I seem to recall that wording somewhere ... I believe it is an option for some fliers, and for those whose airlines don't participate in the program.

But we went Southwest last time, so we had no trouble whatsoever ....

[Buttercup]

Not sure where you got that from, but this is from disney's website.

Weird! That's the same link I've been looking at -- here's the link again -- specifically read the first sentence of item #2:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pla...rport-service/
I don't see anything on there that says "Skip Baggage Claim"???

Just a thought: do you think that because I've viewing that exact same page from a Canadian IP address, it is giving me different information? I literally see nothing on there that says "Skip Baggage Claim" -- it all says "Claim your baggage at baggage claim..." Maybe it assumes I'm flying out of Canada and not from Detroit...

???

[CleveRocks]

I seem to recall that wording somewhere ... I believe it is an option for some fliers, and for those whose airlines don't participate in the program.

That can't be it, as there's no such thing as an airline from which you can't use the luggage delivery for your arrival flight. "Participating airline" ONLY matters for your flight home.

[CleveRocks]

Weird!
This is the link to the disney site where I am reading this (specifically item #2):
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pla...rport-service/

Well, it's about to get weirder!

I clicked on the link you provided. And in #2, it clearly states "skip baggage claim" ... go look for yourself. Maybe a mischievous and clearly bored person hacked the website and made that change and then it was discovered and fixed. But the point is, the officisl website unequivocally tells you to SKIP baggage claim.

[Lakin]

I don't know what in the world the site is talking about. The only bags you take on the ME w/ you are your carry-ons.

[TinkerbellT421]

Weird! That's the same link I've been looking at -- here's the link again -- specifically read the first sentence of item #2:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pla...rport-service/
I don't see anything on there that says "Skip Baggage Claim"???

Just a thought: do you think that because I've viewing that exact same page from a Canadian IP address, it is giving me different information? I literally see nothing on there that says "Skip Baggage Claim" -- it all says "Claim your baggage at baggage claim..." Maybe it assumes I'm flying out of Canada and not from Detroit...

???

lol that would be weird!. But I just checked both links and both say skip baggage claim....lol I'm so confused! buttercup don't worry about it, like CleveRocks said you should be fine

[Fangorn]

Item #3 on Disney's Magical Express site is:

3.International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 4 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.

I think perhaps Disney has indeed picked up the non-US IP address and has provided a different (and somewhat vague) set of instructions.

Steve

[Buttercup]

I think perhaps Disney has indeed picked up the non-US IP address and has provided a different (and somewhat vague) set of instructions. Steve

I think you're right!
Isn't that weird?!?! It knows I'm not from the USA so it's giving me some weird instructions!
Actually, I know that if I was flying out of Canada, I *would* have to pick up my luggage, because I have to clear customs (since Orlando is my first entry port into the US). So maybe that's what the website is assuming and why it's showing different instructions.

But since I'm *driving* across the border into Michigan, I'll clear customs while I'm driving, and then it just becomes a regular domestic flight for me.

Verrrrrrry interesting that the site picks up on stuff like that! I wonder if another Canadian reads this thread they could check and see what the link says!

Okay well either way, GOOD. It sounds like nothing's changed. I just get off my flight and walk down to the Magical Express, and forget about my checked luggage completely. THANK YOU EVERYBODY!!!

[March Hare]

you are not crazy but it is because you are picking up the Canadian IP address and are being directed to the Canadian site

from the US site

Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.

from the Canadian site

Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, claim your baggage at baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.

You can switch the site you are looking at. There is a drop down menu on the bottom left of the site for international sites just change it to the US site you wish to look at

[Buttercup]

Cool! Thanks March Hare!

[March Hare]

no problem