Disney's Magical Express/RAC - What "Participating Airline" Really Means!

[clkelley]

Originally Posted by lissiesmum

Thanks, Diane. I think that helps a lot. So to make sure I understand, the only real benefit to using a participating airline is on the way back. I can still go to the parks for the day, leave my bags at the resort, come back, Check in ahead of time at the lobby, and board the DME...the only difference is I will be responsible to bring my own bags to the lobby and I will have to check in my own luggage at the airport. Is that correct?

You can still have Bell Services/Luggage Services bring your bags to the baggage holding area the morning you check out, then 30 minutes before it's time to board your Magical Express bus, proceed to the Bell Services/Luggage Services desk, retrieve your luggage, wait on the bus, have the bus driver load your luggage under the bus and proceed to the airport.

There will be luggage porters, and/or luggage carts available to assist you in taking your luggage up to the 3rd floor to check it with your airline at the airport.

[angelwolf67]

now i understand with the new fees ME wants customers to 1 pay in advance or 2 take their luggage to the airport right. now what if you got your airline tickets b4 the new fees went into affect. do we need something from the airline stating that we don't have to pay the fees????

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by angelwolf67

now i understand with the new fees ME wants customers to 1 pay in advance or 2 take their luggage to the airport right. now what if you got your airline tickets b4 the new fees went into affect. do we need something from the airline stating that we don't have to pay the fees????

Each airline seems to have a slightly different approach to this issue. Evidently, the govt told them they had to let people know about the extra fee beforehand, so most airlines will tell you that if you bought your tickets by such and such a date, you are exempt from the baggage fee. Check with your particular airline.

[karylrocks]

We bought our tickets in October so are exempt from the new charges, but I am concerned how it will actually play out when we try to check our bags at the resort check-in. I hope they have the bugs worked out of the procedure before our trip in August. There are seven of us (adults) and I was planning to bring a few extra bags but I don't want to have to check bags at the airport. You would think that the resort check-in employees would be able to handle the rules as well as the people at the airport.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by karylrocks

We bought our tickets in October so are exempt from the new charges, but I am concerned how it will actually play out when we try to check our bags at the resort check-in. I hope they have the bugs worked out of the procedure before our trip in August. There are seven of us (adults) and I was planning to bring a few extra bags but I don't want to have to check bags at the airport. You would think that the resort check-in employees would be able to handle the rules as well as the people at the airport.

If you are using the RAC system to check bags and get boarding passes at the resort (and is sounds as if you are) then you have to cal BAGGS (the company that owns/runs RAC) and pay them the cost of checked bags. Then you can check your bags right at the resort. I'm sure that at some point, in the near future, we will see that RAC is able to accomodate those who have checked bags that have a fee attached. It's just that the present system is not equipped to accept monies. It's not a question fo not handling the rules..it's about the present system not being able to accomodate it. Hopefully by August they will have a better system in place.

[beachgrl001]

HI How many bags per person can you take on ME? 1 or 2? I have 4 ppl w 5 bags and a couple of carry ons.

sorry if this has already been asked

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by beachgrl001

HI How many bags per person can you take on ME? 1 or 2? I have 4 ppl w 5 bags and a couple of carry ons.

sorry if this has already been asked

I'm not exactly sure what the question is. With DME it is assumed that most people will tag their checked bags with the yellow luggage tags and have them delivered right to their resort room...they don't have to get them in baggage claim, so no bags on the bus. You can expect two luggage tags per person who is listed on the room reservation. It's up to the airlines to decide how many bags you can check free of charge.

If, for some reason, you find that you must take your bags on the bus with you (technically they are stowed underneath the bus you are on) you wouldn't tag the bags with the yellow tags. You would then go to baggage claim and get them and take them to DME checkin with you. It doesn't really matter how many you have.

I'm not sure if that answers your question..if not, just ask again, perhaps letting us know exactly what it is you want to achieve.

[beachgrl001]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

You can expect two luggage tags per person who is listed on the room reservation.

That's what I wanted to know. thanks. I know I got 2 pp last year but wasn't sure if they changed it for this year. Sorry I wasn't more clear with my question.

[karylrocks]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

If you are using the RAC system to check bags and get boarding passes at the resort (and is sounds as if you are) then you have to cal BAGGS (the company that owns/runs RAC) and pay them the cost of checked bags. Then you can check your bags right at the resort. I'm sure that at some point, in the near future, we will see that RAC is able to accomodate those who have checked bags that have a fee attached. It's just that the present system is not equipped to accept monies. It's not a question fo not handling the rules..it's about the present system not being able to accomodate it. Hopefully by August they will have a better system in place.

The problem is that I will not have any fees because I bought our tickets before the fees were in place and we are each allowed 2 checked bags without paying additional fees. I have been reading that RAC is only accepting one bag per person even though we would not have to pay extra for the second bag.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by karylrocks

The problem is that I will not have any fees because I bought our tickets before the fees were in place and we are each allowed 2 checked bags without paying additional fees. I have been reading that RAC is only accepting one bag per person even though we would not have to pay extra for the second bag.

This is the issue that is currently happening with RAC. I'm just not sure how they are handling it. I guess we're going to have to wait and see how others do it on trips this summer. I know it's turning into a nightmare for some....I'm just glad I seldom check more than 2 bags for 3 people. I may have to tighten up even more now though.

[angelwolf67]

Ok so i just got off the phone with a customer service rep at B.A.G.S.
And i asked for those of us that didn't need to pay fees for our luggage what we needed to have? His answer was all we needed was our reservtions and our purchase date should be on it.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by angelwolf67

Ok so i just got off the phone with a customer service rep at B.A.G.S.
And i asked for those of us that didn't need to pay fees for our luggage what we needed to have? His answer was all we needed was our reservtions and our purchase date should be on it.

Thanks for the update...that's really good to know. I'm sure others will be pleased to have that info.

[colinsdad]

Originally Posted by angelwolf67

Ok so i just got off the phone with a customer service rep at B.A.G.S.
And i asked for those of us that didn't need to pay fees for our luggage what we needed to have? His answer was all we needed was our reservtions and our purchase date should be on it.

Thank you so much for looking up that info for us. I too got my tickets before the additional charge was instituted and according to my reservation date, I'm allowed 2 bags at no charge. Although since my kid now gets his own seat we'll each be taking 1 bag (now UAL is charging for a 1st bag! )

ME is soooo important to me when I take my son to Disney because of the convenience and being able to hold onto him and not my luggage at the airport. Traveling is hard enough, I don't need anymore hassles.

[Teacher510]

Originally Posted by angelwolf67

Ok so i just got off the phone with a customer service rep at B.A.G.S.
And i asked for those of us that didn't need to pay fees for our luggage what we needed to have? His answer was all we needed was our reservtions and our purchase date should be on it.

We booked our air separately for our August Land /Sea trip. We bought the tix last August, purchased the transfers and gave the flight info to DCL. Will they be aware of my purchase date or do I need to send/fax them proof? Could someone give me the B.A.G.S. number if I need to talk to someone?

[angelwolf67]

And the number is (407)284-1231 their hours are 7am-11pm. hope this helps