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

[jeanylaser]

I can't wait to fly Jet Blue! Can we get the DME to All-Star Movies!

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by jeanylaser

I can't wait to fly Jet Blue! Can we get the DME to All-Star Movies!

DME goes to all Disney owned resorts/hotels. It does not go to the Swan, Dolphin or Shades of Green. All other WDW resorts are serviced by DME.

[George69]

Originally Posted by CleveRocks

For your flight INTO Orlando, airline doesn't matter at all ... not even a little bit.

For your flight back home, airline matters. Passengers on the "participating airlines" can check in for their flight while still at their resort, including checking their luggage through to their final destination. Passengers not on a participating airline have to take their own luggage to the bus, and then check in with their airline once they get to the airport.

Even though you fly a non partic. airline, the resort can still confirm trip and print boarding passes., but yes, YOU have to transport your own luggage.

[SassyTink213]

Originally Posted by swabikedude

Wondering if anyone out there is staying at the Pop Century Resort in the next week or so - because...

Southwest Airlines is finally allowing Disney Resort Guests to check in baggage AT the Pop Century Resort only at this time as part of a "test" phase.

If it is successful, and we know it will be, it will most likely be expanded to all the Disney Resorts!

So - watch for it and tell us how it goes!


Hooray - Pop Century Guests will get to try it out first!!!

Just got back tuesday...we flew southwest and stayed at POP.
Our bags arrived at the POP no problem, but when we checked out there was not check in for our baggage at the POP. I asked about it and the man who checked us out acted clueless about it. I mentioned I had read about the "test phase" and he told me that he was unaware of the "test" but asked another CM about it and they said the "test phase" was over and appologized that we missed it. It would be wonderful if they would extend the service! Hopefully some other Disers got to enjoy the "test phase"!! Hope you all have great trips!!

[TDC Nala]

News as of June 1: Southwest is now a participating airline for Resort Airline Check-In.

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

News as of June 1: Southwest is now a participating airline for Resort Airline Check-In.

Since we've heard this before, I've gotta ask ... how do you know this?

There've been so many false alarms, I'm at the point that if Tyler doesn't post it in the first post in this sticky, then I won't believe it.

Please, TDC, no offense intended, but you've been around long enough to know exactly what I mean.

[cyndisue]

My family is using ME to get to our resort (VWL). Do you know if one member of our party can use ME for the return, even though we are not checking out yet?

Our oldest has to leave a few days before the rest of the family to get back to college. Can we book ME for his flight, even if our DVC reservation isn't over?

Thanks,

Cyndisue

[clkelley]

Originally Posted by cyndisue

My family is using ME to get to our resort (VWL). Do you know if one member of our party can use ME for the return, even though we are not checking out yet?

Our oldest has to leave a few days before the rest of the family to get back to college. Can we book ME for his flight, even if our DVC reservation isn't over?

Thanks,

Cyndisue

Not a problem!! Your party can arrive at different times and different dates. Your party can depart at different times and different dates. This can be done as long as the arrival time and date is on or after the date your reservation begins OR on or before the date your reservation ends.

However, a bit of advice, when making your initial reservation, if you are all arriving together and all but one are departing together, just make the DME reservation with Member Services as if you are all arriving and departing together.

THEN, we you arrive at the DME Welcome Center to take the bus to Disney, they also confirm your departing flight times. Inform them at that time of the time and date of the one person departing early. Then also, confirm the time and date of the rest of the group departing on your checkout date.

The reservations and Member Services folks don't seem to have it down very well how to enter folks that are arriving or departing at different times.

However, the folks at the DME desk know exactly how to do this.

You will then get the correct bus pick up times for your one person that has to leave early, and you will get the correct bus pick up time for the rest of your group.

[TDC Nala]

Originally Posted by CleveRocks

Since we've heard this before, I've gotta ask ... how do you know this?

There've been so many false alarms, I'm at the point that if Tyler doesn't post it in the first post in this sticky, then I won't believe it.

Please, TDC, no offense intended, but you've been around long enough to know exactly what I mean.

Because I actually used it on June 1. Right now it is Pop Century only as a test. If it works they will roll it out in the other resorts. (It did work for me)

[Debbie-TN]

When we were at Pop last month, the guy at the luggage service said that SW was going to be added this month. I was so excited. I hope they keep it up past the test phase. I would love to have our bags taken for us in Sept.

[cmac609]

We are flying to MCO with Air Trans (like we always do with assigned seating). However, on the way back home, we are using Southwest. We are a family of 4 (ds 6 and 4) and we never threw with Southwest. My questions are:

1. How do we guarantee to seat together on the plane? Both my ds are way too small to sit by themselves. Plus they are not very good flyers and cry because their ears during take off and landing. Would it be guarantee for at least one of us to sit with the boys?????? Any advice?

2. Will I be able to print boarding passes out at the hotel????

Thanks in advance.

Caroline

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by cmac609

We are flying to MCO with Air Trans (like we always do with assigned seating). However, on the way back home, we are using Southwest. We are a family of 4 (ds 6 and 4) and we never threw with Southwest. My questions are:

1. How do we guarantee to seat together on the plane? Both my ds are way too small to sit by themselves. Plus they are not very good flyers and cry because their ears during take off and landing. Would it be guarantee for at least one of us to sit with the boys?????? Any advice?

2. Will I be able to print boarding passes out at the hotel????

Thanks in advance.

Caroline

Caroline, yes, you will be able to print out your boarding passes at the resort. Be sure to get to the front desk (or at any Guest Services counter in the parks) at the 24hr mark, before flight departure the next day. For instance..if your flight departs on Tuesday, at 9:05am, you will want to be at a resort or Guest Services counter at 9:05am on Monday. That way you will be able to get boarding passes in the A group, which will allow you to all sit together the next day. Even if you miss the 9:05 time, you will most likely get something in the A or B group. With a child that is 4, you may be able to board in between the A and B group anyway, but that isn't etched in stone. One of the things I give my dd, now 15, is a decongestant about an hour before take off and landings. That seems to help her ears.
If you have any questions about boarding proceedures, just ask.

[momsworld]

Not sure if this has been answered before i didn't have time to read all 62 pages I've never flown southwest and are considering flying with them for our OCt trip. However some of our group there is 7 of us are concerned that we may not be able to sit together. We are flying with 3 kids ages 16,11 and 5. Any chance we can sit together? Do all the other airlines have assigned seating or are their others like southwest were you are not guaranteed? Thanks for helping.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by momsworld

Not sure if this has been answered before i didn't have time to read all 62 pages I've never flown southwest and are considering flying with them for our OCt trip. However some of our group there is 7 of us are concerned that we may not be able to sit together. We are flying with 3 kids ages 16,11 and 5. Any chance we can sit together? Do all the other airlines have assigned seating or are their others like southwest were you are not guaranteed? Thanks for helping.

You need to be ready to check in for your flight right at the 24 hr mark. This means...if you fly out at 8am on Monday, you need to be at your computer, on the SW site, at the online checkin area, at 8am on Sunday. If you are all on the same reservation, then be sure to check off all the names and then submit it to checkin. If you have several different reservations, they will have to be done one at a time..which is a pain.
The earlier you check in, the better chance you have of sitting together. You are issued a letter grouping (A, B or C). Within that letter are numbers....1-60somthing I believe. The first 15 spots in A are saved for business class folks...so usually the first spot available is A16. Based on when you check in, you are assigned a spot. Then, when it is time to board the A's all line up according to their numbers, when they have boarded, the B's board, then the C's. Those with any medical issues are boarded at the very beginning, before anyone else.
So...if you get A spots you should have no trouble being seated together. Even the B group usually has no issue finding seats together.

[mickeyoverload]

I really hope that the SW tests go well!!!!!

I really hope to be able to use this when we go in Sept.... It would meant that we would actually be able to schedule a late flight back home and maybe do some shopping the day we leave instead of wasting a day.
YAY