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

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by pixleyyy

OK, so DME will give us a ride to the airport but we'll need to check our own bags in once we reach there?

They will pick our luggage up from baggage claim at the airport when we arrive, won't they?

Just trying to be prepared.

Yes, you've got it all right!

When we land in Orlando, everyone on every airline can get the automatic luggage delivery to the resort. You put a supplied DME tag on each checked bag, and after you check it with SOuthwest at your home airport, the next time you'll see the bags will be inside your Disney resort room.

On the way home, you will take your bags to the DME bus with you. The driver will load them under the bus, and then when you arrive at the airport he/she will unload the bags and you'll have them right back. You then go to SWA's ticket counter (or curbside check-in, if available) with your bags, just like you did at your home airport.

[Coconuts]

Originally Posted by pixleyyy

OK, so DME will give us a ride to the airport but we'll need to check our own bags in once we reach there?

They will pick our luggage up from baggage claim at the airport when we arrive, won't they?

Just trying to be prepared.

You do need to take your own bags from where the DME bus parks and go to SW check in line. If I remember correctly from our last trip, it was quite a walk to the SW terminal. This wasn't fun with 2 kids under 5, 3 big suitcases, and 3 backpacks/carry-on's. Next time we're paying a skycap.

[SandyPA]

Originally Posted by Coconuts

Next time we're paying a skycap.

What is a Skycap? I am new to flying and I have no idea what this is.

[pixleyyy]

Originally Posted by CleveRocks

Yes, you've got it all right!

When we land in Orlando, everyone on every airline can get the automatic luggage delivery to the resort. You put a supplied DME tag on each checked bag, and after you check it with SOuthwest at your home airport, the next time you'll see the bags will be inside your Disney resort room.

On the way home, you will take your bags to the DME bus with you. The driver will load them under the bus, and then when you arrive at the airport he/she will unload the bags and you'll have them right back. You then go to SWA's ticket counter (or curbside check-in, if available) with your bags, just like you did at your home airport.

Thanks for clarifying that for me. Makes it much easier!!!

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by SandyPA

What is a Skycap? I am new to flying and I have no idea what this is.

There are some airport employees whose job it is to assist people with their luggage, to lug it from one place to another, such as from ground transportation to the ticket counter. They are uniformed. If you use them, you must tip them ... when I say "must," it's not the law, it's a social convention, in the same way that if you use a waitress you must tip her.

[TINKERIFIC]

Please answer this question for me

One person in our party will be inbound to MCO on international flight, but will be outbound from MCO on a domestic flight (Continental)

This is my understanding (please verify):

INBOUND - he will not receive luggage tags. Does that mean he will not be able to take advantage of luggage transfer?

OUTBOUND - will be able to obtain boarding pass and check in luggage (adhereing to time frame) at the resort?

Also, not sure if this is the appropriate thread, but question:

What has been the time frame of those individuals from MCO to AKV - Kidani? Do they drop you off at Jambo only or go on to Kidani before/after Jambo?

What is the usual time frame to receive your luggage when utilizing the transfer?

[kaytieeldr]

INBOUND: he'll have to claim his luggage once off the plane, and go through Customs. Then he'll have to put it on a conveyor belt to the main terminal. He can:
Get from you (after you call Disney and request X additional tags, and forward to him) the necessary tags and attach them to his luggage either at home or after Customs.
Pick it up there and bring it to the bus.
Go to the Welcome Center with his claim check/s and a description of his luggage.
Options 1 and 3, Disney will deliver his luggage. Option 2, he'll have to go to baggage claim first.

OUTBOUND: If he's flying out on a participating airline, yes. If not, he can still check in and get his boarding pass, I think, but he'll have to cart his own luggage.

Average time from getting off the plane to arriving at any resort is 70 to 90 minutes. Yes, the DME bus will stop at both locations if there are Guests disembarking at each location; otherwise, it'll only go to the needed one.

DME packet states it can take up to three hours after you check in (added by me: combined with "and your room is ready") for your luggage to arrive in your room. Why did I add commentary? Because say someone checks in at 10 AM. Now, I know that's actually preregistration, but most people consider it check-in. If the room isn't ready until 4, luggage can't reasonably be expected to arrive in the room three or fewer hours after the checks in.

[hessmess5]

I just made my final payment to Disney and went over our reservation. The agent said Southwest will NOT allow Disney to take our bags...we have to claim our bags at MCO and hand them to a Disney rep to put on the bus. Is that accurate????

Also, at POP, are they still testing Southwest's airline participation in checking bags at the resort and not lugging them to the airport?

Any information would be greatly appreciated...I am so confused!!!!

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by hessmess5

I just made my final payment to Disney and went over our reservation. The agent said Southwest will NOT allow Disney to take our bags...we have to claim our bags at MCO and hand them to a Disney rep to put on the bus. Is that accurate????

Also, at POP, are they still testing Southwest's airline participation in checking bags at the resort and not lugging them to the airport?

Any information would be greatly appreciated...I am so confused!!!!

You're confused because you received TERRIBLE information from a Disney reservationist. Unfortunately, this is very common.

As for using Disney's Magical Express on your arrival day, AIRLINE DOESN'T MATTER. Everyone on every airline gets the automatic luggage handling/delivery. Everyone. Every airline. As long as you tagged your checked bags with the special DME luggage tags, which you will receive in the mail a few weeks before your trip if you made a DME reservation.

So everyone on Southwest who has their bags DME-tagged will get their bags taken care of by Disney. Everyone on Southwest, and everyone on every other airline, too.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by hessmess5

I just made my final payment to Disney and went over our reservation. The agent said Southwest will NOT allow Disney to take our bags...we have to claim our bags at MCO and hand them to a Disney rep to put on the bus. Is that accurate????

Also, at POP, are they still testing Southwest's airline participation in checking bags at the resort and not lugging them to the airport?

Any information would be greatly appreciated...I am so confused!!!!

Your TA gave you completely wrong info, but CleveRocks gave you completely correct info!! Thanks Eric.

[hessmess5]

Thank you!! I can't believe I was given wrong information...! What would we do without these boards???! Thanks again!!

[Lewisc]

Does anyone know if RAC is able to accept bags if the passenger has a physical ticket (not an e-ticket)? I thought an E-Ticket was a requirement but Tyler's summary in the first post lists no such requirement. SW Vacations still issues traditional tickets.

FWIW a SW rep is quoted on FT as saying the 60 day test at POP went well. SW will be contacting Disney to ask permission to expand the test to include additional resorts. My guess is we'll see new resorts added with the first notice being a DIS who posts.

[Kricketnp]

Small question: I seemed to have misplaced my bus vouchers for our trip next week...I called the ME and they sent me new luggage tags, but no vouchers. Do I need them to get on the ME bus?

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by Kricketnp

Small question: I seemed to have misplaced my bus vouchers for our trip next week...I called the ME and they sent me new luggage tags, but no vouchers. Do I need them to get on the ME bus?

Nope. Not at all. No worries!

The person from your party who checks-in at the DME counter just needs photo ID.

[cepmom]

hi all
I tried reading through the thread, but only got a few pages in before I gave up! We will be using DME in September; have used it a few times already so I'm pretty well versed on the procedure, but it will be our first time being able to utilize the RAC (as long as SW is still participating when we are there). When you check your bags for the flight home, do you tip the RAC person? Is there usually a long line in the morning for RAC? TIA!