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

[ACDSNY]

Originally Posted by CleveRocks

DEN to MCO. The only thing they need to know is how you are landing at MCO ... it makes no difference to them where you originally started from.

Thanks! I thought that's what I did in 2007, but I was starting to doubt myself.

[JessicaW1234]

Originally Posted by Coconuts

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.

Where/how do you get the skycap relative to where you are dropped off from ME?

[work2play]

Originally Posted by JessicaW1234

Where/how do you get the skycap relative to where you are dropped off from ME?

When the ME bus pulls up, there are skycaps there to meet it. (At least there were in August!)

[n2mm]

Originally Posted by pinkerbell

I just got off the phoe with a friend who returned from POP on Sunday - he used it - and it worked well on the customer end - HE LOVED IT!
I was hoping it would be up for use by now as we leave in 23 DAYS!

Anyone kow when it might start for the rest of us...

I'm watching this too. We booked SW home for March so will be watching to see if this is successful and used at other resorts (we'll be a the BC that trip.)

[Lewisc]

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/th...little-happier

All 3 All Stars Oct 14.

[bjscheel]

Is BAGS open early at 5am too? If I book the flight I found, we would be boarding ME to return home at about 6:45 am. It is Airtran, so there will be a baggage fee. Will I be able to call that early to pay for the baggage? What time would you go to RAC in order to make a 6:45 bus?

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by bjscheel

Is BAGS open early at 5am too? If I book the flight I found, we would be boarding ME to return home at about 6:45 am. It is Airtran, so there will be a baggage fee. Will I be able to call that early to pay for the baggage? What time would you go to RAC in order to make a 6:45 bus?

You can call the BAGS number the day before you leave....that's what I did and it worked out quite well. Then, the morning of departure, head down to the RAC counter, about 5:45-6:00, with the confirmation number that you were given by BAGS when you called. They will want to see that number. It could take you about 15 mins to get the process done, and you need to be out at the DME bus stop about 15 mins before your pickup time.

[brooke1]

I read on another post that Southwest is now participating in RAC, can someone confirm????

Thanks
Brooke

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by brooke1

I read on another post that Southwest is now participating in RAC, can someone confirm????

Right now, it's only for guests staying at Pop Century; it's in a test phase.

[msminnieears]

It would be wonderful if they would start allowing it everywhere. We always fly SW.

[onelilspark]

I meant to post this when I got back, but I forgot. Also, if there's a better spot for this post, please let me know and I'll move it or Mods, feel free to move it.

There's been a change from my experience in early August 2009 with RAC and my most recent trip, Oct 15-18, 2009. When we got on the bus at the airport, they handed us a slip of paper at the airport with an explination of how RAC worked (after confirming the airline we were on.) What has changed: For flights after a certain time, they're delivering boarding passes and luggage tags to your room. Our flight didn't leave until 6:30. When I went out to get coffee at 7:30am that morning, our boarding passes and luggage tags (the ones that the airlines would print out, I don't know the technical term for them!) were hanging on our door, much like the ME paperwork the day before. It was sealed. Nice if you weren't planning on checking bags!

[kbheap]

OK. I have read the thread and maybe I missed it, but I hope someone can help. I am trying to schedule the return flight and am wondering how far in advance I have to check in a be waiting for the ME. Example, the return flight is at 7:20pm. What time, generally, do I need to be at the bus? Thanks in advance.

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally Posted by kbheap

Example, the return flight is at 7:20pm. What time, generally, do I need to be at the bus? Thanks in advance.

The pickup time at your resort will be approximately 3 hours (plus or minus 15 minutes) before your scheduled flight departure.

You should be at the pickup location 10-15 minutes before the pickup time.

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by kbheap

OK. I have read the thread and maybe I missed it, but I hope someone can help. I am trying to schedule the return flight and am wondering how far in advance I have to check in a be waiting for the ME. Example, the return flight is at 7:20pm. What time, generally, do I need to be at the bus? Thanks in advance.

Horace already answered the timing question.

In terms of catching or waiting for the bus back to the airport, there is no place to check in, no one to check in with. In fact, DME has no presence (no cast members) at any of the resorts. [Resort Airline Check-in, the luggage and boarding pass service that can be used by people flying "participating airlines," is not related to DME ... the people working at that counter have nothing to do with the buses.] You simply have to be at the DME bus stop area at the proper time, as described by Horace, and then present your paperwork to the driver.

[kbheap]

Thanks for the help. We always drive to DW but the kids are dying to fly so we are going to give it a try the next trip.