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

[pinkerbell]

Originally Posted by Lewisc

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

All 3 All Stars Oct 14.

Did this actually start at the all stars?

[cindy2939]

Okay, have a few questions about DME. We are all taking Carry-on luggage only - Do I still make a reservation to use it? We are going the first week in May 2010 - When do I call to make the reservation? Also who am I calling exactly? Sorry for probably dumb questions......

[CleveRocks]

Originally Posted by cindy2939

Okay, have a few questions about DME. We are all taking Carry-on luggage only - Do I still make a reservation to use it? We are going the first week in May 2010 - When do I call to make the reservation? Also who am I calling exactly? Sorry for probably dumb questions......

DME is 2 things, the bus ride and the luggage delivery. If you want to ride the bus (regardless of luggage), it is required that you make a reservation. It is in Disney's contract with the airport authority that they are not permitted to transport guests who don't have a reservation.

Did you make your Disney resort reservation yet? If you didn't, simply make your DME reservation when you make your resort reservation. If you did already make your resot reservation, call 407-W-DISNEY if you booked it yourself, or contact your travel agent if you used one. There's no reason to wait to make the DME reservation ... you can make it even if you haven't planned your flights yet ... you can just inform DIsney of your flight info at a later time.

DME has a direct phone number (866-599-0951) but they won't be able to "see" your resort reservation until 60 days before your trip [you need a resort reservation in order to make a DME reservation], so if your trip is in May 2010 the direct DME phone number is of no use to you just yet.

[nuttylawprofessor]

Has United started charging bag fees for bags checked through RAC?

TIA

[yellownovawife]

We are travelling Southwest Air - Feb. 2010. Anyone know if they will be a participating airline by then?

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by yellownovawife

We are travelling Southwest Air - Feb. 2010. Anyone know if they will be a participating airline by then?

Nobody knows. They are already participating at POP and the AllStars. As time goes by, perhaps they will add other resorts to their lineup. But, the good news is that it doesn't matter what airline you fly into MCO on....you get your luggage handled and a ride on the bus to your resort. And you just have to handle your own luggage for the ride back to MCO if flying home on SW, at the moment. Not a huge deal....I do it all the time.

[yellownovawife]

So we do not have toclaim it at MCO and bring it to the ME bus?

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by yellownovawife

So we do not have toclaim it at MCO and bring it to the ME bus?

No..of course not. 'Participating' only applies to those wishing to use RAC (remote airline checkin) to check their bags at the resort on their departure day.
Everyone, even if they arrive at MCO on a yak, is entitled to ride the DME bus from MCO to their resort and have DME move their bags from the plane to the resort...the only stipulation is that you must be staying in a WDW owned resort, on the day of your arrival. Those flying in internationally may have different rules but I'm just not sure of those.
So...just tag those checked bags with the yellow DME luggage tags and forget about them until you get to your resort. BUT....if you are arriving after 10pm, you can't use the luggage delivery service. They have shut it down between 10pm and 7am. Any bags that have been tagged, that arrive after 10pm, will just sit at MCO until the next morning.

Hope that helps!!!

[yellownovawife]

yes - so helpful! We are driving to Buffalo to fly out so we will not be considered International. I am really glad we get the delivery service at least one way! I will just have to make sure we have everything with us we may need for our trek around Downtown Disney while we wait for our luggage!

[HappyCamperToo]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

Nobody knows. They are already participating at POP and the AllStars. As time goes by, perhaps they will add other resorts to their lineup. But, the good news is that it doesn't matter what airline you fly into MCO on....you get your luggage handled and a ride on the bus to your resort. And you just have to handle your own luggage for the ride back to MCO if flying home on SW, at the moment. Not a huge deal....I do it all the time.

I was told today that Southwest was not a participating airline. I'm staying at POP. Did the CM give me wrong information?

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by HappyCamperToo

I was told today that Southwest was not a participating airline. I'm staying at POP. Did the CM give me wrong information?

Yep, you got bad info. Participating only matters when leaving the resort. You can't check your bags at the resort level and get your boarding passes issued if you aren't flying a 'participating' airline. That is the RAC program....remote airline checkin. it does not matter one whit how you get to MCO,...everyone is entitled to use DME..both the bus ride and luggage delivery. Just put your yellow luggage tags on your checked bags, and send your bags off. When you get to MCO, go directly down to level 1 and head to DME checkin,. your bags will be grabbed by DME personel and delivered to POP.
In any case...POP is participating in SW's RAC trial. So you should be able to check your bags right at the resort.

[HappyCamperToo]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

Yep, you got bad info. Participating only matters when leaving the resort. You can't check your bags at the resort level and get your boarding passes issued if you aren't flying a 'participating' airline. That is the RAC program....remote airline checkin. it does not matter one whit how you get to MCO,...everyone is entitled to use DME..both the bus ride and luggage delivery. Just put your yellow luggage tags on your checked bags, and send your bags off. When you get to MCO, go directly down to level 1 and head to DME checkin,. your bags will be grabbed by DME personel and delivered to POP.
In any case...POP is participating in SW's RAC trial. So you should be able to check your bags right at the resort.

Thanks. In the interim since I posted I called WDW again and was told the SAME thing--that POP is not available for RAC. That I'd have to handle my own bags on the way home. Weird. He said that in the past , some guests have been able to participate, but not all guests and it's random. Very weird.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by HappyCamperToo

Thanks. In the interim since I posted I called WDW again and was told the SAME thing--that POP is not available for RAC. That I'd have to handle my own bags on the way home. Weird. He said that in the past , some guests have been able to participate, but not all guests and it's random. Very weird.

Very strange indeed. AllStars have been added to the 'trial' RAC system as well. I have yet to hear of anyone at POP not being able to use RAC as of the moment. But, that's what happens when you call WDW....no telling how much actual good knowledge any given CM is going to have. And that's really too bad.

[spaddy]

Can you bring your bags over to Pop or the AllStars to check your bags if you are not staying there? We are staying at Caribbean Beach and I am concerned that all of our luggage will not fit into our rental car. Also, do you have to be signed up for ME to use the luggage service? I am not trying to break any rules, just wondering what the rules are.

Thanks.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by spaddy

Can you bring your bags over to Pop or the AllStars to check your bags if you are not staying there? We are staying at Caribbean Beach and I am concerned that all of our luggage will not fit into our rental car. Also, do you have to be signed up for ME to use the luggage service? I am not trying to break any rules, just wondering what the rules are.

Thanks.

No, you can only use the RAC counter at the resort you are staying at. You will be asked to show resort ID before using RAC.
The luggage service, RAC (remote airline checkin) is not tied to DME. You can use it if you are returning to MCO on the DME bus, by rental car or by towncar service..it doesn't matter. You just have to be flying on a 'participating' airline.
I imagine that you must have used DME to get to your resort and then rented a car..otherwise your luggage should be fine, if you had rented a car at MCO.