Airline Luggage Fees Question

[barbaraann]

I am flying United from Chicago to Orlando and using Magical Express. I understand the procedure going, much better than I do returning back to the airport and flying back home. My return flight is not until 5:45 p.m in the evening. I figured, that I could spend the morning in the MK, and I understand about the 3 hour window in being boarded on to the Magical Express Bus back to the Orlando Airport. What I don't understand is what I should/can do with my luggage.

I know that I can leave it with Bell Services, and they will hold it for me while I play in the parks. However, what if I want to check my luggage, and get my boarding pass, and I need to pay fees. How does one go about paying fees, and where does one go to pay those fees? Is it all taken care of at one place?

Any and all help would be appreciated. I am not flying until early February, but I'm trying to get all this straight in my head.

 

[bumbershoot]

Using RAC for your bags going home (Resort Airline Checkin or something like that) means you call the number the night before and pay the airline's luggage fees.

Then in the morning before you go off and play, drop your checked luggage off with RAC. It goes off and you go play for a bit. Then you'll want to be back at your resort, waiting and 100% ready for the bus by 2:30. So if you're leaving carryon bags at Bell Services, you need to get back with enough time to retrieve those before 2:30.

 

[purple figment]

RAC closes at 1:00 PM so you will need to check in your bags before going to the park.

 

[sam_gordon]

Using RAC for your bags going home (Resort Airline Checkin or something like that) means you call the number the night before and pay the airline's luggage fees.

Then in the morning before you go off and play, drop your checked luggage off with RAC. It goes off and you go play for a bit. Then you'll want to be back at your resort, waiting and 100% ready for the bus by 2:30. So if you're leaving carryon bags at Bell Services, you need to get back with enough time to retrieve those before 2:30.

Please ignore these times. You will be assigned a pickup time and notified at least the day before your leave. You need to be ready to get on the bus (carry on bags collected, bathroom breaks done, last minute shopping done, etc) at least 15 minutes before that pickup time.

Your assigned pickup time will be three hours before your flight, plus/minus 15 minutes, so based on your 5:45pm departure, your assigned pickup time will be between 2:30 & 3pm.

As PP said, RAC closes at 1pm, so you'll have to have your bags checked before 1pm.

 

[barbaraann]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. Normally, I carry my bags onto the plane, and I do not check them. However, I would like to know the procedure just in case I change my mind.

New question. What time does the RAC open. I read something about 5 a.m.

 

[Jimsig]

From the WDW site:

To pay any applicable airline baggage fees prior to visiting the Resort Airline Check-In desk, please contact Baggage Airline Guest Services at (407) 284-1231 between 5:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

New question. What time does the RAC open. I read something about 5 a.m.

From MouseSavers:
The Resort Airline Check-In desk daily operating hours are 5:00 am to 1:00 pm

 

[barbaraann]

Thanks for this information. I am going to program that phone number into my cell phone, just in case I need it.

 

[NYCANC]

I paid the baggage fee directly at RAC when I dropped off the bag. She asked if I paid already online and I said no- and I just gave her my cc and paid for it.
We dropped off our carry-on bags with Bell Services early before our bkfast ADR- they gave me a ticket for the bags. Then I walked outside to RAC (at CR)- dropped off my bag with them, paid the fee and was on my way to enjoy a good part of the day.

 

[barbaraann]

Sometimes procedures like these can change from day to day. I just want to have a general idea of what I might expect. Usually, I ask a lot of questions once I arrive, so that I am prepared ahead of time, for what I might, or might not face.

 

[karly05]

For whatever it's worth: Over the last 4 trips (the solos), I'm about half-and-half as far as whether I've called the BAGS number on my confirmation sheet with my DME pickup time, or whether I've just taken my bags to the RAC desk and paid the fees there. Last trip I called BAGS the night before and couldn't get them to answer the phone; it was no problem to pay at RAC in the morning.

 

[Disney Bachelor]

If RAC opens at 5 a.m., is it safe to assume that bell services can store my carry-on that early in the morning too? I'm not planning on checking any luggage next trip, but I will want to have them store my carry-on while I head to Magic Kingdom for Morning EMH on my checkout day. I want to checkout and leave my resort (ASM) by 7 a.m. Is Bell Services open that early? (I'll be returning to resort later to catch my DME bus at around 2pm)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Bell Services (Luggage Assistance at the Values) is staffed 24/7, although at the Values the CMs don't transport luggage to from the rooms between 10 or midnight, and six AM.

 

[Disney Bachelor]

Bell Services (Luggage Assistance at the Values) is staffed 24/7, although at the Values the CMs don't transport luggage to from the rooms between 10 or midnight, and six AM.

Thanks. That's great to know.