Bags and Later Flights

[Frozen2014]

We've been watching flights and hoping to book soon (hard to know when to pull the trigger).

There is a 7am flight and a 6pm flight.

If we end up with the 6pm flight, then in theory we could spend the morning and early afternoon a one of the parks. However, I see that check out (at Pop) is at 11am. Do resorts hold your bags for you? Or, is there a secure holding spot at one of the parks? We would still be lugging some stuff around as we'd have some valuables that we would want to keep on us.

If there is no secure place to hold your bags, then may as well go for the 7am flight. But if we could get another half day at a park (esp as we only currently have 2.5 days), then that would be a bonus. And if the parks have a spot, thatis more ideal so we wouldn't have to return to the resort to grab our bags.

 

[Mome Rath]

Depends on what you have with you; there are lockers you can rent at the parks, but you can't bring actual luggage in. If you have a participating airline, you check your checked luggage right at the hotel (if utilizing Magical Express), and then you can leave your carry-ons with bell services. Just leave enough time to get back to the hotel, and to retrieve your stuff from bell services.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks. Sorry, I should clarify...>I mean luggage. We are going on a cruise first followed by the few Disney days so guessing 3 suitcases.

We are flying back, but no special Disney travel. Do resorts typically hold them for you? We'll be at Pop if that makes a difference,

 

[AngiTN]

Bell Services holds everything. No issues. People do it every day, all day, at all resorts.

Thanks. Sorry, I should clarify...>I mean luggage. We are going on a cruise first followed by the few Disney days so guessing 3 suitcases.

We are flying back, but no special Disney travel. Do resorts typically hold them for you? We'll be at Pop if that makes a difference,

No idea what you mean about "special Disney travel" but RAC is available to anyone staying at a Disney resort flying on one of the participating airlines as long as you've got 3 hours before your flight. If you are checking bags with the airline and your airline participates, there is no reason whatsoever not to use them. Unless you need in those bags before your flight time.

 

[sponica]

Bell services/luggage assistance will hold your bags for you at the hotel.

If you're using the Disney Magical Express back to the airport, leave enough time to retrieve your bags from them.

 

[Mome Rath]

Yes, bell services will hold your luggage for you. Just allow time to retrieve them when you are making your plans.

 

[Wood Nymph]

If you are flying on an airline that participates in airline check in at your resort, then you can check your luggage that morning, have bell services hold your carry ons, then you can go into the park. You would then have to return to the resort to pick up your carry ons. If you aren't able to take advantage of airline check in, then you have bell services hold all of your bags.

There are lockers inside the park gates that you can rent to hold your carry ons if you prefer to keep some things with you.

 

[erionm]

If you are flying on a participating airline, you can check your luggage at the resort. The Resort Airline Check-In service is separate from DME and doesn't require that you use DME to get back to MCO.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

 

[AngiTN]

If you are flying on an airline that participates in airline check in at your resort, then you can check your luggage that morning, have bell services hold your carry ons, then you can go into the park. You would then have to return to the resort to pick up your carry ons. If you aren't able to take advantage of airline check in, then you have bell services hold all of your bags.

There are lockers inside the park gates that you can rent to hold your carry ons if you prefer to keep some things with you.

Just note here, these are INSIDE the park. So you go through security/bag check with them. Something to think of when you are talking about bags packed for a trip home.

 

[Frozen2014]

Bell Services holds everything. No issues. People do it every day, all day, at all resorts.

No idea what you mean about "special Disney travel" but RAC is available to anyone staying at a Disney resort flying on one of the participating airlines as long as you've got 3 hours before your flight. If you are checking bags with the airline and your airline participates, there is no reason whatsoever not to use them. Unless you need in those bags before your flight time.

Ah ok thanks. I wasn't sure the rules for using the Disney transportation or for qualifying, but we are flying back to Canada if that makes a difference. Was thinking we'd just take taxi or uber back to the airport.

 

[Frozen2014]

If you are flying on a participating airline, you can check your luggage at the resort. The Resort Airline Check-In service is separate from DME and doesn't require that you use DME to get back to MCO.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

Thanks for the link. At the moment, it would be Air Canada or WestJet, but just depends on what comes up (or if we end up flying to Buffalo for JetBlue or Soutwest or Delta from Detroit)...so probably not an option for us.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the resort can hold our luggage for us. The lockers wouldn't be big enough and we'd probably prefer to keep our valuables on us. Would need to factor in time then to return to the resort and catch taxi (or disney transportation) form there. If Pop...maybe we should plan on Epcot or HS that day? Anyways...those details can be worked out closer to fast pass time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the resort can hold our luggage for us. The lockers wouldn't be big enough and we'd probably prefer to keep our valuables on us. Would need to factor in time then to return to the resort and catch taxi (or disney transportation) form there. If Pop...maybe we should plan on Epcot or HS that day? Anyways...those details can be worked out closer to fast pass time.

Yes, bell services can hold everything for you. As a guest at Pop, you can access Disney's Magical Express bus service to take you to the airport - it's included with your WDW stay. Simply call WDW (or your TA) and have them add your departure flight info to your reservation to set up the service. If you are flying internationally, prepare to be picked up from Pop about 4 hours prior to your flight. If you leave your luggage with guest services, I would be at Pop about 30 - 45 minutes prior to DME pick-up to retrieve your luggage. If you utilize DME, you will receive your pick up time the night before check-out.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Canada is considered international travel I think. That means the Magic Express would probably schedule you for a 4 hour pickup prior to flight. Otherwise it’s 3 hours. I have checked bags at resort and gotten a boarding pass but used private transportation before. Depending on your airline that’s definitely the way to go because it saves you a ton of time at airport. And you could catch an Uber at park and head directly to airport rather than returning to hotel. But if you can’t check in bags ahead you will have to allow time to return to hotel, on either Disney bus or Uber, get bags, drive to airport, check in bags, get boarding passes and wAit in security lines. For a 6 pm flight I would leave parks no later than 230 or 3, take Uber to hotel, rebook the car immediately for the airport. The security lines in the middle of afternoon can be long.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Canada means you can’t use the airline check in for luggage at the resort. It’s the final destination that matters to them. If you’re using DME you’ll have a 4 hour pick up time if you’re flying directly into Canada but connecting through the US will give you the 3 hour window. Of course if you’re taking a ride share back to the airport that’s not an issue.

I would take the late flight and utilize bell services to hold the luggage, personally.

 

[rwdavis2]

Thanks. Sorry, I should clarify...>I mean luggage. We are going on a cruise first followed by the few Disney days so guessing 3 suitcases.

We are flying back, but no special Disney travel. Do resorts typically hold them for you? We'll be at Pop if that makes a difference,

can you use RAC (Resort airline check in). You drop off your bags and they deliver them to the airline. Depends on the airline, obviously.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

can you use RAC (Resort airline check in). You drop off your bags and they deliver them to the airline. Depends on the airline, obviously.

Domestic flights only, unfortunately. If OP chooses to fly into Buffalo or Detroit that could work, but not if they’re going direct or even connecting to Canada.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Canada is considered international travel I think. That means the Magic Express would probably schedule you for a 4 hour pickup prior to flight. Otherwise it’s 3 hours. I

You do not want the 7 AM flight, period. This flight means you would have to be ready with all your luggage by 3 AM.

 

[Frozen2014]

You do not want the 7 AM flight, period. This flight means you would have to be ready with all your luggage by 3 AM.

Lol....so true. And first day of school the very next day (going over labor day weekend and stretching our vacation as long as we can).

 

[Frozen2014]

Domestic flights only, unfortunately. If OP chooses to fly into Buffalo or Detroit that could work, but not if they’re going direct or even connecting to Canada.

Thannks. Makes sense.
Most likely we'll book out of our home city (Toronto) but keeping Buffalo and Detroit as an option for pricing. Tor to MCO is very expensive at the moment for end of next summer...but may just book in the next while....which is why I want to understand our option of a 6pm flight. Sounds like that may be better (vs getting up at 3am as in post above) and we could then utilize the 4 day Canada tickets. Will see if pricing on that one remains (vs rising up again).