Can someone please explain the Resort Baggage Check in?

[SkcMom]

I've heard people mention being able to check your bags at your resort before leaving to go back to the airport. Our flight doesn't leave until 6:30pm so I would really like to be able to use this service. If it matters we are flying with Airtran. TIA!

 

[aubriee]

I also fly Air Tran. Love them!

The day before you check out you will receive the DME envelope on your door. In it is a letter giving you your pick up time (about three hours before your flight--in your case about 3:30pm). At the bottom of that letter is the number to call if you are checking bags. Call it, tell them how many bags you are checking, give them your credit card number to pay the baggage fees ($15.00/bag), and they will give you a confirmation number. Early the next morning run your bags down to luggage services where the DME desk is located. Give them your IDs (so they can print your boarding passes) and the confirmation number showing you have paid your baggage fees. They will take your bags, weigh them, print your boarding passes, and stick your luggage claim tags onto the boarding pass envelope. If you have any carry ons take them over to the luggage service person and they will hold them for you until you pick them up when you catch your DME bus. They will also give you a claims ticket. Your checked bags will go on to the airport and you won't see them until you get to your home airport that night. You can then go on to the parks. Arrive back at your resort at least 15 minutes prior to pick up time, go to baggage services, claim your carry ons, show either the letter you got the night before that showed your pick up time or else the travel voucher from the DME booklet you got before you left home to the DME bus driver then just hop on the DME bus. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your pick up time, as the time shown on your DME letter is the time the bus is scheduled to depart your resort, and they do sometimes leave early. If you miss your assigned bus, Disney is under no obligation to get you to the airport, so be sure to leave plenty of time to claim any carryons you might have. In your case I'd make sure I was back to claim my carryons by at least 3:00pm. When you get to the airport, you can go straight through security and to your gate. Your checked bags will be waiting for you at your home airport. From the time you turn them in at the DME desk at your resort that morning until you get home that night you will not have to see or deal with them.

 

[Tozzie]

The RAC Counters are open from 5 AM to 1PM . Just take your luggage that you are checking, after paying the fees by phone (there will be a flyer in your room or delivered to your door that explains how) , to the RAC desk bring your ID and they will check your bags in. It is curbside check in 30 miles from the airport. You do not have to be using DME to use the service and your bags must be completely checked in at least 3 hrs before your flight.

I know some airlines charge less to pay for your bags on line, don't do this for your return trip. If you check in on line and pay the bag fees to the airline the RAC desk is locked out and can't take your bags (learned this the hard way) It is a great service and super easy to use.

 

[DebbieB]

I used it at BWV for Delta last month. We had a rental car so we were not using DME. We just took our luggage to the desk and it worked just like curbside check-in. I am a Delta Medallion member so I didn't have to pay luggage fees. We did tip $1 per bag. It was really convenient not having to drag our luggage from the rental car return.

 

[paras4ri]

I used it at BWV for Delta last month. We had a rental car so we were not using DME. We just took our luggage to the desk and it worked just like curbside check-in. I am a Delta Medallion member so I didn't have to pay luggage fees. We did tip $1 per bag. It was really convenient not having to drag our luggage from the rental car return.

I thought we could still use it if we're not using ME - thanks for clarifiying for me.

 

[n2mm]

Yes, this is a great perk and we love it. We used it for every trip and are still avoiding return flights on SW because they don't participate at ALL of the resorts (just some the values).

As mentioned by DebbieB, this is "curb side" service and these folks are NOT Disney CMs. They do expect to be tipped for this service. We generally tip $1.50 - $2.00 per bag. We don't use DME, but do use RAC (resort airline checkin).

 

[dburg30]

I thought we could still use it if we're not using ME - thanks for clarifiying for me.

Yep sure can!

I think this has been brought up before but cant remember the answer, and while it would take a little bit of cash for a cab, but if you are flying SW, since RAC is separtate from DME, could you take a cab with your bags to a participating resort (til they go 'worldwide') and check your bags at Pop or all stars?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Can't do it. Guests can only check in for Magical Express at the resort out of which they're checking, and board the bus only at that same resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

Can't do it. Guests can only check in for Magical Express at the resort out of which they're checking, and board the bus only at that same resort.

Color me confused..but who the heck said anything about using a different resort or taking a different bus??? Did I miss something?

 

[PoohsFan1]

I agree with everyone else, this service is really great and very easy to do....just as long as you paid your baggage fees before hand and have your confirmation number with you to show the RAC clerks. We used this service for the first time in December and we plan on doing this from here on out (DH loves the fact that you give the clerks your checked bags and you don't see them until you get to your home airport).

Oh and thank you for mentioning about the tip thing. I had no idea that RAC was not part of Disney (but I guess I should since ME is not Disney either....Doh ). In December we gave them our luggage but failed to give them a tip and we are usually good about doing so. Oh well, you live and learn for the next time

 

[dburg30]

Can't do it. Guests can only check in for Magical Express at the resort out of which they're checking, and board the bus only at that same resort.

Color me confused..but who the heck said anything about using a different resort or taking a different bus??? Did I miss something?

I asked about taking a cab to Pop to check my bags via RAC when using SW (if they arent a full participating airline by Oct)..
Not DME, but RAC...

I mean, since they are totally separate, and RAC is just curbside checkin 30 miles away, it really shouldnt matter correct?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Color me confused..but who the heck said anything about using a different resort or taking a different bus??? Did I miss something?

dburg, right above me. No? Okay, not bus - but checking in luggage at a resort where you didn't stay. No.

disclaimer: please see my 'caffeine' thread on the Community Board

 

[SkcMom]

I also fly Air Tran. Love them!

The day before you check out you will receive the DME envelope on your door. In it is a letter giving you your pick up time (about three hours before your flight--in your case about 3:30pm). At the bottom of that letter is the number to call if you are checking bags. Call it, tell them how many bags you are checking, give them your credit card number to pay the baggage fees ($15.00/bag), and they will give you a confirmation number. Early the next morning run your bags down to luggage services where the DME desk is located. Give them your IDs (so they can print your boarding passes) and the confirmation number showing you have paid your baggage fees. They will take your bags, weigh them, print your boarding passes, and stick your luggage claim tags onto the boarding pass envelope. If you have any carry ons take them over to the luggage service person and they will hold them for you until you pick them up when you catch your DME bus. They will also give you a claims ticket. Your checked bags will go on to the airport and you won't see them until you get to your home airport that night. You can then go on to the parks. Arrive back at your resort at least 15 minutes prior to pick up time, go to baggage services, claim your carry ons, show either the letter you got the night before that showed your pick up time or else the travel voucher from the DME booklet you got before you left home to the DME bus driver then just hop on the DME bus. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your pick up time, as the time shown on your DME letter is the time the bus is scheduled to depart your resort, and they do sometimes leave early. If you miss your assigned bus, Disney is under no obligation to get you to the airport, so be sure to leave plenty of time to claim any carryons you might have. In your case I'd make sure I was back to claim my carryons by at least 3:00pm. When you get to the airport, you can go straight through security and to your gate. Your checked bags will be waiting for you at your home airport. From the time you turn them in at the DME desk at your resort that morning until you get home that night you will not have to see or deal with them.

Thanks you SO very much for your insightful post! I so appreciate it!! I am going to print out your post and take it with me so I will have a "play by play"!

 

[AppleSister1]

I agree with everyone else, this service is really great and very easy to do....just as long as you paid your baggage fees before hand and have your confirmation number with you to show the RAC clerks. We used this service for the first time in December and we plan on doing this from here on out (DH loves the fact that you give the clerks your checked bags and you don't see them until you get to your home airport).

Oh and thank you for mentioning about the tip thing. I had no idea that RAC was not part of Disney (but I guess I should since ME is not Disney either....Doh ). In December we gave them our luggage but failed to give them a tip and we are usually good about doing so. Oh well, you live and learn for the next time

Ditto on the tip thing...I didn't do it either and now feel badly! Live and learn....

 

[n2mm]

Ditto on the tip thing...I didn't do it either and now feel badly! Live and learn....

Don't feel too bad. I always add the tipping advice to these threads, because I also did not know when it first began. The first time I used it it was at the BWV and since the BAGs rep was standing behind the counter, it never occurred to me. Then someone posted the info I mentioned above and I too felt like a dope! Once you realize they are the same thing as curb side at the airport, but at your resort, then you realize, oh yea, we need to tip them too.

I also wondered about driving to a Pop to check my bags, but figured it wouldn't work, though whenever I use RAC at a resort, they never ask me if I stayed there or to show my KTTW card. I'm just not brave enough to do it. Hopefully SW will become "world" wide this year and it won't even be an issue.

 

[goofy4tink]

I asked about taking a cab to Pop to check my bags via RAC when using SW (if they arent a full participating airline by Oct)..
Not DME, but RAC...

I mean, since they are totally separate, and RAC is just curbside checkin 30 miles away, it really shouldnt matter correct?

dburg, right above me. No? Okay, not bus - but checking in luggage at a resort where you didn't stay. No.

disclaimer: please see my 'caffeine' thread on the Community Board

Sorry....I didn't bother reading dburg30's post...figured there wasn't any need. Dopey me. Sorry kaytieeldr, I should have known better than to question you.

And no...you can't go to another resort and check your bags with RAC. In fact, a lot of the RAC people will ask to see your room key, in order to be sure you are staying at that resort. Sure would be nice if SW started participating at the other resorts..not just the values.

 

[dburg30]

Sorry....I didn't bother reading dburg30's post...figured there wasn't any need. Dopey me. Sorry kaytieeldr, I should have known better than to question you.

And no...you can't go to another resort and check your bags with RAC. In fact, a lot of the RAC people will ask to see your room key, in order to be sure you are staying at that resort. Sure would be nice if SW started participating at the other resorts..not just the values.

LOL I dont know how to feel about that statement Guess most of my replies are pointless so you dont even read them

The only reason I asked was since it's open to 'any resort guest on a participating airline' or at least that's my way of looking at it, that it may be allowed. Granted I really HOPE by Oct they are full participating. I have a feeling if they arent full by then, they probably wont be in a trial anymore either, so it wouldnt matter

 

[Missytara]

I also wondered about driving to a Pop to check my bags, but figured it wouldn't work, though whenever I use RAC at a resort, they never ask me if I stayed there or to show my KTTW card. I'm just not brave enough to do it. Hopefully SW will become "world" wide this year and it won't even be an issue.

At POR, they have always asked me for my KTTW card at the RAC. This year I stayed at SSR, and they didn't. But it was extremely crowded when we left this year because we left right at check-out - I had two slow-pokes with me this year. I am usually at the RAC desk at 6:00 am.

 

[n2mm]

At POR, they have always asked me for my KTTW card at the RAC. This year I stayed at SSR, and they didn't. But it was extremely crowded when we left this year because we left right at check-out - I had two slow-pokes with me this year. I am usually at the RAC desk at 6:00 am.

Interesting. I used RAC this year at: BWV-Jan; BCV-May; VWL-July; BCV-Aug; BWV-Oct; and BWV-Dec in 2009 and no one has ever asked me for my KTTC, but I always assumed that when I gave them my picture ID there was a way to check then. I would never try to take my luggage to another resort because I always make sure that the airline I fly home on is a RAC participating airline. Flying out of Dulles gives me LOTs of options. Generally we fly down on SW but home on Jetblue or United. I would think that the value resorts would be checking since it is exclusive to them right now.