DME on Departure Day for Later Flghts

[bwbuddy5]

Our flight out of MCO on departure day is not until around 7pm. So, what do we do with our luggage for those extra hours between checkout time and DME pickup? Also, we’ll probably hit a park for a few hours on departure day, we just have to make sure we’re back at our resort by pickup time, correct? Flying Southwest, if that matters.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Use RAC for any checked bags, and leave carry one with bell services.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yeah, either use RAC, or just leave all of your bags with Bell Services and retrieve them before boarding DME.

Just a reminder that RAC hours are currently 4am-12pm.

 

[AngiTN]

We always fly out on the latest possible flight, want to get as much time in at Disney as we can.
We always plan to sleep in on check out day, leaving the room just before 11:00, dropping bags at RAC.
We call for Lyft or Uber, with our carry on bags, and head to Epcot. We store our carry on bags in the luggage lockers near the buses and then call for Uber back to MCO right from Epcot.
If we were leaving from the resort we'd just leave our carry on bags with Bell Services.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Is there some reason you won't be using RAC for your checked luggage that day?
As for carry on luggage you can check it with bell services but you'll have to make sure you return in time to retrieve it prior to your DME pick up time.

 

[GusGusTheMouse]

We had a similar timeline this past November. Decided to go to MK in the morning on a non-party day and checked our carry-on luggage with bell services at the hotel. BEWARE though - we stayed too long at the park and barely made it back due to a delay in the buses. When we finally got back to the hotel, the DME driver was closing the bus doors. Fortunately, we had the best bell hop ever help us throw our bags into the bus and made it to the gate with way too much time to spare!

 

[bwbuddy5]

Great ideas, we're a party of 9 which complicates transportation a but I can't imagine NOT using RAC.

 

[Dug720]

Maybe they don’t have checked luggage? Not everyone wants to deal with that hassle and potentially lost bags.

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe they don’t have checked luggage? Not everyone wants to deal with that hassle and potentially lost bags.

That and not everyone gets free bags so they avoid checking if they can.

Though I gotta say, I tried 1 trip with only carry on bags and bless those that can do that. I'd rather risk lost bags (that's what insurance is for) than deal with trying to pack that puzzle ever again. Not to mention hauling it all through the airport myself, loading on the plane, etc. That was a hassle, let me tell you. Never, ever again. Thankfully, we have free bags on any airline we fly. Maybe if we did 2 days or something but not for any trip of 5+ days, not me.

 

[Dug720]

That and not everyone gets free bags so they avoid checking if they can.

Though I gotta say, I tried 1 trip with only carry on bags and bless those that can do that. I'd rather risk lost bags (that's what insurance is for) than deal with trying to pack that puzzle ever again. Not to mention hauling it all through the airport myself, loading on the plane, etc. That was a hassle, let me tell you. Never, ever again. Thankfully, we have free bags on any airline we fly. Maybe if we did 2 days or something but not for any trip of 5+ days, not me.

I think the OP is on Southwest, so no fees. (However, I have now known three people who have had their bags lost on Southwest from Orlando on non-stop flights, so...maybe you get what you pay for - or don't. They messed me up twice for over 5 hours each time for ELECTIVE stuff, so I refuse to use them anymore.)

 

[SharonZ]

I don't think that lost bags are exclusive to Southwest. You run that risk with any airlines.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think that lost bags are exclusive to Southwest. You run that risk with any airlines.

Agree. I've had United lose bags on a direct flight, I've had American shred a hard-side bag, etc.

 

[bwbuddy5]

And, considering with SW credit card promotion, I'm flying almost my whole party for free, I could live with some luggage problems. I've actually never had problems with them.

 

[Dug720]

I don't think that lost bags are exclusive to Southwest. You run that risk with any airlines.

True. But on non-stop flights where there is nowhere early for the luggage to get off, THAT is an issue.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

True. But on non-stop flights where there is nowhere early for the luggage to get off, THAT is an issue.

Hell, United lost my friend's DOG on a non-stop.

 

[Dug720]

Hell, United lost my friend's DOG on a non-stop.

I get it. I am weird for despising Southwest. But being stranded for over 5 hours twice because they elected to do non-mandatory things? No thank you. I will skip a vacation before I ever give them a cent again.

 

[bwbuddy5]

I get it. I am weird for despising Southwest. But being stranded for over 5 hours twice because they elected to do non-mandatory things? No thank you. I will skip a vacation before I ever give them a cent again.

Who are your preferred carriers?

 

[Dug720]

Who are your preferred carriers?

Pretty much any that are not Southwest. I like knowing where I'm sitting before I buy my ticket.

 

[Shanti]

True. But on non-stop flights where there is nowhere early for the luggage to get off, THAT is an issue.

An issue that can and does happen with any airline. Lost bags, delays, and cancellations are endemic to them all.

 

[goofy4tink]

Drop any checked bags with RAC in the morning, before you head out for the day. They will check your bags and give you your boarding passes. You can give Bell Services any carry on bags you may have at this time too. For a 7pm flight, your p/u time will be around 3ish. So be back at the resort, bags in hand, at the bus stop ready to go, no later than 15 mins prior to your stated p/u time.