DME & SWA question

[sherry_car]

I just read the DME participating airline thread and it states:

"At this time, Southwest Airlines is in a test phase at Disney's Pop Century Resort ONLY. Because this is a test, it may not be available at all times. Aspects regarding this test are subject to change at any moment."

I am staying at the AKV. Would it be possible for us to drive to POP, check in with our luggage, then have my parents drive us to the airport? We are trying to avoid DME and it's long wait at the airport on our return trip, but my parents will not have room in their car for their luggage and ours.

Also, just to confirm what I read in that same thread, we will be able to use DME on the trip to AKV, and they will pick up our luggage - we won't need to pick it up and take it to the bus, correct?

Thanks for the help! This site has been the best help planning our vacation!

Sherry

 

[TheWog]

Upon your arrival you will not need to retrieve your luggage and bring it with you provided you are not arriving at MCO after 10:00 p.m. As far as going to a resort other than the one you are checked into to use the RAC service, I do not have that answer, sorry.

 

[sherry_car]

Upon your arrival you will not need to retrieve your luggage and bring it with you provided you are not arriving at MCO after 10:00 p.m. As far as going to a resort other than the one you are checked into to use the RAC service, I do not have that answer, sorry.

Thanks for such a quick answer! We are arriving in the morning, so that won't be a problem. Hopefully someone else can answer the other part of the question.

One thing I forgot to mention was that our departure date is 10/5. I realized that could be important. If it is a trial program, it could end/change before then. So another question is, when does the trial end?

Thanks!

 

[Lewisc]

SW has indicated the trial at POP went well and they are asking Disney for permission to add additional resorts. We don't know which resorts or when. I suspect the first real information will be a poster who reports seeing SW added to the sign at the RAC desk.

You can only use RAC at your resort and at least one poster said the RAC desk at POP is asking to see your resort card.

Sorry but none of us has any idea if AKL will be added prior to your trip. I'd ask at the RAC desk when you arrive. If you're lucky you'll be the poster reporting the addition of a new resort to the service.

 

[sherry_car]

SW has indicated the trial at POP went well and they are asking Disney for permission to add additional resorts. We don't know which resorts or when. I suspect the first real information will be a poster who reports seeing SW added to the sign at the RAC desk.

You can only use RAC at your resort and at least one poster said the RAC desk at POP is asking to see your resort card.

Sorry but none of us has any idea if AKL will be added prior to your trip. I'd ask at the RAC desk when you arrive. If you're lucky you'll be the poster reporting the addition of a new resort to the service.

Thanks! I guess we will plan for not having RAC available, and hope it changes before then. We still have a month to go, so I'd say there is a good chance we will be able to use it. Then again, that guy Murphy always seems to get in the way. With my luck, they will start RAC at AKL the weekend after I return home!

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks! I guess we will plan for not having RAC available, and hope it changes before then. We still have a month to go, so I'd say there is a good chance we will be able to use it. Then again, that guy Murphy always seems to get in the way. With my luck, they will start RAC at AKL the weekend after I return home!

NO, you'll see the sign go up at the same time you're trying to fit all your stuff in your rental car. Just under 3 hours before your flight so you won't be able to use RAC. At least that would be my luck.

I'd say there is a good chance some additional resorts will be added by your trip. I have no idea if all the resorts will be added.

 

[goofy4tink]

The vast majority of us are waiting and hoping for addtl resorts to be added to the SW RAC program. But, as of last Friday, the resorts were asking for your room keys when checking in with RAC. It would seem that some guests were trying to avail themselves of the service at other resorts when they couldn't use it at their resorts.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

The vast majority of us are waiting and hoping for addtl resorts to be added to the SW RAC program. But, as of last Friday, the resorts were asking for your room keys when checking in with RAC. It would seem that some guests were trying to avail themselves of the service at other resorts when they couldn't use it at their resorts.

Seriously?!

Why bother dragging your bags to another hotel just to use RAC when you might as well just drag them to the airport???????????

And thanks to the OP for asking about this... I was wondering if SW had added any more resorts yet...

 

[Lewisc]

Seriously?!

Why bother dragging your bags to another hotel just to use RAC when you might as well just drag them to the airport???????????

And thanks to the OP for asking about this... I was wondering if SW had added any more resorts yet...

At least one poster had a rental car that isn't large enough for their family and luggage. They wanted to have the driver dump the luggage at POP.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

At least one poster had a rental car that isn't large enough for their family and luggage. They wanted to have the driver dump the luggage at POP.

What will people think of next???

 

[DISNEY FIX]

The vast majority of us are waiting and hoping for addtl resorts to be added to the SW RAC program. But, as of last Friday, the resorts were asking for your room keys when checking in with RAC.

Amen Sista.

It would seem that some guests were trying to avail themselves of the service at other resorts when they couldn't use it at their resorts.

Funny, but tacky. I missed that post.

Cmon SW I leave in 30 days.....

 

[seashoreCM]

SW has indicated the trial at POP went well and they are asking Disney for permission to add additional resorts.

Hmmm. I didn't know Southwest would be asking Disney for permission. Rather I thought Disney would be asking Southwest.

 

[lustergirl]

I just read the DME participating airline thread and it states:

"At this time, Southwest Airlines is in a test phase at Disney's Pop Century Resort ONLY. Because this is a test, it may not be available at all times. Aspects regarding this test are subject to change at any moment."

I am staying at the AKV. Would it be possible for us to drive to POP, check in with our luggage, then have my parents drive us to the airport? We are trying to avoid DME and it's long wait at the airport on our return trip, but my parents will not have room in their car for their luggage and ours.

Also, just to confirm what I read in that same thread, we will be able to use DME on the trip to AKV, and they will pick up our luggage - we won't need to pick it up and take it to the bus, correct?

Thanks for the help! This site has been the best help planning our vacation!

Sherry

Sorry you luggage has to stay at what resort you are staying at!!

 

[sherry_car]

Sorry you luggage has to stay at what resort you are staying at!!

I thought that would be the case, but it never hurts to ask! It would be so much nicer to spend the extra time at DTD rather than the airport. Hopefully they will add AKV by 10/5. But I'll be prepared for it if they haven't.

 

[sherry_car]

Hmmm. I didn't know Southwest would be asking Disney for permission. Rather I thought Disney would be asking Southwest.

I'm sure it is a mutually desired thing, but once Southwest has decided to participate they would have to ask Disney to get things set up for them. It's probably more important to Southwest at this point - all other things equal, I would have picked a participating airline, not Southwest. However, going by Southwest saved us $300 and 30 minutes driving to the airport each way. That trumped checking bags at our hotel.

 

[sherry_car]

Funny, but tacky. I missed that post.

Cmon SW I leave in 30 days.....

It may be tacky (I have to agree about that), but I'm not above being tacky to save myself time at the airport with a 4 year old. Or to save my parents from making 2 round trips to the airport. It would be MUCH easier to drop the bags at POP. But unfortunately "they" won't let me be tacky!