Early bird check in SWA and Disney

[jennilouwho]

We haven't been on a plane in about 5 years and even then, I don't think it was Southwest. We are going to WDW next month and I got our family early bird check-in. Is there anything I need to do before I leave with that or just show up at the airport? What about at the resort to get back on Magical Express, what do I do if I have EBC? Just hand over the bags and say we are checked in already? Thanks!

 

[Pattil1960]

If you are taking the Magical Express to Disney World, you will get tags for your luggage and you luggage will "magically" appear in your room. Be sure to have your magic band on or in your carry on for easy check in at the counter. Early check in with Southwest means that when you get your boarding passes you will be toward the front of the line.

 

[mommyrosa2]

We haven't been on a plane in about 5 years and even then, I don't think it was Southwest. We are going to WDW next month and I got our family early bird check-in. Is there anything I need to do before I leave with that or just show up at the airport? What about at the resort to get back on Magical Express, what do I do if I have EBC? Just hand over the bags and say we are checked in already? Thanks!

You will still need your boarding passes so you need to print them before you leave for the airport unless you plan to do that at the airport . The nice thing about EBC is that SW will check you in so you don't have to worry about printing them exactly 24 hrs in advance for fear you"ll get stuck with a latter boarding number.

As for your flight home, you can ask concierge or someone at the front desk to print your passes. Unless there is a do it yourself kiosk at your hotel (AKL used to have this last we stayed there). HTH

 

[iScrap]

We haven't been on a plane in about 5 years and even then, I don't think it was Southwest. We are going to WDW next month and I got our family early bird check-in. Is there anything I need to do before I leave with that or just show up at the airport? What about at the resort to get back on Magical Express, what do I do if I have EBC? Just hand over the bags and say we are checked in already? Thanks!

You can still "check in" online and print your boarding passes at home if you would like (after the 24 hour mark) or they can print them at the airport when you check your bags.

For the return trip, we received printouts of our boarding passes with our checkout receipt (this was 2 years ago at the Beach Club and we were using Magical Express for transportation to and from the airport) that was put under the door in the morning and we checked our bags at a kiosk at the hotel before heading out to Epcot for the morning. We never had to deal with our luggage again until we landed. It was magical and wonderful.

 

[francie57]

As others have said, the day before you leave go onto the Southwest site and check-in and print your boarding passes. When you get to the airport you will just have to check your luggage. As for the return flight, go to the airline desk at the resort and they will check your luggage for your and print out your boarding passes (will have to have all people present and have your ID with you). Your luggage will be taken to the airport and you don't have to worry about it until you arrive at your home airport. After you check your luggage you can leave any carry-ons with bell service and then just get them back before boarding the ME. We go to the airline desk early in the morning, leave our luggage, get our boarding passes and then head to a park for the day until we have to get back to leave for the airport. Its really easy and so much better than having to get to MCO and stand in line to check your luggage there.

 

[jennilouwho]

Thank you so much everyone! I appreciate the help! 5 1/2 weeks to go....

 

[Kristie911]

Can you check in and NOT print your boarding passes? I will have to check in using my phone, probably while in park before our flight home.

If I check in, can I still get my passes printed later at the hotel or at the airport?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Can you check in and NOT print your boarding passes? I will have to check in using my phone, probably while in park before our flight home.

If I check in, can I still get my passes printed later at the hotel or at the airport?

Yes you can check in using your phone and then when you return to your resort you can go to the front desk and ask them to print them for you. Just give them your confirmation numbers. I have done this before and had no troubles.


OP wanted to mention another poster mention that you to check your luggage at the RAC (resort airline checking) desk at your Disney resort. I wanted to mention that this desk is only open till 1:00 p.m. Here is a link to more info regarding this service.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

 

[Allison]

If you are taking the Magical Express to Disney World, you will get tags for your luggage and you luggage will "magically" appear in your room. Be sure to have your magic band on or in your carry on for easy check in at the counter. Early check in with Southwest means that when you get your boarding passes you will be toward the front of the line.

Caveat-Your luggage is delivered to your room if your flight arrives before 10 pm. Otherwise you need to pick it up yourself.

 

[sue Z]

having just flown southwest in July, having the convenience of having the southwest app on my phone allowed me to use my phone as my boarding pass did all my checking in on my phone I didn't purchase EBCI on my departing flight to Kansas City as it was a non stop flight , from Logan, I was in the higher A section and with my return flight since it there was a transfer I did purchase EBCI and was still in the higher A group Was so convient not having to worry about my boarding pass !!

 

[jennilouwho]

Thanks all! Yes, we get in late afternoon and we are leaving on Magical Express in the morning, so we won't be at the parks the last day :-(

 

[beccasmom]

On our July trip we had an 11:30am return flight on SWA and also had EBCI. We used RAC at the resort since our bus pick-up was 8:30 am. I knew we were already checked in, but was unsure if we would get our boarding passes at the RAC desk, but we did, so that made our airport trip a lot easier. We were prepared to print them at the airport, which also does not take much time.

 

[squeegee]

Can you check in and NOT print your boarding passes? I will have to check in using my phone, probably while in park before our flight home. If I check in, can I still get my passes printed later at the hotel or at the airport?

Just flew southwest last week - you can now have your boarding pass emailed to you or texted to you and not mess with a printout at all. They'll scan the boarding pass barcode on your phone. Worked really well.