Flying home after cruise on Southwest Airlines

[Maxxumuser]

We are flying home on Southwest Airlines. I understand that they are not a participating airline with DCL. My question is how is our luggage handled? We have paid for Disney transportation back to the airport. Do I have to claim it at the port and take it to the Disney bus back to MCO? Does DCL put it on the bus for us? Do I only have to worry about it once we arrive at MCO and carry it to Southwest? I have not been able to find any answers to this. Please help.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are flying home on Southwest Airlines. I understand that they are not a participating airline with DCL. My question is how is our luggage handled? We have paid for Disney transportation back to the airport. Do I have to claim it at the port and take it to the Disney bus back to MCO? Does DCL put it on the bus for us? Do I only have to worry about it once we arrive at MCO and carry it to Southwest? I have not been able to find any answers to this. Please help.

You will claim your bags in the terminal (at the port), take it through Customs, and hand it to the bus driver for placing beneath the bus for the trip to the airport. At the airport, you claim your bags from the driver, and check them in yourself at the Southwest counter.

 

[Ariel484]

We just did what @PrincessShmoo described on Saturday (well, tried to, anyway...our flight ended up getting canceled. ).

We'd paid for Early Bird Check-In to get a good boarding number, too.

 

[mmouse37]

PrincessShmoo is correct. Your bags are handled just like any other bags with DCL transfers that are not participating in the Onboard airline Check In program. Claim bags in terminal, go through customs, take to bus, driver puts under bus, check the bags in at the airport.

Another option would be to walk the bags off yourself but that can be a hassle.

MJ

 

[amanda ek]

We paid for early bird check in. You have to have it for all in your party if you want to board together. The southwest phone agent erroneously told us that we didn't have to buy it for our toddler, then the gate agent would not let her board with my husband and I. I ended up getting on and saving seats/pissing off a ton of people while waiting for them to board.
You can check in 5 hours before ur flight. We got a day room at the Hyatt and had to lug our luggage to the Hyatt, then later once we were in the 5 hour window, my husband ran down to the southwest desk and checked the bags.
Much less hassle when we flew back from our other cruise with American, but it's worth if the price is right on the southwest tickets

 

[Maxxumuser]

Thank you all for your replies. I am going to pay for the early bird boarding now. I wonder why Southwest doesn't play well with Disney, they do at the parks..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you all for your replies. I am going to pay for the early bird boarding now. I wonder why Southwest doesn't play well with Disney, they do at the parks..

Southwest and DCL did a trial last Feb. Both parties opted to not continue the process.