Flying Southwest and using Magical Express (??)

[Miss Ang]

We flew Southwest 2 years ago and we had to retrieve our own luggage at the airport and bring it to the Magical Express bus that was waiting. Do you still have to do that?

Next question, if Southwest is now included in Disney's luggage pick up, *CAN* you pick up your own luggage anyway and bring it the the Magical Express bus? I don't really want to have to wait on our luggage to be delivered to our room at an undetermined time. But I don't want to commit a massive Disney faux pas either.

Thanks!

 

[sue Z]

you can pick up your luggage and just bring it with you on the bus just dont add the luggage tags you will get from DME. I too will be flying southwest this Sept and if I forget to call and get a 2nd luggage tag I will have to go get my luggage for the bus

 

[PoohGal05]

 

[Big Willie]

No...if you fly Southwest you DO NOT have to pick up your bags if you attach the appropriate tags.

Yes...you may choose to pick up your bags (even though Disney will do it for you) and bring them to the bus. Remember to NOT ATTACH the yellow luggage tags.

We always fly Southwest and we always handle our own bags. In the current environment I dislike carry-on luggage. So, we pack everything and check it (hey, Southwest allows two bags FREE!). Once at the resort if the room s not ready we leave them at Bag Services.

 

[PoohGal05]

We used Southwest Airlines last year. ME picked up our bags and delivered them to our hotel. I am guessing that if you don't use the ME bags, you would have to claim your own luggage at baggage claim and take it on the bus on your own.

 

[Miss Ang]

Thanks! I think we will go ahead and leave the tags off so we can transport our own luggage once we arrive in Orlando. But I'm going to stick them in the bag and use them for the ride home so we won't have to mess with hauling them back into the airport. I appreciate the quick help!

 

[Alesia]

Thanks! I think we will go ahead and leave the tags off so we can transport our own luggage once we arrive in Orlando. But I'm going to stick them in the bag and use them for the ride home so we won't have to mess with hauling them back into the airport. I appreciate the quick help!

NO! Do not put those tags on your bags when you leave WDW! Your bags will go right back to your hotel.

You will need to check your bags at the RAC desk. It is completely separate from ME. Your bags must be checked in no less than 3 hours before your flight, and the desk opens at 5:00, so if your flight is before 8:45ish you won't be able to use it.

 

[seashoreCM]

There was never an overall requirement on any airline to go to the carousel to pick up baggage before going to the Magical Express welcoming area.

But recently the requirement was imposed for all airlines for you to go to the carousels if you arrive in Orlando after 10 PM.

Remove the yellow tags from baggage before going home.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay...here's the thing. You never had to get your own luggage at MCO. You could have used the DME luggage tags....it worked with any airline, including SW. What you couldn't do, back then, was check your bags at the RAC counter and have them taken back to MCO on your departure day. That service was only for 'participating airlines'..had nothing to do with DME. But, that is not the case now with SW.

Yes, you can get your own bags and bring them to the bus with you. Do not tag them and be prepared to tip the driver. Any time someone touches your bags, they will expect a tip. The DME policy of no tipping is not in force if you bring bags to the bus.
For your return, DME (and the yellow tags) have nothing to do with your checked bags. If you choose to check your bags with the RAC service, you need to think of it as curbside service...just a loooong way from the curb. It is the exact same thing as checking in at the airport. You do not put any DME tags on those bags. The tags are only for checked bags being picked up by DME upone their arrival at MCO and disbursement to WDW resorts on arrival day.
If you put those yellow tags on your bags, on departure day, they may wind up back at your resort instead of going home.
Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Miss Ang]

Ok, I haven't actually seen these yellow tags. When I went before I flew Southwest we were told that DME would not pick up our bags at the airport when we arrived in Orlando nor would DME pick up our bags at the resort and return them to the airport. We had to handle our own luggage on the DME bus by giving them to the driver when we boarded DME bus at the airport and giving them to the driver when he picked us up at our resort to return home. DME did not handle our bags.

Now my documents seem to have all been lost in the mail (spoke to my travel agent this morning) because everything should have arrived by now (including our luggage tags).

But thanks for all the advice here. I appreciate it.

 

[Jestocost]

Ok, I haven't actually seen these yellow tags. When I went before I flew Southwest we were told that DME would not pick up our bags at the airport when we arrived in Orlando nor would DME pick up our bags at the resort and return them to the airport. We had to handle our own luggage on the DME bus by giving them to the driver when we boarded DME bus at the airport and giving them to the driver when he picked us up at our resort to return home. DME did not handle our bags.

Now my documents seem to have all been lost in the mail (spoke to my travel agent this morning) because everything should have arrived by now (including our luggage tags).

But thanks for all the advice here. I appreciate it.

As previously noted, you were misinformed. SWA passengers and all incoming passengers have always been able to use all inbound DME services including luggage transfer. For a few years SWA did not participate in the RAC service, which allows you to check bags and get boarding passes at your resort on your way home, but they have been a participant in RAC for some time now.

If you're not using the inbound luggage transfer service you will not need the tags. As long as you do have a reservation with DME, the worst that can happen now is that you won't be able to bypass the DME desk (which isn't always possible regardless) before getting into the bus lines.

 

[goofy4tink]

Get in touch with your TA and have her/him talk to DME and have another set sent out!!! They should be able to get another set out to you. Looks like you've been gettting crappy info all over the place. Your TA would have been the one to get the DME packet. THey would, ini turn, get it to you. DME should be able to get a replacement packet out.

This is why I book all my own travel...I seldom use a TA for anything now. When using a TA, they own the reservation until you checkin. Which means you can't talk to anyone...the TA has to do all the talking. Drives me nuts.