HELP! Confused about SW and DME

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

From what I have been reading here SW is now doing RAC at the POP. Also I have read that when you check in at the Welcome Center at the airport they will get your information and then they will automatically check you in at the 24 hour mark for your departure. They will print off your boarding passes and deliver them to your room prior to check out.

Am I wrong on this????

I emailed my DU agent to verify and this is the response I got:

You will need to go to the front desk and ask them to check you in
for your flights. It may depend on how busy they are if they can do this
for you. It is not done automatically. If you are concerned about sitting
together you might want to consider early bird check in with Southwest. It
is a service you can pay for where they check you in.

I am hearing conflicting reports of what resorts are participating in Resort
check in with Southwest. You can ask at the Welcome Desk at Orlando
International when you arrive. They will be able to give you the best up to
the minute information.

So according to this Pop may not even be a participating resort with RAC & SW and they will not check me in at the 24 hour mark.

I am flying alone with 3 kids under 10 so I want a decent boarding pass so we can sit together. I don't want to pay an extra $40 though. MY DH can check us in at home at the 24 hour mark if need be but I just want to be sure one way or the other.

TIA!!

 

[goofy4tink]

To the best of my knowledge, the value resorts (Pop and the AllStars) were the first resorts to test RAC and SW. Now, SW is considered as 'participating' at the vast majority of resorts. I believe there may be two that aren't online yet due to not having enough luggage storage space.
But, you will be able to use RAC at POP. Checkin at the DME counter when you arrive at MCO. They will give you all the info you need. When you check into POP, ask them about SW and RAC. I can't imagine why Pop would stop allowing RAC and SW to be used together..just isn't going to happen.

 

[clanmcculloch]

DME will NOT check you in for your return flight. That info was flat out wrong.

IF you pay for EBCI and you're registered for DME then I believe you'll end up with your boarding pass delivered with your return DME passes, but I believe that's only if you pay for EBCI. You don't want to pay for EBCI so I wouldn't expect to get your BPs with your DME info. It's possible that they'll go to print them off regardless but I wouldn't count on them doing it right at T-24. They'd likely do everybody's in a big batch all at one time.

The RAC desk will print your boarding passes when you check in your luggage if you'd like. If your DH checks you in at T-24 then this is an easy way to get your boarding passes. If he checks you in right at T-24 then it should be very easy to get your seats together.

Pop was the very first resort to be participating with RAC.

 

[Jestocost]

DME will NOT check you in for your return flight. That info was flat out wrong.

I personally have not seen enough evidence that the process is reliable enough that I would rely on it, but many reports do indicate that RAC is checking in SWA passengers at or shortly after the 24-hour mark if they used the DME bus transfers on their way to WDW. Those with a.m. flights apparently are getting their BPs on their doors the night before along with temporary luggage tags.

 

[Lewisc]

RAC is getting BP at (or shortly after) T-24 for some SW passengers. I think the PP is correct, only done if the passenger used DME arriving.

Since this service isn't being promoted or promised I wouldn't rely on it. Either pay for EBCI or check in at T-24. Good chance RAC beat you to it but you can't count on it.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Thank you everyone. I thought it was odd that she didn't think the RAC was available at Pop since it's been there the longest. I will have DH check us in and if RAC beats him great, if not at least I can get seats together. Thanks!