If you fly Southwest how does Magical Express work?

[chipper10]

I think we might fly southwest for the first time for our trip in Feb. And I saw that Southwest is not one of the airlines for ME....So can you still do ME? Or would it be best to get a town car? What are my options? Thanks!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

Participating airline only applies to the return flight, meaning that you can check your bags and get your return boarding pass at your resort.

For the arrival flight everything is the same regardless of the airline. If you want your luggage transported to your room use the luggage tags. Arrive at MCO and head straight to the ME desk, check in and board the bus to the resort. Your luggage will be delivered to your room sometime that day.

For the return to MCO you have to bring your luggage on the DME bus and check in same as always.

Here is a great thread that explains the participating airline feature of ME from this board:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=944813

TJ

 

[speedyf]

We flew Southwest back in June and it pretty much works the same way as any other airline on your trip into Orlando.

You receive your luggage tags and attach them to your luggage. You check in your luggage at the airport just as you normally would do. When you arrive in Orlando, follow the CM's with the big Mickey hand to the ME loading area. Your luggage is taken care of and you don't have to worry about going to baggage claim. They deliver your bags to your room.

The difference is on the trip back home. With a partner airline, you can check your luggage at your Disney resort and they take care of the luggage again for your flight home.

With Southwest, you bring your luggage with you to wait for the ME bus. When the bus arrives, the driver loads your luggage onto that bus. When the bus gets to the airport, the driver unloads your luggage. You are then responsible for bringing your luggage to the Southwest check-in counter and checking in your own luggage.

Another tip....on your departure date, go down to the reservations desk at your Disney resort. Ask them to check you in on the Southwest airline website. They can usually check you in and print your boarding passes. This way you will probably get an "A" boarding pass. We did this through the concierge desk at Port Orleans Riverside.

Speed

 

[chipper10]

Ok, great. I'm glad to see that it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I think we might fly southwest for the first time for our trip in Feb. And I saw that Southwest is not one of the airlines for ME....So can you still do ME? Or would it be best to get a town car? What are my options? Thanks!!!

All airlines "participate" in Disney's Magical Express. Actually, there is no such thing as a participating airlines list for the overall Magical Express service -- because the airline doesn't need to do anything special for Magical Express.

There is an optional feature called Resort Airline Check-in to allow you to check your luggage directly from your WDW resort all the way to our home airport. Resort Airline Check-in only applies on the day that you fly home. A limited number of airlines participate in Resort Airline Check-in. But, again, you can use the complimentary motor coach transportation for yourself and your luggage regardless of which airline you fly.

Southwest "participates" in Disney's Magical Express.

Southwest doesn't participate in Resort Airline Check-in.

 

[Marimar]

Another tip....on your departure date, go down to the reservations desk at your Disney resort. Ask them to check you in on the Southwest airline website. They can usually check you in and print your boarding passes. This way you will probably get an "A" boarding pass. We did this through the concierge desk at Port Orleans Riverside.

Great tip Speed! Thanks