I'm confused about SW & ME...

[Mischa]

I've been trying to read and follow along with the threads about Southwest Airlines & Magical Express but I'm getting confused (could be info overload?)

So I'll be "the blonde" and ask: we will be traveling on Southwest and arriving around 2:30 pm at MCO and then taking ME to Saratoga Springs. We received tags from ME for our bags (we will be checking in 2 bags). Will our bags arrive in our room at Saratoga? Or do we have to get them from baggage claim?

For our return: we'll take ME to MCO. Do we take our bags onto ME and then check our bags at the Southwest ticket counter at MCO?

When I made our flight reservations I was looking for the cheapest flights and Southwest "won", but I didn't realize they weren't "participating" with ME/WDW.

Thanks for answering my dumb questions!

 

[debster812]

No need to be confused, "Participating Airline" only really matters on your return trip, and it's actually quite easy, and I just took DME and flew SWA.

When arriving at MCO, you do NOT need to do anything except walk over to the Welcome Center, check in, and get on the bus. Your bags will arrive in your room within 3-4 hours. Check in at your resort, go out and enjoy, and your bags will be there when you return.

When leaving from MCO, you will check out of your room, and then either leave your bags with Bell Services, or head right to the DME motorcoachs. It just depends on what time your flight leaves. You'll get your bags back from Bell Services, and get on the bus. You will get off the bus on level one at MCO, and take the elevator or escalator up to level 3 with your bags, check in with SWA, take your bags to the TSA screening area, and you're DONE.

My flight yesterday was at 5:30, I had a 2:45 DME pickup time, and I was totally checked in, bags checked and done by 3:30. I strolled the airport, grabbed a bite to eat at the Food Court, and headed to my gate.

 

[cybrkitn]

My flight yesterday was at 5:30, I had a 2:45 DME pickup time, and I was totally checked in, bags checked and done by 3:30. I strolled the airport, grabbed a bite to eat at the Food Court, and headed to my gate.

Lucky you . Our DME pick up was also at 2:45 on 11/1. By the time the bus was loaded with everyone's luggage, checking in our bags and going through security, we managed to get to our SW gate with about 15 minutes to spare before we boarded the plane home. The plane started boarding at around 4:30 and our flight was leaving at 5 pm back to Islip, NY. Thankfully our son is 4 so we were able to wait in the A line for pre-boarding (won't be able to do that next time though).

 

[Mischa]

No need to be confused, "Participating Airline" only really matters on your return trip, and it's actually quite easy, and I just took DME and flew SWA.

When arriving at MCO, you do NOT need to do anything except walk over to the Welcome Center, check in, and get on the bus. Your bags will arrive in your room within 3-4 hours. Check in at your resort, go out and enjoy, and your bags will be there when you return.

When leaving from MCO, you will check out of your room, and then either leave your bags with Bell Services, or head right to the DME motorcoachs. It just depends on what time your flight leaves. You'll get your bags back from Bell Services, and get on the bus. You will get off the bus on level one at MCO, and take the elevator or escalator up to level 3 with your bags, check in with SWA, take your bags to the TSA screening area, and you're DONE.

My flight yesterday was at 5:30, I had a 2:45 DME pickup time, and I was totally checked in, bags checked and done by 3:30. I strolled the airport, grabbed a bite to eat at the Food Court, and headed to my gate.

Thanks so much Debbie, that clears it up for me. I hope our return flight goes just as smooth as yours! Thanks again!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Thanks so much Debbie, that clears it up for me. I hope our return flight goes just as smooth as yours! Thanks again!

Remember to check-in on-line 24hrs before your flight to get the A boarding passes.

On the return trip you can do this at SSR or if you have a Web-enabled cell phone you can use that.

 

[cybrkitn]

Remember to check-in on-line 24hrs before your flight to get the A boarding passes.

On the return trip you can do this at SSR or if you have a Web-enabled cell phone you can use that.

That is a good reminder! I had no problem printing out ours. However, we forgot to ask the concierge desk at Pop to print the return boarding pass at the 24 hour mark. We called them at about 1 am after returning from MNSSHP on the 31st. They printed them out for us <phew>!

 

[seashoreCM]

However, we forgot to ask the concierge desk at Pop to print the return boarding pass at the 24 hour mark. We called them at about 1 am after returning from MNSSHP on the 31st. They printed them out for us <phew>!

OT: You cannot schedule the phone at the concierge's desk to automatically ring at the 24 hour mark with Mickey's or Stiches' voice in the receiver "Print Seashore's boarding pass!".

You have to wait in line at the concierge's desk at the appointed time and ask the concierge.