Is SWA going to participate in Magic Express?

[WANNABE@WDW]

I called CRO and the cm checked with his supervisor. The cm read off a list and there was no Southwest! I thought there was a thread the other day about SWA being added to the program? If any one has better info, please let me know.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

It was me!! I posted the other day that USAir, Southwest and Airtran were added to the list of Magic Express available airlines. In fact, I gave them all the info the other day and they are sending me a packet for my luggage tags. I know that I could still use ME even if my airline was not part of it, I would just have to bring my luggage myself. That said, if they were not, I would think they wouldnt send me the tags, know what I mean?? I really hope thats the case.

When I called the other night, the first thing the CM asked was "are you flying SW" and I said no Airtran, thats when she put me on hold for quite a while and checked for me. I had to call back the next morning since our reservation is through DVC and book everything through them.

I hope that is all set..

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

Thanks!

 

[simzac]

I spoke with a Customer Relations Agent just this week from Southwest and they are not participating in Magical Express at this time. That being said, you can still use ME no matter which airline you fly to MCO on, only that on the day you check out, you will not be able to check your bags at your resort and get your boarding passes, you will still have to do that yourself at the airport. ME will still pick you up when you arrive, collect your luggage and deliver it to your room, and take you with your luggage back to the airport when you check out. Hope this helps.

 

[Lewisc]

ANYONE can use the tags for incoming flights. You'd get the tags even if you're flying a non-participating airline. It's outgoing flights where some airlines aren't allowing for resort checkin. Disney sending you tags has nothing to do with SW's participation with ME.

I haven't seen anything in writing regarding SW. You may have gotten a CM that had advance information or a CM who was confused on the difference between incoming and outgoing flights.

SW hasn't given out any information. I wouldn't think SW would participate IF Disney was requiring significant financial contribution by SW.

. That said, if they were not, I would think they wouldnt send me the tags, know what I mean?? I really hope thats the case.

When I called the other night, the first thing the CM asked was "are you flying SW" and I said no Airtran, thats when she put me on hold for quite a while and checked for me. I had to call back the next morning since our reservation is through DVC and book everything through them.

I hope that is all set..

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Oh no!! I am sorry if I posted incorrect information. I will be calling DVC again tomorrow just to verify everything said. They asked for airline and flight numbers for arrival and departure. Oh I am so confused!

 

[Lewisc]

Oh no!! I am sorry if I posted incorrect information. I will be calling DVC again tomorrow just to verify everything said. They asked for airline and flight numbers for arrival and departure. Oh I am so confused!

No need to apologize and I'm not really sure you'll accomplish anything if you call back. You either got a CM that gave you advance, unreleased information or gave you wrong information. Calling back won't do anything if you were lucky enough to get a CM that managed to give you information that wasn't supposed to be released yet.

Your baggage tags will work for your incoming flight and at some point in time Disney will make an announcement regarding any additional carriers that participate in the resort check in.

 

[OntFamily]

Oh no!! I am sorry if I posted incorrect information. I will be calling DVC again tomorrow just to verify everything said. They asked for airline and flight numbers for arrival and departure. Oh I am so confused!

Don't be confused. The only part of Magical Express you won't be able to participate in is resort check in for outgoing flights. Disney needed your flight info to ensure the bus will be expecting you on arrival @ MCO, and to pick you up when you leave Disney.

 

[Steph H]

ME will still pick you up when you arrive, collect your luggage and deliver it to your room. . .

Ok, I just got off the phone making my ME ressies for October. I am flying Northwest, and was told by the CM that they will NOT collect my luggage and deliver it to my room because I'm not flying on a participating airline. She specifically told me that when I arrive, I will have to go to baggage, get my luggage, and bring it to the costumed ME cast member, who will then put it on the bus. I've read several places where folks are saying the same as what I quoted above. Anyone have any clue if this CM was just giving me wrong information? I sure would like to not have to worry about my luggage for at least the beginning of my trip!

Thanks, all!

 

[kpk89]

Steph H --- one of us received the wrong info, I just made our DME ressie and was told that absolutely our luggage will be picked up for us at the airport and sent to the resort. The CM went on to say that they recommend that you keep a carryon with you containing anything you'll be needing right away, as the luggage bus might not arrive at your resort at the same time as the people bus.

Sooo, somebody at member services doesn't know what they're talking about -- I hope that it was the person you talked to! I am looking forward to skipping baggage claim!

 

[localdriver]

Regardless of airline, all guests using DME will be able to use the baggage transfer service inbound to the Disney Resorts.

When returning to OIA you must be traveling American, Continetal, Delta, Song, United, Ted, in order to use the Baggage check in at your resort for your departure.

When Departing, if you are not flying one of these 6/six airlines you must tote your bags to the coach, retrieve them at the airport, and check them in at the airport. Same as you do today.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok, I just got off the phone making my ME ressies for October. I am flying Northwest, and was told by the CM that they will NOT collect my luggage and deliver it to my room because I'm not flying on a participating airline. She specifically told me that when I arrive, I will have to go to baggage, get my luggage, and bring it to the costumed ME cast member, who will then put it on the bus. I've read several places where folks are saying the same as what I quoted above. Anyone have any clue if this CM was just giving me wrong information? I sure would like to not have to worry about my luggage for at least the beginning of my trip!

Thanks, all!

Don't worry! The only difference between participating airlines and non-participating airlines is the ability to check your luggage and get your boarding passes at your resort when you check out. If you are flying SW, you can still get the nifty luggage tags that will tell the luggage retrievers at OIA your bags need to go to WDW. Then, they will be taken to your resort, where you will meet up again in your room. Upon departure, you will check-out the same as always, but you will have to have bell services hold your luggage and then when the ME bus comes, you will retrieve your luggage and take it on the bus with you. You will then check-in at the airport, check your bags and go through security, same as always. Those of us who use the participating airlines will check-out of our resort, print boarding passes, hand our luggage over to someone, then we just need to be there when the ME bus comes. We get on the bus, go to OIA, and head for security. DME has already taken our luggage for us and we have basically already checked in with our airline while still at the resort...saving us that time at the airport check-in line.

I'm sure more and more airlines will be added as time goes by.

 

[localdriver]

Sounds like Disney may have a training issue with their CM's handling travel reservations that they need to address quickly.

 

[Steph H]

Sooo, somebody at member services doesn't know what they're talking about -- I hope that it was the person you talked to! I am looking forward to skipping baggage claim!

I hope it was the person I talked to, too!

I guess I will wait until May and we'll see what the first "guinea pigs" have to tell us about the service. I'm glad I'm not one of the first ones.

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

 

[Toadman99]

I've read this in multiple places - including a Disney press release that someone sent me that I cannot find right now.

The writeup on allearsnet.com (which is basically the same as I read in the press release) says the ME policy is: *any* airline coming in, *participaing* airlines going out as far as baggage goes. i.e. if you are flying Delta,United,AA, or Continental out of Orlando, you can check your bags and get boarding passes at your hotel. Otherwise it doesn't matter.

Here's a link to the page spelling it out (you have to scroll down a bit):
http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/airport.htm

- Todd