Magical Express Airlines

[Disneyfanfour]

We are trying ever so hard to get the right flights to Orlando! But our air miles keeps us tied to Alaska Airlines for now. Eeek! ME doesn't use Alaska. What do I do? Can I get the baggage tags and bring them myself, get in line and get on a bus? What happens when I go to leave the last day as far as getting our boarding passes from the front desk of our resort??

Should I wait longer to book flights, hoping that the air miles opens up with different flights and carriers? Our trip is in December. Anyone help!!

 

[bsmcneil]

No matter what airline you use, you can use ME. However, only certain airlines (apparently NOT Alaskan) allow you to CHECK-IN to your flight at the resort.

 

[Disneyfanfour]

So, I can even use ME on the way out, but I'd have to check in at the airport?

 

[bsmcneil]

Yes, and according to All Ears - Alaska IS a participating airline.

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/mexpress.htm

 

[seashoreCM]

Gong to Disney, Magical Express works and works in the same ways for all airlines.

Going home, some ways of using Magical Express are the same for all airlines.

Going home on certain airlines (called "participating") at certain hours you can check in and check baggage at your resort as you check out of the room.

If the concierge is not too busy, s/he can print boarding passes for your trip home including on some non-participating airlines, separate from Magical Express.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[dudspizza]

It amazes me the confusion about "participating airlines" for ME. See the thread at the top of this board.

ANYONE can use ME on domestic flights.

Here is a quote from that thread.

Okay, so there still seems to be some confusion about the term, "Participating Airline" so I figured I'd help explain this.

"PARTICIPATING AIRLINE" ONLY REFERS TO THE RESORT AIRLINE CHECK IN DESK. ​

IT DOES NOT REFER TO GROUND TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE AIRPORT, OR INBOUND LUGGAGE TRANSFERS.​

Inbound to Walt Disney World:

• Anyone who flies into Orlando International Airport with a Disney resort reservation can take advantage of Disney's Magical Express ground transfers, along with luggage transfers, provided you have specifically made DME reservations prior to arriving at Orlando International Airport.
• You do NOT need to use the luggage tags to take advantage of the ground transportation. You are more than welcome to claim your luggage at baggage claim and bring it on the bus with you.
• You can still take advantage of luggage transfers without using the yellow tags. Just proceed directly to Welcome Center and give them your claim tickets. (Be advised, luggage transfers will take slightly more time than usual)
• You DO need to use the ground transportation to get your luggage transferred.
• You MUST have reservations prior to arriving at OIA.

Outbound to Orlando International Airport:

• Anyone who flies out of Orlando International Airport with a Disney resort reservation can take advantage of Disney's Magical Express ground transportation.
• Only those flying participating airlines may check thier luggage & get boarding passes at the Resort Airline Check-in Desk. EVERYONE must be present (exceptions: Adults over 18 can check in for spouse & kids). Bags may be checked 12 to 3 hours prior to flight departure time. Desk is open from 5am-1pm, daily.
• Those who are not flying a Participating Airline may still recieve thier boarding passes at thier Lobby Concierge desk, so long as the airline has internet check in.
• Non-participating and international airline guests will have to bring thier bags onto the motorcoach, and check it at the airport itself.
• Current Resort Airline Check-In Participating Airlines (Domestic only): American, Continental, Delta, jetBlue, United/Ted, Northwest, Alaska Airlines, and as of May 5th 2007, AirTran Airways.

Despite rumors floating around the internet, these are the ONLY participating airlines for the Disney Resort Airline Check-In Desk. This page will be updated as soon as others get added. But until you see it on this page, they are NOT participating for the RAC desk.

Duds

 

[CleveRocks]

We are trying ever so hard to get the right flights to Orlando! But our air miles keeps us tied to Alaska Airlines for now. Eeek! ME doesn't use Alaska. What do I do? Can I get the baggage tags and bring them myself, get in line and get on a bus? What happens when I go to leave the last day as far as getting our boarding passes from the front desk of our resort??

Should I wait longer to book flights, hoping that the air miles opens up with different flights and carriers? Our trip is in December. Anyone help!!

Everyone on every airline gets the full DME treatment. This includes round-trip motorcoach transportation AND one-way automatic baggage delivery from airplane to resort. EVERYONE. EVERY AIRLINE.

The so-called "participating airlines" only come into play for the way home, and then they ONLY matter for the baggage handling and for getting boarding passes.

Disney does a poor job of publicizing that DME and Resort Airline Check-in are actually 2 separate things. RAC has a desk at each resort, and THAT is where people flying on participating airlines (on the way home) can check in their luggage and get their boarding passes. This is very separate from the resort's front desk.

By the way, Alaska IS a participating airline.