Magical Express if you didn't fly a "participating airline"?

[Keith]

I'm slightly confused about the Magical Express (ME) service. The way I understand it, the service assists you when it's time to depart your Disney resort. If you are flying one of the participating airlines, you can avoid airport check-in lines by checking your luggage and receiving your boarding pass before you leave your Disney hotel. When I scheduled the ME service, I was told the service is free no matter which airline you are flying.
I'm also seeing that resort airline check-in service at your Disney resort is only available if you are flying domestically (includes Puerto Rico) on the following airlines: American, Continental, Delta (including Song), and United (including TED). It is a complimentary (free) service. My question is, how is the luggage and check-in handled if you aren't flying on one of these specific airlines?

 

[TDC Nala]

You carry your own luggage to the bus. The driver puts the luggage in the bus. When you get to the airport, the driver unloads your luggage, you pick it up, take it into the airport and check it at your airline's counter as usual.

If you're using the airport check in at the resort, the luggage doesn't go with you on the bus.

 

[Keith]

Thanks. I just found this other post and it explains the process well: Magical Express, step by step

 

[bizeemom4]

Actually, we didn't have to do that. The valet took it to the bus for us when we were at the Yacht Club. The bus driver loaded everyones luggage.

I was glad that we weren't flying a participating carrier. When we walked thru the lobby at ASMovies (to drop off the DIS stroller), the line for airline checkin was more than 20 people deep. We had one person in front of us at the aiport when we checked in for our nonparticipating flight.

 

[John's Mom]

If you are not using a participating airline, can you have your boarding passes printed elsewhere in your hotel, like the main desk? I thought I read this on an earlier post.