Magical Express question (is this the right forum?)

[MakinMagicforBunky]

I was just reading (again) about the Magical Express, and saw that it says:
Guests traveling on participating airlines (domestic flights only) can receive their return airline boarding passes and check luggage at their Disney Resort. Bypassing airport check-in is just another benefit of Disney's Magical Express

This would save MAJOR time when we're leaving, does anyone know how I find out what the 'participating airlines' are??

We're flying on AirTran, and I'm doing the online checkin 24 hours before we leave to head out, but won't have internet access down there, so if the hotel can check us in for going home, that'd be great!

And if they do this for us, including the baggage check, then how long before our flight should we get there? All we'll have to do is security and head to the gate, right?

Thanks! I haven't flown since I was a kid, it's all 'new' to me again!

 

[Camp Rd. Lady]

You can find all you answers at "allearsnet.com". I believe the magical exress bus leaves your resort three hours before your flight time.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Last year we took advantage of the Magical Express, If i remember right the following domestic airlines were American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, and United. It could have changed this year but I am not to sure.
There is a seperate area in Disney Hotels that you can speak to directly about this or you can call 407-W-DISNEY and they can give you more detailed information.

Hope this helped. Enjoy ur trip!!

Jessica

 

[marathonmommy]

No Air Tran as of a couple of weeks ago . . .
We took ME, but they did not take care of our bags. We had to take them from the bus and to check in. The resort with get you a boarding pass the night before, but they can't check you in.

Now, last August we flew Continental. Total different story. Once I got the the airport on my flight to WDW, I did not need to think about my bags. They were in my room within 30 minutes of my resort arrival. Same thing on the way home. Did not need to think about my bags. Checked them in at the resrot and did not think about them until I was in NJ again.

I wonder how airlines can become participants in this . . . AirTran does not. Sorry.

 

[all4disney98]

You can also check the Transportation forum (towards the bottom of the list of forums). There are lots of threads about Magical Express and they contain LOTS of helpful advice. There is even a sticky thread dedicated to just Magical Express.

 

[Azure]

Well I am canadian and I am flying on Sky Service in 7 days and we already got our Magical Express Package with tags for our luggage and passes. Like all4disney98 said I would check the Transportation board or even phone WDW and ask them.

 

[goofy4tink]

Head over to the Transportation Board. Lots of DME stuff there.
But, in the meantime...I don't believe AirTran is a participating airline yet. They do add airlines as time goes by. Northwest and Alaska Airlines were recently added.
When you are ready to leave your resort, you will take your luggage with you to the bus area. You will have been given a time to be there (usually the day before you are to leave a note is left on your door). It is about 3 hrs. before your flight departure. Yes, it seems like a long time, but you can get stuck in security lines for a very long time. Better too early than not have enough time.
Your luggage will be put underneath the bus, when you get to MCO, you just take your bags, get them checked and head for security. The resort will hold your luggage for you until it's time to head for the bus if you have a later flight and want to do something before you leave WDW.

 

[CleveRocks]

Now, last August we flew Continental. Total different story. Once I got the the airport on my flight to WDW, I did not need to think about my bags. They were in my room within 30 minutes of my resort arrival.

I'm glad you enjoyed DME. But it also seems that someone misinformed you about the full benefits of DME.

ANYONE, ON ANY AND EVERY AIRLINE, GETS THEIR LUGGAGE DELIVERED TO THEIR RESORT ROOM AFTER ARRIVAL AT MCO. "Participating airline" ONLY matters for return from WDW back home.

But when you fly into MCO from home, if you are signed up for DME and have the special tags on your bags, you can kiss them goodbye at your home airport and not see them again until they're inside your resort room (and you don't have to sit around and wait for them, they will "magically appear" whether you're there or not). Again, this is for EVERYONE, not just people on certain airlines.

For more info, there's a sticky at the top of the Transportation forum.

 

[byoung]

I agree with CleveRocks.

 

[marathonmommy]

I'm glad you enjoyed DME. But it also seems that someone misinformed you about the full benefits of DME.

ANYONE, ON ANY AND EVERY AIRLINE, GETS THEIR LUGGAGE DELIVERED TO THEIR RESORT ROOM AFTER ARRIVAL AT MCO. "Participating airline" ONLY matters for return from WDW back home.

But when you fly into MCO from home, if you are signed up for DME and have the special tags on your bags, you can kiss them goodbye at your home airport and not see them again until they're inside your resort room (and you don't have to sit around and wait for them, they will "magically appear" whether you're there or not). Again, this is for EVERYONE, not just people on certain airlines.

For more info, there's a sticky at the top of the Transportation forum.

Yes, you are right about my arrival to MCO. Now that I think about it, my travel party did not tell DME soon enough about our flight as she was waiting for a better flight. That is why we were not taken care of upon our arrival. I am still hoping that AirTran becomes a participating airline in August ... not thinking about your luggage on the way home (since I had too many souvenirs to carry) was wonderful. I'd love the departing flight to be as seamless!