Magical Express question

[TheresaNY]

I called yesterday and added the flight info. to or reservations. I asked about getting the boarding passes printed out by the resort - something that I was told WDW would do when I made the reservation for the room months ago. Yesterday I was told that if I didn't book the airfare ressies WITH DISNEY that they would NOT print out or issue boarding passes, etc. I explained that the tickets are for "Ticketless travel" and require that we print out the boarding passes within 24 hours of departure. Well, the CM said "I guess you'll have to print them out before you come". I repeatedly tried to explain that it will be impossible since we will not be travelling with a computer and printer and can't print them out before we leave for the return trip since it will be 12 days too early !! All she said was "I don't know what to tell you". I decided to just ignore her - thinking that this can't be right. But now I think I just shouldn't let it go.

My questions are........has anyone else heard of this? Is there some other place where we could print them out at WDW or MCO? Should I just wait a little while and call back and talk to a different CM? (I don't want to risk having the first CM be right but not knowing that until we get there !! Now I am real skeptical !)

 

[DebbieB]

I would call the front desk of the resort you are staying at. People have reported the front desk printing boarding passes for them. CRO cm's might not be aware of this, I don't think it's an "official service". If they will not do it, there are business centers at the convention hotels - Yacht Club, Boardwalk, CSR, not sure of others. What airline are you flying?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The curbside skycaps at MCO can print your boarding pass for you. That's what we did last month.

 

[CarolA]

What airline requires you to print them 24 hours in advance? Most make them available, but don't require it.


I am pretty sure that printing boarding passes is a CM discreation type of thing. So if they are busy or the demand gets overwhelming this service could be discontinued. However, you can go to any of the business centers and print.

 

[TheresaNY]

Song airline and SouthWest airline both said on their online booking that I must log on within 24 hrs. of departure and print out the passes since it is a "online ticketless travel" ?? Never done it before !! My sister-in-law did it once before (prior to Sept. 11th) and just had to go up to the counter and show her drivers license. Guess it has changed a bit since then.

 

[aubriee]

We were at the AKL in January and I went down early the morning we were leaving and asked guest services if they could print our boarding passes. At first he said I would have to go to one of the convention hotels (CS, Swan, or Dolphin), but fortunately his supervisor was walking by just behind him and heard the conversation. He stopped and said 'no problem' they coud do it and then proceeded to show the CM how to do it. There was a problem with the CMs computer, but the supervisor said he knew his computer would do it and had me follow him down to the end of the counter where I had our boarding passes in less than 5 minutes.

 

[CRCrazy]

Theresa,

If you check the fine print - I think you will find that, at least for Southwest, it says you MAY check in online and print your boarding pass. You certainly don't have to - you can still check in and get your boarding pass at the airport, either using the ticket counter, curbside check-in, or the self service kiosks.

All you need to bring is your photo ID - you don't even need the copy of your itinerary!

I like to check in online when I can, since if you check in really early (like 12:01 am!!), you will usually get an A boarding pass.

If you check in fairly early at the airport - you will still probably get an A or B - C's usually don't come out till an hour or so before the flight!

I know for a fact that you can still check in at the airport with Southwest - as I did this last Sunday!

 

[TheresaNY]

Thanks so much for all the info. It made me feel a lot better about it not being a problem, even if WDW won't print the passes out in advance. I've never done "ticketless travel" before.

CRCrazy - I went and checked out the air carriers websites and in their "policies" sections I didn't see ANYTHING that said we MUST print out passes in advance. Whew !! You're right ! Thanks !

It is so reassuring to hear from people that have done it without a problem! Thanks again !!
Theresa

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

If you are using Song and Magical Express you can get your boarding pass when you check your bags for your return flight. Here is what the press release for Magical Express says:

Disney's Magical Express service makes guests' return to OIA hassle-free as well. This convenient system lets guests flying with participating airlines avoid airport check-in lines by enabling passengers on domestic flights to check their luggage and receive a boarding pass before ever departing their Disney hotel. As an added benefit, guests with flight departures later in the day no longer have to worry about their luggage after they check out of their hotel. They can simply check their luggage at the Resort Airline Check-in Desk and then enjoy the last day of their stay.

Maybe the CM you were speaking to isn't familier with the new service and was thinking of how things were done prior.