ME - Bad weight limit upon checkout for 1st Class passengers??

[Tormania]

I read the sticky on the ME Resort Check-in for the airline and it states that bags can NOT be over 50lbs, no exceptions. However we were lucky enough to have enough miles that when we booked our flights our return trip will be in 1st Class and United's 1st Class policy is that they allow bags up to 70 lbs. Not that we plan to overload bags but obviously we'll have souveniors and such that we bought so our bags home will weigh more than our arrival bags did.

Has anyone used ME resort Check-in for 1st Class flights and had bags that were over 50lbs and if so would they still check them in if your airline ticket allowed for it?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Disney's Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) used to refuse bags exceeding 50 pounds because they had no way to collect airline fees for such bags. Then most airlines imposed fees for most checked bags, and RAC developed a system to collect fees on behalf of the airlines.

There are still a bunch of unofficial websites (including WDWinfo and AllEars) that have the 50 pound limit in their RAC write-ups, but it's no longer on Disney's official website, at least not on the main pages about DME and RAC. In fact, Disney identifies "bags exceeding certain weight limits" as one of the fees that RAC can collect, which certainly suggests that RAC can accept bags weighing 50-70 pounds in addition to the usual bags weighing less that 50 pounds.

See https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/f...ion-and-check-in/resort-airline-check-in-fee/

Q. Is there a charge or fee to check my bags at Resort Airline Check-In?

A. In general, the same baggage fees apply at Resort Airline Check-In as they would if you checked in at Orlando International Airport. Fees vary by airline, but common fees include charges for additional checked bags and bags exceeding certain weight limits. Ask your airline or check their website to learn which fees may apply to you.

To pay airline baggage fees, please call Baggage Airline Guest Services at (407) 284-1231 to pay the fees before visiting the Resort Airline Check-In desk. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. You can pay baggage fees with MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover Card.​

The RAC skycaps at Disney resorts know when fees need to be paid and when fees are not applicable. They have visibility to the airline systems, so they know when a passenger has elite status, or is flying in a class of service that does not require fees, or has used an airline credit card that provides free bags, or is immune from bag fees for some other reason.

To be on the safe side, call Baggage Airline Guest Services at 407-284-1231 to ask about bags between 50 and 70 pounds. Also call Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 866-599-0951 to get the official, current Disney position. Then please return to this thread and post what they tell you.

 

[bumbershoot]

We were told very clearly that they know exactly what status you have with the airlines, and will take the bags that go along with that status. DH gets 3 checked bags per person flying with him or with his miles on United, and the bags can be something like 70 lbs each. The RAC employees knew this, and told out straight out that it would have been totally fine if we'd gone to DH's limit. As it was we hit 49.5 with two of our bags (beyond that and it's hard for us to even pull them, honestly!), and they were impressed by that, but let us know that we didn't have to worry about it.

You will be OK. They can see the tickets and they know the policies.

But seriously, it's hard to deal with bags when they get up even to 50 lbs, let alone to the 70 lb max. Consider bringing another bag, spread things out on our flight to WDW, then at the end you'll have room for souvenirs.

Though I tend to bring the souvenirs in our carryons....

 

[Kimberle]

If there is a problem. Just take it to the airport with you. You can check it there. 1st class generally has their own check in area so it shouldn't take you long.
Nothing to stress over.