Never used Magical Express

[philly kay]

We will be flying on Southwest in October. Can some one explain how this works.

 

[Robo]

We will be flying on Southwest in October. Can some one explain how this works.

Works great!

We've used DME several times with SWA.

Tell Disney when you make your resort ressies (or call back whenever you find out) the Flight Numbers of your arrival and departure flights.

DME will send you a couple of Yellow DME luggage tags to affix to your checked bags.**

When you land at MCO, just go to the DME counter and check in.
DME will find you bags

(** if you have MORE bags than DME tags, just hand your Baggage Claim Checks to the DME host/hostess when you check in at the DME desk)

and DME will find your bags, load them in a van, and deliver them to your WDW Resort room.

YOU and your party will be taken by bus to your WDW Resort where you will check in.

NOTE: If you will NEED anything when you first arrive, either pack it in your carry-on bags, or
you CAN go to baggage-claim at the airport and pick up your own bag(s) to take with you on the DME bus to the resort.

As your trip winds down-

You'll get a notice on your resort door a day before your departure day telling you what time to show up
at the bus boarding area to board the DME Bus back to the airport for your return home.

Since SWA is "non-participating" with DME (that's not a problem at all, BTW) you will take your bags back with
you on the bus to the airport.
The bus driver will stow them below the bus seating area for you, and you will take them from him when you get to your terminal
at the airport.



.

 

[bitohoney]

I love the magical express! I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[WEDWDW]

We will be flying on Southwest in October. Can some one explain how this works.

Here is some GREAT information about Magical Express both going to and coming from Walt Disney World.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/airport-service/

I LOVE Magical Express and have used it with Southwest flights numerous times.

(Important note-The All-Star Resort and Pop Century are the only Resorts currently participating in Resort Airline Check-in with Southwest.Resort Airline Check-in is explained at the link above.)

 

[philly kay]

thanks I was nervous flying SWA thinking it would be a problem. Sounds pretty easy

 

[WEDWDW]

thanks I was nervous flying SWA thinking it would be a problem. Sounds pretty easy

The only difference in flying Southwest and most of the other airlines is that you can only take advantage of Resort Airline Check-in at Pop Century and the All-Star Resort with SWA.

Resort Airline Check-in is AWESOME!

 

[Bev J]

So happy to hear that we can check our luggage for the return trip while flying on SWA since we will be staying at POP! We flew SWA last month for a cruise- I have to say they were some of the most friendly folks we have ever flown with and we saved $$$ on checked luggage- glad they are working with disney!

Bev

 

[mlittig]

philly kay We always fly Southwest and use the Magical Express and have had nothing but super experiences

 

[dburg30]

Also, and this goes for any airline, not just to Disney. You will want to have everything you will need for your first day / night in a carry on. So daytime things like swimsuits etc, for night time arrivals things like toothbrushes, pj's etc. Also make sure you keep medicines with you in your carry on. This has nothing to do at all with DME or luggage transfer, but the 'in case' your bags dont arrive at the same place you do at the same time . You can still start your vacation and let Disney get your bags when they show up.

 

[nhl66pens]

DME kicks butt!!! There is nothing better than not having to carry luggage from the airport on arrival or to the airport on departure. It is sad leaving (but that would happen anyway), but at least you don't have to drag your luggage through the airport.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I just scanned the thread and this may have been mentioned already, but if you stay at Pop, you can check your bags at the hotel and DME will get them straight to the plane without you having to mess with them at the counter. This is only for SWA at Pop, no where else on property.

Again, this may have been mentioned already, but pack a day's worth of clothes (meds, toiletries you can't live without, etc) in your carry-on. Sometimes your luggage can take awhile to get to your room, sometimes not even the same day. UG says the luggage is taken to a centralized location and then routed out to the hotels from there.

When my parents used DME last fall they didn't get their luggage until the next morning - they arrived at MCO at 5 p.m. during value season and their bags arrived at 8 a.m the next morning.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our transportation board for you. You'll find lots of information there.

 

[ses1230]

I just scanned the thread and this may have been mentioned already, but if you stay at Pop, you can check your bags at the hotel and DME will get them straight to the plane without you having to mess with them at the counter. This is only for SWA at Pop, no where else on property.

Again, this may have been mentioned already, but pack a day's worth of clothes (meds, toiletries you can't live without, etc) in your carry-on. Sometimes your luggage can take awhile to get to your room, sometimes not even the same day. UG says the luggage is taken to a centralized location and then routed out to the hotels from there.

When my parents used DME last fall they didn't get their luggage until the next morning - they arrived at MCO at 5 p.m. during value season and their bags arrived at 8 a.m the next morning.

I have checked bags for Southwest at SSR and GF.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Okay, that's cool. When I called last week to make a payment they told me SWA was only doing that at Pop. Oh well! Easier now if they start doing that at all the resorts. Darn CMs and their outdated information!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have checked bags for Southwest at SSR and GF.

Really? As far as I know, the experiment has been restricted to Pop Century for the longest time; only recently (later 2009) were the other Value resorts included. Can't find any (unofficial) website that indicates Southwest is a participating airline from all resorts.

 

[Lewisc]

I have checked bags for Southwest at SSR and GF.

You're confused. You can use DME for luggage delivery inbound. Outbound you can only check your luggage at the RAC for participating airlines. SW started a test phase in POP last year and expanded it to the values late last year.

Okay, that's cool. When I called last week to make a payment they told me SWA was only doing that at Pop. Oh well! Easier now if they start doing that at all the resorts. Darn CMs and their outdated information!

The information you were given is outdated. The pilot program was expanded to include all the Value resorts. Additional resorts might be added later this year.

 

[Missytara]

I have checked bags for Southwest at SSR and GF.

I was just at SSR not too long ago, and Southwest was not a participating airline and you could not check bags at the RAC.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have checked bags for Southwest at SSR and GF.

How and when did you do this?? SW has been participating in the RAC system at value resorts only to date. There has been no word that they are doing this at any other resorts.

Are you talking about the same thing?? Anyone can check their bags, with any airline, and have DME deliver them TO the resorts..any resort. You just have to be flying into MCO and have a reservation at a Disney owned resort.
It's the return trip home that we are talking about. Then, only those people flying out on 'participating' airlines can check their bags right at their resorts and get their boarding passes issued. SW does this only at the value resorts...as of today anyway.

 

[ses1230]

You're confused. You can use DME for luggage delivery inbound. Outbound you can only check your luggage at the RAC for participating airlines. SW started a test phase in POP last year and expanded it to the values late last year.

Yup, I'm confused. It was Air Tran we were flying, not Southwest. Wishful thinking! Sorry for the confusion

 

[kaytieeldr]

How and when did you do this?? SW has been participating in the RAC system at value resorts only to date. There has been no word that they are doing this at any other resorts.

Based on that poster's signature, 2009 for GF and 2008 for SSR? I didn't even think the Pop test had started back in 2008?