"New" Luggage Service Question

[keishashadow]

Not sure if this is the right Forum or not, but I have a question pertaining to the new luggage service WDW will offer for guests later this year.

As I understand it you can arrange for your luggage to be "picked up" at your departing airport and it will magically appear in your resort room later that day, with the same upon departure.

Although we do utilize the WDW in-park transportation, my DH & I feel "trapped" if we don't have a rental car at our disposal. It's especially nice to have a car for Downtown Disney and dinners at different resorts.

If we don't use the motorcoach, can we still have them transfer our luggage to the Resort?

 

[DebbieB]

No, you must get on the bus to get the luggage service. You could rent a car when you get to WDW, National/Alamo has a desk at the Dolphin and Car Care Center near the Poly.

Actually what happens is your tagged luggage is picked up behind the scenes at MCO, they then transfer it by truck to your resort while you take the bus. They don't get involved at your departing airport.

 

[bytheblood]

Disney's Magical Express Delivers 'Hassle-Free Travel' for Disney Hotel Guests
(LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004) -- Walt Disney World announced an innovative new service today called "Disney's Magical Express" which offers complimentary airport shuttle, luggage delivery and airline check in for Disney hotel guests.
Beginning May 5, 2005, guests of Disney hotels* using Disney's Magical Express service can check their bags at their hometown airport, bypass baggage claim at Orlando International Airport (OIA) and board state-of-the-art motor coaches to the Walt Disney World Resort - as their bags "magically" appear in their room upon check in. The round-trip service, which is available and complimentary during Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth event (which also begins May 5, 2005), is designed to give Disney hotel guests the stress-free vacation they want.


With Disney's Magical Express service, a family of four can save more than $80 (based on round trip shuttle or taxi transportation, plus tip, for two adults and two children).
"We are extremely excited to add Disney's Magical Express to the extensive list of ways we make Disney guests' vacations easier and more enjoyable," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort. "In essence, this benefit provides a hassle-free experience for our guests from the airport to our hotel room door and back again."
"Disney's Magical Express service will set new standards for convenience, value and comfort for guests traveling between the airport and Walt Disney World Resort," Weiss added. "Orlando International Airport is one of the premiere airports in the world. We believe Disney's Magical Express will not only transform the airport experience for Disney hotel guests, but will further enhance the world-class status of OIA and drive additional visitation to Central Florida."
* Disney's Magical Express service will not be available to guests of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, the Shades of Green and the seven hotels near Hotel Plaza Boulevard.


How Disney's Magical Express service works:
* Disney's Magical Express must be booked at least 10 days prior to arrival through disneyworld.com, Disney Reservation Center by calling 407-W-DISNEY or a travel agent beginning Jan. 2, 2005. The service commences May 5, 2005.
* Guests check their specially-tagged luggage at their departure airport.
* Upon arrival in Orlando, guests bypass airport baggage claim and go directly to the Disney Airport Welcome Center.
* Guests board state-of-the-art motor coaches that take them to their Disney hotel.
* A team of Disney representatives at the airport will pick up guests' luggage and transport it to their hotel room.

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.

In addition to partners at Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World developed this innovative service in conjunction with private and public sector leaders including: the Mears Transportation Group, the largest provider of ground transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort; BAGS Inc., the provider and innovator in off-airport passenger check-in services for the hotel, convention, cruise and airline industries; ARINC Incorporated, a leading global provider of technology systems for airports and airlines; the Transportation Security Administration; and airline partners including: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Song, United Airlines and Ted. Walt Disney World hopes to add other air carriers to the resort airline check-in service in the near future.
Congressman John L. Mica (FL-7), Chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation, called Disney's announcement "welcome news."
"Not only does resort airline check-in provide a convenience for the traveler, it also helps to expedite and improve security checks by reducing congestion during the busiest times," Mica said. "By combining Walt Disney World Resort's destination volume and operational expertise with BAGS' innovative processes and exclusive technology, a new industry model will be established."

Disney's Magic Your Way
Disney's Magical Express is the newest addition to Disney's Magic Your Way program, an exciting new plan, which allows Walt Disney World guests to create their own tickets and vacation packages for a customized vacation. Starting Jan. 2, Walt Disney World Resort guests will be able to purchase tickets to the various theme parks, attractions and other entertainment offerings that are tailored to the length of their vacation and the interests of their group - and allow them to save more per day based on their length of stay. Under Magic Your Way, a family of four will be able to enjoy a six-night/seven-day Walt Disney World vacation - including a stay at a Disney Value hotel, with theme park tickets - for as little as $1,500.
Disney's Magical Express is also added to the long list of premier benefits that are afforded to guests staying at Disney hotels. This includes the recently-announced Extra Magic Hours, where each day one of our theme parks opens one hour early or stays open up to three hours after regular park closing for guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. **

"Disney's Magical Express adds even more value to a Walt Disney World vacation," Weiss said. "And with the myriad of new attractions and shows premiering this spring in conjunction with the Happiest Celebration on Earth - our global celebration marking 50 years of Disney theme park magic - the timing couldn't be more perfect."
Booking Disney's Magical Express
Walt Disney World guests can book Disney's Magical Express starting Jan. 2 along with the new Disney's Magic Your Way tickets and packages. Guests can log onto the new disneyworld.com, call the Disney Reservations Center at 407-W-DISNEY or contact their travel agent.

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks for the info - I'll try anything to get out of checking & hauling my luggage.

 

[geetey]

Rats. It doesn't look like Southwest Airlines is participating in this service.

 

[db4huskers]

Is Southwest not particapating in just the "check in" service? I thought everyone that flew into MCO got to take advantage of ME if they were staying at a Disney property.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Not sure if this is the right Forum or not, but I have a question pertaining to the new luggage service WDW will offer for guests later this year.

As I understand it you can arrange for your luggage to be "picked up" at your departing airport and it will magically appear in your resort room later that day, with the same upon departure.

Although we do utilize the WDW in-park transportation, my DH & I feel "trapped" if we don't have a rental car at our disposal. It's especially nice to have a car for Downtown Disney and dinners at different resorts.

If we don't use the motorcoach, can we still have them transfer our luggage to the Resort?

Being from southern California, we feel NAKED without our cars! We debated about taking Magical Express but decided to try it. I had originally booked a car out of Orlando Airport, but instead we will rent our car the morning following our arrival from Budget, which has a rental location at a Downtown Disney hotel. I believe there are several car companies with rental offices within WDW. The best part is, we won't have the extra surcharge that cars rented at the airport have, and for the same rate, we got an SUV instead of a misdize car. We plan to visit Kennedy Space Center midweek and see a bit of the coast since it's our first visit to WDW and Florida. The day we leave, I will drop off the car in the am and take a bus back to our hotel, and then we leave on MAgical Express that evening for the Airport.

Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

Is Southwest not particapating in just the "check in" service? I thought everyone that flew into MCO got to take advantage of ME if they were staying at a Disney property.

For arrival, every airline is OK. For departure, only if you are flying the designated airlines can you check your luggage at the resort and have it sent directly to the airport. If your airline is not participating, you have to carry it to the bus to the airport and check it in yourself at the airport.

 

[apulk]

Check out the rental option from Alamo with pick-up at the Dolphin. We're going to take advantage of the Magical Express from and back to the Airport and rent a mini-van for the week in between (we're going for what would be 10 days of rental -- which the extra day rates can kill you).

 

[geetey]

Debbie, can I ask where you found this information? I was under the impression that only the 'approved' airlines were part of the Magical Express offering. It would be really great if Southwest were part of the group now!

 

[step4now]

I usually rent a car or hire a car service... having a driver waiting for you and going directly to your hotel is great. This year, I'm trying the Magical Express on it's first day!

Anyone have any idea how quickly these buses will be leaving the airport? I'd hate to have to wait around for dozens of other guests. Also, what sort of system will be used to get ot the hotels? I.e. How manys stops will we have to endure before we get to the Contemporary? I'll have two kids..one is a VERY figity 4 year old, so I'm hoping this is a pretty quick process? Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[epcotfan]

Anyone have any idea how quickly these buses will be leaving the airport?

I recall someone saying in another post it would take about 2 hours between arrival at MCO and your WDW resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

Debbie, can I ask where you found this information? I was under the impression that only the 'approved' airlines were part of the Magical Express offering. It would be really great if Southwest were part of the group now!

Yes, you can use this service if you are flying SW!!! It is all just the same, no matter which airline you are flying 'in' on. You will get those special luggage tags, your bags will go directly from the plane to your resort and you will ride the special new buses from the airport to your resort. It's the departure proceedure that will differ. You would check-out of your resort, as usual. Then the resort would hold your bags the same as usual, until you are ready to leave. When the appointed time comes to catch the bus, you and your luggage will get on the bus, go to MCO and check-in the way you always have. The difference being that if you are flying a 'participating' airline, you would check-out of your resort and at the same time, get your boarding passes for your flight and your luggage would then go directly to the airport. You would then go about your business and catch the bus at the appt. time. You go to the airport (no bags since they are already there!!), and just head for security. You don't have to check-in or go throught the whole baggage thing...you've already done it at the resort.

That is the only difference. You can still go both ways on the ME. Which airline you fly will make a difference as to whether or not you have to lug your bags with you back to the airport or not.

 

[goofy4tink]

I usually rent a car or hire a car service... having a driver waiting for you and going directly to your hotel is great. This year, I'm trying the Magical Express on it's first day!

Anyone have any idea how quickly these buses will be leaving the airport? I'd hate to have to wait around for dozens of other guests. Also, what sort of system will be used to get ot the hotels? I.e. How manys stops will we have to endure before we get to the Contemporary? I'll have two kids..one is a VERY figity 4 year old, so I'm hoping this is a pretty quick process? Any ideas?

Thanks!

Each bus holds about 57 people. Figure about 4 people per party that is traveling, so that would make about 15 groups on one bus, at most. There will be no luggage to get off at each stop, making that quicker than the old Mears shuttle. Each bus will go to a 'group' of resorts in the same area of WDW. Say, BWV, YC/BC would be together and so on. There might be up to 4 stops per bus, depending on the route. Remember that Disney knows exactly who is coming in and at what time and where they are going to. So, they should be able to dispatch the buses rather quickly. We have gone the towncar route also and it has taken us up to 1 1/2 hrs to get to WDW from the airport. It's that waiting for your stuff at the claim area and then waiting for the driver to go and get his car and get back over to you that takes up the time!!

 

[db4huskers]

Thank you to everyone for the great information. I appreciate all the help planning our first WDW trip in May.

 

[Lewisc]

Rats. It doesn't look like Southwest Airlines is participating in this service.

It's been speculated that the participating airlines are sharing in the cost of the resort check in for your departing flight. That could be a reason why Jet Blue and Southwest are not currently participating.

It's a shame there isn't a way for guests, who aren't flying a particpating airline, to just pay for resort check in. We currrently have an option to pay, via tips, for curb side check in at the airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's been speculated that the participating airlines are sharing in the cost of the resort check in for your departing flight. That could be a reason why Jet Blue and Southwest are not currently participating.

It's a shame there isn't a way for guests, who aren't flying a particpating airline, to just pay for resort check in. We currrently have an option to pay, via tips, for curb side check in at the airport.

I think the issue is that it is a federal aviation thing, not so much a resort thing. It has to be approved by whatever federal agency does that sort of thing, especially after 9-11. Since the skycaps are actually on airport property, they would be under the auspices of the airport/federal agency already where the resort CM would not. But, I could be mistaken...heaven knows that's happened a few hundred times before now!!