No Charge for first bag on SW to WDW (trial)

[JoRo]

Hopefully if this works they will extend this out for other hotels, DL and DVC. I know that our family of 4 its now costing us 120 to have our four first bags checked roundtrip that is a lot of money. When we start our DVC trips next May and on we are going to take 4 carryons 4 backpacks and 1 diaperbag - stewarts will love us NOT.

Disney World, Southwest launch Magical Express test
posted by Jason Garcia on Jun 1, 2009 9:23:36 AM
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Walt Disney World has finally reached a deal to add Orlando International Airport's busiest airline to its popular Disney's Magical Express shuttle-and-luggage service — at least on a trial basis.
Beginning today, Disney and Southwest Airlines will launch a pilot program in which guests staying at Disney's Pop Century Resort and flying on Southwest will be able to check in for their flights and drop off their luggage before departing for OIA.
The goal is to eventually expand the service to Southwest passengers staying at other Disney resorts, though a Disney spokeswoman said there is no timetable to do so. "The purpose [of the pilot program] is to see how our systems will work together from a technology standpoint," Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said.
Every other major domestic airline at OIA already participates in Disney World's remote check-in service.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

This is great news! Too bad SW is getting rid of their non-stops between Cleveland and Orlando! I was really starting to prefer SW, and esp. since there is no charge for checked bags (Darn!).
-mary

 

[backyardponder]

Hopefully if this works they will extend this out for other hotels, DL and DVC. I know that our family of 4 its now costing us 120 to have our four first bags checked roundtrip that is a lot of money. When we start our DVC trips next May and on we are going to take 4 carryons 4 backpacks and 1 diaperbag - stewarts will love us NOT.

I guess you aren't flying Southwest. Southwest allows 2 free bags per ticketed person. Of course, Southwest doesn't have non-stops between SEA and MCO.

 

[Luv2trav]

We are flying out on Sat out of Cle. Does this have anything to do with ME? I thought ME would take all our luggage or is this for guests who rent cars?

 

[Luv2trav]

This is great news! Too bad SW is getting rid of their non-stops between Cleveland and Orlando! I was really starting to prefer SW, and esp. since there is no charge for checked bags (Darn!).
-mary

I 2nd that.. Why are they cancelling? We usually fly out of CAK but Airtran options and cost stink anymore. We are trying SW for the first time on Sat and so far I love their service and flexibility.

 

[JoRo]

Yes that is correct we dont normally fly SW so I didnt know it was already free. We fly Alaska - they have direct to WDW and to DL, but started charging for first bag which REALLY HAS ME PISSED OFF. Its a lot of extra money for us as a family and then if other go with us that is more added cost.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Yes that is correct we dont normally fly SW so I didnt know it was already free. We fly Alaska - they have direct to WDW and to DL, but started charging for first bag which REALLY HAS ME PISSED OFF. Its a lot of extra money for us as a family and then if other go with us that is more added cost.

I am reading this as "for on the way home" - Which, I didn't know any airline was allowing this at values (are they?). It sounds like you can check one bag at leave it at the resort, and then you don't have to bring it back to the airport yourself on the way home. (Right?)
-mary

 

[DonnaL]

I'm really confused by this thread.......Southwest currently allows TWO free checked bags under 50lbs each and ONE carryon plus a personal item.....and there are no plans to change that. The article the Orlando Sentinel has nothing to do with amount of bags SWA allows. Currently, SWA does not participate in resort checkin.....which simply means if you are currently flying SWA and wish to use ME you must take your bags yourself on the bus to the airport and check them at the airport. With the new pilot program, people flying SWA will be able to checkin, get their boarding pass AND check their luggage in the lobby/baggage area of their hotel and simply go to the airport on ME and not worry about their bags since they were already checked in at the hotel........the article has nothing to do with changing the amount of checked baggage allowed. Maybe your confusion comes from that fact that SWA is the only airline (at least that I'm aware of) that DOESN'T charge to check bags.......at least the first two. I believe most of the other domestic airlines servicing MCO/WDW already participate in the resort checkin program......so to answer the questions of an above poster.......yes, this information would be for your return trip home from WDW.....and only if you are flying SWA and staying at Pop Century at this time. Everyone can participate in the ME program on your way TO WDW.........airline doesn't matter as long as you attach your yellow ME tags to your checked bags at your home airport. The bags are then pulled at MCO before they reach the baggage claim area at MCO and loaded for transport to the WDW resort hotels. This is why sometimes there is a several hour gap before you will get your checked bags delivered to you at the resort. If you would rather make sure your bag has arrived at MCO you do not attach the yellow baggage tag, BUT THEN MUST go to bag claim yourself, collect your bags and go to the ME area for transportation with your bags to your resort.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Forums

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hopefully if this works they will extend this out for other hotels, DL and DVC. I know that our family of 4 its now costing us 120 to have our four first bags checked roundtrip that is a lot of money. When we start our DVC trips next May and on we are going to take 4 carryons 4 backpacks and 1 diaperbag - stewarts will love us NOT.

Have you considered Owners Locker?

That's a LOT of carry-on luggage to be hauling; have you considered whether it's all 100% vital? Yes, airlines allow each passenger one carry-on item and one personal item - but they generally don't have enough overhead storage space to accommodate every single passenger.

 

[kevgraub]

Yes that is correct we dont normally fly SW so I didnt know it was already free. We fly Alaska - they have direct to WDW and to DL, but started charging for first bag which REALLY HAS ME PISSED OFF. Its a lot of extra money for us as a family and then if other go with us that is more added cost.

Would you feel better if they just added $15 to every person's quoted fare and let you check a bag for free?

They are going to get the amount of money they need to get, one way or the other. Rather than just charging everyone more money for their tickets, they have chosen to only charge those that want to use the service of checking a bag, and allow those that do not check a bag to save some money.

I'd bet that the weight of luggage on flights (which directly affects the fuel consumption) has gone down on airlines that started charging for checked luggage. Many people have finally discovered that they can travel with WAY less stuff than they thought they needed.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I know that our family of 4 its now costing us 120 to have our four first bags checked roundtrip that is a lot of money. When we start our DVC trips next May and on we are going to take 4 carryons 4 backpacks and 1 diaperbag - stewarts will love us NOT.

How much stuff are you bringing that you need to check 4 bags for a family of 4? Sounds like a cut back in volume is in order.

 

[cnorth]

I believe that what they are trying to say is that you can, on this trial basis, check your bags in at the resort for your return flight. This is offered for several other airlines, but not SW to date. Basically, you could always take bags on SW for free, and you could always use ME for free, but were unable to check in your bags at the resort for the return flight. You had to carry your bags with you on ME, then check them in at the airport. It's really more of a convienence thing.

 

[TDC Nala]

I believe that what they are trying to say is that you can, on this trial basis, check your bags in at the resort for your return flight. This is offered for several other airlines, but not SW to date. Basically, you could always take bags on SW for free, and you could always use ME for free, but were unable to check in your bags at the resort for the return flight. You had to carry your bags with you on ME, then check them in at the airport. It's really more of a convienence thing.

Checking your bags at the resort for your return trip to the airport and using the Magical Express bus service are two separate things. IF you are flying an airline that participates in Resort Airline Check-In (RAC), you can use it whether or not you are using the DME service to return to the airport.

Southwest has historically been the only major airline that did NOT participate in RAC so anyone flying Southwest would have to take their luggage to the airport (on the DME bus or on whatever mode of transport they were using to get to the airport) themselves and check it in when they got there.

RAC and Southwest are currently running a trial that started June 1 at POP CENTURY ONLY where guests there can check their luggage at the resort for their return to the airport and get their boarding passes. (You can check in for the flight too, if you didn't already do that.) If it works at Pop Century they will expand it to other resorts.

Southwest does not charge for the first two checked bags per passenger. I believe Jet Blue does not charge for the first checked bag. I cannot think of any other airline that does not have a charge for the first bag.

 

[JoRo]

Hi

This is fun, our bags would be full of diapers and disney princess dresses and those two things we pack those are not negotiable, until our son is out of diapers and our girl grows out of the dresses and this last one could be awhile HAHAHAHA

 

[kaytieeldr]

Still, you should strongly reconsider - thirteen pieces of luggage? Four checked plus four carry-on plus four personal items plus a diaper bag? How long is your trip?

 

[JoRo]

Well really, not that its any of your business to know what we pack, we wouldnt have 13 pieces of luggage the carrys ons are in place of checking our bags which we get charged for, not both. This is suppose to be light conversation, dont worry so about what we are packing we are good people and wont intrude on your space except for having children on a plane. And having very excited children at DL/WDW which is the whole point of DVC.

tata

 

[clkelley]

I am reading this as "for on the way home" - Which, I didn't know any airline was allowing this at values (are they?).

Value Resorts have ALWAYS had RAC desks. The only thing new here is SW is under a pilot program for RAC at Pop Century.

Even if it is spread to other resorts, I still doubt I'll use it.

They still have the 12 hour rule and with an 8:40pm flight home, that means I can't check my luggage till 8:40am, PLUS I would have to drag it to the front myself. (Luggage Services at Values works on "their" schedule, so I can't arrange for a specific time for my luggage to be picked up.)

It is much easier for us to leave the baggage by the door of our room with a pick up from our room arranged with Luggage Services. We can then get out the door at 6:30am to make our breakfast reservations. (Usually at Boma). We then get back to the resort by 4pm. DH claims our bags from Luggage Services storage room, I go to the bar and retrieve our last drink of the trip, and we relax until our bus to the airport arrives. The driver loads our luggage under the bus and off we go. Checking the bags at MCO is really not a big deal for us. We actually only have 1 rollerboard a piece.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well really, not that its any of your business to know what we pack, we wouldnt have 13 pieces of luggage the carrys ons are in place of checking our bags which we get charged for, not both. This is suppose to be light conversation, dont worry so about what we are packing we are good people and wont intrude on your space except for having children on a plane. And having very excited children at DL/WDW which is the whole point of DVC.

tata

I believe that another poster simply misread your post about your luggage..it seemed that you had 4 pieces of checked luggage, plus 4 carryon, 4 backpacks and a diaper bag. I think it was simply a mistake.
Everyone has to decide for themseves as to how many bags they want to bring. We here just try to give out some tried and true advice..take it or leave it.

Now...SW has started a pilot program at POP just to see if it will work out using RAC. Here's hoping it does work out. There are a ton of people, myself included, that love to fly SW but don't use it going home simply because I love being able to get my bags checked right at the resort if I fly Delta or JetBlue. I truly hope that as time goes by, SW management finds that it is in their best interest to offer this at the other resorts.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

If you're so concerned about the extra fees you should simply fly Southwest without regard to whether they extend the RAC to other resorts. Typically, from the west coast to MCO, airlines other than southwest have the least expensive fares, negating any savings you would benefit from by flying southwest and checking 4 or 8 bags.

Hopefully if this works they will extend this out for other hotels, DL and DVC. I know that our family of 4 its now costing us 120 to have our four first bags checked roundtrip that is a lot of money. When we start our DVC trips next May and on we are going to take 4 carryons 4 backpacks and 1 diaperbag - stewarts will love us NOT.

Disney World, Southwest launch Magical Express test
posted by Jason Garcia on Jun 1, 2009 9:23:36 AM
Discuss This: Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Linking Blogs | Add to del.icio.us | Digg it
Walt Disney World has finally reached a deal to add Orlando International Airport's busiest airline to its popular Disney's Magical Express shuttle-and-luggage service — at least on a trial basis.
Beginning today, Disney and Southwest Airlines will launch a pilot program in which guests staying at Disney's Pop Century Resort and flying on Southwest will be able to check in for their flights and drop off their luggage before departing for OIA.
The goal is to eventually expand the service to Southwest passengers staying at other Disney resorts, though a Disney spokeswoman said there is no timetable to do so. "The purpose [of the pilot program] is to see how our systems will work together from a technology standpoint," Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said.
Every other major domestic airline at OIA already participates in Disney World's remote check-in service.