Pre-register for RAC?

[mikey13v]

I just read the news about pre-registering for Resort Airline Check-in. I just don't get it. Will you not be able to use it if you don't pre-register? Is there any benefit to us users with this new system? Does anyone know how this works?
We're leaving for WDW in 6 days, so I'd like to have this figured out before we leave. We're not using ME, and have no need to be on Side B at MCO (unless we have to, for this pre-registration for RAC). I'd rather not waste my time going over to Side B, level 1, Welcome center and wait in line to do something I may be able to do at the resort, or not at all. And yes, we are flying on a participating airline (Alaska).


Here's a quote from the news article:

At the Magical Express Welcome Center, guests can pre-register for the Resort Airline Check-In Service (You must be using one of the participating airlines as noted below.)

While the inbound domestic airlines are not restricted, as of now the outbound pre-flight check in at the resort is limited to guests flying on Alaska Airline, American, Delta, Continental, Jet Blue, Northwest, United/Ted.

In order to pre-register, you must do so at least two calendar days prior to your departure. If the length of your stay prevents you from doing this, you can still go to the desk to use this service.

When pre-registering, you still need to go to the Resort Airline Check-in desk with your bags and to get your boarding pass.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I just read the news about pre-registering for Resort Airline Check-in. I just don't get it. Will you not be able to use it if you don't pre-register? Is there any benefit to us users with this new system? Does anyone know how this works?

Where does this "news" come from? I haven't seen it, and I couldn't find it with Google.

In the past, anyone flying home on a Remote Airline Check-in participating Airline could obtain their boarding passes and check their luggage, with no requirement to use Disney's Magical Express in either direction.

 

[mikey13v]

Where does this "news" com from? I haven't seen it, and I couldn't find it with Google.

In the past, anyone flying home on a Remote Airline Check-in participating Airline could obtain their boarding passes and check their luggage, with no requirement to use Disney's Magical Express in either direction.

It's on the DIS homepage, UPDATES, titled "magical express updates". I don't know who their source is, but most poeple on these boards seem to trust information given on this site.

Magical Express update

This is definatly new to me. We have used the service 3 times this year, and there was never any pre-registering before.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I've never heard of pre-registering for Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) either.

There's nothing about pre-registering at the official Disney's Magical Express FAQ.

The DIS item states:

"In order to pre-register, you must do so at least two calendar days prior to your departure. If the length of your stay prevents you from doing this, you can still go to the desk to use this service."​

So it seems this "pre-registration" is optional in any case. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to drop by the RAC desk at or near your resort lobby ahead of time with your flight information, and talk to them if they're not busy.

I certainly wouldn't stand in line at the DME Welcome Center at MCO to "pre-register" for RAC if I were not using DME transportation.

The DIS item seems to be an attempt by someone at DIS to create a succinct summary of DME and RAC. It does not appear to be a press release or other official information from the Disney Company. There's a glaring error too. The summary about DME in the DIS item states, "This service is for domestic travel only." In reality, DME is also available for international travelers. The inbound process is a bit different at MCO for passengers who need to go through US Customs and Immigration. Only the RAC service is restricted to domestic travel.

 

[kaytieeldr]

At the Magical Express Welcome Center, guests can pre-register for the Resort Airline Check-In Service (You must be using one of the participating airlines as noted below.)

"Can" doesn't mean "must". When (if) the Guest checks in at the DME counter at the airport for the reservation to Walt Disney World, one is able at that time to also reserve (aka preregister for) the return trip - but nobody HAS to.