Question about ME and resort airline check in time

[mama_scraps]

I just want to confirm the luggage drop-off time for Resort Airline Check-in. I need to drop my luggage off 3 hours before my flight not 3 hours before my Magical Express bus departs, correct? So, if my flight is leaving at 12:15pm, I need to drop luggage off before 9:15am?

 

[Sugardimples]

Correct, but be careful! If you are taking ME to the airport you will be given a pick up time of approximately three hours before your flight. You need to be at the bus stop, ready to board about 15 minutes before that pick up time. You can't be in line checking your bags at that time. You will miss your bus.

 

[Jestocost]

Correct, but be careful! If you are taking ME to the airport you will be given a pick up time of approximately three hours before your flight. You need to be at the bus stop, ready to board about 15 minutes before that pick up time. You can't be in line checking your bags at that time. You will miss your bus.

Definitely good advice. There are two things to keep in mind with the timing. One is what the PP noted about needing to be at the DME pick-up point 10-15 minutes before your schedule bus departure. The other is that you have to have the RAC check-in process completed (not just be in line) no later than three hours before your flight.

The RAC desk is open at 5:00 a.m., so you can check in at any time after that on your departure day.

 

[sam_gordon]

The RAC desk is open at 5:00 a.m., so you can check in at any time after that on your departure day.

Another "be careful"... RAC closes at 1pm. So if you're flying out late, you need to check your luggage before 1. Usually not a problem since hotel checkout would be at 11.

 

[Missytara]

I just want to confirm the luggage drop-off time for Resort Airline Check-in. I need to drop my luggage off 3 hours before my flight not 3 hours before my Magical Express bus departs, correct? So, if my flight is leaving at 12:15pm, I need to drop luggage off before 9:15am?

You must have your luggage processed no less than three hours from your flight.

You must be at the ME bus no later than 15 minutes before your pick-up time, which is about three hours before your departure flight.

So you must be at the RAC desk before that. RAC opens at 5:00 am. Therefore, you should be at the RAC desk and completed your transaction no later than 9:00 am.

Things can happen; when I left last year, it was 40 degrees outside and the computers were very, very slow. I got to the RAC desk at 7:00 am (my flight didn't leave until 6:40 pm) and I was the tenth person in line. It took about 35 minutes to do the entire process because the computers kept freezing up.

 

[Lewisc]

My understanding is the 3 hour rule is computer enforced.

 

[mama_scraps]

Good to know. Thanks for the quick responses. I'll have everyone packed and headed to the airline check-in desk early!

 

[goofy4tink]

I always head to the RAC counter early in the day on my departure day. I usually am all done and walking away by 7:30am. I don't need those bags, so why hold onto them any longer than I have to?
For a 12:15 flight, you will be picked up around 9:15. If you decide to check your bags at RAC just before getting the bus, I would do it no later than 8:30. You must be done with the transaction no less than 3 hrs before your departure time...9:15. Otherwise, you will have to take the bags with you to the airport.

 

[frog3101]

Hi, not trying to hijack the post, but can I ask another question. I asked earlier and as confirmed by this post also if I have an 8:20 a.m. flight out of MCO I will need to be at the bus stop by 5:05 a.m., correct? Since the check-in counter for bags does not open til 5:00 a.m. I'm guessing I will have to take our bags with us to the airport? Sorry if I am reading this wrong. Is it allowed to check them the day before departure? Not sure if this will work if the desk closes at 1:00 p.m. however. TIA You guys are awesome!

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't believe you can check them in the day before...I 'think' check in has to be less than 12 hrs prior, but I could be wrong.
In any case.... get to the RAC counter no later than 5am...that way you'll be first in the line. It should take you less than 10 mins....as I said before, you have to be walking away from the RAC counter, all checked in, no less than 3 hrs before your flight. You 'should' be okay if you're there by 5...shouldn't take more than 10 mins at that time of day...but don't miss your DME bus....pick up will be at 5:20, give or take 10 mins either way.

 

[frog3101]

I don't believe you can check them in the day before...I 'think' check in has to be less than 12 hrs prior, but I could be wrong.
In any case.... get to the RAC counter no later than 5am...that way you'll be first in the line. It should take you less than 10 mins....as I said before, you have to be walking away from the RAC counter, all checked in, no less than 3 hrs before your flight. You 'should' be okay if you're there by 5...shouldn't take more than 10 mins at that time of day...but don't miss your DME bus....pick up will be at 5:20, give or take 10 mins either way.

Thanks for the info. Oy! It's gonna be a super early day!

 

[Missytara]

I don't believe you can check them in the day before...I 'think' check in has to be less than 12 hrs prior, but I could be wrong.
In any case.... get to the RAC counter no later than 5am...that way you'll be first in the line. It should take you less than 10 mins....as I said before, you have to be walking away from the RAC counter, all checked in, no less than 3 hrs before your flight. You 'should' be okay if you're there by 5...shouldn't take more than 10 mins at that time of day...but don't miss your DME bus....pick up will be at 5:20, give or take 10 mins either way.

That is correct; the rule of thumb is you cannot check your bags more than 12 hours before your flight departure.