Questions about a first time stay at a DR

[LotsaMickey]

I was wondering,can you get into the parks early if you stay at a DWR? And if so,how early?

Also,my husband and I are flying out of Orlando airport May28th to go home =(
But,we wanted to do a few hours at Disney,will the hotel hold our bags until we have to head off to the airport?
Our plane leaves at 7:30pm,we need to be there at 5:30,so that gives us a few hours once the park opens,but I think our check out is at 11am,just didn't want to lug our bags around!

Thanks!

Any tips would be great too! Thanks!

 

[TillyMarigold]

I think I answered the first question about Extra Magic Hours for you on another thread, but to answer the second:

1. Yes, the hotel will hold the bags for you at luggage services or bell services.

2. If you aren't renting a car and are using Disney's airport shuttle (Magical Express) instead, and are flying an airline that participates, you can "check in" for your flight at your resort and they will take care of the bags from that point on--they will get them to the airport and onto your plane, you just need to pick them up at your home airport. (They will also pick up your bags at the airport when you arrive and deliver them to your room.)

 

[LotsaMickey]

Really? That is fantastic! I will have to call the 800# for our cruise and see if our airline supports that,we are using the Disney shuttle service,so that would be awesome!

Thanks again for all your help and info!
I have been to Disney many many times,but have never done the cruise or stayed on the resorts,so it is a whole new experience for us now LOL

Thanks so much again!

 

[TillyMarigold]

It might be different arriving for your cruise, I've never done one. I've used Magical Express between the airport and the hotel only. So I'm sure you can use it when you go back to the airport.

The airlines that participate are most of the big ones (Delta, United, USAir, American, Continental) and some of the small ones like AirTran. Southwest doesn't right now, but they were supposed to start rolling it out this week at some resorts, so hopefully it will be available everywhere soon.

You can still leave your bags with Bell Services or Luggage Services and take Magical Express whether your airline participates or not; the difference is that if your airline doesn't participate, you have to then pick your bags up from Luggage/Bell Services, take them on the bus with you, and check them in at the airport.

(By the way, the moderate and deluxe resorts have "bell services" but the values have "luggage services." I'm not sure of the difference except that bell services are open 24/7 and luggage services are only open 7 am to midnight.)