RAC and being "flagged"

[LaurEm378]

Hi! I'll be traveling to WDW with my son and father in May. My brother will be meeting us halfway through the trip.

We are renting a car for the week, and won't be using ME at all. I've reserved a standard size car through Alamo for $284, but if I can't get a significantly better deal between now and May I aim to downsize. But all this hinges on being able to use RAC on departure day.

We'll have more luggage upon departure than on arrival (my brother's + souvenirs)--probably 4 medium suitcases plus backpacks, and I'm concerned about fitting it all into the car.

I have read that with RAC people can be randomly "flagged" and thus have to schlep their luggage to MCO. If this happens, is ONE person in the party "flagged," or the WHOLE party? And how common is this? (I read it's one family per resort per day?) If that happened, we'd be in big trouble.

Additionally, our flight takes off at 3:25 on departure day, and I'd have the bags checked at RAC by 10:30 since we have an 11 a.m. breakfast ADR--no foreseeable problems with this, right?

Thanks for any info you can offer!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used RAC more times than I can recall...have never been 'flagged'. No one in my family has been flagged and none of my friends have ever been flagged. So, it's just nothing I would worry about. Of course, I usually recommend against getting a car that won't accommodate all the bags..but that is your choice.
As far as timing to hand off your bags...you can do that at any time during the morning. I usually go down and get checked in as early as I can. That way, I don't have to worry about it. But you can also do it on your way to your ADR.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I've never heard of anyone being flagged

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think it's a case of being 'flagged' vs there being an issue at the airlines end and you have to checkin there, in person. But it's not being flagged.

 

[figment_jii]

Using ME and using RAC are actually two different services when you're departing. As far as I know, you do not have to use ME to be eligible to use RAC.

Now, on the RAC website, it does mention that some guests may be "flagged" and required to check-in at the airport. This sounds like it might have something to do with TSA and airline security and I don't know if there is anyway to find out in advance if you or someone in your party ends up being "flagged" for airport check-in.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

 

[teacherlisa1978]

We were "flagged " on our last trip. My mom and niece were in a connecting room and not flagged. They were flying first class and had free checked luggage so they checked our luggage under their names and somehow in all of this the problem went away. But when I thought some if us were going to check in at the resort and some at MCO I started to get a little stressed.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi! I'll be traveling to WDW with my son and father in May. My brother will be meeting us halfway through the trip.

We are renting a car for the week, and won't be using ME at all. I've reserved a standard size car through Alamo for $284, but if I can't get a significantly better deal between now and May I aim to downsize. But all this hinges on being able to use RAC on departure day.

We'll have more luggage upon departure than on arrival (my brother's + souvenirs)--probably 4 medium suitcases plus backpacks, and I'm concerned about fitting it all into the car.

I have read that with RAC people can be randomly "flagged" and thus have to schlep their luggage to MCO. If this happens, is ONE person in the party "flagged," or the WHOLE party? And how common is this? (I read it's one family per resort per day?) If that happened, we'd be in big trouble.

Additionally, our flight takes off at 3:25 on departure day, and I'd have the bags checked at RAC by 10:30 since we have an 11 a.m. breakfast ADR--no foreseeable problems with this, right?

Thanks for any info you can offer!

I remember a post a month or two ago where someone could not check-in luggage under their son's name but were able to add his to the mom's record. It was SW so they got 2 free bags per person.

 

[LaurEm378]

Thanks for the info, everyone! Sounds like this isn't super common, but I'm glad I know it's a possibility nonetheless. If just one of us couldn't check luggage, no big deal, but if all of us couldn't, that'd be a problem.

This will be my first trip to WDW in 13 years so there is NO WAY I'm scaling back my souvenir shopping ... looks like I'll be renting the big car after all, just to be on the safe side!

Thanks again, all.

 

[MillauFr]

what is rac? To many acronyms in use around here for me to keep track of.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Thanks for the info, everyone! Sounds like this isn't super common, but I'm glad I know it's a possibility nonetheless. If just one of us couldn't check luggage, no big deal, but if all of us couldn't, that'd be a problem.

This will be my first trip to WDW in 13 years so there is NO WAY I'm scaling back my souvenir shopping ... looks like I'll be renting the big car after all, just to be on the safe side!

I wouldn't rent the big car on the miniscule chance you couldn't do RAC. If you couldn't do RAC, one of you could take a cab back to the airport with some of the luggage. You'll probably still save money over renting the bigger car. And even if you don't, it's a gamble I'm willing to take. Chances of not being able to do RAC is slim at best.

One thing you have to consider. Assuming you bought a round trip plane ticket; if you're flagged on the trip to WDW, you're probably flagged on the trip home.

what is rac? To many acronyms in use around here for me to keep track of.

I think it stands for "Resort Airline Check-in," but I'm not entirely certain. Nonetheless, it's a Disney resort perk. You check your luggage at the resort itself rather than the airport. The luggage goes from the resort to the airport via Magical Express and is loaded directly into your plane. Basically, you don't see your luggage between the luggage check-in at the resort, and baggage retrieval at your home airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the info, everyone! Sounds like this isn't super common, but I'm glad I know it's a possibility nonetheless. If just one of us couldn't check luggage, no big deal, but if all of us couldn't, that'd be a problem.

This will be my first trip to WDW in 13 years so there is NO WAY I'm scaling back my souvenir shopping ... looks like I'll be renting the big car after all, just to be on the safe side!

Thanks again, all.

If you buy something sizable, have it shipped home! I usually wait until the end of my stay, head to the big Disney store in DTD..then, I buy everything I want and have it boxed up and shipped home. Sure, I have to wait for it to arrive, but it's not such a bad thing. You get to relive all the excitement all over again!