RAC fiasco at OKW

[Uncleromulus]

I like the idea--don't get me wrong. But our recent experience Saturday leaves me wondering if they really know what they are doing.
Our flight was set for 9:38 AM and we knew that they want you to check in at least 3 hours ahead. So to be safe, we arrived at the podium at excatly 5:05 AM --we were the first and only customers there. Plenty of time!!Looked promising!

The gentleman at the counter and the one baggage attendant appeared to be half asleep. Without so much as a good morning or hello, he barked out "Flight number". So we told him. He then spent 5 minutes staring at the computer screen shaking his head. I then took pity and suggested he might want to know the airline as well?? Turns out he did!! But that didn't help. He spent an additional 10 minutes just staring at the screen--and looked up just once to tell us Airtran was always slow (but he didn't know why). At 5:35 (a half hour after we had gotten there) I took pity again and suggested he try the computer screen next to the one he was staring at. "Can't" he said--"broke".

We waited 5 more minutes and then I just got fed up. We took our bags back and went to the airport the usual way. He was still staring at the computer screen as we got into our car...in fact, he may still be there now, 3 days later.

Next time I think I'll just get the boarding pass printed at the hotel counter and take our own luggage to the airport. The whole affair left me feeling very uneasy about BAGS and RAC.

 

[Sandi]

That was a fiasco. We had an early morning experience at BWV in August and I was impressed with how chipper the staff was at 5:15 in the morning. They do, however, seem to have the slowest computers in the universe.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The girl who was the attendant actually taking and weighing our bags spent most of all that time propped up against a wall trying hard not to fall asleep and topple over.
I'm not certain she would have had enough energy to affix the airline baggage tags to the luggage---which of course never had a chance to happen.

 

[Pakey]

On our last visit in May at SSR, we waited in the RAC line for over 2 hours and I don't think it moved more than 2 people. The line was huge and we were still at least 20 people back from their counter.

We put our bags in the car and checked in using the kiosks at the airport in about 3 seconds.

I'll be at BCV next week and I'm not even going to bother getting into the line.

 

[helenk]

On our last visit in May at SSR, we waited in the RAC line for over 2 hours and I don't think it moved more than 2 people. The line was huge and we were still at least 20 people back from their counter.

We put our bags in the car and checked in using the kiosks at the airport in about 3 seconds.

I'll be at BCV next week and I'm not even going to bother getting into the line.

I had a great experience at the BCV when I departed on 9/6, nice CMs friendly and helpful as this was my first time using RAC. I was the second person in line got everything squared away and I was on my way.

 

[skelooch]

I too used RAC at BCV in Sept without a problem, and also used the one at OKW in July and had no problems there either. I have always received prompt courtesy service whenever I have used RAC.

I'm sorry to hear the OP had a bad experience. But I wouldn't totally give up or condemn the sytem because of one bad experience.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We attempted to use RAC at AKV, however their system was having issues with connecting with JetBlue, so we couldn't use the system. The staff was very friendly, it was just unfortunate that their system was not working properly (she said they were having an issue with their connection with JetBlue for the past few days and they were aware of the problems).

 

[AlexDurrani]

Is it just me or is there a trend with the airline in general and not RAC. Something tells me that the OP hit the nail with the comment of the CM saying that the airline was always slow. Now honestly the attitude of the CM behind the desk was deplorable with not looking up when talking to the guests and making eye contact. Totally not something you would find at Disney no matter what time of the morning it is.

 

[francie57]

Sorry about your experience. We have used RAC at the BWVs for years and have always had a great experienc. We just used them in Aug. and were done within 10 min. We will definitely use them again on our next trip since it saves so much time at the airport and we don't have to leave Disney as early.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well-I can tell you that about 15 minutes into the ordeal, Mrs U elbowed me and said "Let's get our bags and get out of here--they don't know what they're doing"
Amen to that.
And thinking it over, we waited less time than at the Airport--and at least knowing that 1) Our bags WERE at the airport and 2) They were at the right airline.

 

[clkelley]

We had never used RAC before because we were on SW, and also due to the 12 hour rule, probably still won't use it for our leisure trips even though SW has been added. I just don't want to wait until 8:30 in the morning to leave the resort for the day on my last day. I want to be finishing up breakfast at Hollywood & Vine getting reading to get in line for TSM.

I thought I would be using RAC on Monday morning, but wasn't able to.

The entire experience was a cluster.

When we arrived, it took FOREVER to add me as a guest to the room. (My DH and BIL were on the package, I was just there for a couple of days, so just wanted a room key). When they FINALLY got me added to the room, she called DME and I heard her make the reservation.

This was late Saturday afternoon.

Sunday morning before heading to the parks, asked the RAC folks if I could check in/pay baggage fee online with UNITED and still use RAC. All I got was an oh yeah, sure. English was not his first language.

Sunday night late, got back to the room and no DME note on the door. Went to the front desk and they could find no record of my DME reservation.

Then went to the room and tried to check in online. Had extreme difficulty with internet connection (aircard, not Disney's fault) and did not receive a confirmation page after inputting credit card and didn't know if I was checked in or not.

Next morning, instead of having breakfast with DH before leaving, spent 30 minutes at RAC desk and was not able to check my bag, then spent 30 minutes at front desk to find my DME reservation and print my DME bus pass.

I board DME bus no problem, tip the bus driver and when I get to the airport, I WAS NOT checked in for my flight, so have no clue why they couldn't find me on RAC.

I am not even going to waste my time again trying to use RAC.