RAC when returning home....

[Disneyolic]

My questions are for people who have experienced RAC at the resort on their return home.

How did that experience go for you?

Were there a lot of people in line?

How long did it take to checkin?

What time did you check in?

My family will be staying at POR and will be flying JetBlue back so we are utilizing DME and the RAC. We don't need to catch the DME bus until 3:30 pm so I am wondering when is a good time to get all of the checkin process done.

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[CarolA]

I have only done it twice.

Neither time did I have a long line for check in. Probably took five minutes total each time.

I would say it was probably right around 11 AM (I have noticed lines around 8 am are long, but I generally hang around the resort until close to check out time if I have a late flight)

I think you have to do it four hours in advance

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I've used RAC five times. It's always worked flawlessly (almost). *

Essentially, it's the remote equivalent of airport curbside check-in. The RAC skycap checks your IDs, prints your boarding passes, and tags your checked luggage through to your home airport. As with any skycaps, tips are appropriate.

You can use RAC 3-12 hours before your scheduled departure.

We typically use RAC around 10 a.m. The line at the RAC counter has never been more that 1 or 2 people ahead of us, but I've read reports on this board of longer lines. Allow for 20 minutes and then be pleasantly surprised when it takes only 5 minutes.

By using RAC, you can go straight to security at the airport, bypassing your airline's ticket counter. Unless you have carry-ons in the belly of the DME motorcoach, you can get off at the first airport stop because the security checkpoints are all essentially halfway between the "A" side and the "B" side.

* Our only problem was that RAC once couldn't print my wife's boarding pass because of a limitation in how American Airlines handles first class upgrades for elite AAdvantage members. We were able to check both of our bags against my boarding pass. We had to stop at the AA counter at the airport to get my wife's boarding pass. (You can have a similar situation if you are randomly selected for additional security screening.)

 

[Disneyolic]

Thank you so much for your help. I'm sure we would have been instructed at the resort but I like to be prepared for what to expect. I know I can always rely on fellow DISers information!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used it several times...at POR, POP and BW. I like to get there very early....about 7ish. Everyone in your group has to be with you though. At POR I waited behind a woman at about 7:15. She was more than a bit put out when she got to the counter and was told that her entire party had to be there, in person. Her response was that they had had a late night and were still sleeping!! Using RAC is the exact same thing as checking in at the airport counter....everyone has to be there, ID's in hand.
My experiences have all been good ones. I will say that if you wait until after 7:45 or so, the lines get very long. Evidently a lot of people like to do the checkin on their way to the parks that last morning. We check in around 6:45-7, then get something to eat, then head out to the park.

 

[n2mm]

I've used RAC five times. It's always worked flawlessly (almost). *

Essentially, it's the remote equivalent of airport curbside check-in. The RAC skycap checks your IDs, prints your boarding passes, and tags your checked luggage through to your home airport. As with any skycaps, tips are appropriate.

You can use RAC 3-12 hours before your scheduled departure.

We typically use RAC around 10 a.m. The line at the RAC counter has never been more that 1 or 2 people ahead of us, but I've read reports on this board of longer lines. Allow for 20 minutes and then be pleasantly surprised when it takes only 5 minutes.

By using RAC, you can go straight to security at the airport, bypassing your airline's ticket counter. Unless you have carry-ons in the belly of the DME motorcoach, you can get off at the first airport stop because the security checkpoints are all essentially halfway between the "A" side and the "B" side.

* Our only problem was that RAC once couldn't print my wife's boarding pass because of a limitation in how American Airlines handles first class upgrades for elite AAdvantage members. We were able to check both of our bags against my boarding pass. We had to stop at the AA counter at the airport to get my wife's boarding pass. (You can have a similar situation if you are randomly selected for additional security screening.)

A perfect outline of how the system works!

(I've used it 6 times myself with United and only once did we not get to print out a boarding pass for the same reason as you.) The only other thing folks need to remember because we do use it first thing in the morning that often our gate assignment is not posted, so folks need to check the board at the airport to see what gate they are leaving from before going through security.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Another thing to keep in mind is that the RAC counters at each Disney-operated WDW resort are open from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Because RAC check-ins are only available 3-12 hours before scheduled flight time, guests with early-morning flights (before approx. 8 a.m.) can't use RAC. And even guests with late evening flights who want to use RAC need to do so while the RAC counter is open.

 

[deedeetoo]

We used it last year and everyone didn't need to be there. I was traveling with dh, dd, ds and my mom. They did insist that my Mom come down because she had a different last name, but I was able to check everyone else in with no problem.

I went down early (prob around 7:30 - 8:00) and there was no wait.