Southwest Airlines and the Magical Express?

[figment97]

Not sure if I know how to ask this question... but we have never flown Southwest before, and we want to make sure we will still be offered the Magical Express.

Does Southwest offer the Magical Express?

TIA!

 

[TheWog]

Disney's Magical Express (DME) is a Disney thing, not a Southwest thing. Yes, you can sign up for DME you just have to do it ahead of time. Provide them with your flight information and you will follow the signs to the DME desk and check in and climb aboard. If you arrive prior to 10:00 p.m. you can take advantage of the luggage delivery service if you choose. RAC on the way back will be what you want to find out about for getting your luggage to your flight.

 

[Missytara]

Anyone can use the ME bus.

You are thinking of the RAC on the way home. All the resorts, with the exception of CBR, Southwest passengers are now able to use RAC.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Not sure if I know how to ask this question... but we have never flown Southwest before, and we want to make sure we will still be offered the Magical Express.

Does Southwest offer the Magical Express?

Technically, no airline offers Disney's Magical Express. You can't sign up for DME through airline systems, and you're unlikely to find airline employees who know what DME is (unless they've they've planned their own WDW vacation).

Disney offers Disney's Magical Express. It's available if you're on the reservation for a stay any Disney-operated WDW resort. It can be a package or room-only. It can be a a DVC points stay or a traditional reservation. You can book through a travel agency or on your own. You must reserve ahead of time through Disney.

Yes, you can use DME inbound and outbound transportation at Orlando International with any airline, including Southwest. You can use DME inbound luggage transfers from Orlando International with any airline, including Southwest.

When it's time to return to the airport you can check in and check your bags at your WDW resort with Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) with RAC participating airlines only. Although Southwest was not yet on the official list the last time I looked, the reality is that Southwest passengers are now successfully using RAC at almost all WDW resorts.

 

[Jestocost]

All Disney resort guests travelling on all airlines domestically always have been able to use all DME inbound services, including luggage transfer, and DME motor coach service to return to the airport.

Until the past year or so, guests flying on SWA had not been able to use Resort Airline Check-in, a separate service that allows you to check bags and get boarding passes for your homebound flight. As of earlier this year, however, RAC has been available to SWA passengers at most Disney resorts. OKW and CBR guests were not able to use RAC if flying SWA, but I believe SWA is now up and running with RAC at OKW. That leaves only CBR as a question mark.

 

[goofy4tink]

It doesn't matter how you get to MCO...every single person listed on a WDW resort reservation is entitled to a ride from MCO to their Disney owned resort, and then a ride back to the airport at the end of their stay.
It does have to be booked in advance though...you can not just show up and hop on the bus. So, you would contact whomever you booked your WDW stay with. They will want your flight info. Then, you will/should get your DME info packet about 4-5 weeks before you travel to WDW.
You will have vouchers for each person on the reservation, as well as one yellow luggage tag for each person, in that packet. It will give you all the info you need, as well as easy to follow directions to the DME counter.

The confusion was due to some airlines not participating in the RAC (remote airline checkin) system at the resort level. SW has joined RAC so it is available to those flying out on SW now...except for one or two resorts which are still working on the storage issue.

RAC and DME are two different entities.