Southwest and checking in at resort

[Jestocost]

I am confused I have gotten 2 different opposite information about this. Our TA told me that I can check in at the Airline Check in at the resort 24 hours before our flight and they will take care of everything for us and our bags, even if our flight is leaving at 7:30am.

I am now confused as to what I am supposed to do.

Someone posted here that I cannot use the Resort Airline Check in cause our flight was so early in the am.

Your TA was incorrect and sadly many TAs don't provide accurate information about many things at Disney. This can result in guests being angry at Disney even when they are doing everything they say they will.

The fact is you can't use RAC to check your bags until 12 hours before your flight. You can--and should--check in for your SWA flight to get your boarding numbers 24 hours before your flight (if you don't use EBCI) and your resort will do that part for you, but that's completely separate from RAC.

I think you are getting RAC (Resort Airline Check in) and ME (Magical Express) confused. For lack of a better way to explain it, RAC is the practice of checking your bags in and getting them to the airport. ME is the practice of you getting on the bus to get you to/from the airport. They are two separate entities.

Yes, DME is a separate service from RAC and the DME bus service to MCO runs 24 hours a day, but here's no check in required at 24 hours (or at any time prior to boarding the bus) for your DME return trip as long as you have a reservation, so I don't think that's where the confusion lies. You will get your DME pick-up information on your resort room door the day before your departure.

 

[ccgirl]

Your TA was incorrect and sadly many TAs don't provide accurate information about many things at Disney. This can result in guests being angry at Disney even when they are doing everything they say they will.

The fact is you can't use RAC to check your bags until 12 hours before your flight. You can--and should--check in for your SWA flight to get your boarding numbers 24 hours before your flight (if you don't use EBCI) and your resort will do that part for you, but that's completely separate from RAC.



Yes, DME is a separate service from RAC and the DME bus service to MCO runs 24 hours a day, but here's no check in required at 24 hours (or at any time prior to boarding the bus) for your DME return trip as long as you have a reservation, so I don't think that's where the confusion lies. You will get your DME pick-up information on your resort room door the day before your departure.

I guess I should have phrased it as the TA's confusion was between the two since they told the poster they could use RAC any time of the day.

 

[kteesmumma]

Thank you both for clarifying all this for me. I have been having issues with this TA and now this is just icing on the cake. UGH.

So to clarify this..I can go to the resort front desk at the 24 hour mark and have them do my online check in for my flight and get my boarding section?

But because my flight is early in the am I wont be able to use the RAC at the 12 hour mark to have them take care of my bags?

I do have DME and completely understand how that works.

 

[Mom3girls]

Am I correct for thinking I can't use RAC either if we have a flight out of MCO at 7:30pm?

 

[kteesmumma]

I am really upset that this whole trip I have used a TA that specializes in Disney and am now getting the wrong information. I still have yet to receive our Mickey Mail...Our TA has said not all the documents have arrived..but I still have to wait for them to get to her and then for her to mail them to me. UGH

 

[verticalchaos]

Am I correct for thinking I can't use RAC either if we have a flight out of MCO at 7:30pm?

Just to make sure - PM, right?

Yes, you can use it. You'd just go over to RAC any time after it opens (but preferably well before your flight) and check your bags in. As long as your airline is one of the participating airlines. You just can't check it MORE than 12 hours before your flight. And you'd have to check it before RAC closes. But yes, you definitely could.

Well, as long as you don't need to hold onto your luggage until the last minute. Then no, you couldn't.

 

[verticalchaos]

I am really upset that this whole trip I have used a TA that specializes in Disney and am now getting the wrong information. I still have yet to receive our Mickey Mail...Our TA has said not all the documents have arrived..but I still have to wait for them to get to her and then for her to mail them to me. UGH

I've never used a travel agent and never will. I don't like not having control over MY vacation. I'm certainly not paying someone to have control over it.

 

[Jestocost]

Am I correct for thinking I can't use RAC either if we have a flight out of MCO at 7:30pm?

No, that's not correct.

For a 7:30 p.m. flight you absolutely can use RAC. You'll just have to do it between 7:30 a.m. (12 hours before your flight) and 1:00 p.m. (when the RAC desk closes).

 

[Mom3girls]

No, that's not correct.

For a 7:30 p.m. flight you absolutely can use RAC. You'll just have to do it between 7:30 a.m. (12 hours before your flight) and 1:00 p.m. (when the RAC desk closes).

Thanks so much for clearing that up for me!