Southwest and Magical Express

[iankh]

I have a question about Magical Express and Southwest Airlines. When we arrive in MCO, if our luggage is tagged, is it automatically picked up?

I know that Southwest is not a participant for the return and luggage check at the airport but what about for the arrival in MCO?

 

[RobDoc]

Yes, as long as you have the green Disney tags on your luggage, it will be separated at MCO. You will have to check it yourself for the return trip.

Enjoy!

 

[Ksp]

Doc's right; that's exactly how it worked for us when we flew Southwest in November and used Magical Express. The yellow tags (ours were yellow, not green) made all the difference.
Friends of ours did not get their tags in time, so we grabbed their luggage at baggage claim and Disney took it when we checked in.
(We did have a bit of a hard time finding the Disney check in area; it's all the way downstairs, if I recall....sorry can't remember where the check in is...I've already tossed all that info from November.)

 

[disfanmac]

touse SWA and DME 3 times this year. wonderful each time. If you have your yellow (with green dot)tags on the luggage it will be in your room eventually.

have a great vacation!

 

[iankh]

I used Magical Express in August, but we flew in and out on American. This is our first trip down there on SWA. Our tags arrived last week, they're yellow (as were the ones in August).

(I didn't know there were also green tags)

 

[dsneygirl]

We've used SW twice with ME and both times just brought our luggage with us so we didn't have to wait for it.

 

[iankh]

It's funny, because now it's all moot. I received a call from member services this morning. My waitlist for BCV cleared. My Magical Express luggage tags for OKW are no good and it's too close to arrival for new tags. I guess I'm going to have to claim and schlepp my bags myself!

 

[Disney Dawg]

Just a little advice, We used southwest when we were down in Nov.and also used ME. Do youself a favor and 24 hours before your flight home take a trip to the front desk and ask them to print out your boarding passes. This way you'll be sure to get on the "A" seating. We did this and it worked out great. Have a great time!!!

 

[byoung]

I love Southwest just got 2 round trips awards from them today. 2 more trips to the world.

 

[Patty3]

Just a little advice, We used southwest when we were down in Nov.and also used ME. Do youself a favor and 24 hours before your flight home take a trip to the front desk and ask them to print out your boarding passes. This way you'll be sure to get on the "A" seating. We did this and it worked out great. Have a great time!!!

Was there a fee for having the front desk print out your boarding passes?

 

[Ksp]

Was there a fee for having the front desk print out your boarding passes?

No....they will do it for free for you

 

[Patty3]

That is great to know, thanks for the post.

 

[Ksp]

Y'welcome, Patty3!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I just have to tell you this delightful story ! Because I was going to be on Southwest, I never even signed up for ME at all. And this time I did not get my Mears vouchers in advance. I just figured that I would go to the Mears counter when I get there and pay then. I went to the Mears counter and they asked me where my resort was. I told them Coronado Springs. They told me to go over to the ME desk, even if I did not originally sign up.
I was able to get the free ME bus ride ( BOTH ways ). I was really thrilled.
I just had to handle all my own luggage myself. I was happy !

 

[iankh]

I'm starting to get pretty excited about the trip next week. It's an early flight on SWA out of Midway, around 7:30 AM! I suppose I should be happy that my waitlist cleared at BCV (although I had really hoped my waitlist would clear at BMV). This will a couple of firsts for us. First time on SWA and first time staying at BCV, and first New Year's Eve in WDW. MOM (that's my oh my)

 

[FreeTime]

I think the Mears points people to ME since that is already paid for. I tried to book a Mears shuttle online and was unable to do so to a Disney resort and we really did not want to do ME. I guess Disney must have some kind of agreement where Mears is not allowed to let guest use their other shuttles. Not sure...

 

[LisaS]

I think the Mears points people to ME since that is already paid for. I tried to book a Mears shuttle online and was unable to do so to a Disney resort and we really did not want to do ME. I guess Disney must have some kind of agreement where Mears is not allowed to let guest use their other shuttles. Not sure...

I'm curious why you don't want to do ME but were considering Mears. I haven't used ME yet, but have taken Mears shuttles on two trips. Based on DIS members' reports of their ME experiences, I can see only one reason one might favor Mears over ME and that is if you prefer to have your luggage travel with you to your resort, rather than having to wait up to 3 hours for it to be placed in your room. Everything else about Mears vs ME seems to be pretty similar: long waits to leave the airport, dropping off passengers at one or two other resorts on the way to your resort, etc.

I must confess I was very disappointed with Mears the last time we used them a year or so ago. They picked us up in a small van that looked like it was normally used to transport luggage rather than people. We sat in uncomfortable seats along the side of the van with everyone's luggage piled in the middle of the van. With each bump in the road I hit my head on the side wall of the van and ended up having to lean forward in my seat to keep that from happening (and I'm only 5'4" tall -- a taller person would not have even been able to sit upright in those seats!) I've seen the ME buses and I would much rather ride in one of those than risk getting transported in another Mears luggage van!

 

[FreeTime]

Hi-I was looking on the Mears site for transportation with a car. I wanted to have a grocery stop. We ended up using ME anyways. The trip to the resort was fine, our luggage arrived around 6, we were okay with that as I brought a day bag. On the way back though, we had trouble getting on the bus. It turned out that those were ressies for the 8am pickup were trying to get on the 7:20 bus. The wait to board the bus seemed to take forever both coming and going. I probably will not use ME again, and if you are indicating that the regular Mears shuttles have a long wait, probably won't use those either. I am an impatient person and when I am ready to go, I want to go.

 

[StormTigger]

FreeTime - if you hate to wait, I suggest you take one of the towncar services. I've normally use Flordia Towncars Service when I go and have had great experiences. You pay for it of course (verse free w/ ME), but for me it was worth it not to wait, and to go directly to my resort and then back to the airport. They also do the grocery stop for a $10 charge.

(Dis won't let me add the link to the their website ((don't know what's up w/ this).. but if you do a search for Florida Towncar Service you should find it.)