SWA and DME

[Duckyiam71]

I know Southwest is not a participating airline. So I will have to lug my luggage around. Do I need to add my flight info on my ressies to use the ME or can I show up? If I need to add it to my ressies, how can I do it online? Thanks for any help!

 

[seashoreCM]

Going to Disney you need to reserve Magical Express for your check in day, same as with any other airline. Have your flight number handy in case they ask for that instead of your arrival time.

You may use the yellow tags for automagical delivery to your room (arriviing in Orlaindo before 10 PM), same as with any other airline.

(For all airlines) Remove yellow tags before going home.

Magical Express hot line number: toll free 866-599-0951

Not sure if you can reserve Magical Express on line via your resort reservation.

 

[monarchsfan16]

You do need to add DME to your reservation, and to add your flight info to that reservation. They need your departing flight info to know when to schedule your pick up the day you return to the airport. You should be able to go to "retrieve resort reservation online" and then add it there.

As far as SWA participating, they are included in arrivals (ALL airlines arriving at MCO are). In other words, as long as your flight arrives at MCO BEFORE 10pm, put the yellow luggage tag on your luggage, check your luggage at your home airport and you'll see it in your hotel room. Skip baggage claim and go straight to the DME check in area. IF you're arriving after 10pm, skip the luggage tag step, go to baggage claim, get your luggage, and then go get on the bus.

When you leave, you will need to take your luggage to the bus. The driver will load it under the bus, and when you arrive at the airport, the driver will pull your luggage out, you'll go to the ticket counter or curbside, check your luggage and then go to the gate.

However, if you're staying at a value resort, as it stands now (probably subject to change at any time), on the day you leave you can check your luggage at the resort, as long as your flight leaves after about 8:30am.

 

[camtheriot]

You can make your ME reservations online at disneysmagicalexpress.com , I booked ours yesterday.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Flying in on SW and using DME from MCO, you do not have to get your luggage form the carousel before heading to the DME desk. Use your luggage tags when you leave your home arirport and your bags will show up in your room at your resort.

 

[DMRick]

I thought they were participating now? We were in a trial staying at Pop in September, and I thought I read on the Dis they made it permanent in all the resorts. Yes, no?

 

[n2mm]

I thought they were participating now? We were in a trial staying at Pop in September, and I thought I read on the Dis they made it permanent in all the resorts. Yes, no?

Nope. We were just at the BWV last weekend and asked. Still in trial period at the value resorts to include the All Stars and Pop Century. I asked when the other resorts would be included and they said they don't have any idea when that will happen. (This was on January 30, 2010)

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Nope. We were just at the BWV last weekend and asked. Still in trial period at the value resorts to include the All Stars and Pop Century. I asked when the other resorts would be included and they said they don't have any idea when that will happen. (This was on January 30, 2010)

Ugggg.

 

[goofy4tink]

Something to think about....when I spoke with the RAC personnel, back in Dec, we were talking about SW joining the 'participating airlines' in all resorts. They (RAC people) are very concerned about the amount of luggage that will be added to the overall totals. They said that if SW does join, it may result in a timing change...rather than having to have your business completed no less than 3 hrs before flight departure, it may mean an addtl hour or two.

I'm sure that SW will be available at all resorts and RAC, in the future. It's just a matter of when. I know that I am weighing my options for my summer trip. I may add an addtl night and move to a value resort if I decide to fly SW...that way I can use RAC that morning.

 

[tscrapper]

So let me get this straight we can use DME if we are flying SW we just need to tote our own bags? I guess I was under the mistaken impression SW fliers couldn't use DME at all our flight arrives before 8pm. If this is the case that would be great because we were thinking of renting the town car to get to CSR.

 

[DebbieB]

So let me get this straight we can use DME if we are flying SW we just need to tote our own bags? I guess I was under the mistaken impression SW fliers couldn't use DME at all our flight arrives before 8pm. If this is the case that would be great because we were thinking of renting the town car to get to CSR.

You can use DME with any airline. That allows you to ride the bus to and from the airport. You can have your luggage delivered from the airport to the resort with any airline (if your flight arrives before 10pm). The participating airline factor only comes into play for checking luggage at your resort for the flight home. If they are not participating, you have to carry your luggage to the bus to be loaded underneath and check it in at the airport yourself.

 

[tscrapper]

Thanks DebbieB you made my day!

Tammy

 

[Virtucomp]

I have always flown Southwest to Orlando. We stayed at Pop back in 2005 and used the ME then. They picked up the bags using our bag tickets and brought them to our room. I don't understand why people are posting that they still don't support ME yet.

Is it possible that everyone is confusing the Early Checkin for SW flights at the resort desk? I've been reading that you some airlines will let the resort desk print your boarding passes as you leave the resort.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So let me get this straight we can use DME if we are flying SW we just need to tote our own bags?

Excuse me for yelling, but... NO!!!!!!

EVERY SINGLE GUEST WITH A DISNEY RESORT RESERVATION can use Magical Express, INCLUDING LUGGAGE DELIVERY, on the way to Walt Disney World.

Every single Guest with a Disney Resort reservation can use Magical Express on the way to the airport as well, but only certain airlines participate in Resort Airline Check-in. If your airline does not participate in RAC from your departing-day resort, you cannot check your bags through. You need to take them to the DME bus where the driver will stow them underneath, and pull them at the airport.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have always flown Southwest to Orlando. We stayed at Pop back in 2005 and used the ME then. They picked up the bags using our bag tickets and brought them to our room. I don't understand why people are posting that they still don't support ME yet.

See my post above. Except at the Value resorts, Southwest does not participate in Resort Airline Check-in, i.e. being able to check in for your flight and check your luggage through to your home airport.

As someone stated above, EVERY airline participates in Magical Express for Guests arriving in Orlando.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have always flown Southwest to Orlando. We stayed at Pop back in 2005 and used the ME then. They picked up the bags using our bag tickets and brought them to our room. I don't understand why people are posting that they still don't support ME yet.

Is it possible that everyone is confusing the Early Checkin for SW flights at the resort desk? I've been reading that you some airlines will let the resort desk print your boarding passes as you leave the resort.

Why to people believe that??? Simply put...because Disney people and TAs give out the wrong info. I can't tell you how many people I have talked to that have told me that they were told, by Disney CMs or TAs when booking their trips, that if they fly on SW, they aren't able to tag their bags. Drives me nuts, nuts I tell you!!!!
Every single person arriving into MCO on any airline is entitled to tag their checked bags and have their bags delivered to their room by DME personel. They get a ride on the DME bus to the resort, their bags get a ride on the luggage truck.

It is ONLY when talking about RAC (resort airline checkin) that we can say SW doesn't participate. Unfortunately, Disney lumps the two services into one service.....DME. But, that's not true. RAC is completely different. You don't need to ride the DME bus back to MCO to use RAC. You can take a rental car back, you can hire a car service to get you to MCO, you can use a cab...it simply doesn't matter. It is ONLY when talking about RAC that 'participating airline' is of any importance...not with DME.
Man, I wish Disney and TAs would get their facts straight.