We let Disney get our bags to the airport for us

[monarchsfan16]

We checked out of the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge yesterday morning. Before we left my stepdad realized that the paper about the Magical Express that was in our villa said that in advance of the launch of Magical Express Disney was already providing the check in for people flying participating airlines. We were flying American so we decided to try it out. The counter was right outside the main door to the lobby of the Lodge. We went right up, handed over our id's, and an employee wearing MCO tags (and a ME uniform) looked us up, printed our boarding passes, checked us in, and slapped the tags on the bags. We avoided all lines at the airport except security which was wonderful, and our bags made it to Boston just fine. They do ask you to check in at least 3 hours ahead, since they have to get the bags to MCO and the bags have to be screened, but that was no problem. We checked in around 11 for a 4 PM flight. It worked great. I realize this wont alleviate all the ME fears, but our luggage did get where it needed to go and the convinience was wonderful. We used our rental car to get back to the airport since the bus portion of this isn't running yet, but still, what we tried out worked just fine.

 

[javaj]

Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to use the resort checkin luggage service.

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Wow, that sounded easy. Good to hear of your positive experience. Did I understand correctly that you were able to check your bags and get your boarding passes at WL? Arriving at MCO and going directly to security sounds very nice to me!

 

[LIFERBABE]

 

[safetymom]

If your airline is participating in the check in on the return trip to the airport you can bypass handling your bags and checking in at the airport.

So far not many airlines are participating in the resort check in. You will have to take your bags on the ME bus and then check in at the ticket counter for your airline.

 

[MAKMOM41]

Is the participating airlines clause just for the soft opening? Does anyone know what airlines are included?

 

[safetymom]

It is not just for the soft opening. For the return flight the airline has to participate for you to check in and receive boarding passes and your luggage will be transported by Disney. If your airline doesn't participate then you will have to take your luggage on the bus and check in yourself at the airport ticket counter or curbside.

I suggest doing a search on the Transportation board. There are quite a few threads with links to the information concerning the participating airlines.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Delta, American and United definitely were participants. I seem to remember 2 others but cannot come up with them right now.

 

[seashoreCM]

I think the other two participating airlines so far are Song and Ted which are subsidiaries of Delta and United, respectively.

Some guests at random will be selected for extra security screening in advance (called the SSSS). Usually they will not be permitted to have boarding passes printed in advance. I am not sure whether these guests will have to take luggage on board the ME bus although checking luggage at the resort is no different than checking luggage curbside with the airport skycap.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

Next trip: mid-May 2005. Flying down on Song but staying off site so no ME for me.