DME and resort airline check in question

[disneygirl76]

Hey all,

I should know the answer to this b/c I just did this in September but it was all a blur as I was frantically repacking my suitcases b/c they were overweight and I was trying to get to MK for an early a.m. CRT ADR - so I literally remember nothing from this process.

1) is it three hours prior to flight departure that DME picks you up?

2) is it 6 a.m. that the airline check in takes place at the resort?

3) if traveling with infants and small children, do they have to be there as well to check in or can just dad be there with luggage?

Okay - I think that is everything. My friend leaves Thursday and I am doing her itinerary and am having a major brain fart on this one.

Thanks!

 

[popcenturylover]

1. Yes it's 3 hours before that DME picks you up. 2. Can't recall. 3. Kids do not have to be there. Dad will be fine on his own.

 

[Nemo14]

In answer to question 2 - All Ears says
* The desks are open every day from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can check in no more than 12 hours and no less than 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure time.
* To check in, your entire party must be present with your government issued photo I.D. (e.g., driver's license, passport, Military ID) and your Key to the World card to verify that you are a guest of a Disney hotel

 

[disneygirl1024]

In answer to question 2 - All Ears says
* The desks are open every day from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can check in no more than 12 hours and no less than 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure time.
* To check in, your entire party must be present with your government issued photo I.D. (e.g., driver's license, passport, Military ID) and your Key to the World card to verify that you are a guest of a Disney hotel

Yep pretty much answers your questions!

 

[disneygirl76]

Thanks!! They have 4 kids under 6 - so 6, infant, 1 turning 2 while there and 2 turning 3 while there. So it would be easier if they don't all have to be there.

 

[docdebbi]

well, unfortunately, all adults do need to be there. it is the same as checking luggage at the airport, the owner of the bag must be present. now, do the actual agents at the desk follow this rule all the time? i suspect they may occasionally overlook it, but don't count on it as your plan. these are government/tsa regulations.
we usually show the id for each person and then let someone go take a hike with the kiddies til it's all done.
Yup, traveling with lots of kiddies is hard. We learn this more each time my daughter (and son in law) produces ANOTHER child ! But they're worth it.

 

[disneygirl76]

I didn't think of that - yes she too has to be there. So they all will be heading to check in.

 

[coachwnh]

When we did luggage at poly and yacht club in November and December only I needed to go with bell services to check in. My wife did not need to go. Last summer it was the same at AKL. I think dad will be fine on his own.

 

[disneygirl76]

When we did luggage at poly and yacht club in November and December only I needed to go with bell services to check in. My wife did not need to go. Last summer it was the same at AKL. I think dad will be fine on his own.

Curious if there is an option to check luggage only or to do full check in to the airline?

 

[coachwnh]

We

Curious if there is an option to check luggage only or to do full check in to the airline?

checked in online the day before (AirTran and southwest). All we needed was to send our bags and print our boarding passes.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Just as a reminder, your DME bus comes about 3 hours before your flight domestic, 4 hours international. You must check in your luggage BEFORE that time and be ready to go at DME pickup time. The Airport Desk opens at 5:00 am, and your flight must be 8:01 am or later to use the morning checkin for luggage. You must always have at least three hours prior to flight to use the Airlines Check In service for luggage...except for the morning where the 8:01 rule applies. Less than three hours, or flight before 8 am, you have to lug your luggage with you.
No, you can not check luggage only, you MUST do the full check-in and receive boarding pass. Its how they track your luggage and boarding the plane. Luggage on plane and no matching boarding pass? Luggage is taken off the plane. DME is not run by Disney, but by an independent licensed airport check-in company who must follow all TSA regulations for check-in. Its exactly like checking in at the airport. You CAN use online checkin the day before, and then "re-checkin" at the Airport Service Desk at your resort to get your boarding passes and drop your luggage -- I prefer to have my boarding pass sent to me on my iPhone without a paper pass, and checking in online the day before also allows me to reselect better seats, no longer available by the time you check in three-hours before. -- which I can use, even though the Airport desk checks you in again and gives you a paper boarding pass anyway, which you never need to use.