Magical Express Question

[Lucille]

If we fly on Frontier Airlines, I believe they are not a participating airline when it comes to baggage.

But can we still take the bus to and from the resort?

(Obviously we'd just get our bags ourselves as well and bring them with us to check in at the airport on the way home.)

 

[Lucille]

To be safe, you want to go to the Resort Airline Check-in desk well before 3 hours prior to your flight.

By policy, the entire process must be completed in the computer by no later than exactly 3 hours before your flight time. If it is 2 hours 59 minutes before your flight time, the computer will not complete the transaction, and you'll need to take your luggage to the airport yourself and check-in at your airline's ticket counter (or curbside check-in if available).

The Disney's Magical Express bus pick-up time will be 3 hours +/- 15 minutes before your flight time. Since it's possible the bus time could be earlier than 3 hours before your flight, you don't want to be in the position to miss the bus because you're at the RAC counter right at the 3-hour-mark. The DME bus can and will leave without you if you aren't ready to board when it arrives.

As I said in my original post, we will probably be flying Frontier Airlines. Sadly, they don't participate in the program so we'll be bringing our own bags anyway.

 

[Lexi]

I cannot remember the specifics but if you are using the Resort Airline Check-In Service, don't you have to do it before a specific time..last time we were there our flight was not until 7pm and our Magic Express Bus was leaving at 4pm..while we were checking in our CM mentioned to us to make sure to bring our bags down to the RAC earlier then 4pm because they close up shop around 3pm :shrug:..If someone knows the specifics I'm sure it would help people because if that was never mentioned to us we would of brought our bags down at 4pm to check-in for our flight and they would not of been able to help us

 

[Rob562]

I cannot remember the specifics but if you are using the Resort Airline Check-In Service, don't you have to do it before a specific time..last time we were there our flight was not until 7pm and our Magic Express Bus was leaving at 4pm..while we were checking in our CM mentioned to us to make sure to bring our bags down to the RAC earlier then 4pm because they close up shop around 3pm :shrug:..If someone knows the specifics I'm sure it would help people because if that was never mentioned to us we would of brought our bags down at 4pm to check-in for our flight and they would not of been able to help us

Based on the info I have, they close even earlier than that.

-The desk is open every day from 5am to 1pm.
-Luggage must be checked into RAC no later than 3 hours before your flight.
-Luggage cannot be checked earlier than 12 hours before your flight.

Therefore, if your departing flight is earlier than 8am, it is impossible to use RAC for your luggage. (Because the 3-hour deadline will have passed before they even open)
And if you have a late-evening flight, you may have to wait until later in the morning for the 12-hour mark to come around.

-Rob

 

[maryszhi]

of course : every diseny world resort hotel guesr that stays at a Disney owned and opperated hotel is eligible. the only thing different is if your international or your airline isnt participating in the bagage program, you will be asked to collect your bags at baggage claim and go through customs if applicable. you then proceed to magical express check in and they will store your bags on the bus. WHen you get to the hotel they will give you your bags. when you get to the htoel you can give the bags to the bellman and theyu can store you bag and deliver it to your room. On the way back, same procedure except you will be going to the airport, check in with your airlines and then give them your bags Hope this helps and have a magical time

 

[Lexi]

Based on the info I have, they close even earlier than that.

-The desk is open every day from 5am to 1pm.
-Luggage must be checked into RAC no later than 3 hours before your flight.
-Luggage cannot be checked earlier than 12 hours before your flight.

Therefore, if your departing flight is earlier than 8am, it is impossible to use RAC for your luggage. (Because the 3-hour deadline will have passed before they even open)
And if you have a late-evening flight, you may have to wait until later in the morning for the 12-hour mark to come around.

-Rob

There you go..those were the specifics i was missing..hope this helps people plan better..thanks!!

 

[Monty]

of course : every diseny world resort hotel guesr that stays at a Disney owned and opperated hotel is eligible. the only thing different is if your international or your airline isnt participating in the bagage program, you will be asked to collect your bags at baggage claim and go through customs if applicable. you then proceed to magical express check in and they will store your bags on the bus. WHen you get to the hotel they will give you your bags. when you get to the htoel you can give the bags to the bellman and theyu can store you bag and deliver it to your room. On the way back, same procedure except you will be going to the airport, check in with your airlines and then give them your bags Hope this helps and have a magical time

Not exactly.

• If you are "International" and have not pre-cleared U.S. Customs in your country or cleared U.S. Customs eslewhere in the U.S., then yes you have to claim your bags and clear U.S. Customs on arrival at MCO. After clearing Customs, I believe you drop your bags off for transportation to the main building, where you would retrieve them yourself or you can go to DME check-in, describe your bags [again, a printed digital photo of the luggage speeds the process] and they will retrieve your bags and deliver them to your resort room. [I could be wrong on this part, having never had to clear Customs at MCO]
  
• If you are "International" but clear Customs elsewhere in the U.S. before connecting to MCO or pre-cleared U.S. Customs in your home country, you can disembark your plane and go directly to DME. If you received yellow DME tags and used them, you go straight to the boarding CM for the buses. If not, follow the aforementioned check-in procedure and they'll retrieve your bags.

Which Airline you arrive at MCO on has nothing to do with any of the above.

"Participating airlines" passengers flying domestically only from MCO can avail themselves of the Resort Airline Check-in service at their Disney resort on their departure day, within the previously described hours and other restrictions.

 

[maryszhi]

Not exactly.

• If you are "International" and have not pre-cleared U.S. Customs in your country or cleared U.S. Customs eslewhere in the U.S., then yes you have to claim your bags and clear U.S. Customs on arrival at MCO. After clearing Customs, I believe you drop your bags off for transportation to the main building, where you would retrieve them yourself or you can go to DME check-in, describe your bags [again, a printed digital photo of the luggage speeds the process] and they will retrieve your bags and deliver them to your resort room. [I could be wrong on this part, having never had to clear Customs at MCO]
  
• If you are "International" but clear Customs elsewhere in the U.S. before connecting to MCO or pre-cleared U.S. Customs in your home country, you can disembark your plane and go directly to DME. If you received yellow DME tags and used them, you go straight to the boarding CM for the buses. If not, follow the aforementioned check-in procedure and they'll retrieve your bags.

Which Airline you arrive at MCO on has nothing to do with any of the above.

"Participating airlines" passengers flying domestically only from MCO can avail themselves of the Resort Airline Check-in service at their Disney resort on their departure day, within the previously described hours and other restrictions.

im sorry thanks for clarifying

 

[Monty]

im sorry thanks for clarifying

No problem... Enough confusion out there about DME vs. RAC. Certainly nothing to be sorry about. :animwink: