Magical Expess Question

[kristom]

We're leaving in a few days for Disney and have Magical Express booked. I have 2 questions. First, we are staying at AK, do you know how many stops they make at other hotels? I'd hate to waste hours of valuable Disney time sitting on a bus while they stop at a number of hotels. Secondly, we're flying Southwest and I keep seeing posts that I'll have to pick up my own luggage and take it to the bus. Is that true? Thanks!

[disneyfan328]

As far as how many stops there are, it really depends and since we didn't stay at AK I am not sure, but I believe that each bus usually makes 3 stops We stayed at POR and were lucky enough to be the first stop off the bus. It didn't take long at all. I think they try to keep those trips at about an hour or so at the most.

Now as for SW - When you get TO Orlando you do NOT have to stop and get your bags. ME picks up bags at the airport no matter what airline you fly IN on. Its the trip back to the airport at the end of the trip. Basically you have to get your luggage and take it to the bus and then from the bus you have to take it and check it in at the airport yourself. There are some airlines that are on the ME program that you can check your bags at your room and be done with them but currently SW (at least not that I have heard) is not one of them. I did hear though that due to the amount of people flying SW to Orlando for Disney trips that they were looking at becoming a part of the program. Again this only affects you on the way back to the airport at the end of your stay. just make sure you have those Yellow DME tags on your bags for the trip down and you should be good.

[BMan62]

I'm not sure about your bus stops, but I can tell you that inbound, if you have the yellow tags on your luggage, you do not need to pick them up yourself, AND you won't be able to because the yellow tags are not even put on the carousel.

ALL airlines can use the baggage handling services of DME TO your resort. SW is one of the airlines that you cannot take advantage of baggage handling FROM your resort to the airport.

[disneymom15]

On one of our last trips there were 3 stops. It didn't take that much extra time.

[hokies4life]

Normally the way they load the buses are by groups of hotels that are close to each other. So even if you are the last stop, it shouldn't take very long. Have fun!

[MuchLovedMama]

What everybody said is correct. As long as you have the yellow tags on the bags you don't need to claim your bags. It's the return to the airport where you need to do the bags yourself. I'm also using SW in September & have read up on all this.

& from everything I've read your bus can make up to 3 or 4 stops. Hopefully you're not the last. No way of knowing though because the driver chooses how he wants to make his stops.

Have fun!

[kristom]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm glad I asked the questions. I didn't know about the return home with the luggage. Good to know!! 3 more days!!