For those of us who have flown into Orlando International Airport (MCO) to visit Walt Disney World before the end of 2021, we recall a free service by the name of Disney’s Magical Express. The Magical Express was a bus service that you could utilize after your flight into MCO where you could de-plane, go directly to the Magical Express bus, then be whisked directly to Walt Disney World. There was no need to worry about your checked bags, as you would have tagged them with special Disney World baggage tags which were mailed to your home in advance by Walt Disney World. All of the luggage arriving from flights into MCO with these special tags were loaded onto Magical Express buses going to Disney World resort hotels, dropped off with the resort’s Luggage Assistance team, then delivered directly to your room. When it was time to fly back home, Disney’s Magical Express took you and your bags back to the airport. It was a great perk! Unfortunately, this perk did not last and was discontinued at the end of 2021.
Ever since then, it has been up to us to pick up our own baggage from the baggage claim at the airport and pay for our own transportation to Disney World. However, the MouseHouseNews.net team spotted a new service that aims to bring back at least a piece of that convenience… assuming you are staying at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel in the Value category and flying Southwest Airlines!
Last Thursday, Walt Disney World began piloting a new program with Southwest Airlines which will allow you to have your luggage transferred to MCO. We spotted signage about this new service in the lobbies of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. However, you can use this luggage delivery service if you are checking out of any Value resort, which also includes the three Disney’s All-Star resorts, and flying home on Southwest Airlines. All you have to do is drop your checked bags off with Luggage Assistance, who will then transfer your luggage to the airport to be delivered directly to your flight.
Disney recommends that, to use this service, you’ll want to visit Luggage Assistance or the check-in desk to let them know you want to use this service. Then, you will check in for your Southwest flight the day before your departure. You’ll then need to drop your checked bags off with Luggage Assistance (or call them if you would like them picked up from your room). Note that you will need to show valid photo ID when leaving your bags with them for transfer. Once your bags have been left with Luggage Assistance, you are free to head to the airport when it’s time, skip the bag drop-off line, and enjoy your flight home. Your bags will meet you at your destination airport! There are deadlines that apply to when you need to have your bags to Luggage Assistance:
- If your flight home departs before 1:00 PM: Drop your bags off by 1:00 AM the night before your flight.
- If your flight home departs after 1:00 PM: Drop your bags off at least 4 hours before departure or no later than 1:00 PM—whichever comes first.
Of note, Luggage Assistance is available to receive luggage any time from 7am-1pm and 4pm-1am daily. Also, for best results, Disney strongly recommends that you drop off your bags the night before your scheduled departure. However, if you need that extra time, the guidelines listed above are the absolute cut-off guidelines.
While this pilot program is certainly not a replacement for Disney’s Magical Express, it does bring some convenience to those staying in a Value resort and flying home on a Southwest Airlines flight. We’ll see how long this pilot program lasts, or if it will ever roll out to additional resorts at Walt Disney World. We will let you know if we get any additional information about this program, so keep coming back to MouseHouseNews.net for more news and reviews for your upcoming trip to Walt Disney World!
