If you ask longtime Disney World visitors about services they miss, Disney’s Magical Express will be mentioned fairly quickly. The complimentary airport transportation service whisked guests from Orlando International Airport to their Disney Resort hotel. One of its biggest conveniences was that guests did not have to stop at baggage claim. Their checked luggage would be collected and delivered to their resort as part of the service.
Disney’s Magical Express is not coming back, but part of that luggage convenience has returned. The Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney service has expanded! It now includes another Disney Resort hotel and additional airlines. This makes the program more useful for Disney Adults looking to eliminate some of the airport hassle from their vacation.
Disney World’s Luggage Transfer Service Gets A Bigger Footprint
MouseHouseNews.net previously reported on Disney’s pilot program that allowed guests staying at Disney’s Value Resorts and flying Southwest Airlines to have their luggage transferred between Orlando International Airport and their Disney Resort hotel. The program has now expanded.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has been added as an eligible resort, giving guests staying at this Moderate Resort access to the service alongside the participating Value Resorts.
The eligible Disney Resort hotels now include:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
That addition is particularly notable because Caribbean Beach is the first Moderate Resort included in the program. For Disney Adults who prefer staying at a Moderate Resort, this could make the luggage transfer service considerably more appealing.
Southwest Is No Longer The Only Airline
The other major change involves the airlines participating in the program. When the service first returned, it was limited to guests flying Southwest Airlines. That is no longer the case.
Guests flying eligible domestic flights on American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, or United Airlines can now use the Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney service, provided they are staying at an eligible Disney Resort hotel. That expansion could make a significant difference for travelers who previously couldn’t take advantage of the service simply because they weren’t flying Southwest.
How Does Luggage Transfer Work When Arriving At Disney World?
The arrival side of the program is designed to let you bypass Orlando International Airport’s baggage claim.
Guests must register for the service in advance through BagCheck. Disney currently says registration can be completed from 30 days to one day before the departure flight, and you’ll need both your Disney Resort confirmation number and flight confirmation number.
After registering, you follow your airline’s normal check-in and baggage procedures at your departure airport. Once you arrive at Orlando International Airport, here’s where the convenience comes in.
You can skip baggage claim and head directly to Walt Disney World.
Your luggage will be transferred separately to your participating Disney Resort hotel. Disney says luggage can take up to four hours from your flight’s arrival time to reach the resort. Once you arrive at your hotel, you can contact Luggage Assistance using your in-room phone or visit Luggage Assistance in the resort lobby area to retrieve your bags.
That means you can potentially be heading toward EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom while someone else handles the luggage logistics. You can also resort hop or simply enjoy some TV in your resort’s room.
Don’t Pack Your First-Day Essentials In Your Checked Bag
There is one important catch to remember.
Just because your checked luggage is being transferred doesn’t mean you should put everything you need for your first few hours at Disney World into those bags. Disney recommends keeping important items with you in your carry-on, including medications, electronics, important documents, perishables and heat-sensitive items.
I would also recommend keeping anything you absolutely need immediately after arriving at Walt Disney World in your carry-on or park bag. Think of the luggage transfer as a convenience, not a reason to check everything you own.
You Can Use The Service When Leaving Disney World, Too
The Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney service isn’t just for arriving guests. Eligible guests can also use it when leaving Walt Disney World.
After checking in for your flight online, you can take your checked luggage to Luggage Assistance at your Disney Resort hotel. Disney says luggage should be dropped off between 24 hours and four hours before your flight’s departure time. A valid government-issued photo ID is required when dropping off luggage.
Once your bags have been accepted, you’re free to leave Walt Disney World without dragging your checked luggage through the airport. When you arrive at your destination, you simply retrieve your luggage from baggage claim.
That can be especially useful if you want to squeeze a few more hours out of your final day at Disney World instead of spending part of it worrying about your bags.
You Don’t Have To Use The Service For Both Directions
Another nice feature of the program is that you don’t have to use Airport Luggage Transfer for both legs of your trip. Guests can use the service for their arrival, departure, or both, as long as they are staying at an eligible resort and flying with a participating airline. That gives you some flexibility.
Maybe you want to bypass baggage claim when you arrive at MCO but don’t mind handling your own bags on the way home. Maybe you care more about having a luggage-free final day at Walt Disney World. You can choose what works best for your trip.
Caribbean Beach Guests Just Got Another Reason To Celebrate
The addition of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort could be the most interesting part of this latest expansion. Caribbean Beach is already one of the more transportation-friendly Disney Resort hotels, thanks in large part to its Disney Skyliner connection to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Now, eligible guests flying American, Southwest or United can potentially eliminate another piece of travel friction by having their luggage handled through Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney. For Disney Adults who value their vacation time, that’s worth paying attention to.
The less time spent dealing with luggage, airport lines and baggage claim, the more time there is to enjoy the reason you came to Walt Disney World in the first place.
For eligible Disney World guests, skipping baggage claim on arrival or avoiding the checked-bag process at the airport on departure could make the beginning and end of a Disney vacation just a little easier.
It’s not Disney’s Magical Express. For anyone who remembers how nice that luggage-free arrival felt, however, this is certainly a step in the right direction. MouseHouseNews.net will continue bringing you information that can help you with your next Disney World vacation.
