Southwest Officially Boards Disney’s Magical Express’ ‘Resort Airline Check-in’ Program
Southwest Airlines, the busiest carrier at Orlando International Airport, is now officially a part of Resort Airline Check-In at Walt Disney World Resort.
Resort Airline Check-In is the popular service that allows guests the convenience of checking their bags through to their final destination before leaving their hotel. With the addition of Southwest Airlines to the service, more than 90% of domestic passengers who depart Central Florida for Orlando International Airport will have Resort Airline Check-In service available to them at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.
Disney’s Magical Express Streamlines Check-in Process (for Most)
About a month ago, Disney’s Magical Express instituted a new check-in procedure for guests arriving at Orlando International Airport and making use of the service for those staying at a Disney owned and operated resort.
Guests who have their blue DME booklet in hand and have attached the yellow tags to their checked bags (or have no checked bags for DME to claim) are able to proceed directly to the bus waiting area, bypassing the welcome desk altogether which used to be mandatory for everyone. Instead, eligible guests will now have their voucher scanned at a podium at the front of the bus queues.
Southwest Airlines Begins Resort Airline Check-in Pilot Program at Pop Century

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Southwest Airlines is now piloting the Resort Airline Check-in service at Walt Disney World’s Pop Century resort.
It’s been a major source of confusion which continues to persist today as much as it has since the inception of Disney’s Magical Express in 2005: it is often thought that as a non-participating airline, that guests flying into MCO on SWA can not take advantage of amenities such as the luggage delivery service aspect of DME.
OIA Extends Disney’s Magical Express Beyond 2016 Under Sweetheart Deal for Disney
The Orlando Sentinel reports all the nitty gritty in this article that covers a re-negotiated deal that heavily favors Disney who once had to prove to OIA that its free transportation program had merit.
Disney’s Magical Express Cutting Costs
A couple of recent changes that shouldn’t affect most guests have been introduced to the Disney’s Magical Express service, presumably as a cost saving measure.

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