Airline Check In at Your Walt Disney Resort

This complimentary service lets you check in for your return flight, get your paper boarding pass and, check your luggage at Disney’s Airline Check-In desk located near your Resort’s lobby.

This is great because it allows you to check your bags and then do anything that you’d like (dining, shopping, theme park, etc.) until you have to head to the airport. this is opposed to sitting with your bags in the lobby.

You’ll have to keep any carryon luggage that you might have though. But the bell hop staff will be glad to check that for you!

Then when you arrive at the airport (probably via Disney’s Magical Express) you can just head to your departure gate.

Check Your Bags Before the DIsneys Magical Express

1. You must present a valid government-issued I.D. for domestic travel or a valid passport for international travel.
2. You must check in no later than 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. (Flight delays do not extend this check in time.)
3. All members of your party must be present at check-in.

Resort Airline Check-In is open 7 days per week from 5:00 AM to 12:00 noon.

The Details

When checking in the process is just like at the airline counter at the airport.

Your ID(s) will be checked, destination confirmed, boarding pass issued, bags weighed, baggage fee collected, and luggage tracking bands/stickers affixed.

Then your bag(s) will be put into a temporary storeroom adjacent to the check in stand. Where they will be placed in lockable rolling containers to await the next truck heading to the airport. When the truck arrives the driver loads the container on a hydraulic lift on the back of the truck and then your bag(s) will be on the way to the airport.

I have to relate a slightly uncomfortable experience. When I’ve used this service at the Disney Deluxe Resorts (this does not happen at the Moderates and Values).

As the cast member finishes up your transaction, another cast member will come to stand by the first and just wait there. Once the first finishes he’ll gesture to the second and say “This is [insert first name], he is going to be the one taking care of your bag(s).” Then there will be an uncomfortable silent pause, where you are expected to offer a tip for the named cast member, who in actuality will only move your bag(s) about 10 feet and place it in the transport container.

With this charade they  imply that the new cast member will see your bag all the way to the airport ramp where it would then be loaded into the airplane vs. just moving it the 10 feet. As noted this does not happen at the other levels of Disney Resorts, just the Deluxes (apparently the tipping isn’t as good or the guests less gullible at the Moderates and Values).