Hi Paul,
Welcome to planDisney, and thanks for stopping by with your question. There are so many
benefits to staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, from complimentary transportation across Walt Disney World Resort to that immersive theming that keeps the fun going long after you’ve left the parks. And now, with the Airport Luggage Transfer service available at select resorts, Guests have one more convenient perk to enjoy during their stay. This new service is currently being offered at Disney’s All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Art of Animation, and Pop Century Resorts. As someone who loves smooth travel days, I hope to see this program expand beyond the
Value Resort category in the future.
I spent some time digging through the fine print on both the official
Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney site and Southwest’s baggage policy page, conducted a little internet detective work, and also confirmed some key details with a helpful Cast Member. I can see why there’s a bit of confusion right now, especially with recent updates to Southwest’s fare options and how they handle checked bags.
Here’s what I learned. According to the Cast Member I spoke with, the Airport Luggage Transfer program can only be used by Guests flying with a Southwest ticket type that includes checked baggage as part of the original purchase. These typically include Choice Extra fares, Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred Members, or Rapid Rewards Credit Card holders, though some of these come with their own eligibility requirements and restrictions. For the luggage to be transferred through Disney’s service, a valid boarding pass showing checked baggage included must be presented. If your ticket type does not include checked bags by default, you would need to stop by the Southwest check-in counter at Orlando International Airport to pay for your bags and check them in yourself, meaning you would not be eligible to have them transferred through the resort, from what I understand.
Because this is still a relatively new offering, it’s fair to expect some growing pains as the process is refined. My recommendation is to check in with a Southwest representative at the airport when you arrive to get confirmation based on your fare type and to visit
Bell Services or Luggage Assistance when you arrive at your Disney Resort to go over the specifics. They’ll be able to confirm whether your reservation qualifies for the transfer and guide you through the next steps if not.
I hope this helps clarify the process for you, Paul. It’s a great question, and I’m sure you’re not the only one trying to navigate the new system. If you have any more questions as you plan your trip, please don’t hesitate to come back and visit us again here at planDisney.
I’m always happy to help make your Walt Disney World Resort visit as seamless as possible.
See you real soon,
Brent