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Credit: Inside The MagicA major announcement has been made by Disney World, making this news worth the wait for millions of travelers.
The Magic of Effortless Arrival May Be Returning
There was a time when stepping off a plane in Orlando meant the Disney magic began immediately. No baggage claim. No dragging suitcases through the terminal. Just pure anticipation of your first park day.
For many longtime fans, that moment disappeared years ago when Walt Disney World quietly discontinued one of its most beloved travel conveniences. But now, something new is stirring at Orlando International Airport—and it might just bring that lost magic back.
Could Disney be preparing to fully revive one of its most missed guest perks?
A Hint of Nostalgia With a Modern Touch
Beginning November 18, select guests flying Southwest Airlines into Orlando International Airport (MCO) will get to experience a reimagined version of that long-lost service.
This pilot program allows guests staying at certain Disney Resort hotels to completely skip baggage claim. Instead, checked bags are picked up directly from the Southwest Airlines bag drop area or ticket counter and whisked away for direct delivery to their Disney Resort hotel—no guest involvement required.
According to Disney, luggage should arrive at participating resorts within approximately four hours of landing. The new service will be handled by BagCheck, a third-party company specializing in luggage transfer logistics.
The resorts currently participating include:
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Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
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Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
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Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
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Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
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Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Guests interested in using the service can register online between 30 and 5 days before travel through the Airport Luggage Transfer webpage on Disney’s official website. Registration officially opens November 13.
What’s Old Is New Again
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because it is. For years, Disney offered Remote Airline Check-In, which handled guests’ luggage between Walt Disney World and the airport. The service was discontinued several years ago, to the dismay of many travelers who loved the convenience it offered.
This new pilot program, however, completes the roundtrip experience. While the existing service currently helps guests send their luggage from Walt Disney World back to the airport, this new pilot introduces the missing half—getting your bags from the airport to your resort.
In other words, guests may soon be able to travel from their hometowns to their Disney Resort room without ever touching their luggage again.
Why This Matters for the Future of Disney Travel
At first glance, this may seem like a simple convenience. But in reality, this pilot could represent a much bigger shift in how Disney manages the guest arrival experience.
Disney’s transportation network has been evolving rapidly—first with the retirement of Disney’s Magical Express in 2022, then with the introduction of Mears Connect and the Sunshine Flyer. Now, by reviving the spirit of Magical Express in a modern, airline-partnered way, Disney could be testing a path toward a fully seamless travel ecosystem once again.
It also signals Disney’s willingness to work closely with major airlines—in this case, Southwest Airlines—to enhance the guest journey before they even reach the resort. If successful, future collaborations could expand to other airlines or even international arrivals.
For frequent guests, this program could drastically reduce airport stress and make arriving at Disney feel like part of the vacation, not just the prelude to it.
The Fine Print and Next Steps
Guests eligible for the program have already begun receiving emails from Disney explaining how to participate.
“We’re excited to share a new pilot program for guests flying Southwest Airlines into Orlando International Airport (MCO) and staying at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels,” Disney’s message reads. “This convenient service lets you skip baggage claim and have your checked luggage delivered directly to your Disney Resort hotel.”
The complimentary service begins November 18, 2025, and guests must register between 30 and 5 days before their flight.
Operational details remain limited, and it’s not yet confirmed whether guests will be able to combine both the inbound (airport-to-resort) and outbound (resort-to-airport) services in one seamless booking. However, the potential is there—and for many fans, that’s enough reason to get excited.
A Hint of What’s to Come Following This Big Disney World News
If the pilot succeeds, it could pave the way for the return of fully integrated Disney travel—a system that removes the last bit of stress from getting to and from the Most Magical Place on Earth.
It’s not quite Disney’s Magical Express, and it doesn’t carry the same branding, but it revives the same feeling: a sense that the magic begins not at the gates of the Magic Kingdom, but the moment your plane lands in Orlando.
And for Disney fans, that’s a kind of magic worth checking in for.