Disney World Allows Guests to Skip Airport Protocols, Security Clearance Waived

A Walt Disney World vacation doesn’t really start at the park gate. It starts the moment you land in Orlando, when you’re tired from the flight, trying to find your bags, and wondering how long it will take to reach your resort. For some travelers, that stretch between the plane and the pool is the part of the trip they’d gladly skip.

archway entrance to parking at disney world's magic kingdom park — Credit: Sarah Larson, Inside the Magic

That’s the problem Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney is meant to ease, and it just grew. According to the report, the service has expanded to three more Moderate Resorts. We’ve attributed every detail to the report, noted where it doesn’t say more, and put the instructions in the order you’d actually use them. Here’s what’s new and how it works.

What’s New

Orlando International Airport under cloudy skies as MCO warns Disney World travelers about possible weather delays. — Credit: Inside The Magic

Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney has expanded to three more Moderate Resorts: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, including Gran Destino Tower, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

That brings the total to nine participating resorts, the report says. Caribbean Beach Resort was the first Moderate Resort to join, and now every Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World is part of the program. This is a great way to skip part of the “security” process at the airport, saving you time on your vacation.

The Nine Participating Resorts

Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney is now available at these resorts:

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort & Gran Destino Tower (new)
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter (new)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (new)

Which Airlines Work

The service only works if you’re flying one of these airlines, according to the report: American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, or United Airlines. A photo caption in the report notes that JetBlue is now included, though the report doesn’t say when it was added.

What the Service Is

The service, run by BagCheck, lets guests staying at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels send their bags to and from Orlando International Airport. On arrival, you skip baggage claim, and when you leave, you skip the check-in line at the airport.

Arrival: Step by Step

Fountain at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) — Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic

Register between 30 days and 24 hours before your flight. You’ll need your resort confirmation number and your flight confirmation number, and you’ll get a confirmation email once you’re registered.

If you register more than 7 days out, you’ll get luggage tags in the mail. Register closer to your trip, and you won’t get tags, but your bags still get delivered, and you can track them through the link in your confirmation email.

From there:

Check in for your flight online and pay any bag fees.
Drop your bags at the airport following your airline’s normal process.
Land at Orlando International Airport and head straight to your resort, with no baggage claim stop.

The report says to give it up to 4 hours from your flight’s arrival for your bags to reach the resort. Pick them up at Luggage Assistance/Bell Services in the lobby, or call from your in-room phone to have them brought to your room. Gratuities aren’t included.

Departure: Step by Step

Check in for your flight online starting 24 hours before departure, and pay any bag fees through your airline’s app or site.

Drop your luggage at Luggage Assistance/Bell Services between 24 hours and 4 hours before your flight. You can bring bags yourself or call from your room to have them picked up.

Bring a government-issued photo ID and your boarding pass to the lobby when you drop off your bags. Then head to the airport, skip the check-in line, and collect your luggage at baggage claim once you land.

Details Worth Knowing

The service only covers domestic flights.
If you’d rather keep a stroller or car seat with you, check it at the gate and tell the agent you want it back at the gate on arrival.
Keep medications, electronics, perishables, and important documents in your carry-on.
If your flight lands after 11pm, you can grab your bags at baggage claim yourself or wait for BagCheck to deliver them to the resort within 4 hours.
This is a pilot program, so it’s subject to change or cancellation without notice.

What the Report Doesn’t Say

The report doesn’t give the cost of the service, and we won’t guess at it. It also doesn’t describe limits on the number or size of bags, say whether more resorts or airlines will be added, or explain what happens if a bag is delayed.

Because it’s described as a pilot program that’s subject to change or cancellation without notice, anything you plan around it deserves a backup.

Is It a Fit for Your Trip?

For a Disney vacation, the service has conditions. By the report’s description, it’s for guests at participating resorts who are flying a listed airline on a domestic flight, and who register in the right window with the right confirmation numbers.

If that’s you, the practical steps are the ones above. Allow up to 4 hours for bags to reach your resort, keep the essentials in your carry-on, and check Disney’s official page for current details before you register.

Tell Us How It Goes

Have you used Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney, or are you thinking about trying it at one of the newly added resorts? Tell us in the comments how it worked, and share any tips you picked up along the way. We’ll keep following the program as it grows.