There’s a little extra pixie dust waiting at the airport! Walt Disney World Resort offers an Airport Luggage Transfer service that helps eligible guests spend less time wrangling suitcases and more time enjoying their vacation.

Through a pilot program operated by BagCheck, guests staying at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels and flying with participating airlines can have their checked luggage transferred between Orlando International Airport and their Disney Resort hotel. That means skipping baggage claim when arriving in Orlando and avoiding the airline check-in line for checked bags when heading home.

Here's everything to know before letting those suitcases take their own little Disney adventure.

What Is Disney World's Airport Luggage Transfer Service?

Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney is designed to make travel days a bit more magical. Instead of collecting checked bags at Orlando International Airport, eligible guests can head straight to Walt Disney World Resort while their luggage makes its way to their participating Disney Resort hotel.

The convenience continues on departure day. Guests can drop off their checked luggage at their Disney Resort hotel, allowing their bags to be transferred ahead to their departing flight at Orlando International Airport.

The service is available for arrivals, departures or both, provided guests meet the participating resort and airline requirements. It is currently a pilot program and is subject to change or cancellation without notice or liability.

Which Disney World Resorts Participate?

Not every Disney Resort hotel is part of the program, so checking eligibility before making plans is important. The following nine resort locations currently participate:

• 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
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Guests must be checking in or out of one of these participating properties to use the service. Staying at another Walt Disney World Resort hotel does not currently qualify.

Which Airlines Are Eligible?

The luggage transfer service is currently available to guests traveling on domestic flights with these four airlines:

• American Airlines
• JetBlue
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

Additional airlines may be added in the future. International flights are not eligible, even when traveling with a participating airline.

Arriving at Disney World: Skip Baggage Claim and Start the Fun

After a flight to Orlando, the last thing anyone wants is to spend extra time waiting for suitcases to appear on the baggage carousel. With Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney, eligible guests can bypass that step and head toward their vacation.

Here's how the arrival process works:

1. Register before traveling. Complete the BagCheck registration form between 30 days and 24 hours before the departure flight to Orlando. Registration requires both the Disney Resort hotel confirmation number and the airline flight confirmation number. A confirmation email will follow.
2. Watch for luggage tags. Guests registering more than seven days before their flight will receive luggage tags by mail. Those registering less than seven days before departure will not receive mailed tags, but their luggage can still be transferred and tracked through the confirmation email.
3. Check in with the airline. Complete online flight check-in as usual and pay any applicable checked baggage fees.
4. Drop off luggage at the departure airport. Follow the participating airline's standard checked baggage procedures before boarding.
5. Skip baggage claim in Orlando. After landing at Orlando International Airport, head directly to Walt Disney World Resort without collecting checked luggage.
6. Reunite with the suitcases at the resort. Allow up to four hours from the flight's arrival time for luggage to reach the participating Disney Resort hotel. Bags can be collected from Luggage Assistance/Bell Services in the hotel lobby area, or guests can request delivery to their room using the in-room phone. Gratuities are not included.

One important planning detail: luggage may arrive several hours after the flight lands. Keep anything needed immediately upon arrival in a carry-on bag rather than a checked suitcase.

Heading Home: Let the Luggage Leave First

Departure day doesn't have to involve dragging suitcases through every step of the airport experience. The same program allows eligible guests to check their bags at their participating Disney Resort hotel before traveling to Orlando International Airport.

Here's how the departure process works:

1. Check in online. Beginning 24 hours before the departing flight, check in through the airline's website or mobile app and pay any applicable baggage fees. Leaving inbound luggage tags attached can help streamline the process.
2. Drop off checked luggage at the resort. Bags must be delivered to Luggage Assistance/Bell Services between 24 hours and four hours before the scheduled flight departure. Guests may bring their luggage to the drop-off area or request assistance using their in-room phone. Gratuities are not included.
3. Bring identification and a boarding pass. A valid government-issued photo ID and boarding pass must be presented in the hotel lobby area when dropping off luggage.
4. Head to the airport. With checked bags already handled, guests can skip the airline's check-in line and proceed through the remaining airport departure process.
5. Collect bags at the final destination. Checked luggage will be available at baggage claim after arriving at the final destination.

Boarding passes must be ready before luggage drop-off because printing boarding passes is not included in this service.

Can Luggage Be Tracked Along the Way?

Yes! Even when suitcases are traveling separately, guests can keep an eye on their progress.

For flights arriving at Orlando International Airport, the BagCheck confirmation email includes a link to track luggage being delivered to the Disney Resort hotel. Tracking remains available even for guests who registered too late to receive mailed luggage tags.

For flights departing Orlando, guests can monitor their checked luggage using their airline's mobile app.

What Should Stay in a Carry-On Bag?

Sending luggage ahead is convenient, but some essentials should always stay close at hand. Disney recommends keeping the following items in carry-on baggage:

• Medications
• Electronics, including laptops, tablets, power banks and cameras
• Perishable or heat-sensitive items
• Important documents, including passports and travel itineraries

For families traveling with strollers or car seats, these items can be checked at the departure gate instead of being sent through the luggage transfer process. Guests who want to collect them at the gate upon arrival at their final destination should make that request with the gate agent.

Items checked at the gate will otherwise be delivered to the participating Disney Resort hotel unless guests specifically request to collect them at their final destination. Gate-checked items do not require the special luggage tags.

Important Details Before Using the Service

A few additional details can help prevent surprises along the way.

Is the service available for just one direction?

Yes. Eligible guests may use Airport Luggage Transfer for arrival only, departure only or both portions of their trip.

Are there baggage size or weight limits?

Travelers should check their airline's specific checked baggage policies for applicable size and weight restrictions.

Can guests who booked through a travel advisor enroll?

Absolutely. Guests who booked with a travel advisor can participate, but they will need their Disney Resort hotel reservation number to complete registration.

What happens if flight details change?

If the airline confirmation number remains the same, no action is needed. If a new confirmation number is issued, the BagCheck registration must be updated. Changing to a nonparticipating airline makes the traveler ineligible.

What if the Disney Resort hotel changes?

If the reservation number remains the same and the new resort participates, no action is required. If the reservation number changes, contact BagCheck at bcsupport@bagcheck.com or (407) 505-7443 between 7:00 AM and 11:30 PM Eastern Time. Moving to a nonparticipating resort ends eligibility.

What if luggage tags don't arrive?

Guests expecting mailed luggage tags who have not received them within 72 hours of their flight should contact BagCheck at (407) 505-7443. Guests who receive tags should attach them securely before arriving at the departure airport, as additional tags will not be available there. Guests registering fewer than seven days before travel can still use the service without mailed tags.

What happens if a bag is missing, delayed or damaged?

Guests at their Disney Resort hotel should contact Luggage Assistance/Bell Services using the in-room phone or visit the hotel lobby. Guests still at the airport should visit their airline's customer service counter.

What happens if a return flight is canceled?

Luggage will automatically be redirected to the new flight. Travelers needing assistance should contact their airline.

Who handles luggage questions after resort drop-off?

Luggage Assistance/Bell Services can help while bags remain at the resort. Once luggage leaves the hotel, the airline becomes the appropriate contact for assistance.

A Little Less Luggage, a Little More Disney Magic

Airport travel might not be the most exciting part of a Disney vacation, but Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney offers a welcome way to simplify the journey. From bypassing baggage claim after landing in Orlando to dropping off checked bags before heading home, this service can make both ends of a Walt Disney World vacation feel a little lighter.

Before traveling, confirm that both the Disney Resort hotel and airline participate, review the registration window and allow enough time for luggage delivery. Because the program is a pilot, details and eligibility may change.

After all, the magic should begin with the vacation, not with a suitcase carousel!

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