Luggage fees take magic out of Disney bag service

An article in the May 29 Orlando Sentinel highlights an unexpected consequence of the recent airline baggage-fee barrage, one that families and Disney fans should note. Walt Disney World’s Magical Express service, which provides complimentary luggage transfers to visitors staying at Disney hotels, is running into difficulties with customers checking more than one bag.

The program lets visitors check their bags and collect a boarding pass at their hotel, thus bypassing a few lines at the airport. However, with most airlines collecting fees for second checked bags (and one airline collecting for the first bag), Disney’s service has hit a snag. For the time being, customers have to contact the shuttle contractor, Bags Inc., and pay any charges over the phone.

As for a long-term solution? Disney is working on it. One idea being tossed around is installing self-service booths in the hotel, allowing customers to pay their airline fees directly, rather than over the phone. Either way, these baggage fees are a serious knock to the efficiency of the Magical Express program, which is meant to make leaving Disney as painless as possible.

So if you’re traveling to Disney soon, keep an eye on these developments. Disney will post new information as soon as there is any, in the Magical Express FAQ. In the meantime, rest assured they have their best mouse on the task.