Your Bags Take A Vacation Too: Disney's Luggage Service Explained
Updated: Sep 24
UPDATE 9/24/26: Beginning today, the Airport Luggage Transfer program has expanded to include JetBlue Airlines!
Did you know that Disney will handle your luggage when you fly on a participating airline and stay at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels? This post will dive into this fantastic time-saving tip that even I had forgotten until recently!
Turn Back The Clock
Prior to the Covid pandemic in March 2020, Walt Disney World offered what was known then as Resort Airline Check in. When you stayed at any Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you had the option to have Disney handle your bags from MCO to your resort upon your arrival, and your resort to your home airport on departure.
The service was completely free, and you would be mailed specific luggage tags before your trip to attach to your bag. Upon arrival at MCO, you simply deboarded the plane and made your way to your resort, where your bags would magically show up! On departure, you would check your bags with Bell Services at your hotel and then head to the airport, board your plane and you wouldn’t see your bags again until arriving at your destination.
When my wife and I first started visiting Disney World, we used this service multiple times without issue and it was fantastic! There was only ever one time where our bags didn’t show up until 4am the day after we arrived, but our trip down was delayed and we had to change planes in the process, which contributed to the delay. Aside from that, our bags always arrived within 3-4 hours of landing in Orlando.
The Pilot
After March of 2020 when the entire world was shut down, Disney did not begin reopening again until July of that year. When they did, they cut many of the services that they had previously offered, including the Resort Airline Check-in. For years, Disney parks fans were upset that the price of admission continued to increase, while the perks and the feeling of being in “The Disney Bubble” faded.
In March of 2025, Disney finally began to listen and launched a pilot program to bring back the return of the largely missed Resort Airline Check-in, but under the new name of Airport Luggage Transfer (ALT). Initially, this service was only available to guests staying at Pop-Century but was quickly expanded to all Value resorts (All-Star Sports, Music, Movies and Art of Animation) the following month.
Currently, the pilot includes all Value resorts and on August of this year, Caribbean Beach Resort was added to the list. As it stands now, ALT is available for three major airlines: United, American and Southwest.
How Does It Work? Arrival
Guests staying at one of the above Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, and flying on one of the three airlines mentioned above, will need to fill out this form 30 days to 24 hours before their departing flight. If the form is completed at least 7 days before your departing flight, you will be mailed luggage tags to attach to your bags. If completed less then 7 days, you will not receive special luggage tags but will still have your bags delivered to the resort upon arrival.
Check into your flight like normal and drop your bags at your airlines designated baggage area and board your flight.
Upon arrival to Orlando International Airport (MCO), you can skip baggage claim and head straight to your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.
Allow up to 4 hours for your bags to be delivered. You can pick-up your luggage from Bell Services at your hotel, or you can ask to have them delivered to your room. If you’d like them delivered, be sure to tip your bellhop!
How Does It Work? Departure
Complete mobile check-in for your airline 24 hours before your flight. You may leave inbound tags on your luggage to assist with transportation.
Your luggage will need to be delivered to Bell Services at your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel no later than 4 hours prior to your departing flight. You may again choose to take your bags to Bell Services yourself, or have someone come and pick them up from your room, but again, be sure to tip!
You will need a photo ID and a valid boarding pass handy to drop off your bags and have them transported to the airport.
Head to the airport and skip the baggage line. Board your flight and claim your bags at your baggage claim gate upon arrival.
How Do I Track My Bags?
Upon registering for ALT prior to your trip, you will receive a confirmation email. During arrival, you can use this confirmation email to track your bags. Should any issues arise during your arrival, you can contact Bell Services at your hotel for assistance.
During departure, you will need to use your airlines mobile app to keep track of your luggage. Once you leave the Walt Disney World Resort, you will need to contact your airline for any missing or damaged bags.
Our Take
We are beyond excited that Disney has rolled out this pilot program, and all reports indicate that the service has been quite popular since it’s return. This bodes well for the expansion of the program, and we hope to see more hotels and airlines included in this service in the near future. This is a fantastic service that helps restore that feeling of an all-inclusive resort, as well as the “Disney Bubble.” With the expansion of the Airline Luggage Transfer service, we also hope to see the return of Disney’s Magical Express, their complimentary airport transfer specific to Disney World guests that was discontinued in 2020, but that’s a post for another time!
Remember, from castles to coastlines, and everywhere in between, we’ve got you covered!
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