A beloved Disney perk may be making a comeback, but you won’t find any official announcements or flashy marketing about it just yet. Resort Airline Check-In, the once-popular service that allowed guests to check their bags at their Disney hotel and have them sent directly to their home airport, is quietly being tested again at Walt Disney World.
While Disney hasn’t made a big deal about it, the return of this service could mark a shift in the way the company approaches guest convenience—especially after years of cutting back on once-free benefits.
A Quiet Test at Pop Century Resort
Currently, the pilot program is limited to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, with plans to expand to other Value Resorts in April. For now, the service is operating on a very small scale, with no official signage or marketing. The only way guests are hearing about it is through word of mouth.
The program is being run by a third-party company called Bag Check, which was founded by Craig Mateer, the former owner of Bags, Inc.—the company that originally operated Disney’s Resort Airline Check-In.
Only One Airline (For Now)
As of now, the service is only available for Southwest Airlines passengers. Disney has not confirmed if or when other airlines will be included, but if demand is high enough, we could see expansion in the future.
How It Works
Guests staying at a participating Value Resort can head to the Luggage Assistance desk at their hotel to check in their bags before heading to the airport. However, there are a few key requirements:
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You must be flying with Southwest Airlines.
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You must have already checked in for your flight and paid any necessary baggage fees.
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Once your bags are checked in, you won’t have access to them again until you reach your destination airport.
Important Timing Rules
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Flights before 1 PM: Bags must be checked the night before departure.
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Flights after 1 PM: Bags can be checked on the morning of the flight, at least four hours before departure.
Best of All? It’s Free!
Despite Disney’s trend of monetizing former freebies, this service is completely complimentary. There’s no extra fee for using Resort Airline Check-In, which is a rare win for guests.
What Does This Mean for Other Lost Disney Perks?
While this test doesn’t necessarily mean other discontinued services are on their way back, it does offer a glimmer of hope for those who miss the perks of Disney’s pre-2020 era. Could this be the first step toward restoring Magical Express or a more robust Extra Magic Hours program?
For now, we’ll have to wait and see how this test plays out—and whether Disney decides to bring back more guest-friendly perks. Would you use Resort Airline Check-In if it became available resort-wide?
