No, it’s not an early April Fools. Beginning right this moment, Walt Disney World has began a pilot program that’s testing the return of the favored Resort Airline Test-In service. This publish shares the present particulars as of Spring 2025, together with our commentary about what this might imply for the long run, together with a possible comeback of Disney’s Magical Specific.
For individuals who are unfamiliar with the service, Resort Airline Test-In allowed company to drop-off their baggage at their Walt Disney World resort on departure day. Friends would then go to the airport unencumbered by suitcases, normally by way of Disney’s Magical Specific. The luggage would then magically seem once they arrived on the luggage declare carousel at their dwelling airport on the finish of their journey.
Beforehand, this additionally labored in reverse–old skool Walt Disney World followers in all probability bear in mind these magical yellow baggage tags that arrived within the mail. You’d connect these to your baggage, verify it at your private home airport, and it could magically discover its technique to your room at Walt Disney World. This was a giant a part of the beloved “Disney Bubble” that the corporate voluntarily punctured with the notorious finish of Disney’s Magical Specific.
This seamless service was actually magical. That’s a phrase we’ve already used thrice on this publish, and it’s not one this weblog throws round frivolously. You’ve by no means heard us describe a cupcake as magical, for instance. However in a world the place airport and transportation logistics have change into nightmarish, Walt Disney World had one thing particular with this–which is a giant purpose why followers nonetheless bemoan the demise of Disney’s Magical Specific. You have been on trip the second you landed in Orlando, and Disney took care of the small print.
We communicate for many Walt Disney World followers once we say the true countdown to trip began even earlier: when that envelope arrived with the Disney’s Magical Specific booklet and people yellow baggage tags. It’s odd–I can’t bear in mind Netflix motion pictures I watched a pair weeks in the past, but when that envelope confirmed up within the mail right this moment, I may nonetheless determine it simply by really feel with out even opening it. And we haven’t used the service since ~2017. However I digress.
One factor to notice is that Disney’s Magical Specific and Resort Airline Test-In (or the yellow tags) have been really two separate third get together providers bundled along with a layer of Walt Disney World packaging. Though each have been distinctly Disney when it comes to consideration to element, they really didn’t finish concurrently.
The bags dealing with element was a sufferer of the COVID closure and phased reopening. It by no means returned when the parks reopened in Summer season 2020. Disney’s Magical Specific, however, did come again. On January 11, 2021, Walt Disney World formally introduced the choice to discontinue the free Disney’s Magical Specific airport shuttle service.
The corporate defined that “vacationers have extra choices to select from than ever for transportation, together with ride-share providers that save time and provide extra flexibility to go the place they need, when they need.” Walt Disney World continued to function the airport shuttle service for brand new and current reservations made for arrivals all through 2021, and departures into early 2022.
Quick-forward to Spring 2025, and Walt Disney World is now piloting a take a look at of a non secular successor to Resort Airline Test-In. In response to unique reporting by our associates at BlogMickey, the present rollout of Resort Airline Test-In service is extraordinarily restricted throughout this pilot program.
Particularly, Southwest Airways is the one supported airline presently and the choice is barely obtainable at Pop Century. It’s additionally solely obtainable when returning dwelling from Walt Disney World, which means the yellow tags aren’t making a comeback simply but. (Earlier than you dismiss this out of hand as one thing that gained’t apply to you, I’d implore you to maintain studying. This isn’t a fakeout.)
There are different logistical specifics concerning the return of Resort Airline Test-In, and I’d encourage you to learn BlogMickey’s report for the nitty-gritty. The massive one is that Resort Airline Test-In is a FREE visitor perk at Walt Disney World. You learn that accurately–Resort Airline Test-In is complimentary for company, similar to its predecessors.
If there’s extra visitor curiosity in Resort Airline Test-In, will probably be expanded to different airways sooner or later in addition to different resorts.
Proper now, Resort Airline Test-In is barely being communicated to company by way of phrase of mouth to maintain it manageable through the pilot program rollout. Friends who qualify to make use of the service can head to the Baggage Help desk in entrance of Disney’s Pop Century Resort the place Solid Members will have the ability to help within the course of.
Friends will have the ability to make the most of the Resort Airline Test-In service as long as they’re staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort on the final evening of their trip (break up stays welcome!), are checked-in on-line with Southwest Airways, and have paid any related baggage charges (not a problem but with SWA…however will probably be quickly). As long as there’s approval from Southwest by way of the system, company can make the most of the Resort Airline Test-In course of. A lot for switching from Southwest to a unique airline now.
Right here’s the place issues get fascinating. Per BlogMickey’s glorious reporting, this service is as soon as once more being operated by a 3rd get together. That firm known as BagCheck. You in all probability haven’t heard of this generically-named enterprise, however the founding father of BagCheck is Craig Mateer.
That identify may sound barely extra acquainted, as he beforehand served on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District till stepping down in September 2024. He additionally had a stint as a Board Member on the Larger Orlando Aviation Authority (which oversees Orlando Worldwide Airport) that not-so-coincidentally additionally ended final 12 months.
I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I remembered any of that, however the identify did vaguely ring a bell. His LinkedIn web page is way more fascinating. In response to that, Craig Mateer based BagCheck in December 2023 to “leverage patents for bags check-in/messaging and safety screening file sharing for the airline, cruise, resort, TSA and CBP integration processes.”
Previous to that, Mateer based Luggage, Inc. This enterprise launched the primary TSA accredited off-airport baggage check-in operations in 2003. Mateer bought Luggage, Inc. and different associated companies in November 2018 for $275 million. Luggage, Inc. was the corporate that beforehand ran Resort Airline Test-In and the ‘yellow tags’ aspect of issues for Walt Disney World and Disney’s Magical Specific.
Let’s join the dots and convey this all collectively.
The founding father of Luggage Inc., who’s a profitable serial entrepreneur and is presumably price at the least $100 million (even assuming he has a foul Pokemon card behavior) has spent the final 16 months creating a brand new enterprise that leverages patents he holds for bags check-in, safety screening, and different integration processes. One thing that sounds strikingly just like the outdated Luggage, Inc. course of built-in into Disney’s Magical Specific.
The founder’s new firm proceeds to re-establish a partnership with Walt Disney World, and begins rolling out a pilot program with one airline and one resort. Once more, it is a man price a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} who resigned from two conflicts of curiosity and simply spent the final year-plus engaged on this venture. Does anybody actually assume he did this with the tip sport of with the ability to verify baggage for simply Southwest Airways at simply Disney’s Pop Century Resort?!?
As needs to be apparent at this level, this Resort Airline Test-In pilot program is step one in one thing with a lot greater ambitions.
It’s beginning small, presumably, as a result of it must beta take a look at and scale up. In all probability for the sake of each Walt Disney World and BagCheck, as it is a advanced system involving patents, and (ultimately) a number of airways with completely different processes in addition to a wide range of resorts.
Flipping a swap and rolling out BagCheck and reintroducing Resort Airline Test-In in a single day could be a recipe for catastrophe. It’s not as if all of the outdated Luggage, Inc. infrastructure remains to be in place and the brand new BagCheck firm can go from zero to 100% on it. The sort of factor takes time to scale up, iterate on the method, on-board workers, and prepare present Solid Members–most of whom in all probability weren’t round for the outdated days of Resort Airline Test-In.
However we shouldn’t get forward of ourselves or be presumptuous. Having greater ambitions doesn’t essentially imply they’ll come to fruition.
We’re very bullish on the prospects of this pilot program particularly as a result of it’s from by the previous founding father of Luggage, Inc. He did it as soon as, so clearly he can do it once more. We’d really feel rather a lot much less optimistic if this have been a brand new participant trying to enter the market. That’s exactly why we have been skeptical of Sunshine Flyer from the outset, however assumed Mears Join could be successful. And look what occurred there.
That doesn’t essentially imply that historical past will repeat itself, as rather a lot has modified within the final ~5 years. Much more has modified since Mateer final ran Luggage, Inc. earlier than promoting it. However, our view is that the percentages are fairly excessive of this being successful. We nonetheless hear from followers who lament the lack of Resort Airline Test-In and people yellow tags.
In reality, many Walt Disney World followers view the baggage dealing with as a much bigger factor than Disney’s Magical Specific. A lot have flat-out mentioned that the latter returning with out the previous could be meaningless, which could communicate to the demise of DME within the first place.
However, I’m barely involved that Resort Airline Test-In gained’t make a full comeback.
Once more, rather a lot has modified since 2020. One of many issues we’ve repeatedly talked about is that the visitor utilization fee of Mears Join is absolutely low, far decrease than Disney’s Magical Specific. Followers derided the decreased competitors, however I identified even then that it’s unlikely each have been viable within the long-term. Consolidation was in all probability the one path ahead.
Since then, it’s solely gotten worse. I take Mears Join rather a lot (4 occasions within the final 3 weeks!) and it’s seldom even remotely busy. I’m typically placed on the smaller vans as a result of there aren’t sufficient company to justify taking a giant bus, and when the buses are used, they’re hardly ever over 25% full. This included through the coronary heart of spring break. (For no matter it’s price, the vacation season all the time appears busiest.)
My concern is that client preferences have already modified, and there’s no unringing that bell.
It’s not 2003 and even 2019 anymore, and possibly the world has moved on from one of these service. I don’t really consider that. If I did, we wouldn’t have so many items imploring Walt Disney World to carry again Disney’s Magical Specific. It’s nonetheless price discussing this, although, as evolving visitor preferences is what Disney cited when killing off DME within the first place.
The rationale I don’t consider it’s because, in my opinion, there are a few vital distinctions between Disney’s Magical Specific and Mears Join. The primary is visitor consciousness and branding. The second is value. Disney’s Magical Specific was free (or constructed into the price of resort reservations, if you happen to’d favor), whereas Mears Join has a charge.
In fact the adoption charges are going to vary in consequence. When it was simply the 2 of us, we by no means used Mears Join–the maths didn’t pencil out over taking Uber or Lyft. I take advantage of it rather a lot for solo analysis journeys as a result of it’s cheaper, I’m by no means in a rush, and I like sitting within the again on my own and dealing on my laptop computer.
It’s straightforward to see why households go for different choices over Mears Join. Lots of them would use Disney’s Magical Specific if given the choice. And if all goes effectively right here, maybe they’ll quickly have that possibility! (Extra on that later, although.)
Proper from the outset, the return of Resort Airline Test-In has a few benefits over Mears Join.
The primary is that it’s free. If there’s one factor folks love, it’s issues which can be free. (Be at liberty to truth verify that.) It additionally helps that there’s no competitor to BagCheck or Resort Airline Test-In as a service. It’s both utilizing this or lugging your baggage round your self, like a peasant. There’s no UberBags.
These are two big benefits proper from the outset that make Resort Airline Test-In destined for achievement. Nevertheless, there’s a last variable–and that is the place you are available in.
As famous above, Disney’s Magical Specific additionally had the benefit of branding and visitor consciousness. At current, Resort Airline Test-In doesn’t have that. Walt Disney World isn’t promoting it, and it’s solely obtainable by way of phrase of mouth.
That’s comprehensible at this level, as it really works to scale up. Walt Disney World additionally doesn’t need to “promise” one thing that’s solely a take a look at, not at each resort, and so forth. Friends staying at Grand Floridian may be aggravated to obtain “lesser” facilities and repair than a Worth Resort. Even these staying at Pop Century in 2026 might be disillusioned if the service is deserted earlier than then for no matter purpose.
Right here’s how one can assist this be successful. The primary is by reserving a keep at Pop Century, which is already the #1 resort in our Rankings of ALL Resort Lodges at Walt Disney World from Worst to Finest. (Or in case your journey isn’t for some time, you may wait and see the place else this rolls out–supposedly it’s coming to all the Worth Resorts in due time.)
Second, whereas staying at Pop Century (or related resorts), you may ask to talk to a supervisor–ideally in your checkout day after utilizing the Resort Airline Test-In service. Assuming it went effectively, reward the providing and Solid Members managing it. Talk that it’s the massive purpose why you booked that resort–and even stayed on-site within the first place.
Lastly, do the identical after you get dwelling. Both by way of surveys you’re despatched or by reaching out to Disney. Or each! Clarify how the corporate’s choices and practices will influence your holidays and future enterprise with Walt Disney World by emailing [email protected]. For as soon as, we’re recommending you do that to reward one thing versus complaining!
Please solely do that if you happen to really keep at a related resort and use the Resort Airline Test-In service. Don’t merely spam that e mail proper now or sooner or later. A majority of these correspondence are solely efficient in the event that they’re honest and truthful. (Belief me–they know.)
The keys to the return of Resort Airline Test-In being deemed successful and increasing past the pilot program are excessive utilization, visitor satisfaction, and different vital metrics (intent to suggest, revisit, and so forth). If it’s deemed a demonstrative success, you may count on to see Resort Airline Test-In service make a full comeback…and maybe extra.
Finally, it’s nothing in need of improbable to see Resort Airline Test-In return. We don’t need to get forward of ourselves and be overly presumptuous primarily based on a really restricted pilot program, however as is obvious, this service wouldn’t have made it thus far if it didn’t have greater ambitions.
Fairly truthfully, if I needed to guess on Disney’s Magical Specific or Resort Airline Test-In returning a number of weeks in the past–again once we revealed Disney’s Magical Specific Was Used By One-Third of Resort Friends at Walt Disney World, I’d’ve picked the airport shuttle bus with out hesitation.
Bringing that again could be manner simpler. And but, right here we’re with Resort Airline Test-In being rebuilt from the bottom up and returning totally free.
This doesn’t imply I’d’ve been “improper” in betting on the comeback of Disney’s Magical Specific. On the contrary, this makes that airport shuttle service extra more likely to return, not much less. The bags dealing with is the extra sophisticated piece of the puzzle that would want to roll out first. The airport shuttle infrastructure already exists, simply with completely different stickers on the buses. Not like this, that changeover might be like flipping a swap.
If something, the return of Resort Airline Test-In strikes me as Walt Disney World laying the groundwork for bringing again Disney’s Magical Specific. The corporate lastly realizing the error of their methods in deflating the Disney Bubble.
We nonetheless don’t need to be overly optimistic. In spite of everything, Walt Disney World has to deem this take a look at successful and elect to develop the contract with BagCheck to resorts. (The service is free for company, however not for Disney!) There are doubtless logistics to be labored out with different airways. Nothing is assured.
I’m nonetheless heartened to see this occurring. It’s as if the report that Walt Disney World is Fearful About Its Excessive Costs, and inner issues about Disney is pricing out the center class (and younger households, particularly) has lit a hearth throughout the firm. One thing that not even Common’s Epic Universe may accomplish!
First we had the announcement of New Character Experiences & 50% Off Ticket Deal for ‘Cool Child Summer season’ at Walt Disney World, and now the return of Resort Airline Test-In. As of proper now, these are solely two small steps, however what they sign is much extra significant and has me extremely (however cautiously) optimistic that Walt Disney World is on the right track. Lastly.
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Your Ideas
What do you concentrate on the return of Resort Airline Test-In? Suppose we’re making too massive of a deal a few very restricted pilot program, or do you agree with our evaluation that this wouldn’t be occurring in any respect until the tip sport have been way more formidable? Suppose this paves the best way for a comeback of Disney’s Magical Specific, or is that getting actually forward of ourselves? Heartened to see Walt Disney World all of a sudden beginning to take discover of the center class households which can be the parks & resorts’ bread & butter? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
