AviationNews – Baggage Service Expansion
Starting today, Walt Disney World has officially expanded its Airport Luggage Transfer service at Orlando International Airport (MCO) to include American Airlines and United Airlines, offering travelers significant time savings and convenience when managing their luggage.
The pilot program, which initially launched in 2025 exclusively with Southwest Airlines, allows guests staying at select Disney Value Resorts to seamlessly transport their belongings. The integration of American Airlines and United Airlines marks a critical step in the ongoing development of this guest-focused initiative. Operated by the third-party provider BagCheck, the baggage service handles the direct transfer of checked bags between the aviation hub and the resort properties.
Operationally, the system functions by allowing arriving guests to bypass the luggage carousels and head straight to their vacation destination while their bags are delivered separately. For departing flights, travelers check their bags at the hotel lobby up to four hours before takeoff, which empowers them to skip the traditional airline check-in queues at Orlando International Airport. This technical coordination between the airlines, BagCheck, and Walt Disney World effectively reduces terminal congestion and removes the physical strain of transporting heavy luggage.
Addressing the program’s growth, a Disney representative stated that the update is “designed to make travel to and from Walt Disney World Resort even easier for Guests, while creating opportunities to grow the service over time.”
This development indicates a broader strategy to restore the frictionless travel experience that vacationers highly prioritize. As the logistics continue to prove successful, industry experts anticipate that the program will eventually encompass additional major carriers and expand beyond Value properties to Moderate and Deluxe resort categories. Eligible travelers booking future trips should consider registering for this streamlined process to maximize their vacation time.
The addition of two major airline carriers to the Airport Luggage Transfer program drastically improves the transit experience for visitors navigating MCO. By eliminating the standard luggage handling bottlenecks on both ends of a trip, the initiative successfully modernizes the resort travel experience. The steady, measured growth of this baggage service suggests a highly promising outlook for further expansions in the near future.