It seems like every week there’s something new to talk about regarding Southwest Airlines!

In the month of October, Southwest will be resuming non-stop flights to seven destinations out of Orlando. Who knows, maybe this will make your Disney World vacation a lot easier!

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.

Southwest recently announced that it will be continuing nonstop flights to seven destinations out of Orlando Airport (MCO). This is great news for those who may have needed to adjust travel plans when coming to visit Disney World.

The following destinations will begin nonstop flights out of MCO:

• Albuquerque, NM – October 4th
• Cincinnati, OH – October 2nd
• Detroit, MI – October 2nd
• El Paso, TX – October 4th
• Grand Rapids, MI – October 2nd
• Jackson, MS – October 4th
• Tulsa, OK – October 2nd

While we know when these new flights will begin at MCO, Southwest has not yet listed an ending date for these additional routes, so hopefully they’re here to stay for a little bit. If you’re going to be travelling soon and live nearby, or it would make it easier to travel through one of these cities, it may be worth looking into as you plan for that next trip.

Southwest has been making tons of changes this year, one of them being its bag policy. As of May 28th, 2025, free checked bags are no longer included by default. This is a bummer considering free checked bags were a big perk that differentiated Southwest, especially with how expensive checked bags can be. Unless you’re flying under a fare class or status that includes bag benefits, you’ll most likely need to pay.

Another big change coming is the elimination of open seating, which will be happening on January 27th, 2026.  You’ll be able to select your seat at booking, depending on the fare and status, rather than grabbing whatever’s left when you board.

Another change happening on January 27th, 2026, is that Southwest will require passengers who take up more space than one seat to purchase an additional ticket before the flight. Beforehand, passengers could pay the cost of an extra ticket and receive a refund afterward, or they could request an extra seat at the airport with no extra charge.

We’re entering October, so if you have a Disney trip coming up, expect to see more guests as we enter the busy month for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Make sure to look ahead at all the party night dates so you plan accordingly.

For more travel news and updates, make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog.

Southwest Airlines Is Running a Massive Sale on Flights — But There’s a Catch