Checking at Resort after arriving on DME Question

[livingthedream]

We will be staying at POP for the last two weeks of October. Our flight doesn't arrive until 6:30pm. We are taking DME from MCO to our resort and expect to arrive at POP between 7:30 and 7:45.

On our arrival evening we wanted to have dinner at Kona at the Poly Resort and then maybe wander down to the beach to watch the Hallowishes fireworks. As you can see, timing is going to be an issue.

I know you cannot take the DME bus to the Poly. We are not "rule-breakers". However, we are considering taking DME directly to POP, and then grabbing a cab as soon as we arrive over to the Poly so we still have time for dinner at Kona to get out to the Beach to see the fireworks.

This means we won't have time to check into POP until we get back - which will likely be close to 10:30pm (if we take the bus back). I think they say you don't get your bags from DME until 3 hours from check-in, so we would request that they hold them til the next morning. That's not a problem.

Anybody see anything wrong with our plan? Is there a problem with taking DME to the resort and then not checking in for another 3 hours?

TIA!

 

[minnie mum]

As long as you aren't on the dining plan and are paying OOP (and not wanting to charge to your KTTW card) then you wouldn't have to check in first. But you would probably want to drop off your carry on luggage at Baggage Services.

However I think it is still risky making a dinner reservation on your arrival night. The odds of a flight arriving on time in the late afternoon/early evening are very long odds indeed. I certainly wouldn't pin any money on it. Then you are assuming that your ME bus will depart on time and not run into traffic and will deposit you at your resort first and not last on it's route. Then once over at the Poly you need to hope that you won't have a wait for a table. But this is very likely to happen at Kona. If you have a long wait, or if your service during your meal is slow, then you may still be eating when Wishes starts.

I'd recommend that you do this on any other evening of your visit.

As for your bags, they are usually at your hotel 3-4 hours after your arrival, not after checkin. So they should be there by 10:30 at the latest.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually??? Your flight could be delayed, you may take longer riding DME than you think...multiple things can happen. You would be better served by not trying to make an ADR, and then just heading over to the Polynesian, eating at Capt. Cooks and then watching the fireworks from the beach.
There are way too many things that can happen that will delay you. And none of them are involved in resort checkin!!!! I hate rushing around when I first arrive.

 

[goofy4tink]

As long as you aren't on the dining plan and are paying OOP (and not wanting to charge to your KTTW card) then you wouldn't have to check in first. But you would probably want to drop off your carry on luggage at Baggage Services.

However I think it is still risky making a dinner reservation on your arrival night. The odds of a flight arriving on time in the late afternoon/early evening are very long odds indeed. I certainly wouldn't pin any money on it. Then you are assuming that your ME bus will depart on time and not run into traffic and will deposit you at your resort first and not last on it's route. Then once over at the Poly you need to hope that you won't have a wait for a table. But this is very likely to happen at Kona. If you have a long wait, or if your service during your meal is slow, then you may still be eating when Wishes starts.

I'd recommend that you do this on any other evening of your visit.

As for your bags, they are usually at your hotel 3-4 hours after your arrival, not after checkin. So they should be there by 10:30 at the latest.

Actually??? According to the DME literature, bags can be expected up to three hours after resort checkin. So, while the bags will be there, at Pop, if the OP doesn't arrive there until after 10:30ish, they are not going to be delivered to the room in a timely fashion. If you don't checkin, there is no way to know what room to put the bags in!!! And baggage delivery at Pop slows waaaaaay down after 9pmish!!!

 

[spiceycat]

also think your plan is open to delays.

definitely understand wanting to get in the action as soon as possible.

but you can see the Epcot fireworks (higher ones) from Pop and it won't cost you anything.

the food court at Pop is just fine for a meal. then you can check in. Or you can eat at the airport before you take the bus to WDW.

save the Polyn meal for a night when you can really enjoy it.

you never know what problems you might have at or before arriving at the airport. One time we were delayed leaving the airport (when the bus driver was ready) for 45 minutes - think it was a wreck but can't be sure. the police just blocked the exit/entrance. One reason why the DME buses will leave between 2 and 3 hours before your flight is to take off. Accidents also happen. Please remember that WDW is definitely on the way back before the economy problems - that say - ORLANDO (the city you are in) is not recovering as fast as WDW. the police come from Orlando or Orange county not WDW.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I too think this is somewhat of a recipe for disaster. It all sounds fine and dandy when you're sitting in the planning stages but all too often can just become a giant ball of stress once your boots are on the ground.

I like to under plan on the arrival evening. The, if every thing is hunky dory on arrival, then use the time for something spontaneous.

On the other hand, having said all that if you're easy traveler(s), encounter no delays or hiccups, you should be okay

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't make an ADR for any less than 3 hours after my estimated arrival time at MCO. Too much can go wrong that would make you miss your ADR.

 

[LilyWDW]

I wouldn't make an ADR for any less than 3 hours after my estimated arrival time at MCO. Too much can go wrong that would make you miss your ADR.

After our last trip, I won't make an ADR at all for my arrival day. Too much can go wrong and the stress of not making it is just not worth it. All you need is a delayed flight and a missed connection to throw the whole day off.

Which also means that next trip, where I don't have an ADR scheduled, will be the smoothest experience flying I will ever have!

 

[livingthedream]

Yes, we did think of delays, and you are right! The ADR doesn't make sense...underplan good....We never thought of Captain Cook's - very good back-up plan if everything works out and we are there at a reasonable time! Underplanning for Captain Cook's could be a "spontaneous" plan!

At first we were just going to go to Everything Pop for dinner after we arrived, but we are only two adults this time so we figured we could sneak in a peek at the castle on the first night! If we get delayed and have to eat at EverythingPop, that's okay. If we have a bit of pixie dust, we'll see you on the beach at the Poly for Hallowishes at 9:30 on Oct 16!!

Thanks for your thoughts everyone!

 

[dis_guy]

After our last trip, I won't make an ADR at all for my arrival day. Too much can go wrong and the stress of not making it is just not worth it. All you need is a delayed flight and a missed connection to throw the whole day off.

Which also means that next trip, where I don't have an ADR scheduled, will be the smoothest experience flying I will ever have!

I totally agree as well, and like Lily, had it all happen on our last trip.

It started with a computer glitch at the airport, an ensuing security glut, delays with fog at our connecting airport, storms along our route meaning another route had to be approved, had to wait for de-icing, missed our connection, trying to get onto another flight, and finally getting in 6 hours later than we thought we would be. Yep, we missed our ADR and missed NYE at EPCOT. Stuff happens.

For our next trip, we arrive at Orlando at 11 AM and have an ADR and Christmas Party tickets for 7 PM. That's the kind of arrival day buffer I'm comfortable with.

 

[nkereina]

Have to agree with the others. Last trip, it took us a little over two hours to get to our resort on DME after our flight landed. Lots of people in line, buses were taking long, other resort stops before ours, etc. I would plan on an hour for DME at the very minimum and expect it to take longer.

 

[goofy4tink]

And actually???? I'm going to take this moment to apologize to you all for my unintended over use of 'actually' earlier!!! Man, that was not good. Sorry....

 

[livingthedream]

I totally agree as well, and like Lily, had it all happen on our last trip.

It started with a computer glitch at the airport, an ensuing security glut, delays with fog at our connecting airport, storms along our route meaning another route had to be approved, had to wait for de-icing, missed our connection, trying to get onto another flight, and finally getting in 6 hours later than we thought we would be. Yep, we missed our ADR and missed NYE at EPCOT. Stuff happens.

For our next trip, we arrive at Orlando at 11 AM and have an ADR and Christmas Party tickets for 7 PM. That's the kind of arrival day buffer I'm comfortable with.

Yes, we've had flights like this - having to stay overnight in Denver a couple of times because of storms causing bad connections. We know these things can happen, and if they do, so be it. We won't be extremely disappointed if we don't get to see Hallowishes from the beach. BUT if we can make it happen, then we will try!

"A wish is a dream your heart makes...." Gotta try!! Its about making wishes come true, right?

 

[livingthedream]

Yes, we've had flights like this - having to stay overnight in Denver a couple of times because of storms causing bad connections. We know these things can happen, and if they do, so be it. We won't be extremely disappointed if we don't get to see Hallowishes from the beach. BUT if we can make it happen, then we will try!

"A wish is a dream your heart makes...." Gotta try!! Its about making wishes come true, right?

Oh boy! Its been a long day I meant: "A dream is a wish your heart makes!" I think I better quit while I'm ahead!!