Help! Will we make it to the Hoop-Dee-Doo with this schedule?

[jan2013]

Hi everyone!

Looking for some strategic feedback from experienced folks who have a good handle on how "on-time" the Magical Express will be from Orlando International. We are supposed to get in at 4:00 PM on a Sunday and the goal is to make it to the 6:15 PM Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge Resort. Here is my optimistic schedule with questions included:

So, *IF* our flight is on time, here is our schedule:

1.) Arrive Orlando International: 4:00 PM (this will be on a Sunday in January)

2.) Hop on Magical Express to Wilderness Lodge Resort by 4:15 PM
QUESTION: Will this trip take an hour?

3.) Check-in at Wilderness Lodge, grab reserved tickets for Hoop-Dee-Doo, don't worry about bags as they will arrive in our room.
QUESTION: If we arrive at 5:15 or 5:30, how long will check-in take?

4.) Provided the weather is good and the boats are running, take boat to Fort Wilderness to make it by 6:00 PM at Pioneer Hall.
QUESTION: What if weather is poor and boats aren't running?

Final Question: am I just pushing my luck with this...and should I just reschedule for another evening of our trip instead of rolling the dice?

Thanks so much for any help/feedback/comments!

[lovedworld]

We took the Magical Express last fall and I don't think there is any way that you can arrive at 4:00 and catch the bus at 4:15. You have to walk a ways from the arrival gates to where you get on the bus. When we got down to where the bus picks you up we had just missed it and had to wait at least a half an hour for the next one and there was quite a line. Also it just depends how big of a line there is at the resort for check in, sometimes the lines can be long. You might be able to make your reservation, but I think you will be cutting it close.

[purple figment]

Originally Posted by jan2013

Hi everyone!

Looking for some strategic feedback from experienced folks who have a good handle on how "on-time" the Magical Express will be from Orlando International. We are supposed to get in at 4:00 PM on a Sunday and the goal is to make it to the 6:15 PM Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge Resort. Here is my optimistic schedule with questions included:

So, *IF* our flight is on time, here is our schedule:

1.) Arrive Orlando International: 4:00 PM (this will be on a Sunday in January)

2.) Hop on Magical Express to Wilderness Lodge Resort by 4:15 PM
QUESTION: Will this trip take an hour?

3.) Check-in at Wilderness Lodge, grab reserved tickets for Hoop-Dee-Doo, don't worry about bags as they will arrive in our room.
QUESTION: If we arrive at 5:15 or 5:30, how long will check-in take?

4.) Provided the weather is good and the boats are running, take boat to Fort Wilderness to make it by 6:00 PM at Pioneer Hall.
QUESTION: What if weather is poor and boats aren't running?

Final Question: am I just pushing my luck with this...and should I just reschedule for another evening of our trip instead of rolling the dice?

Thanks so much for any help/feedback/comments!

I would definitely recommend rescheduling for a different night. Everything would have to go absolutely perfectly for your timeframe to work and that would be very unlikely.

Too many things could throw a wrench into your plans. The weather in January could easily delay your plane. It will definitely take more than 15 minutes to deplane, take the shuttle to the main terminal and get down to DME. The DME bus may not depart immediately and WL might not be the first stop. Check in could take a while. You might have to wait at the dock for the boat to FW.

The Hoop De Doo is a fully pre-paid dinner show with a 24 or 48 hour cancellation deadline. If you miss the show, I believe the penalty is the full cost.

This is way too much stress at the start of a vacation. It would be much better to choose a different night.

[Nancyg56]

Don't do it. his is way too tight for a prepaid expensive meal.

You are asking that the stars be perfectly aligned for you to make this reservation and that just is way too much stress. Getting to a conventional ADR on time can be stressful if you are running late. I cannot imagine having that kind of money riding on perfect timing.

[jan2013]

I definitely had a feeling I was being way too optimistic with creating a tight plan like this. Way too many factors involved that will push our luck. Looks like I'll re-work our schedule and see if I can fit in that dinner for another night.

Thanks again!!!