Magical Express Timing

[jrtoastyman]

Arriving 1/18 at 4:05, and using DME to get to resort. What is our best and worst case scenario (i.e., what is the range of times it will take to get there)? Have an ADR at BOG@MK (we're staying at BLT) at 6:45, need to know if I need to consider taking a cab...

Thanks!

[maxiesmom]

No cab needed, you are just a 5 minute walk away from the Magic Kingdom.

You should be alright time wise, but booking an ADR on arrival day is always chancy. If your flight is delayed, or you run into a Magical Express delay, you could miss your ADR (and be charged a no-show fee).

[jrtoastyman]

Originally Posted by maxiesmom

No cab needed, you are just a 5 minute walk away from the Magic Kingdom.

You should be alright time wise, but booking an ADR on arrival day is always chancy. If your flight is delayed, or you run into a Magical Express delay, you could miss your ADR (and be charged a no-show fee).

Thank you, although I more meant should I consider taking a cab in lieu of magical express to make sure I make my ADR in time, since I'm assuming it would be quicker. I've only taken ME once before and I recall it taking a while, although I don't recall how long.

Point taken and understood re the risks of getting an ADR on my first night. With that said, we're uber psyched about trying out BOG and seeing the new FL, so the opportunity to see it first thing seemed a risk worth taking. If I get dinged with a fee because our flight is delayed, que sera sera, I suppose. Besides, we have another BOG ADR the next night, so we'll be covered there.

[maxiesmom]

Oops, sorry I misunderstood! If you are not checking any bags, a cab or towncar would be considerably faster than using Magical Express. Otherwise the time would be about even. If you check bags and don't use ME you still have to go get your luggage and haul it to the taxi/towncar.

[sam_gordon]

The 'average' time from landing to resort is ~70 minutes using DME. There are occasional reports of 90 minutes, and rarely 2 hours.

You SHOULD be fine. You should be at the resort by 5:30, check in, then walk to MK, I would guess walking up to the ADR between 6-6:15. If your flight is delayed though, you could be in trouble. It wouldn't take much to mess things up. A 45 minute delay could mean you're really running to make the ADR.

Make sure you don't have anything you need for the ADR in your checked luggage.

My suggestion is to play it by ear. As long as you're walking off the plane by 4:30, use DME. Anything later, I'd cab it. However, that could cause problems with checked luggage.

[MinnieLee]

Originally Posted by jrtoastyman

Arriving 1/18 at 4:05, and using DME to get to resort. What is our best and worst case scenario (i.e., what is the range of times it will take to get there)? Have an ADR at BOG@MK (we're staying at BLT) at 6:45, need to know if I need to consider taking a cab...

Thanks!

As pp, from the time we get off the plane and are all checked in at our resort has never been more than 90 minutes. Hopefully you will not have any weather delays which would mess you up a bit. Getting all set at the resort by 5:30 - 5:45. Walking over to MK and then to BOG I would allow 1/2 hour from BLT. You should be fine. I would not take a cab - you might be saving 15 minutes but not much more. The walk from BLT is about 10 minutes to the gate, go through bag check and then cutting through to the new Fantasyland.

BOG was absolutely beautiful. Enjoy!

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by jrtoastyman

Arriving 1/18 at 4:05, and using DME to get to resort. What is our best and worst case scenario (i.e., what is the range of times it will take to get there)? Have an ADR at BOG@MK (we're staying at BLT) at 6:45, need to know if I need to consider taking a cab...

Thanks!

Here's a breakdown of possibilities...
landing to gate.....5-15 mins
walk to tram....5-10 mins
tram to main terminal....5 mins.
walk to DME area.....10-15 mins
wait in bus line....3-30 mins
wait on bus....3-20 mins
ride to resort.....25-45 mins

As you can see, there is a wide span of possible times. I have had times of right around 70 mins, but some have been as short as an hour, while others (lately) have been closer to 90 mins.

If you arrive, ontime, at 4:05, you can probably safely assume you will be at BLT by 5:30/6. That gives you plenty of time to check in and walk over to the MK. If you arrive closer to the 6:00 mark, I would consider just dropping your carryon bags at Bell Services right after checkin and heading directly to MK. The walk to BoG would be about 15-20 mins from the CR.

[KrazeeK120]

You're going to be tight on time if you hit the "worst case" scenario.

On my last trip, there wasn't anyone waiting at the ME counter when we got there and we were the first people on the bus, which I thought was a good thing. I think, however, we were first because we'd just missed the last bus. We sat on the bus for 30 minutes, waiting for more people to board, before we left the airport.

Then, we proceeded to go to WL, GF, and Poly before arriving at the Contemporary. (Note, this might not always happen, but it could.) At 1 or 2 of these locations, the driver had to get out and get luggage from underneath the bus for people who either had large carryons or didn't have their luggage tagged for ME pickup.

I didn't look at the exact time it took as there was no place I HAD to be, but plane to resort was definitely at least an hour and a half (if not more).

It would have been even longer had we had to wait in line at the ME counter.

You'll have the added time of walking over to BLT and getting to your room, although you could leave your bags with bell services and get them later (although that requires the hassle of an additional trip back to the tower when you might not otherwise be going there).

And then there's the issue of if your flight is delayed...

By no means am I trying to discourage your ADR. I just want to provide you with a realistic idea of things that could delay your arrival.

[jrtoastyman]

Originally Posted by KrazeeK120

By no means am I trying to discourage your ADR. I just want to provide you with a realistic idea of things that could delay your arrival.

Well, look, BOG ADRs are like gold right now. Discourage away, I'm still going to TRY to make it!

Appreciate the input and warnings. I do understand that it's not an ideal situation from a timing standpoint, but it was the only time I could get that evening and it kinda is what it is, just gotta hope for the best, I suppose.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by jrtoastyman

Well, look, BOG ADRs are like gold right now. Discourage away, I'm still going to TRY to make it!

Appreciate the input and warnings. I do understand that it's not an ideal situation from a timing standpoint, but it was the only time I could get that evening and it kinda is what it is, just gotta hope for the best, I suppose.

You will probably be just fine. If your flight is ontime, you should have more than enough time to get to your room (it should be ready by 5/5:30) and then over to MK and BoG.
I ate there in early Dec...it was quite wonderful!! Have a great time.

If your flight is delayed, and you won't be getting to the airport until closer to 5, then I would take a cab to BLT. Yes, you can still tag your bags. The cab will take about 30 mins vs an hour using DME. But, it will cost at least $50!!!