Keys to the Kingdom - Big Decision - Help! - The DIS Discussion Forums

jbdisneymom13 · 10-10-2009, 07:46 PM

My DH and I are going to Florida for a business trip in Jan and will squeeze in one night at BLT. This is the only time we've ever been to Disney without the kids and is probably the only time this will happen for many years. I have always wanted to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour but when we're on a regular family vacation my priority is time with the kids so have never done so. I'd love to do it on my one opportunity in WDW without the kids but here's my concern. We will not get to WDW until the afternoon so the only chance to do so would be the last day of our vacation. We'd book the earliest tour - 8:30 a.m. I think - but I read that the tour can last anywhere from 4 - 5 hours (or more depending on the situation.) Our flight on SW that day leaves MCO at 4:15 p.m. (latest one I could get!) Do we have time to do the tour, make it to the airport, return the rental car and not miss our flight? I hate to pass up the opportunity to get to do the tour but I also don't want to miss our flight! Opinions please - I'm really torn

Eljay · 10-10-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbdisneymom13

My DH and I are going to Florida for a business trip in Jan and will squeeze in one night at BLT. This is the only time we've ever been to Disney without the kids and is probably the only time this will happen for many years. I have always wanted to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour but when we're on a regular family vacation my priority is time with the kids so have never done so. I'd love to do it on my one opportunity in WDW without the kids but here's my concern. We will not get to WDW until the afternoon so the only chance to do so would be the last day of our vacation. We'd book the earliest tour - 8:30 a.m. I think - but I read that the tour can last anywhere from 4 - 5 hours (or more depending on the situation.) Our flight on SW that day leaves MCO at 4:15 p.m. (latest one I could get!) Do we have time to do the tour, make it to the airport, return the rental car and not miss our flight? I hate to pass up the opportunity to get to do the tour but I also don't want to miss our flight! Opinions please - I'm really torn

I think it's too tight.
If the 8:30 tour ends at 1:00-ish, that will really be a mad dash to the airport. It would only be possible if everything went without a hitch. Too risky, IMHO. Plus, you will not enjoy the tour, you'll be looking at your watch, worrying.

You could do a shorter tour. How about the Around The World on a Segway at Epcot? Or, Wild By Design or Backstage Safari at AK?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm

Also, don't forget to ask about a discount for AP, DVC, AAA or Disney Visa.

Technosavant · 10-10-2009, 10:01 PM

OK, flight is at 4:15. You want to be at the airport no less than an hour early, we'll say 3:00 to give you enough time to return the rental.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to the airport, so you need to be in the car no later than 2:30.

2:30 is marginal for KTTK, even at the 8:30 one. IIRC, when we took the tour, we were in the 9:30 tour and I think ours finished by about 3pm, so in theory it is doable.

If it ends 1ish (you can always call and ask; they know when these end), then you can do it, but you won't have all that much time to spare. If it ends much past 2pm, you're probably hosed.

Danemom · 10-10-2009, 10:50 PM

Not ideal, but could you just excuse yourself from the tour early if necessary?

Best Aunt · 10-11-2009, 06:05 PM

You probably could leave early. You spend a lot of time in the regular park area while the guide talks to the group. You could just tell the guide that you have a plane to catch and you have to leave.

Unfortunately, the best part of that tour is when you get to go in the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom - and of course that happens at the very end.

Hallowishes · 10-11-2009, 06:29 PM

i probably wouldnt chance it if i were you. i took the 830 m KTTK tour and didnt get done with it till a little after 2 pm. i think your cutting things too close

ILoveDisney-Angie · 10-11-2009, 06:43 PM

It is a great tour and definitely worth it. I would do the tour and just leave a little early if it starts to get close to the time you wanted to leave. Arrive at the tour a little early to explain your situation to the tour guide.

cleophus12 · 10-11-2009, 07:29 PM

You didn't say if you are APers, but if not you would have to spend the money to purchase a park ticket in addition to the tour ticket, and your whole park ticket would be going to waste since you are leaving right after the tour. We loved this tour, but I think I'd wait and do it on a day when I could enjoy my money's worth.

slimplaw · 10-11-2009, 08:30 PM

We did the 8:30 tour last Thursday and finished around 1:10.

10-10-2009, 07:46 PM	#1
jbdisneymom13 Disney Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 66	Keys to the Kingdom - Big Decision - Help! My DH and I are going to Florida for a business trip in Jan and will squeeze in one night at BLT. This is the only time we've ever been to Disney without the kids and is probably the only time this will happen for many years. I have always wanted to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour but when we're on a regular family vacation my priority is time with the kids so have never done so. I'd love to do it on my one opportunity in WDW without the kids but here's my concern. We will not get to WDW until the afternoon so the only chance to do so would be the last day of our vacation. We'd book the earliest tour - 8:30 a.m. I think - but I read that the tour can last anywhere from 4 - 5 hours (or more depending on the situation.) Our flight on SW that day leaves MCO at 4:15 p.m. (latest one I could get!) Do we have time to do the tour, make it to the airport, return the rental car and not miss our flight? I hate to pass up the opportunity to get to do the tour but I also don't want to miss our flight! Opinions please - I'm really torn __________________ Me - 36, DH - 38, DD - 12, and DS - 6 Trips as a family POR Dec 2003 CBR July 2005 POFQ Dec 2008 POR / OKW Aug 2009

10-10-2009, 10:50 PM	#4
Danemom My trouble is that I don't remember anything important Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,270	Not ideal, but could you just excuse yourself from the tour early if necessary? __________________ December 2009 --- Pop Century (ditching the kids again) June 2009 --- Port Orleans Riverside October 2008 --- 6 days POFQ/ 3 days DCL Wonder (finally!) September 2007 --- Pop Adults only and free dining again! July 2007 --- 1st Disneyland Adventure January 2007 --- Pop Century Sept 2006 ---Pop Century 15th Anniversary trip Adults only! Jan 2006 --- Pop Century Sept 2003 --- Carribean Beach Oct 2000 --- Dixie Landings Oct 1998 --- Dixie Landings 1978 --- Stayed offsite in an RV (took 20 years to get over it!)

10-11-2009, 06:05 PM	#5
Best Aunt "That's the best-est present ever!" Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 411	leaving early You probably could leave early. You spend a lot of time in the regular park area while the guide talks to the group. You could just tell the guide that you have a plane to catch and you have to leave. Unfortunately, the best part of that tour is when you get to go in the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom - and of course that happens at the very end. __________________ STAYS HAVE INCLUDED: Golf Resort (now Shades of Green), Grosvenor (now Regal Sun Resort), Swan, Dixie Landings Magnolia Bend (now Port Orleans), Boardwalk Villas, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club Villas and Hard Rock Hotel at Universal

10-11-2009, 06:29 PM	#6
Hallowishes DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: north royalton, ohio Posts: 1,038	i probably wouldnt chance it if i were you. i took the 830 m KTTK tour and didnt get done with it till a little after 2 pm. i think your cutting things too close __________________

10-11-2009, 06:43 PM	#7
ILoveDisney-Angie Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC but a NYer at Heart Posts: 368	It is a great tour and definitely worth it. I would do the tour and just leave a little early if it starts to get close to the time you wanted to leave. Arrive at the tour a little early to explain your situation to the tour guide. __________________ Port Orleans Riverside (May 24 - June 3, 2002) Port Orleans Riverside (May 23 - June 3, 2003) Boardwalk (July 10 - 21, 2004) HONEYMOON Wilderness Lodge (May 21 - June 1, 2005) 2006 Trip Cancelled - went to Maui, Hawaii Beach Club (May 25 - June 5, 2007) Contemporary (April 25 - April 27, 2008) - Girls Weekend! Boardwalk (May 24 - June 3, 2008) Caribbean Beach - Pirate Rm (April 19 - April 24, 2009) Grand Floridian CL (Dec 12 - Dec 16, 2009)

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10-10-2009, 10:01 PM	#3
Technosavant Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: STL, MO Posts: 348	OK, flight is at 4:15. You want to be at the airport no less than an hour early, we'll say 3:00 to give you enough time to return the rental. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to the airport, so you need to be in the car no later than 2:30. 2:30 is marginal for KTTK, even at the 8:30 one. IIRC, when we took the tour, we were in the 9:30 tour and I think ours finished by about 3pm, so in theory it is doable. If it ends 1ish (you can always call and ask; they know when these end), then you can do it, but you won't have all that much time to spare. If it ends much past 2pm, you're probably hosed.

10-11-2009, 07:29 PM	#8
cleophus12 Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 185	You didn't say if you are APers, but if not you would have to spend the money to purchase a park ticket in addition to the tour ticket, and your whole park ticket would be going to waste since you are leaving right after the tour. We loved this tour, but I think I'd wait and do it on a day when I could enjoy my money's worth.

10-11-2009, 08:30 PM	#9
slimplaw DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Irving, Tx. Posts: 2,314	We did the 8:30 tour last Thursday and finished around 1:10. __________________

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