ADRs before departure: Time Concern

Sleepyhappyandgrumpy

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
171
Hi all!
I just booked my ADR for 50's Prime Time Cafe for 12:10 the day I am leaving. My plane leaves at 6pm, so I figure I will need to leave POP where we are staying at 3 pm (right??) Does this leave me enough time to eat and get back to the hotel?

We are going in October so it shouldn't be too busy, and it is on a Monday if that matters.

Thanks!!
 
If you generously allow 90 minutes for lunch and another 60 to get back to POP, you'd still arrive at your hotel by 2:45 pm.
 
I'm a worrier so I like to REALLY pad my time. Here's my worst case scenario figures for your situation.

ADR is at 12:10 but restaurant is running behind since you're at the peak of lunch so maybe you're seated at 12:40 (I've been seated 1.5 HOURS late at 50s PTC at peak dinner time so don't think I'm exagerating; this is a real possibility and even likelihood). Your server is slow and you want appetizers and desserts figure 2 hours so out of there 2:40. You'll barely even get to the front of the park before your bus is pulling out of Pop.

Lets now say you're seated on time (I don't think it's at all possible but lets just say for the sake of arguement it happens) so you're seated at 12:10. Average meal from time seated until time out the door will likely be around 1.5 hours if you've having dessert or apps or even just participating in the antics so that means walking out of the restaurant at 1:40. That means you're at the bus stop at 2:00 (it takes time to get there and I'm assuming you're taking your time walking at a normal pace since you're now stuffed with all that yummy home style cooking). You're supposed to be at your DME bus stop with your stuff 15 minutes before your bus arrives which means 2:45. This means you have 45 minutes for the bus to arrive, bring you back to Pop, wait in line at Bell Services to grab your carryons (I'm assuming you stored your carryons with Bell Services in the morning before heading to park and I'm also assuming you checked your luggage in with your airline before heading to the park). You MIGHT make it but boy are cutting it close. You're really counting on a lot of factors falling right into place. You're counting on being seated on time, having good service, your bus coming in a timely manner, not having a line at Bell Services and your bus not arriving early. If any of these things happen then you'll miss your bus.

If you miss your bus, will that be ok? Are you the kind of person who can go with the flow and will be just as happy with paying for a taxi to get yourselves to the airport if you miss DME for any reason? This isn't how I'd want to end MY vacation but that's just me. The constant time watching would ruin my lunch experience. I like to end my trips in a much more relaxed manner. If I was the one planning, I'd probably just get a late morning snack at Starring Rolls, leave the park by 1:00 and then get a late lunch at Pop before hopping on DME.
 

You'll be perfectly fine, just don't dilly dally. Show up a few minutes early to your ressie.
 
I think you will be fine. I would show up at the ADR at least 20 minutes early to try to be sure to be seated by your ADR time. We have done a lunch ADR on our departure day more than once with Magical Express leaving around 2:30 or 3:00, and so far have always gotten back to the resort in time.
 
If you are running late after eating walk to the nearest resort and catch a cab to Pop. Much cheaper than taking a cab from Pop to the airport.
 
If you are running late after eating walk to the nearest resort and catch a cab to Pop. Much cheaper than taking a cab from Pop to the airport.

:thumbsup2 That is exactly what I was thinking after I read people's responses. I already added it to the budget. :) I really want to eat at 50s PTC, but that is the only time I can really fit it into our schedule at all, so I am desperate to make it work!

Thanks to everyone for the input! I love this board!! :love:
 
If you are running late after eating walk to the nearest resort and catch a cab to Pop. Much cheaper than taking a cab from Pop to the airport.

Great idea. We are having Character Breakfast on the dat our flight leaves and I think we will do this.:thumbsup2
 
If you are running late after eating walk to the nearest resort and catch a cab to Pop. Much cheaper than taking a cab from Pop to the airport.

There are cabs available at the parks (DHS, Epcot and AK). Ask a CM if they are by the bus stops or the parking lot. No need to walk to a resort.

At MK the cabs are at the TTC so at this park I would walk to the Contemporary to get a cab.
 







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