Arrival help....anyone come in late at night?

[WDWorld2003]

We're finally getting it together for our March trip and booking award flights. There is availability arriving late Saturday night at MCO (11:30 p.m.) or arriving the next day at 5:30 p.m.

We would all be night owls if we had the choice so the late night arrival does not bother us but I am concerned with Magical Express times, etc.

Would appreciate hearing the pluses and minuses of late night arrival. Thanks for your help!

 

[RobDoc]

Magical Express run 24 hours a day but after 10pm you will need to collect your own luggage from your flight and take it to the bus yourself (or find a skyap to assist). We usually just have carry-ons so that is not an issue when we arrive late. The bus will gladly transport the luggage to your resort and you'll have it when you arrive instead of 3-4 hours later as with the DME service.

DME is a wonderful service to get to/from your WDW resort.

Enjoy!

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks Doc... so does Magical Express run less frequently after 10:00 p.m.

 

[phtktz3]

We're finally getting it together for our March trip and booking award flights. There is availability arriving late Saturday night at MCO (11:30 p.m.) or arriving the next day at 5:30 p.m.

We would all be night owls if we had the choice so the late night arrival does not bother us but I am concerned with Magical Express times, etc.

Would appreciate hearing the pluses and minuses of late night arrival. Thanks for your help!

I love DME and I have had late flight arrivals and in each case had a different experience. In June 2012 we arrived at DME just after midnight and we were going to AKV. We got into our assigned line and were the only 3 there and we waited for 45 min before we were finally sent to a bus. The bus was making 4 other stops with AKV being the last and it was already close to 1:00 am so my DH gave up and we took a cab instead as we knew with a loaded bus making 4 other stops we would not have arrived until almost 2 am.

In October 2012 I arrived at 9:30pm going to OKW and was on a bus and on my way within minutes of arriving at DME, same with my December 2012 trip when I arrived at 10 pm.

As for luggage I actually prefer to go to the carousel and get mine myself no matter what time arrive since I like to have it with me at check in so if my room is ready I can get settled right in and if not I can just store it at Bell Services.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks... that is one of my concerns - arriving at our room at 2:00 a.m.... and I just realized daily savings time ends that day. May have to rethink this.

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks Doc... so does Magical Express run less frequently after 10:00 p.m.

It runs less frequently just due to the demand for the service at that time. Since it is a reservation based service they have a pretty good idea how many riders they will have each hour. The drop off schedule can be a crap-shoot and even with only a few guests on the bus, they could be stopping at a number of different resorts and someone will always be going to the last resort. During the busier hours, they usually limit the number of resorts to three.

We've had to wait 30 minutes at times and only a few minutes at other times - just based on the schedule when we arrive at the DME desk.

There can be some minor inconvenience, but the price is great!

 

[rpcvpanama]

I had a late night flight this past October. Decided I didn't want to waste the points for a room stay since I was getting in so late. Booked a night at the Aiport Hyatt (great rate and nice hotel) and spent the night there. Next morning took my luggage down to DME and was on my way. The airport Hyatt was a great choice. Once I retreived my luggage the entrance to the hotel is right in the airport so was in my room (from getting off the plane to opening the door) in 1/2 hour.

Worked out great and if I have another late flight this will definitely be on the option list.

 

[itradehilton]

I had a late night flight this past October. Decided I didn't want to waste the points for a room stay since I was getting in so late. Booked a night at the Aiport Hyatt (great rate and nice hotel) and spent the night there. Next morning took my luggage down to DME and was on my way. The airport Hyatt was a great choice. Once I retreived my luggage the entrance to the hotel is right in the airport so was in my room (from getting off the plane to opening the door) in 1/2 hour.

Worked out great and if I have another late flight this will definitely be on the option list.

We have stayed at the Hyatt too and find it a great option.

 

[Starshine]

Another vote for the Hyatt. We did this when we had a late flight, we were able to be on our way early the next morning and didn't "waste" points for a few hours in the room.

 

[DonnaL]

Also agree with 3 posters above who said stay at Hyatt and catch ME in the morning. You will need to collect your bags from bag claim and then take them on ME with you, BUT.......you will be able to collect those bags and be in your room getting ready to sleep within a half hour of landing......not get those bags and then waiting possibly close to an hour for an ME bus and then, riding close to another hour (making several stops to drop off), then, do check-in and finally.....getting to your room. Stay at the Hyatt and get up bright and early....on the first bus....and have breakfast at WDW!!

We have stayed at the Hyatt....not on arrival, but, twice when our flight home was very early a.m.......we stayed at WDW until about 9:00 p.m.....scheduling our ME back to airport for that time....not a problem.....they did ask for our flight info, but, I simply told them we had a very early flight the next a.m. and would be staying at the airport that night....we couldn't check our bags at the resort since our flight wasn't until the next day, but, that wasn't a problem since we travel light......only carry-on....anyway. After check-out we just left our stuff with Bell Services and when we got back to resort to catch ME just picked up our things at Bell Services and got on the bus.

 

[lilpooh108]

Another negative to arriving late to the resort is that you won't have much of an option to change room assignments if you hate your room (too far from lobby, smoke smell, plugged bathtub, etc). I've found that when I arrive at noon or so (so not too early), I have been able to request a different room assignment if something was absolutely not working out for us. The few times I arrived late late at night or super early in the morning (before others have checked out), I'm stuck w/what I get.

 

[phtktz3]

We have stayed at the Hyatt too and find it a great option.

I have stayed at the Airport Hyatt a few times but only when we had a rental car. I had no idea I could use DME the next morning when flying in late! I am happy to know this as I hate arriving at resort late at night and wasting points for an entire days stay. I would much rather get my bags and stay at Hyatt then grab the DME bus first thing in the morning.

 

[Laura24]

On top of all of the tips posted, one of the things that was troublesome to us was arriving late, tired, hungry and not being able to find anything open at the resort to grab something to eat. Stayed at SSR that trip. However, waking up the next morning and ready to go to the parks for the whole day was great.

 

[amypetecar]

My wife joined us late and did not trust taking a cab by herself at night. We reserved a towncar. One way was only about $80. Not the cheapest option, but perhaps the best value. Nice car, only $15 or so bucks more than a cab, and they greet you by name in the terminal. And still waaaaaay cheaper than a rental car for the week.

 

[anna08]

Agree wholeheartedly about night at Hyatt MCO. One person grabs the bags and the other checks in, so you'll be set within 30 minutes. We have been stuck on the late late ME busses several times in the past, and it takes an average 90-120 min to get to get bags, get on the bus and have it hit several stops, and then check-in at DVC/WDW resorts. One time we just made the 10pm bag cut-off, but didn't realize our bags would be brought to room at 1am and we wouldn't have what we needed to get to bed out of our suitcases. Another time we got to our villa, then found the bed and bathroom were in a "used" condition. There were no other villas available so we had to sit up and wait for housekeeping to reclean the villa. I think we got into bed by 2am after landing at 10:30pm. I would consider car rental or MCO.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks everyone - this really helped me make the decision! We've decided to take the late flight and rent a car for one day rather than take ME. We'll just spend the first night in a standard studio and have the car for the next day to pick up groceries and drop it at the Dolphin. $50.00 well spent to get to the Boardwalk as soon as possible

 

[myxdvz]

Interesting thread! I have to think about this as we have a late flight for our June trip (leaving ORD 7pm so I think 11pm arrival). Save some BLT points.