Can I make it to Chef Mickeys?

[dakota5176]

We will be arriving at the airport at 5:45 and are staying on property at the Pop Culture Hotel. I have 7:45 reservations at Chef Mickey's. I can't change the reservations nothing else available. I want to go because I think it would be a highlight for my five year old daughter. Do you think I can make it? Will they hold a reservation for awhile?

 

[plutolovr]

Nope, sorry I think you're cutting it WAAAAY too close.

IF you plane is on time, and that's a big IF, you still need to wait for luggage. If you're renting a car that will take time, or if you getting ME that will take time also. The last time I used ME I waited for 1/2 hour to get on the bus. You will also be arriving around rush hour and traffic may also be an issue.

If you're on the Dining Plan and plan on using that for your dinner, you will need to check into your hotel. If you don't have a car you will need to wait for a bus to take you to the Magic Kingdom so you can monorail or walk over to the CR. You can take a cab, it will be quicker.

 

[PHLtoMCO]

Hmm you're cutting it pretty close

Are you taking the ME from the airport to the hotel? If so, you may have to wait to board. It's a craps shoot. Sometimes you get to the ME and they load and leave right away, sometimes you have to wait for the bus to fill up a little. So it'll be about a 35 min drive to the POP. Then you'll need to check-in quickly and take a bus to the MK and either walk or take the monorail to the contemp. If everything ran absolutely seamless without any delays, I'd say you could make it. If your flight is even the slightest bit delayed or if you have to wait for the ME to leave it will throw you off. I really hope you guys make it!!!

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Welcome to the DIS !

Unfortunately I agree with PP's...

Can you move to another day ? Just arriving at Pop Century will be a HUGE excitement for a 5 year old... the themeing, etc.....

 

[kaligal]

You're kinda cutting it close, but if everything goes well and you all move quickly, you might make it!

Take a cab or rent a car. If you rent, I suggest Avis. The cars are close by. If you join their little club, you don't have to stand in line inside the airport. If you haven't rented from them before, you'll have to stop at the booth in the garage, though.

Have one person pick up the luggage while the other goes to the rental booth. Then everyone leaves.

If the plane lands on time and the luggage isn't delayed (they're pretty good about it there), you could make it.

If you don't get lost.

I'm usually in my room in 60-90 minutes and always rent a car.

Might as well try.

Good luck!!!

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

If you are late to your reservation they will still seat you, but you will have to wait...so you can try to get there asap. Did you make a credit card guaranty with Chef Mickeys..if you did they WILL seat you, even if you are late,and if you dont show up, they will charge you a ten dollar per person no show fee so get there asap, or cancel ahead of time so you arent charged.

 

[wvulion]

I really don't see how you're going to make it--the ME is a total "crap shoot" (as I think another poster labeled it). I have been from my airplane seat to the Pop Century in under an hour (this past April) and I have been on the ME itself for 2.5 hours (some moron couldn't identify his own bag, but don't get me started)--that happened this past October. The bus time alone from the Pop to the Magic Kingdom, then a walk to the Contemporary (no resort to resort buses)--you're talking at least thirty minutes right there. I did it in January from the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was close to forty minutes from bus stop to restaurant check in. That said, I have had some terrific CMs who understand that things happen and hold the reservation, but I, like the posters before, second the sentiment that I wouldn't count on making it. And honestly, what a disappointing way to begin your vacation-rushing from the airport, trying to blast through check in, ripping to the Magic Kingdom, and sliding in to your reservation by the skin of your teeth, if at all. Check with some of the other character dining experiences and see if anyone has cancelled (which I have done a couple of times with great success), and pick up their reservation> I certainly wish you well and hope that the success or failure of this doesn't make or break your vacation. Have a great trip

 

[PHLtoMCO]

I really don't see how you're going to make it--the ME is a total "crap shoot" (as I think another poster labeled it). I have been from my airplane seat to the Pop Century in under an hour (this past April) and I have been on the ME itself for 2.5 hours (some moron couldn't identify his own bag, but don't get me started)--that happened this past October. The bus time alone from the Pop to the Magic Kingdom, then a walk to the Contemporary (no resort to resort buses)--you're talking at least thirty minutes right there. I did it in January from the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was close to forty minutes from bus stop to restaurant check in. That said, I have had some terrific CMs who understand that things happen and hold the reservation, but I, like the posters before, second the sentiment that I wouldn't count on making it. And honestly, what a disappointing way to begin your vacation-rushing from the airport, trying to blast through check in, ripping to the Magic Kingdom, and sliding in to your reservation by the skin of your teeth, if at all. Check with some of the other character dining experiences and see if anyone has cancelled (which I have done a couple of times with great success), and pick up their reservation> I certainly wish you well and hope that the success or failure of this doesn't make or break your vacation. Have a great trip

Was it not obvious it was a typo?

 

[kaligal]

I really don't see how you're going to make it--the ME is a total "crap shoot" (as I think another poster labeled it). I have been from my airplane seat to the Pop Century in under an hour (this past April) and I have been on the ME itself for 2.5 hours (some moron couldn't identify his own bag, but don't get me started)--that happened this past October. The bus time alone from the Pop to the Magic Kingdom, then a walk to the Contemporary (no resort to resort buses)--you're talking at least thirty minutes right there. I did it in January from the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it was close to forty minutes from bus stop to restaurant check in. That said, I have had some terrific CMs who understand that things happen and hold the reservation, but I, like the posters before, second the sentiment that I wouldn't count on making it. And honestly, what a disappointing way to begin your vacation-rushing from the airport, trying to blast through check in, ripping to the Magic Kingdom, and sliding in to your reservation by the skin of your teeth, if at all. Check with some of the other character dining experiences and see if anyone has cancelled (which I have done a couple of times with great success), and pick up their reservation> I certainly wish you well and hope that the success or failure of this doesn't make or break your vacation. Have a great trip

OP may not be taking the bus. There is no reason to check in (or go to a park!) before heading to the Contemporary.

Instead of just telling the OP to give up, why don't we try to help them make their dinner???

 

[tony609]

My expirence says no. I'm also not sure how long they will honor your ADR. If you grabbed a cab at Mco and went straight to the contemporary hotel bags and all you could make it . If your on a dining plan you need to have your card, but if not maybe you could store your bags temporarily with the hotel, eat and take a cab to pop. Good luck.

 

[Missyrose]

If you are late to your reservation they will still seat you, but you will have to wait...so you can try to get there asap. Did you make a credit card guaranty with Chef Mickeys..if you did they WILL seat you, even if you are late,and if you dont show up, they will charge you a ten dollar per person no show fee so get there asap, or cancel ahead of time so you arent charged.

My expirence says no. I'm also not sure how long they will honor your ADR. If you grabbed a cab at Mco and went straight to the contemporary hotel bags and all you could make it . If your on a dining plan you need to have your card, but if not maybe you could store your bags temporarily with the hotel, eat and take a cab to pop. Good luck.

Grace period is 20 minutes, which they WILL enforce at a soldout restaurant like Chef Mickey's.

I think we need my info from you OP. Will you be using DME? Will you be on the dining plan?

If your answer is yes to either of those questions, your best bet would be to move CM to another night or later in the evening on arrival day. The rule of thumb is you can get to a park or a meal 3 hours after landing at MCO (when using DME). So two hours would be cutting it REALLY close and you would need everything to go exactly right to have a prayer of making it. Plus, it's an ADR with a credit card guarantee, which means you'll be charged $10 per person if you're later than the grace period and the restaurant can't seat you.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We were at our hotel an hour and a half after our plane landed but we had a hire car come and pick us up so that helped a lot. As others have said, if you're late, they will still seat you. If your heart is set on thr reservation, I'd risk it.

 

[Evoga]

I don't know why people are telling you to go to the park first as it's quicker to just park at the contemporary.

Parked at all the monorail resorts everyday for the last two weeks and the guards are fine with it. The only problem I ever had was sometimes not having any I.d. Or driving licence on me as the rules state they should not let you in without I.d. but they still let me in.

 

[TandLMommy28]

OK, here's my experience. It's opposite of your situation but it might help you.

When we went in 2010, I had read so much about giving yourself a lot of time to make it to ADRs because transportation can be iffy if you use Disney transportation. So we left for our Chef Mickey ADR super early. Like, almost two hours early. So when we were 1.5 hours early for our ADR time I was sort of stressed because now we didn't have time to go into MK but we had way too much time until we ate. So... we went and checked in and we said we knew we were super early but we'd just walk around the Contemporary shops or something. He said no need and sat us right away.

My guess is that you may have the same experience in reverse. What time is the last seating at Chef Mickey's? If you can make it at all, you will probably be fine. Most likely they will seat you. I guess they COULD say no because you are late but most likely they will seat you without an issue.

 

[chartle]

1. I don't know why people are telling you to go to the park first as it's quicker to just park at the contemporary.

2. Parked at all the monorail resorts everyday for the last two weeks and the guards are fine with it. The only problem I ever had was sometimes not having any I.d. Or driving licence on me as the rules state they should not let you in without I.d. but they still let me in.

1. Because no one knows if they have a car or taking ME to the resort and then need to take a bus ti the MK. Also we don't know whether they have to check in first if they are on the dining plan.

2. And I hope you are not saying you parked at a monorail resort for park access. Because you are not going to get much love here saying that.

 

[mom2rtk]

The OP already said there were not other times available for CM.

OP, assuming your flight arrives on time, you can make it if you take a taxi or are renting a car and go straight to Chef Mickey, and check into the Pop Century after dinner. If you are on the dining plan though and want to use dining credits to pay for the dinner, that won't work.

I recall one trip where we landed on time, didn't wait too long for the ME, didn't wait too long to check in (at Pop Century), didn't wait too long for the bus to the MK.......... and we were walking into the MK exactly 3 hours after our plane landed. (MK is next to CM). I just don't see how it can be done in 2 if you're using ME and resort transportation.

Keep trying for another time or day. With the credit card guarantee, I'm sure people do cancel.

 

[chartle]

I want to go because I think it would be a highlight for my five year old daughter. Do you think I can make it? Will they hold a reservation for awhile?

One other issue is are you going to be a nervous wreck for that entire trip hoping to make this ADR? Most people say thats not the best way to start a vacation.

 

[Evoga]

1. Because no one knows if they have a car or taking ME to the resort and then need to take a bus ti the MK. Also we don't know whether they have to check in first if they are on the dining plan.

2. And I hope you are not saying you parked at a monorail resort for park access. Because you are not going to get much love here saying that.

I park at the monorail and Epcot resorts every year for quick access. I park nearly everday and most times twice a day at different resorts.

If you talk to the security guards they are fine with it unless it's really busy then you just park at another resort or use the overflow at boardwalk.

I prefer stating personal experiences rather than posting what I wish was true.

 

[2girlsmom]

I park at the monorail and Epcot resorts every year for quick access. I park nearly everday and most times twice a day at different resorts.

If you talk to the security guards they are fine with it unless it's really busy then you just park at another resort or use the overflow at boardwalk.

I prefer stating personal experiences rather than posting what I wish was true.

Evoga, parking at hotels is for hotel guests or people dining/shopping in that hotel, and are for 3 hours. The resorts WILL tow cars left in the lot without guest information, we have seen it happen, and parking in the hotel lots to go into the parks is against Disney property regulations.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi dakota5176. Danny, Brian and Reid welcome you to the TPAS DIS board

We are a friendly and knowledgeable bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread

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