Can we do this on our checkout day?

[Scarlet_J]

I'd love some advice on what to do for checkout day.

Staying at AOA
Flight leaves at 4:15 so I expect ME to pick us up around 1:00.
Currently have Chef Mickey's at 9:00am and a park reservation for Epcot which opens at 11:00.
Traveling in about 2 months.

If we leave Epcot at noon via the Skyliner, will we have enough time to get back to the resort, get our bags, and get on ME? If we can leave at noon, will an hour be enough time to do anything? I'm willing to cancel our breakfast and hope that we can get in a little early to EP.

I considered changing my park reservation to MK and canceling Chef Mickey's since MK opens at 9:00. If we did that, how much time would we need to give ourselves when using the buses to get back.

Should I wait it out and hope EP increases their hours? With increased capacity, this is a possibility.

I thought about just doing Chef Mickey's and taking a day off our park tickets, but it seems like we'd have to much down time.

Thoughts?

 

[rwdavis2]

What if the Skyliner malfunctions and you're stuck? If timing is critical take an Uber.

 

[Steven G]

I'd consider dropping the park reservation, and just go to the Boardwalk (take skyliner to epcot and walk over) or Disney Springs and do some last minute shopping/eating/relaxing. Unless I have an annual pass, it seems like a waste to just be in a park for a couple of hours.

 

[chris benton]

If I had to leave for 1pm DME, and you are talking about July? I'd wake up, get packed, go swimming, then have a VERY nice relaxed, brunchy, meal somewhere.

1pm will come faster than you think.
IMO, which, I know, is just my opinion, hitting a park before a 1pm DME ride sounds pretty bad, and too rushed for a vacation, not to mention expensive. How much will an Epcot ticket cost for one hour?

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hmm. Tough one ( especially missing time at Disney). I have done a couple of hours at Epcot/MK before but have stayed at Beach club ( short walk) or the Poly ( boat ride)

If I wanted park time , I would do MK ( and skip Chef Mickey's as it takes up too much time on the day of departure) or do as above ; either pool or Boardwalk/D Springs

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

IMO it’s not worth the hassle of going to Epcot for an hour. I’d either keep Chef Mickey and do something else for a few hours after, or drop the ADR and do MK instead.

 

[kylenne]

That sounds insane and asking for trouble tbh. You are too reliant on transportation to do that much running around. Pick one of an ADR OR a park. And with a 1pm bus to catch I would go with an ADR or just hang out at your resort pool.

 

[FCDub]

Certainly not

 

[T-Daddy]

I would have food court breakfast or lunch get one of those cones at the Cars pool and chill out.

 

[Marthasor]

I, personally, hate rushing around on check-out day. I would sleep in or go swimming early, finish packing and have a nice, leisurely lunch prior to DME pick-up. If you really want to have a nicer breakfast/brunch I would consider breakfast at one of the Skyliner resorts - Topolino's, Trattoria al Forno or Ale and Compass. IMHO, there would be way too much stress involved in getting to Chef Mickey's, EP and then back to AoA in the span of 4 hours. If you really want to go to a park that day, I would switch the reservation to DHS if there is availability and not do an ADR.

 

[Scarlet_J]

Thanks so much for the replies. I think either a few hours in MK or just breakfast at Chef Mickey's would be a nice way to end the trip. I won't try to push it, but I'd like to do something.

 

[vicarrieous]

Thanks so much for the replies. I think either a few hours in MK or just breakfast at Chef Mickey's would be a nice way to end the trip. I won't try to push it, but I'd like to do something.

We have done this our last two trips. Our upcoming trip we have a flight at 4:45pm so expect to get picked up by the Tragical Express about 1:30. We plan to have an early night the day before so we can pack and relax then the day of departure we will rope drop HS have lunch at 11 and then uber back at 12:00ish to the Poly. We like to give ourselves 1.5 hours to get back to our resort so we can get our bags from bell services and if we have time check out the shops at the resort.

 

[kevgraub]

Thanks so much for the replies. I think either a few hours in MK or just breakfast at Chef Mickey's would be a nice way to end the trip. I won't try to push it, but I'd like to do something.

I really think that is the best idea. No sense in trying to cram too much in and be stressed out, worrying about catching your flight. Another option might be to try and move your Chef Mickey's to 8:00 am, and then head to MK for a few hours after you finish eating?

Every family is different - but for us, we would much rather spend a few hours at MK hitting a last few rides than eating at Chef Mickeys. But our kids are a little older too, and seeing Mikey & Friends at breakfast is not nearly as big of a deal to them anymore.

 

[gharter]

I think you are cutting it very close.
If you were going to a park that opened at 8 or 9, it would be worth it. But EPCOT opening at 11 (maybe 10:15). You'll have 2 hours at best before rushing back to your resort to leave.

 

[pookybean]

We just got back on the 19th from staying at Pop.... I realize it was busy because of the cheerleading competition but the bell services line was crazy long at almost all hours of the day. Just something else to have in mind and make note of the lines throughout the week.

 

[VandVsmama]

I'd love some advice on what to do for checkout day.

Staying at AOA
Flight leaves at 4:15 so I expect ME to pick us up around 1:00.
Currently have Chef Mickey's at 9:00am and a park reservation for Epcot which opens at 11:00.
Traveling in about 2 months.

If we leave Epcot at noon via the Skyliner, will we have enough time to get back to the resort, get our bags, and get on ME? If we can leave at noon, will an hour be enough time to do anything? I'm willing to cancel our breakfast and hope that we can get in a little early to EP.

I considered changing my park reservation to MK and canceling Chef Mickey's since MK opens at 9:00. If we did that, how much time would we need to give ourselves when using the buses to get back.

Should I wait it out and hope EP increases their hours? With increased capacity, this is a possibility.

I thought about just doing Chef Mickey's and taking a day off our park tickets, but it seems like we'd have to much down time.

Thoughts?

Don't expect Epcot to increase their hours. Switch your park reservation from Epcot to MK. Leave MK at noon. You'll have a good 3 hours of park time, which will be a nice way to end the trip before you get on the Tragical Express back to the airport. Cancel the Chef Mickey's ADR.

 

[tjmw2727]

With a pick up of 1 we would only visit a park we could walk to - generally Studios or Epcot as we like the boardwalk area.

I would pick one or the other- chef mickeys for a relaxing breakfast, explore CR a bit and then head back to your resort. Alternately pick a park that opens earlier and enjoy a few hours rather than just one hour?

.02 - allow at least 15/20 minutes to get your bags from bell services - our DME was delayed for a guest that was in line for bags and the driver was considering leaving as it was at least 15 minutes past our scheduled time. If this happens there is no way to know when or if another DME bus is coming to your resort.

 

[jo-jo]

What time does breakfast run to? Can you uber to Mk early, spent a few hours in the park and then eat breakfast at Mickey's and uber back to AOA? Even this plan might be too tough. I'm not sure how busy Chef Mickey's is with new set up. I think I'd give up the meal for time in park.

I do understand trying to squeeze just a little more fun in.

 

[Kerr84]

If your breakfast is at Chef Mickey’s at 9:00, I don’t think you would make it to Epcot until almost 11:00 and then you would have 1 hour. I would cancel Chef Mickey’s. I would either just swim and relax that morning. Or if you do want to go to Epcot, get in line for the skyliner at 9:30am. You’ll get into the park around 10:15/10:30 and have a little more time to ride rides. Another option would be to keep trying for a Topolino’s breakfast reservation. You could easily get to it with the skyliner and then go to Epcot or go back to swim.

 

[Carol_]

Many moons ago our Chef Mickey’s ADR didn’t seat us until 45 minutes after scheduled time. This was during Covid but before more recent changes. Consider the possibility of an unintended very long breakfast.