Can we pull it off?

[KimK2006]

If you find the plane is running late or ME won't leave promptly, can you grab a taxi? And just have ME deliver you luggage?

Since we are all guessing, my vote is you will make it! Good luck!!

 

[KimK2006]

I may be mistaken here but I don't think ME will take your luggage if you are not on the bus. Right or wrong? Security issues I would imagine.

I haven't taken ME in years! But I was under the impression you never saw your luggage once you boarded your plane. I thought ME took all of the Disney luggage delivered it. I thought it wasn't necessarily even on the same bus as you are. I am sure someone with more experience will know this.

 

[ironz]

FWIW, I did something similar a couple of years ago.

Had a flight with a connection that was supposed to put me at MCO about 3 pm, with a 7 p.m. CRT reservation...for my birthday.
We got to Nashville for our connection and the 2nd flight was cancelled.
They put us on another flight (SW) that had an extra connection in Columbus, though it was to leave Nashville before the original one would have, so that made up for some of the time. and the stop in Columbus was short...just to let more people on the plane.

I forget what time we landed at MCO, but it was maybe something like 4 pm, so not the worst delay considering we flew out of our way to another state!

Took DME to CSR, checked in...within about 70 minutes, which is pretty average. Hopped on a bus to MK and had time to do some rides before our reservation. And then got stuck on Space Mountain right after we boarded the ride vehicle. We sat there in the loading bay for about 15 minutes...and then, worried about missing the CRT reservation, asked the CM to let us out. Thank goodness we weren't stuck somewhere out on the track somewhere!

Still made the CRT ADR and had the best bday dinner ever!

Mind you, this was at low season, and 2 adults travelling, so build in extra time for crowds and bathroom stops.

 

[ktlm]

Flights can be delayed for reasons other than weather. In Dec, DM and I went to BC 4 days ahead of DH, DS, and DD for a work conference. On their arrival day, we made an O'hana ressie for 5:40 PM thinking that was plenty of time because their plane was due to arrive at 12:50. Well, the flight was delayed over an hour due to mechanical issues and then they had to wait on an ME bus for another 45 minutes to an hour for it to fill up. They arrived at BC with just enough time to hop in a cab and run into the Poly. We made it, but just barely. No way I would chance it with such a large amount of money on the line.

That's nothing compared to our delay on our last WDW trip. We were just getting ready to board our 8:00 a.m. flight, when they got on the intercom and stated that they were suspending boarding as there was a mechanical issue with the plane that needed to be addressed. They kept showing us 15 minutes later until 9:00 a.m. when they announced that they had to wait on a part and that our 8:00 a.m. flight would now be leaving at 3:00 p.m. I called the airline and they told me that they would not rebook me because technically my flight was not cancelled it was just delayed 7 hours. They were going to try to put us on a connection that was going to arrive at MCO at midnight, and said if they couldn't fit us on that one, it would be the next morning before we could get a connection out. My DD started crying and the guy heard me trying to calm her down and rebooked us on an 12:30 p.m. flight (the first available), so intead of getting to WDW at 2:00, we did not land there until 7:00, which means we totally blew our 7:00 p.m. ADR. (Also, we had made friends with some poor servicemen that were stuck there waiting on the delayed flight, so we checked and that flight didn't actually leave until 4:30 p.m.).

OP, I think you have gotten pretty lucky with your ME to WL. We have stayed at WL multiple times, and more often than not it is 1 1/2 hours from the time the plane sets down until we are walking in the WL door. One year it took 2 hours.

I wouldn't risk it for CRT where you are out the full price if you can't make it. I would say you have at best about a 50/50 shot as to whether you can make it there in time. If your ADR was 30 minutes later, I would think you could make it unless you had flight issues.

 

[figment_jii]

If you find the plane is running late or ME won't leave promptly, can you grab a taxi? And just have ME deliver you luggage?

I haven't taken ME in years! But I was under the impression you never saw your luggage once you boarded your plane. I thought ME took all of the Disney luggage delivered it. I thought it wasn't necessarily even on the same bus as you are. I am sure someone with more experience will know this.

DME is not meant to be a luggage service. So technically you are not allowed to use the luggage delivery service without riding the bus. Please see the Transportation board sticky for more information, including the caveats:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788

I may be mistaken here but I don't think ME will take your luggage if you are not on the bus. Right or wrong? Security issues I would imagine.

Correct. Technically, DME will not pick-up/delivery your luggage if you do not ride the DME bus. See the sticky thread linked above for more information, including the caveats.

Flights can be delayed for reasons other than weather...Well, the flight was delayed over an hour due to mechanical issues and then they had to wait on an ME bus for another 45 minutes to an hour for it to fill up.

Yeah, I've been on flights that were delayed because of mechanical issues with the plane. I've even had a flight that was ultimately cancelled, but we didn't know that until long after the plane was slated to leave.

I've also been on a the plane had to return to the gate due to problems/inaccuracies with the luggage information. Their manifest and the one on the ground didn't match, so they had to go back to the terminal and have the ground crew do a visual inspection to see if some luggage was on the plane or not.

I've also been on a plane that landed on time, but we ended up having to wait 45 minutes for a gate to open up. We could see the terminal from the windows, but we were stuck waiting for the plane ahead of us to leave.

All of these delays happened on the day of travel, so there would be no way to cancel CRT within the required time period. So, given that I'm not a frequent flyer (couple times a year), and I've had my share of delays, I would not risk such an expensive dinner on the hopes that everything goes perfectly. If the ADR was later (e.g., one or two hours later) and it was only a $10/per person penalty, I'd probably consider risking it as well. However, the difference between $40 and $230 is more than I'd be willing to gamble.

 

[bumbershoot]

I may be mistaken here but I don't think ME will take your luggage if you are not on the bus. Right or wrong? Security issues I would imagine.

The bags aren't on your bus anyway. So that doesn't matter. Those in the know say that the bags with tags are pulled from behind the scenes and put onto transport, which would happen before anyone knew if the passengers were on the bus. Even if the passengers weren't on at that time, they could just be going to the bathroom, shopping, eating, sitting...whatever.

I called the airline and they told me that they would not rebook me because technically my flight was not cancelled it was just delayed 7 hours.

That wasn't right of them at all.

DME is not meant to be a luggage service. So technically you are not allowed to use the luggage delivery service without riding the bus. Please see the Transportation board sticky for more information, including the caveats:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788



Correct. Technically, DME will not pick-up/delivery your luggage if you do not ride the DME bus. See the sticky thread linked above for more information, including the caveats.

That's not what the sticky says at all. There are many people who have gotten their bags while not riding the bus.

The ONLY thing that ever concerns people when thinking about it philosophically is IF a bag goes missing. In that case, if you weren't on the bus, it COULD become even more of a "it's their fault" thing between airline and DME than it already is.



I still wouldn't do it. It doesn't sound like fun at all even if the OP makes it. I don't want to meet Cinderella 2.5 hours after getting off of a plane. Wait. not even getting OFF the plane. But 2.5 hours after the plane lands. Then taxis. Then etc etc etc.

 

[figment_jii]

That's not what the sticky says at all. There are many people who have gotten their bags while not riding the bus.

I disagree. The first post in the sticky clearly says "If a guest calls Disney and asks if they can tag their bags but not ride the bus, Disney will tell them no, someone has to ride the bus. That is Disney's official stand if a guest calls and asks about it." Yes, the rest of the sticky says that many guests do use DME as a luggage service and do not ride the bus, but that is not the official policy of Disney. I accept that it's up to each individual guest to decide if they want to risk any problems with their luggage by tagging the bags and not riding the bus, but that is not the official policy of Disney. So, as far as I read in the sticky, it does state that the official policy is that DME is not meant to be a luggage service.

 

[arthropodtodd]

Okay so the boss wants to keep CRT at 6:55 unless something else opens up. We are willing to roll the dice. So here is the plan, feedback is welcome as is suggestions.

land 4:25 followed by quick potty and off to ME. Assuming we are on time we should be at WL by 6. My math...

15 minutes to ME.
30 minutes to wait for bus (could be less)
40 to parks
7 to drop off at Poly
7 to drop off at GF

This should get us there at about 6. While I check in and leave carry ons with bell services, the kiddos change into their dresses and off to the bus we go.

Should the plane be late at all. Skip ME, as luggage should still find its way to us, hop a cab or towncar to WL.

This should be interesting. Check back for how it all pans out!

 

[luvmy2babies]

I have a 4 year-old; so, I will have to check back to see how this goes. One other question? Are you gate-checking a stroller? We had to wait a few minutes for ours last time we flew, even though we were (intentionally) the last ones off the plane. Decided to have one waiting at our resort this time. Of course having him walk means I have to slow down so there's that.

I hope things go well for you.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do you want to start off your vacation with stress?

This is what I was thinking. I have run late for an ADR that my family really wanted to keep, and it was not a fun experience. I cannot imagine my first few hours on WDW time racing to make an ADR, telling the kids they cannot stop to take in that first moment when they see the Castle, let alone the stress of racing through the airport, dashing through checkin and hyperventilating on the bus to MK. The adventure would not work for me.

Thanks for all the feedback, seems around equal. Half of you think I am smoking crack and have do not.

I think the only concern is the flight. But I should be able to know 24 hour ahead of time if weather could be an issue. I am thinking that only if there are travel concerns would I cancel. I do not think ME is much of a worry as my experience is always being at WL about an hour after touchdown. If that holds true and the plane is on time I think we are good. IF more of you said I was smoking crack I might have to change things around. We are actually looking for a breakfast ADR instead and keep checking the cancellation thread.

I might have to post once we pull it off and breakdown how it all happened. For me there is nothing to stress about. If things look tight, I will check in while wife, daughter, and niece head to the bus (never boat, we always wait too long for boats) and onto CRT. Granted they cannot be seated without me, but they can just tell them the ADR was for 3 as one could not make it and then we can afford to eat the cost of one meal and I can grab a pork shank or something. Or can we just drop bags at bell services after getting off ME and check in later that night? I know WL usually has someone waiting for us when we get of the bus.

You live dangerously! I am interested how this will work out! Good Luck!

 

[skateshome]

Should the plane be late at all. Skip ME, as luggage should still find its way to us, hop a cab or towncar to WL.

I still say skip ME and take a towncar. $67 one way.
Cab is $100. Wife took one last week so I know.

But you have to prebook a towncar.

 

[joy13]

You get charged a boatload if you miss that reservation - I would never risk it when you are depending on an airline to get you somewhere ontime. I don't make ADR's on my arrival day anymore since the cancellation fee. I've gotten to Disney 5 hrs later than I was supposed to on a good weather day - you just never know.

 

[LilyWDW]

I can't afford to waste that much money so no way in heck would I try to do it. I, personally, think it is an insane idea.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't afford to waste that much money so no way in heck would I try to do it. I, personally, think it is an insane idea.

So we'll put you down as a "maybe".

 

[bumbershoot]

Last night DH had a flight. A 50 minute flight. While sitting at the gate, about to board, a storm blew in. And blew in HARD. Within half an hour, they had delayed EVERYTHING, including flights coming into OHare, by over an hour. Each half hour that went by things got delayed even more.

By 10 or so they had cancelled his flight. All United flights from ORD to his destination were cancelled that evening AND all day today as well, as of last night at around midnight. And there were no other flights to that destination.

This has messed up flights not just last night and today between those two places, but I'm sure it has messed things up for other destinations, as the equipment/planes and people needed to have the flights today weren't where they needed to be.

If a person were on a flight in Seattle trying to get to Orlando and that plane was supposed to have been in OHare yesterday and moving on to Seattle, that flight is likely messed up, even though Seattle has had gorgeous weather the last two days. Weather in one spot messes with everything else!


Just another reason to rethink this.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

only way I see the wife and kids making this is for you to take the carry ons and take ME. check in and if all is right with the world, see if they will let you join them late. wife and kids take a cab to TTC and take the ferry over to MK, they should make it okay. no cabs directly to MK but maybe to one of resorts that you can walk from. have them only carry autograph books and a camera, no bag to save a couple of minutes. make sure she has a pocket where she can take a credit card if needed. if flight is delayed at all no way are you going to make

 

[jade1]

app 30 minutes

FP+ P Pan 5PM

FP+ A&E 6PM

CRT 6:55

FP+ Wishes

 

[Chm635]

Do you have active APs on Magic Bands? We had the green passes and waited 40 min to turn them in and activate Magic Bands, couldn't enter MK until we waited. So frustrating! GL

 

[arthropodtodd]

Do you have active APs on Magic Bands? We had the green passes and waited 40 min to turn them in and activate Magic Bands, couldn't enter MK until we waited. So frustrating! GL

Yes, we have MB both to the AP and for the resort ressie.

 

[arthropodtodd]

only way I see the wife and kids making this is for you to take the carry ons and take ME. check in and if all is right with the world, see if they will let you join them late. wife and kids take a cab to TTC and take the ferry over to MK, they should make it okay. no cabs directly to MK but maybe to one of resorts that you can walk from. have them only carry autograph books and a camera, no bag to save a couple of minutes. make sure she has a pocket where she can take a credit card if needed. if flight is delayed at all no way are you going to make

hmm see here is an idea we had not thought of....might have to run this idea by the boss. lol

the only issue is no autograph books at the moment. so she would still have to grab those once in the park.