DME return vs. dinner @ Le Cellier

[SB in KY]

Although I am in the vast minority here I think you can do it....since you have the first dinner seating, if you arrive early they will seat you quick...they are never anxious for guests to linger over meals at LeCellier anyways. If you are walking out of the restaurant by 5PM, walk out the usual way and catch a bus, if it is 5:15 then walk out through the Int'l Gateway to the BC and catch a cab ($10 - 12 investment or less). If they have a fire in the kitchen and it is REALLY late when you get out and there is no way to make your DME bus then figure you are out $45 - 50 for a cab to the airport. But I am willing to bet you will make it fine.

The only problem with our family doing this is that while I never worry about time issues my DH would spend the whole meal staring at his watch and tapping the table while sighing deeply so no one would enjoy the meal and we might as well have had hot dogs in a gas station or something so we could line up 45 minutes before bus time, luggage in hand!! The lovely meal at Le Cellier would have been wasted. But if you do not have a slightly obsessive time worrier in your family I say go for it!! If you do, don't waste the dinner at Le Cellier!

BTW, do not worry about missing the bus while you wait for luggage at OKW...the storage area for bell services is right beside where the DME bus pulls up, so hand the bell guy your claim ticket and tell the bus driver the luggage is coming...they won't leave you!

 

[Lewisc]

KIND OF RUDE TO THE PASSENGES WHO GET TO THE RESORT ONTIME. Guests are supposed to allow enough time to get their luggage, not ask the bus driver to wait.

BTW, do not worry about missing the bus while you wait for luggage at OKW...the storage area for bell services is right beside where the DME bus pulls up, so hand the bell guy your claim ticket and tell the bus driver the luggage is coming...they won't leave you!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, yeah - if you're not waiting for the bus by the scheduled time, the driver CAN leave without you. That does not mean waiting for Bell Services to get your luggage, it means be waiting for the bus and ready to board. And missing the scheduled bus puts the Guest at high risk of not being able to board a later bus, sinc there are already passengers scheduled for THAT bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

Although I am in the vast minority here I think you can do it....since you have the first dinner seating, if you arrive early they will seat you quick...they are never anxious for guests to linger over meals at LeCellier anyways. If you are walking out of the restaurant by 5PM, walk out the usual way and catch a bus, if it is 5:15 then walk out through the Int'l Gateway to the BC and catch a cab ($10 - 12 investment or less). If they have a fire in the kitchen and it is REALLY late when you get out and there is no way to make your DME bus then figure you are out $45 - 50 for a cab to the airport. But I am willing to bet you will make it fine.

The only problem with our family doing this is that while I never worry about time issues my DH would spend the whole meal staring at his watch and tapping the table while sighing deeply so no one would enjoy the meal and we might as well have had hot dogs in a gas station or something so we could line up 45 minutes before bus time, luggage in hand!! The lovely meal at Le Cellier would have been wasted. But if you do not have a slightly obsessive time worrier in your family I say go for it!! If you do, don't waste the dinner at Le Cellier!

BTW, do not worry about missing the bus while you wait for luggage at OKW...the storage area for bell services is right beside where the DME bus pulls up, so hand the bell guy your claim ticket and tell the bus driver the luggage is coming...they won't leave you!

A few points....with so many 'ifs' in this scenario, it would make me very nervous. We aren't talking about being able to make it to DTD in time for Cirque here...we're talking about getting back to the airport. While you may not need the entire two hours at the airport, there have been many reports of people standing in the security line for an hour! Or more. No way would I take a chance on having to stress out like that.
And the DME is under no obligation to wait for you. I have seen the bus pull away with someone trying to get their luggage from Bell Services. When they tell you the bus departs at 3:50, that's what they mean....3:50. That's not the time you arrive to get on the bus, that's the time the bus closes it's doors and leaves!! I was on one bus that waited about 5 minutes for a large family to get their 'stuff' together so they would make the bus. Those who had arrived on time and now had to wait were not happy campers, and some were very vocal about letting the driver know about their unhappiness.
Getting your carryon at the luggage desk can be quick or it can take 15+ mins. Be back at the resort with about 45 mins to spare...you'll need it for potty breaks, getting your luggage, etc. Better safe than sorry I always say.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm not sure about other airlines but Delta requires, MCO and few other airports, checked luggage be checked 45 minutes before your flight. A poster was upset because the skycap started the checkin process 46 minutes before their flight, wasn't able to complete the process in time and the family had to pay $100 in order to take a later flight. I don't know what airline the OP is taking, and RAC should solve that problem. The point is MCO is one of the airports that can take extra time. A later DME bus isn't allowed. Taking a cab, or car service, from the Beach Club directly to MCO is probably the best way to enjoy dinner and have a stress free trip to the airport.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Our SW flight leave MCO at 8:55 pm, which means we'll probably have a DME time of about 6:00 to leave OKW.

The OP has a Southwest flight leaving at 8:55 p.m. The OP won't be able to use RAC because Southwest is not part of RAC.

There have been some suggestions that the OP should use a cab from the Beach Club to the airport. However, that would require somehow getting all their luggage to the Beach Club, presumably leaving all their bags with bell services before going to Epcot.

As far as DME is concerned, the pickup time from OKW will be between 5:45 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. (depending on the DME schedule at OKW). And DME guests should be at the pick-uo location at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

One other thing to keep in mind is the 4:00 p.m. may be the first dinner seating, but Le Cellier does not shut down between lunch and dinner. So there's no guarantee that a 4:00 p.m. dinner reservation means actually getting a table at 4:00 p.m.

 

[goofy4tink]

The OP has a Southwest flight leaving at 8:55 p.m. The OP won't be able to use RAC because Southwest is not part of RAC.

There have been some suggestions that the OP should use a cab from the Beach Club to the airport. However, that would require somehow getting all their luggage to the Beach Club, presumably leaving all their bags with bell services before going to Epcot.

As far as DME is concerned, the pickup time from OKW will be between 5:45 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. (depending on the DME schedule at OKW). And DME guests should be at the pick-uo location at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

One other thing to keep in mind is the 4:00 p.m. may be the first dinner seating, but Le Cellier does not shut down between lunch and dinner. So there's no guarantee that a 4:00 p.m. dinner reservation means actually getting a table at 4:00 p.m.

Duh!!!! Slapping myself upside the head. Obviously heading to BC isn't goint to work. Thanks for seeing that.
Again, I say....seated at 4:15, finish eating at 5:15 (give or take if you get fast or slow service!!), walk to front of Epcot 10 mins, now it's close to 5:30, wait for the bus to OKW, could be 5:45 now, drive to OKW, 6:00. Get bags out of Bell Services, 6:00. Phew......that's best case scenario..it could actually take until 6:30 to accomplish all that. If the flight is at 8:55, DME will want you at the bus stop for 6:30 at the very latest. Nope, I'm not sure I would try it. Way too much room for error.