DME transit time and one other question

[mcross923]

Hello, I have two questions about DME:

1. Our flight arrives at 3PM on a Friday and we are staying at the Polynesian. I have an ADR for Spirit of Aloha at 5:15 PM. Do you think I'll have enough time to get to the Poly, assuming the flight arrives on time? I thought I read somewhere it’s about 90 mins from plane to WDW resort on average. As it is a pre-paid ADR, do you think will Disney be accommodating in moving us to the 8:15 dinner if our flight is delayed? Or should I just choose another day to be safe?

2. We are doing a split stay at Poly then BC, scheduled to check out of the BC on a Saturday, and our flight is not until early Sunday morning. I have a reservation at the Hyatt MCO for Saturday night. Can I get on the DME bus on Saturday evening after spending the day at the parks?


Thanks for the help!

 

[sam_gordon]

1) I would choose another day to be safe. If everything goes perfectly, you're walking into the Poly at 4:10PM. What happens if your plane is delayed? At it doesn't have to be anything to do with weather. And you can't be sure there will be space in the 8:15 show. Change the date.

2) Yes. However you need to book DME ahead of time. You can either find a late flight and give them that number or tell them what time you need to be back at MCO.

 

[Alesia]

Hello, I have two questions about DME:

1. Our flight arrives at 3PM on a Friday and we are staying at the Polynesian. I have an ADR for Spirit of Aloha at 5:15 PM. Do you think I'll have enough time to get to the Poly, assuming the flight arrives on time? I thought I read somewhere it’s about 90 mins from plane to WDW resort on average. As it is a pre-paid ADR, do you think will Disney be accommodating in moving us to the 8:15 dinner if our flight is delayed? Or should I just choose another day to be safe?

2. We are doing a split stay at Poly then BC, scheduled to check out of the BC on a Saturday, and our flight is not until early Sunday morning. I have a reservation at the Hyatt MCO for Saturday night. Can I get on the DME bus on Saturday evening after spending the day at the parks?


Thanks for the help!

1. Choose another day. If you don't, you should be prepared to lose the entire cost of the Luau.

2. You can use DME, but you'll have to make a reservation.

 

[mcross923]

Thanks sam_gordon and Alesia. How much time do you think I should budget for DME transport? As I'm going to change the Spirit of Aloha to another day, I was thinking of doing a different ADR instead where the no-show fee will be $10 per person instead of the full cost.

 

[sam_gordon]

You have the right amount of time allotted (90 minutes from arrival time). Even at $10, I wouldn't book an ADR on travel day. I've had a two hour delay on a flight on a perfect weather day... some "widget" wasn't working and they couldn't fly without it.

 

[Polydweller]

As with others, I would not book an ADR on the day you arrive, especially coming in on the afternoon. We also had a delay our last trip 3 weeks ago leaving for WDW. There was a 1 hour delay departing due to backlogs at the airport and a 20 minute delay at MCO waiting for the jetway to become available. We've had numerous incidents over 26 years of travel to MCO that we know not to assume that things will go smoothly. Often they for but things too frequently go are not smooth.

As to Disney being accommodating, it is extremely unlikely that they will be for any ADR. Their position is that it is your responsibility to make your ADR and only yours.

 

[Hopefully]

We don't make an arrival day ADR sooner than 5 hours from scheduled arrival. Even then you may be delayed & miss it. Only book if you are comfortable paying the no show fee.

 

[Blackadder337]

I had an ADR for arrival day and thankfully I cancelled it before we left. Not because of any late issues, but when we arrived we were all exhausted (early AM flight) and the thought of bus hopping to get to dinner was more than anyone was willing to do. So we ate at the resort which was nice too.

So I give full credit to the people that are willing to check in, get to the room then get right back out there!!

 

[mcross923]

Thanks for the advice everyone. We are arriving March 31, 2017 and hoping to miss the Spring Break crowd mid-March and Easter crowd mid-April. Do you think we can do a walk-up at Kona or Ohana for dinner?

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Thanks for the advice everyone. We are arriving March 31, 2017 and hoping to miss the Spring Break crowd mid-March and Easter crowd mid-April. Do you think we can do a walk-up at Kona or Ohana for dinner?

I don't think you'd get a walk up, but you may find a reservation online. I'd wait until you have a sense of your actual arrival time (I.e. when you are riding in the magic express bus).