Estimate on how long to get from airport to the Contemporary using MDE?

[Vincent405]

I am wondering how long to estimate it will take to get to the Contemporary after we land. My plan is to get our own baggage from bag claim (had an issue with MDE doing it all last time), then heading to the bus and the resort. I'm trying to decide what time a good lunch reservation time would be.

Yes, I know the plane could get delayed, etc., I'll act on that if it happens. Timeframe is mid-January, mid-week.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[AJKMOM]

You should check either the Transportation Forum, or the Resorts Forum. I don't know how to moce this, sorry.

 

[Vincent405]

Will do.

 

[antkim]

It really depends on the route the bus goes I believe. I can tell you that I just used DME to CR last week and it took about 25 minutes from MCO to CR but we were the first stop.

 

[OKW Lover]

The actual ride from the airport to WDW is only about 30 minutes. However, you need to factor in time on the front end to get your bags (15 minutes or less) and then walk to the DME counter (5-10 minutes depending on which airline) plus the wait for your bus to actually depart (0-15+ minutes). On the WDW end you also need to allow time to possibly stop at other resorts before yours so add 10-20 minutes.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Unless they change the route again, contemporary is the last stop of 4. Takes about 45 minutes on bus.


Typically my wife and I land at 10:30 and struggle to make a 1pm lunch including check in and getting to the park.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[nat8199]

Hijacking the thread... If we land at 9am, would we have problems making a 12:00 reservation in MK? We are staying at BLT.

 

[sam_gordon]

Hijacking the thread... If we land at 9am, would we have problems making a 12:00 reservation in MK? We are staying at BLT.

If you actually LAND at 9, you shouldn't have a problem making the reservation. BUT, you don't know whether you'll land at 9 or not. Flight problems (mechanical, weather, etc) can greatly affect your arrival time. I would suggest making an ADR for dinner and grabbing a QS lunch (either at CR or MK).

 

[expeditioneverestgrl]

Usually it's 30-45 minutes to get to contemporary.

 

[CarolMN]

We've taken DME to BLT/Contemporary twice. Both times we arrived at the resort within 90 minutes of stepping onto the jet way getting off the plane. We walked at a normal pace from the plane to the bus line and both times we stopped at the restrooms near the bus lines.

 

[sam_gordon]

Usually it's 30-45 minutes to get to contemporary.

That would be once the DME bus starts moving. That does not allow time to:

• get off the plane
• get to the DME waiting area
• Wait in line to board the bus
• Board the bus

A general rule of thumb is to allow 90 minutes from getting off the plane to walking into your resort. It's actually closer to 60 minutes, but I always budget some extra time just in case. If you're getting your own luggage, add another 15-20 minutes.

 

[Vincent405]

If we land at 10:10 on Southwest, I'm thinking a 12:30 res at the Wave will work.

 

[goofy4tink]

Plan on it taking 90 mins from the time you are off the plane and when you get off the bus at your resort. It could possibly take less than that, but if you are a later stop, it will be closer to the 90 min mark. It could even take more time.
Here's the issue with what you want to do.
You land at 10:10, Side A of the terminal. By the time you are off the plane, it's now probably 10:20 or 10:30. Take the tram (about 10 mins total including walk to tram) to the main terminal, go down to level 2 (you arrived on level 3), get your bags (about 20 mins), go back up to level 3 and cross to Side B of the terminal (about 5 mins total). Go down to level 1 and go to DME area (about 3 mins). Then it could be 2 mins or it could be 20 mins in the bus line. Then, onto the bus...could be 5 mins or it could be 25 mins. The drive to your resort is about 30 mins but that is going to change depending on which stop you are. The first stop will be at the 30 min mark, the third will be at the 45 min mark.
So..you could be at your resort within 118 mins (I took the middle road pretty much here). That gets you to the CR at about noon. It will take about 15-20 mins to get checked in. That gives you about a 5 min window. I never book anything within 3 hrs of scheduled landing....just isn't worth the stress.