Faster to take boat or Minnivan

[Lynn CC]

i made an 11:15pm reservation for Homecoming on our arrival night.. our flight lands at 8:57, taking DME to POR... hoping to make it in time. It just won’t be a great start to the vacation eating something at the airport so I’m going for it, & hoping for the best.

 

[drwadadli]

I think going from airport to POR and then back to DS in the times you have mentioned will be very very tight.

I might let the luggage go by way of DME but you take a Lyft/Uber/taxi/Minnie Van from MCO to DS. You land at 9 (for general purposes) and it will take you about 10 - 20 minutes to get to the DME check-in then wait for your bus and then a 30 - 45 minute bus ride. That has you arriving at POR around 10 but probably closer to 10:45 - 11:00. Then catching the boat or Minnie Van from there to DS will make you reservation very very close. General estimate is to allow 90 - 120 minutes to from arrival time at MCO to resort.

 

[Lynn CC]

I think going from airport to POR and then back to DS in the times you have mentioned will be very very tight.

I might let the luggage go by way of DME but you take a Lyft/Uber/taxi/Minnie Van from MCO to DS. You land at 9 (for general purposes) and it will take you about 10 - 20 minutes to get to the DME check-in then wait for your bus and then a 30 - 45 minute bus ride. That has you arriving at POR around 10 but probably closer to 10:45 - 11:00. Then catching the boat or Minnie Van from there to DS will make you reservation very very close. General estimate is to allow 90 - 120 minutes to from arrival time at MCO to resort.

Yes we are going to take DME, I'm hopeful that we will make it. I think they give a 15 minute leeway for a reservation for dinner. I'm not sure about that time of night though. It will be 6pm our time when we land so it's not going to feel like we are eating late. If not we can go to DS and see if there is anything available as far as places open someplace.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

But remember that if you have any type of flight delay you will loss the ADR payment. If there is a storm at the airport they will halt all operations at the airport until the storm passes. My nephew just stat at DWF airport for 50 minutes waiting for clearance to take off because there was a storm over the Orlando airport and MCO issued a warning to all flights that had not left yet to delay their take offs. My husband is a pilot so he found out what their delay was when she called to ask me what was going on. They pull all the people off the tarmac at the airport for safety reasons when there is lightening.

Because they were arriving later than originally scheduled they did not have a gate ready for them at MCO so the sat on the MCO tarmac for another 25 minutes before a gate opened up for them. Once at the gate the people mover from the gate to the main terminal was out of service. They had to ride a bus to the terminal. So just be aware of this little issues that most people are not aware of. That is why it is not advisable to book ADR on arrival days unless you have money to burn if you miss the reservation.

 

[Lynn CC]

But remember that if you have any type of flight delay you will loss the ADR payment. If there is a storm at the airport they will halt all operations at the airport until the storm passes. My nephew just stat at DWF airport for 50 minutes waiting for clearance to take off because there was a storm over the Orlando airport and MCO issued a warning to all flights that had not left yet to delay their take offs. My husband is a pilot so he found out what their delay was when she called to ask me what was going on. They pull all the people off the tarmac at the airport for safety reasons when there is lightening.

Because they were arriving later than originally scheduled they did not have a gate ready for them at MCO so the sat on the MCO tarmac for another 25 minutes before a gate opened up for them. Once at the gate the people mover from the gate to the main terminal was out of service. They had to ride a bus to the terminal. So just be aware of this little issues that most people are not aware of. That is why it is not advisable to book ADR on arrival days unless you have money to burn if you miss the reservation.

Oh wow, I had no idea they did this. That night it's just DH and I, so probably $20 for missed ADR at Homecoming? It's our only chance on our 8 day trip to try that place. Maybe I'll cancel and see what's available on the app after when we are nearing POR that evening. Just don't want to eat at the airport, Good Advice thanks!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Oh wow, I had no idea they did this. That night it's just DH and I, so probably $20 for missed ADR at Homecoming? It's our only chance on our 8 day trip to try that place. Maybe I'll cancel and see what's available on the app after when we are nearing POR that evening. Just don't want to eat at the airport, Good Advice thanks!

I would cancel as it is too close and just too much chance of a delay even of 16 minutes and you are out of time. and yes severe weather at either end will delay your flight. plus is it 9 nor 10 that you have to pick up checked bags? not sure what happens if your flight is delayed and you miss the last checked bag pick up

 

[Lynn CC]

I would cancel as it is too close and just too much chance of a delay even of 16 minutes and you are out of time. and yes severe weather at either end will delay your flight. plus is it 9 nor 10 that you have to pick up checked bags? not sure what happens if your flight is delayed and you miss the last checked bag pick up

I think if it’s after 10 I have to pick up my bags but they have yellow tags on them.
Maybe I’ll try to get there another time during our stay!

 

[joelkfla]

Maybe you won't need reservations at that hour. Call Disney Dine when you get to the resort to see what's available.

Ask the front desk how long the boat ride takes, and what time the last boat leaves. I think it's about 15-20 minutes ride, but it's been a while since I've done it. The boats will probably be shut down by the time you finish, so you'll need to take a bus back to the resort.

 

[Lynn CC]

Maybe you won't need reservations at that hour. Call Disney Dine when you get to the resort to see what's available.

Ask the front desk how long the boat ride takes, and what time the last boat leaves. I think it's about 15-20 minutes ride, but it's been a while since I've done it. The boats will probably be shut down by the time you finish, so you'll need to take a bus back to the resort.

Is the Disney Dine number an extension on the resort phone?

 

[joelkfla]

Is the Disney Dine number an extension on the resort phone?

I don't know. I'm local, and it's been about 30 years since I've spent a night at a WDW resort hotel.

 

[goofy4tink]

You will probably be fine if you land on time. If you land at 9, you should be down at DME by 9:20. Hopefully at POR by 10:15ish. I would take a cab to DS. MinnieVans take a bit longer to get to you, if there is one available. I'm not sure I would want to start my stay off that way though...stressing over time. You could always cancel the ADR and then head to DS when you arrive and see what's available. But, I'm not sure what time the boats stop running to DS.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You can look on the my disney experience app for last minute reservations no need to call.

 

[tjmw2727]

Agree with the above - really tight timing even without airline or ground transportation delays. I would cancel the ADR and see what is available after you get to POR by checking MDE. FWIW we ate at the Homecoming bar 2x and the food an service was excellent - this is an option for a walk up!

Also if you land after 10 your bags will go to the baggage carousel (even with the yellow DME tags) so you may want to go and pick them up yourself. I think eventually the airline will retrieve them and place them in the luggage office and then send them via DME the next day but I am not 100% on that.

 

[Lynn CC]

Agree with the above - really tight timing even without airline or ground transportation delays. I would cancel the ADR and see what is available after you get to POR by checking MDE. FWIW we ate at the Homecoming bar 2x and the food an service was excellent - this is an option for a walk up!

Also if you land after 10 your bags will go to the baggage carousel (even with the yellow DME tags) so you may want to go and pick them up yourself. I think eventually the airline will retrieve them and place them in the luggage office and then send them via DME the next day but I am not 100% on that.

Good to know about the luggage!

Thanks for your help on this everyone, I’ve been struggling with it for a while. I’m going to cancel the ADR to take the pressure off & then when we get off the DME take a cab to DS & maybe go to the bar at homecoming for a bite.
I wonder when the restaurants start closing the kitchens at DS?

 

[goofy4tink]

If it were me, I would try to bring something with me, to eat, when I arrive. Sandwiches of some sort that won't go bad on the flight, fruits, etc. Many use frozen peas or corn to keep their food chilled on the flight. That way, if you arrive and are really pooped, you can just stay in your room and snack. If you decide you do want to head out, great. But at least you won't have the pressure of having to find something to eat late at night.

 

[Lynn CC]

If it were me, I would try to bring something with me, to eat, when I arrive. Sandwiches of some sort that won't go bad on the flight, fruits, etc. Many use frozen peas or corn to keep their food chilled on the flight. That way, if you arrive and are really pooped, you can just stay in your room and snack. If you decide you do want to head out, great. But at least you won't have the pressure of having to find something to eat late at night.

I'd have to buy these food items after security at SFO & put them in my small carryon because I don't know what time our luggage will be delivered, I'm putting on my yellow tags. I never thought of being pooped! DH could be, but I've been looking forward to this trip for soooo looong, I get so excited when I travel especially when seeing my son and his family 3 small grandsons! DH says I go into grandma mode.

 

[drwadadli]

Yes we are going to take DME, I'm hopeful that we will make it. I think they give a 15 minute leeway for a reservation for dinner. I'm not sure about that time of night though. It will be 6pm our time when we land so it's not going to feel like we are eating late. If not we can go to DS and see if there is anything available as far as places open someplace.

The restaurant reserves the right cancel your reservation if you are more than 10 minutes later. If they are very busy, I have seen it happen at the 10-minute mark but most of the time they will cancel the reservation at the 15-minute mark. It depends on the restaurant, restaurant personnel and how busy they are.

Is the Disney Dine number an extension on the resort phone?

It used to be. You just pick up the phone and hit the button that says dining and it connects automatically for you.

 

[Lynn CC]

Instead of cancelling the ADR, I modified it to 11:45,(which will feel like 8:45 our time zone). Homecoming didn't have that available when I checked before. Even if we get a small bite I think it's a great way to kick off the vacation. Maybe our chances of getting there are better at that time it's a half hour later. We are in first class so we get off the plane fast, just a small carry on for DH & I, DME will deliver our suitcases. We are coming in on United at 8:57pm, so the B side of the airport. I think we just have to go down to the level DME is on & who knows we may get lucky and have it be a quick process. If we don't make it, I feel the $20 lost for the missed ADR is worth it. As long as we don't get delayed from a thunderstorm, they are predicted for that pm.

 

[bumbershoot]

You will probably be fine if you land on time. If you land at 9, you should be down at DME by 9:20.

20 minutes after landing we’re still taxiing or standing in the aisles, in my experience.

I'd have to buy these food items after security at SFO & put them in my small carryon

All the things the poster mentioned can be taken through security. You could bring them from home.

We are in first class

You are going to be fed on the plane. There is no need for a late night meal that you have to go to DS for.

Traveling cross country is exhausting. I noticed your profile page says Cape Cod, so is being on the west coast relatively new enough that you haven’t done this flight before?

It’s tiring. You’re going to want to get on east coast time as soon as possible, and that is NOT going to be accomplished by staying on west coast time and eating near 9 pm your home time.

Eat at sfo, eat the meal they’ll have in first class, have snacks with you.

Having done this a few times, don’t stay up extra extra late that first night.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is the Disney Dine number an extension on the resort phone?

I would just enter it into your cell phone. Don’t wait to get to your room; just call when you arrive on the bus.