Help! I need a timeline for getting out of Pop!

[GEM]

I know this is a little overboard on my part, but I'm stressing about how our last morning is going to go.

We will be at Pop Century. I want to have our bags picked up, grab breakfast at the food court, go ahead and do the airport check in, and be at the Magic Kingdom bus stop at 8:00am. (We plan to spend our last few hours at the MK and be back at Pop about 45 minutes before our scheduled DME pick up time so we can get our carry ons and be there in time to catch our bus.)

So, knowing that I need to have the bags picked up, eat breakfast, and do the check in - all in time to be at the MK bus stop at 8am, what time should I plan to have our bags picked up to get the plan rolling? At Pop, can I set a certain time for the pick up? How does that work? (We have my elderly mother and a three year old and lots of bags, so getting them all ourselves really isn't an option.)

After the bags are picked up, can we grab something at the food court and then do the airport check in? Will they have to have our bags there already to do this? Will that be a problem if they were just picked up a half hour or so earlier? How long should I allow for the check in process at that time of morning?

I know I'm probably spending way too much energy over thinking this process, but it's honestly the only thing about the whole trip that is stressing me out!

Any thoughts?

 

[TDC Nala]

I think anytime you are expecting the resort to do anything such as pick up your bags, you have to allow extra time for that on the schedule.

I can't really say how much time because I hardly ever have the bags picked up by the resort. Whenever I did, something went wrong (such as the person who gave the room number to bells services transposed some numbers, so they went to the wrong room and never got the luggage).

You might also want to allow extra time to get back to the resort on Disney transportation.

 

[amarberry]

I over think stuff like this too.

We've stayed at Pop several times, but have never used luggage assistance. I don't know if this would work for you, but DH did discover a couple of trips ago about borrowing a luggage cart that we could load everything on and he could push while I took our DD in the stroller. On our last visit, our ME pickup was at 3:15am . We were allowed to pick up a luggage cart the night before which saved us a few minutes. I would think that you would save a little bit of time if you weren't relying on someone else picking up and delivering your bags.

Everytime we have done airline check in at Pop, it has been pretty quick. I always seem to allocate more time than we actually need because I'm concerned that there will be a long line. We've never waited more than a few minutes, but you never know how many people will be taking advantage of the service that day.

Have fun at Pop! We love it and are feeling a little sad that we won't be staying there on our next trip at the end of Feb. (we're trying out CSR). They have a great toddler pool and the Goofy Pop Jets that have been the highlight of DD's more recent trips.

 

[goofy4tink]

Get all your bags packed the night before, with the exception of the things you will need for the next day. Early in the morning, head over to the luggage area, to the right of the main entrance to POP, and grab a luggage cart....do this yourself. Depending on POP Bell Services is not going to get it done for you. Then, load your bags, and have everyone, and that means everyone, go with you to the airline checkin area. This is, or at least it was when I was there, beside the Bell Services/luggage area. Everyone needs to be there in order to get luggage checked through and boarding passes issued to all. Have all ID's out and ready...this is the same thing as the checkin counter at the airport!!! I'm not sure exactly what time the checkin desk opens....at least by 6 and possibly earlier. Get there early, get it done. Leave your carryons with the luggage people...they will give you a claim check for it. Then head over to the food court and grab a bite to eat. It isn't up and running full tilt until closer to 7:00 but you can grab a pastry and some coffee before that. Then be at the bus stop by 8, and have a few last moments of fun at MK. Be sure to leave enough time to get back to POP. If your DME bus is scheduled to leave at say, 1:00 pm, then you need to be at POP by 12:15, no later. Earlier is better. So, leave MK by 11:30.
Get off the bus at POP, head directly over to the luggage folks, retrieve your carryon stuff and plop yourselves down at the DME bus area...which is right in front of the luggage area. It's much better to be a bit early than to stress over not having enough time.

As far as having the POP luggage people come and get your luggage for you....don't do it. This isn't a deluxe resort. One of the things you give up here is luggage service. It is very hit or miss. They will tell you that they will try to get to your room at a particular time but can't make any promises. Get the luggage cart yourself, and load it and deliver it to the airline checkin desk yourself!! I can't say it enough!!!

 

[vacation dreamer]

I know this is a little overboard on my part, but I'm stressing about how our last morning is going to go.

We will be at Pop Century. I want to have our bags picked up, grab breakfast at the food court, go ahead and do the airport check in, and be at the Magic Kingdom bus stop at 8:00am. (We plan to spend our last few hours at the MK and be back at Pop about 45 minutes before our scheduled DME pick up time so we can get our carry ons and be there in time to catch our bus.)

So, knowing that I need to have the bags picked up, eat breakfast, and do the check in - all in time to be at the MK bus stop at 8am, what time should I plan to have our bags picked up to get the plan rolling? At Pop, can I set a certain time for the pick up? How does that work? (We have my elderly mother and a three year old and lots of bags, so getting them all ourselves really isn't an option.)

After the bags are picked up, can we grab something at the food court and then do the airport check in? Will they have to have our bags there already to do this? Will that be a problem if they were just picked up a half hour or so earlier? How long should I allow for the check in process at that time of morning?

I know I'm probably spending way too much energy over thinking this process, but it's honestly the only thing about the whole trip that is stressing me out!

Any thoughts?

I have always requested bag pickup for the check out time, 11:am at PC, so I guess I can't answer your question completely. If your stressing on time why don't you have the first person up and going grab breakfast for everyone and bring it to the room. This way you can get ready and finish packing.

 

[CleveRocks]

I think Diane (goofy4tink) has the right idea here. Since you'll be using Resort Airline Check-in, you must check in at the RAC desk WITH your luggage, and with all passengers present. So if you need to check in at RAC by a certain time in order to get out to MK, then you can't chance waiting around for Luggage Assistance longer than expected, or having them pick it up when scheduled but then if it takes them a while to get it to you in the lobby because they had other pick-ups to do.

I've also read about occasional LONG waits at the RAC desk. If this should happen to you, think about forgetting RAC, having the resort store your bags for you, get the bus to MK as planned, and then later get your bags from storage and take them on (under) the DME bus with you.

If I had to choose between missing MK time or schlepping my own bags to the airport, I'll take the bags any day.

The RAC desk opens daily at 5:00 a.m. You can check in as early as 12 hours before your flight (if RAC is open at that time, of course!), but no fewer than 3 hours before.

 

[GEM]

Thanks for all the great info! So, is it easy to get a luggage cart at Pop? Do I get it from the luggage assistance counter? Could I get one at 6am or so? Do I have to pay for it, leave a credit card, etc?

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, you can get one at the luggage office/bell services. Can't say for sure if there is a deposit or a charge though. Sure wish I had used one when I was there with just my dd....I lugged all that stuff back to the checkin desk before I even noticed the existence of the luggage carts!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Last I heard, a deposit IS needed to borrow the luggage carts.


Based on a post above, you may be able to get one the night before you depart, load it up, and keep it in your room until you head off to the Resort Airline Checkin counter.


I too would not count on Luggage Assistance to pick up your luggage at a specific predetermined time (it's not Bell Services, so generally provides more limited, less personalized service).


If you want to be at the MK bus stop by 8 AM, I would be sure to be out of your room with all your stuff by 7 AM, earlier if you want.


And as also indicated above, be SURE to allow enough time to get back to your resort and claim your carry-ons AND still be waiting for your assigned bus. Don't cut it too close.

 

[amarberry]

I think they have you sign a waiver that says if you lose or fail to return the cart, they reserve the right to charge your credit card. I picked up one the night before our middle of the night departure and the guy working the luggage assistance desk just asked if I'd promise to return it. He didn't even bother to have me sign anything. They seemed to have quite a few carts.

It was really nice to get it the night before we left. One less thing to worry about in the morning.

 

[ncbyrne]

Hi GEM! It's Norma Byrne (ncbyrne) from the 2000 Illuminations Cruise! I'm taking my DD and DGDs (9+13) to POP this year too. Our first time at that resort, and our first time using ME and NOT renting a car. I have the same questions that you do about timing and ME, so I gleaned the answers from this post! I read on other posts that your mom is coming along on the trip. Since I'm probably not too much (if any) younger that you mother, and I know she will love the WDW vacation!

 

[Hannathy]

I guess I am in the minority but I had them pick up my bags and they did it within 15 minutes of the time. the line to check in was long though took about 20 minutes. I didn't have to have my son with me, they don't look at kids ID's, checked us both in with him sound aleep in the room. I learned everything at POP had a line so allow a lot of time.