Help me plan my departure day including going to the Pandora AP Preview

[kticern]

We are going May 8-13th for an adult only trip. This is the first time that we will be using The Magical Express. We are AP holders staying at POP.

I was lucky enough to snag a spot for the Pandora AP Preview for the 13th from 12-2. We are flying out at 5:30pm that night from MCO.

I am planning of doing resort airline bag check in the morning before heading to AK for the preview. From what I can find online we would need to be back to POP for 2:30 to catch ME to make our flight. We will have only a backpack for a carry on that we will take with us to AK.

I would like to get at least 1 1/2 hrs (if not all 2) in Pandora before we have to leave. Priority will be to ride both rides. We can explore if there is more time but if not we will when we return in August.

Is walking out of Pandora at 1:30pm and heading back to POP via disney bus to catch ME a reasonable plan? Can we stay until 2pm and make it? Are there any other options? What happens if we are late for the ME?

I will continue to look into a later flight (7pm) which will elevate all this issue but right now the cost is 3x's as much so I am hoping for some planning help!

 

[stampinmom]

We are going May 8-13th for an adult only trip. This is the first time that we will be using The Magical Express. We are AP holders staying at POP.

I was lucky enough to snag a spot for the Pandora AP Preview for the 13th from 12-2. We are flying out at 5:30pm that night from MCO.

I am planning of doing resort airline bag check in the morning before heading to AK for the preview. From what I can find online we would need to be back to POP for 2:30 to catch ME to make our flight. We will have only a backpack for a carry on that we will take with us to AK.

I would like to get at least 1 1/2 hrs (if not all 2) in Pandora before we have to leave. Priority will be to ride both rides. We can explore if there is more time but if not we will when we return in August.

Is walking out of Pandora at 1:30pm and heading back to POP via disney bus to catch ME a reasonable plan? Can we stay until 2pm and make it? Are there any other options? What happens if we are late for the ME?

I will continue to look into a later flight (7pm) which will elevate all this issue but right now the cost is 3x's as much so I am hoping for some planning help!

How about getting an Uber to get back to Pop quicker than the bus? We did that on our departure day from Boardwalk to Coronado Springs and it was fast and only cost $6.

 

[kticern]

How about getting an Uber to get back to Pop quicker than the bus? We did that on our departure day from Boardwalk to Coronado Springs and it was fast and only cost $6.

Can you get an uber from the parks? Maybe we can just Uber to the airport?

 

[beesly]

Can you get an uber from the parks? Maybe we can just Uber to the airport?

You can. The price might change for an afternoon pickup, but I just checked the app and right now it would cost about $25 for an uberX to go from AK to MCO. If I were in your position, I'd much rather spend the $25 and not be worried about missing the bus. This way, you could stay in Pandora until 2:00 and still make it to the airport 1-2 hours before your flight (depending on how long you wait for the uber to arrive and whether traffic is heavy on the way to MCO).

 

[sharonabe]

Is walking out of Pandora at 1:30pm and heading back to POP via disney bus to catch ME a reasonable plan? Can we stay until 2pm and make it? Are there any other options? What happens if we are late for the ME?

ME will pick you up at 2:30, as in they will probably be pulling away from the curb at 2:30. You actually should be back at Pop around 2:15, so leaving AK at 2:00 is definitely not going to work. 1:30 might make it, but if you have to wait 20 min for a bus, you'll still be too close for my comfort.

However, if you miss the ME you're on your own to get to the airport, so if you're willing to uber from AK, I might still grab the bus from AK to Pop and see if I make it. If not, then just uber from Pop.

 

[kticern]

You can. The price might change for an afternoon pickup, but I just checked the app and right now it would cost about $25 for an uberX to go from AK to MCO. If I were in your position, I'd much rather spend the $25 and not be worried about missing the bus. This way, you could stay in Pandora until 2:00 and still make it to the airport 1-2 hours before your flight (depending on how long you wait for the uber to arrive and whether traffic is heavy on the way to MCO).

Thans so much for that info! I have not used Uber so I could sign up and get $ off the first ride. I think we will try and just uber from AK to MCO. I don't want to stress getting back to POP. That way we would stay in Pandora till 2 then leave to head to the airport.