Help! Relying solely on WDW tranportation...

[kaze1sd]

I was hoping some of the DIS vets could help a first timer here...

My wife and I are going in September on our Disneymoon and relying solely on Disney transportation (ME and resort buses). I need help on both our arrival and departure to MCO.


ARRIVING FROM MCO:
We are touching down at 4pm Monday, September 24th on Frontier Airlines. We have an ADR at LeCelier (Canada @ Epcot) for 7:40pm (but would like to arrive 15 minutes earlier).

That being said, can somebody tell me what is the WORST CASE time to

- check-in/board ME
- travel to WDW (Pop Century)
- check-in to Pop Century (don't need to go into room, just want to check-in so bags can be delivered)
- catch bus and travel to Epcot
- walk from bus drop-off to Canada in World showcase​

I would like to know about how much time (if any) would my wife and I have between touching down and our ADR.



LEAVING FOR MCO:
Our flight (on Frontier Airlines) is scheduled to leave MCO at 4:55pm on Sunday. Frontier is not an authorized resort early check-in airline so unfortunately we would have to lug our bags onto ME flying out. We would like to arrive at MCO an hour before our flight.

What time should we schedule to board ME if we want to be at the airport at 3:55pm? Again, I would like the WORST CASE suggestion... maybe as if we were the first pick-up at the resorts (if there are multiple pick-ups) and the last airline drop-off (if there are multiple drop-offs) at the airport.


I really do appreciate all the help I get from these boards. Thank for all the help in advance!

 

[CleveRocks]

I was hoping some of the DIS vets could help a first timer here...

My wife and I are going in September on our Disneymoon and relying solely on Disney transportation (ME and resort buses). I need help on both our arrival and departure to MCO.


ARRIVING FROM MCO:
We are touching down at 4pm Monday, September 24th on Frontier Airlines. We have an ADR at LeCelier (Canada @ Epcot) for 7:40pm (but would like to arrive 15 minutes earlier).

That being said, can somebody tell me what is the WORST CASE time to

- check-in/board ME
- travel to WDW (Pop Century)
- check-in to Pop Century (don't need to go into room, just want to check-in so bags can be delivered)
- catch bus and travel to Epcot
- walk from bus drop-off to Canada in World showcase​

I would like to know about how much time (if any) would my wife and I have between touching down and our ADR.

First of all, congratulations!

You'll be cutting it close, but you probably can do this. Let's hope your flight arrives on-time. The reported average time from landing to DME drop-off is 70 minutes. Let's say it will take you 90 minutes (it COULD take you longer, but shouldn't). It's now 5:30 p.m. Check in could take 5 minutes, could take 30 minutes, depending on if there's a crowd. So worst case, let's say it's now 6:00 p.m. Let's say 30 minutes to get to your room and change your clothes, etc. (and hopefully you know to take your dinner clothes in your carry-ons and not pack them in your suitcases!). So it's 6:30 p.m. Including waiting time for a bus, let's say you get to Epcot's main entrance at 7:00 p.m. The walk back to your restaurant without making touristy stops should take 10-15 minutes or so. So you COULD realistically be there by 7:15 p.m., 25 minutes before your ADR.

Just keep in mind, a flight delay could derail you, as could any sort of DME delay (not common, but possible).

As long as you are comfortable with the idea of RUSHING to get to your first ADR, then you shouldn't have a problem. But if you or your new spouse are really stressed by rushing, then that's no way to begin a honeymoon! Keep these thoughts in mind as you decide if you can do it.

LEAVING FOR MCO:
Our flight (on Frontier Airlines) is scheduled to leave MCO at 4:55pm on Sunday. Frontier is not an authorized resort early check-in airline so unfortunately we would have to lug our bags onto ME flying out. We would like to arrive at MCO an hour before our flight.

What time should we schedule to board ME if we want to be at the airport at 3:55pm? Again, I would like the WORST CASE suggestion... maybe as if we were the first pick-up at the resorts (if there are multiple pick-ups) and the last airline drop-off (if there are multiple drop-offs) at the airport.


I really do appreciate all the help I get from these boards. Thank for all the help in advance!

You can't schedule DME. The day before you check out, you'll get a packet of info on your doorknob, and in there will be your assigned DME bus pick-up time. DME pick-up is typically scheduled 2.75-3 hours before flight departure.

You could pay to take a taxi or car service, but your plan to arrive at MCO only one hour prior to flight is VERY risky and ill-advised. The last time I was there I waited at least 30 minutes in line at security, and flights start boarding 30 minutes before they leave. If there's traffic, if there's a line at your airline's check-in, if there are long waits at security, etc. then you're toast. I can't imagine Frontier has multiple flights from MCO each day. My suggestion is get to the airport when DME and the airline suggest you get there, and relax and reminisce about your honeymoon over nachos and a dried-out hamburger at the airport. Tres romantique!

HAVE FUN!

 

[kaytieeldr]

To get from Pop to Le Cellier, given your potential time constraints, I would highly recommend investing $10 or $15 in a taxi to the Beach Club Resort. Go in the front door, out the back door, turn left, walk five minutes to Epcot's International Gateway (back entrance); bear left at top of path, Canada is the second building on your left. This entire trip should take a half hour MAX, so if you leave Pop by 7 PM you should have no problem and no rushing.

 

[CleveRocks]

To get from Pop to Le Cellier, given your potential time constraints, I would highly recommend investing $10 or $15 in a taxi to the Beach Club Resort. Go in the front door, out the back door, turn left, walk five minutes to Epcot's International Gateway (back entrance); bear left at top of path, Canada is the second building on your left. This entire trip should take a half hour MAX, so if you leave Pop by 7 PM you should have no problem and no rushing.

Kaze1sd,

Trust Ronda (kaytieeldr) on this one. Via directions on a message board, she got my family to Hoop Dee Doo Revue last year when I was pretty much new to everything.

 

[kaze1sd]

Thanks for the great advice. I have put the information down in my day one itinerary to use if I need it.

I really don't think we are going to actually go up to our room after check-in though. We pretty much lose all of day one travelling across country (7+ hours of air travel) so by the time we get to WDW we should be rearing to go. We plan to be already wearing our theme park gear and to have all our stuff (including one day's change of clothes) all in our carry-on's. We just want to check-in so that the Disney people know what room to deliver the bags to.

Hopefully that saves up some time so that we don't make it dinner right under the wire.

Again, thanks for taking time to help some first-timers out and we will definitely heed your advice.

It looks like day one is pretty much LeCelier and Illuminations. We'll probably go to DD afterwards and take a romantic stroll.

 

[Wigit12]

Definitely take the taxi to Beach Club !! Much quicker and reliable. No need to rush and stress yourself out the first day.

And you can sneak out the back to use the Beach Club busses to DD after Illuminations also. No need to trot all the way to the front of Epcot.

 

[kaze1sd]

Folks, you can't get this stuff anywhere else! Great tips! Haha me being the rookie newbie that I am really was only focused on the ADR and didn't even think about the Epcot to DD thing.

Many thanks on the great tips! I love it!