HELP!!! Transport/dining/check in dilema

[PrincessAurora]

OK - here is the deal. We are flying from the West Coast. Since we are going free on Jet Blue, we route through JFK (grrrr. From LA & Oakland, for a 3 hour lay over, but hey its free, meet up and head out to FL) thus landing us in Orlando at 7:30pm.

We need to scamper to baggage claim, claim our driver, get our bags, throw them in the towncar and race to Wilderness Lodge for our 9:30pm Artist Point dinner ressie.

Questions for you:

1) Am I smoking crack to think I can do this?
2) If I can do this, is there time to check in before dinner?
3) If we toss the bags at the bellhops and run for dinner and check in later, will our bags show up at 2am?

Thanks for your help. Still havent booked a car service. Any ideas. Who drives safe and fast? ::cop:

 

[CleveRocks]

OK - here is the deal. We are flying from the West Coast. Since we are going free on Jet Blue, we route through JFK (grrrr. From LA & Oakland, for a 3 hour lay over, but hey its free, meet up and head out to FL) thus landing us in Orlando at 7:30pm.

We need to scamper to baggage claim, claim our driver, get our bags, throw them in the towncar and race to Wilderness Lodge for our 9:30pm Artist Point dinner ressie.

Questions for you:

1) Am I smoking crack to think I can do this?
2) If I can do this, is there time to check in before dinner?
3) If we toss the bags at the bellhops and run for dinner and check in later, will our bags show up at 2am?

Thanks for your help. Still havent booked a car service. Any ideas. Who drives safe and fast? ::cop:

Chances are a car service won't get you to WL any quicker than Disney's Magical Express. With DME, you don't have to wait at baggage claim, you skip baggage claim. Skipping baggage claim and not waiting for the driver to return to you with the car is roughly a time trade-off with waiting for a DME bus and maybe waiting at another stop or two along the way.

 

[safetymom]

I also suggest DME. No worries about waiting and your luggage. You can check in when you arrive at your resort and go off to dinner.

 

[kaytieeldr]

DME also eliminates "throwing" your luggage at the BellHops. If you were really pressed for time, one person could check in while the rest of you head for WCC. That way, your luggage could well be IN your room by the time you finish dinner!

 

[goofy4tink]

Rumor also hath it that when you 'checkin' with DME, your resort is notified that you are on the way, making your checkin a bit quicker. I would book DME and go with that. It has taken me as little as 55 minutes to get to my resort after deplaning, or as much as 85 minutes....depends on which stop of three your resort is. I would plan on it taking about 70 mins. Gives you plenty of time to checkin, and then head up for dinner.

 

[simzac]

All I can say is good luck.

 

[CleveRocks]

Rumor also hath it that when you 'checkin' with DME, your resort is notified that you are on the way, making your checkin a bit quicker.

The way I read it (I saved one of those CM posts in my word processor), it doesn't speed check-in at the resort, but it does earmark a room for you. The advantage of this comes in the early part of the day, prior to the 3:00 p.m. check-in time, when many parties may be jockeying for rooms. It sets aside a room for you that fits your reservation, so that if that was the only room of its type available at that time, it would be held for you until you arrive at the resort, and if someone with a similar reservation arrives at the resort one minute later they'd be told there's no room ready for them yet even though you are still at the airport.

I can't see where this would be an advantage for someone checking in around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., but I guess every little bit helps.

But like I said, I've not read anything to suggest it speeds up the check-in process. Heaven knows that both times I used DME, actually checking in with the Front Desk CM (NOT waiting in line) felt like it took forever.

 

[goofy4tink]

The way I read it (I saved one of those CM posts in my word processor), it doesn't speed check-in at the resort, but it does earmark a room for you. The advantage of this comes in the early part of the day, prior to the 3:00 p.m. check-in time, when many parties may be jockeying for rooms. It sets aside a room for you that fits your reservation, so that if that was the only room of its type available at that time, it would be held for you until you arrive at the resort, and if someone with a similar reservation arrives at the resort one minute later they'd be told there's no room ready for them yet even though you are still at the airport.

I can't see where this would be an advantage for someone checking in around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m., but I guess every little bit helps.

But like I said, I've not read anything to suggest it speeds up the check-in process. Heaven knows that both times I used DME, actually checking in with the Front Desk CM (NOT waiting in line) felt like it took forever.

That would actually make more sense...thanks for that 'correction'!

 

[PrincessAurora]

Here is the deal, and feel free to call me a snob, but I wont use the shuttle. My very first trip to WDW we all went on the Mears shuttle. We sat breathing diesel fumes for God knows how long until they had a full bus. Then there is no guarentee in what order you are dropped off. My luck, we will be last. Also the shuttle picks up earlier than a car service and since we are west coasters we wanted a few hours of park time before we left for our flight. Catwoman leaves at 2:30, myself at 4:30.

Yes I am a huge control freak. Ask DU Beth (HEY BETH - LOVE YOU!!!!!). So the most control I can get in my hands the better.

So here is another question: for people that do take towncars and stay at a MK resort, what is your average plane to door time? Since the last time I went from plane to resort on arrival was 2002 (I usually stay local and cheap when I get in and go to the resort the next morning) my memory of time is a bit dim.

Though not having to deal with bags.........

Nope, control freak kicking in. I want to make sure my bags are under my eyeball and possesion. If anything happens to them (and their pricey alcohol goodness) I will commit seppeku. (Hope I spelled that right... probably didn't)

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

The only time a towncar got me to my resort faster than DME was the one time I had only carryon luggage. All other times it was about the same time. You have to go to baggage claim, wait for your bags, then you have to either walk to the towncar or wait for the driver to bring it to you. Then, load up, and make the 30 minute drive to the resort.
As far as the luggage being in 'your control'...there haven't been any reports of DME losing a bag. Can't say that about the airlines. And the DME buses are very different from the Mears shuttle. Been there, done that and I'm not doing it ever again. I've used all three types of transport to the resorts...I never use public transit at home. But, I have to say that DME buses are a ton of fun.
But, to each his/her own. Me? I would rather have that $100+ to spend at WDW, and have a nice, clean ride to my resort, not having to lug my baggage around.

If you do use a towncar service, it will be about an hour to get from your plane to your resort. I had carryon only one time and it took me 45 mins. to make the trip...from plane to resort checkin.

 

[Kae]

I would go with DME, too.

Kae

 

[paults]

OK - here is the deal. We are flying from the West Coast. Since we are going free on Jet Blue, we route through JFK (grrrr. From LA & Oakland, for a 3 hour lay over, but hey its free, meet up and head out to FL) thus landing us in Orlando at 7:30pm.

We need to scamper to baggage claim, claim our driver, get our bags, throw them in the towncar and race to Wilderness Lodge for our 9:30pm Artist Point dinner ressie.

Questions for you:

1) Am I smoking crack to think I can do this?
2) If I can do this, is there time to check in before dinner?
3) If we toss the bags at the bellhops and run for dinner and check in later, will our bags show up at 2am?

Thanks for your help. Still havent booked a car service. Any ideas. Who drives safe and fast? ::cop:

I choose number 1


oh sorry I thought this was a multiple choice question



please save yourself some worry use DME. JMO

 

[seashoreCM]

... scamper ... throw ... race ...
1) Am I smoking crack to think I can do this?

Yes.

Any way you could move the dinner appointment to a later day?

The jury is out on my suggestion: Reserve Magical Express, then take it to Disney, go to dinner first (grab a cab if needed, then return to your resort) then check in. (Doesn't work with free dining for which you need to check in to get the credentials.) More than 3 stops before your resort on ME is almost as rare as hen's teeth.

If you are concerned about having to be back at the resort so early (I really suggest aiming for an hour before bus time which is itself 3 hours before plane time) to catch Magical Express back home, one-ways are no problem and you can still use another service of your choice to go home.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[hercamore]

You could easily get delayed in New YOrk due to inclement weather. I'd move the dinner to another day when you're well rested.

also, renting a car ifrom airport is pretty affordable and you'd be in total control.

herc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here is the deal, and feel free to call me a snob, but I wont use the shuttle. My very first trip to WDW we all went on the Mears shuttle. We sat breathing diesel fumes for God knows how long until they had a full bus. Then there is no guarentee in what order you are dropped off. My luck, we will be last. Also the shuttle picks up earlier than a car service and since we are west coasters we wanted a few hours of park time before we left for our flight. Catwoman leaves at 2:30, myself at 4:30.

Disney's Magical Express is NOT Mears Shuttle. Sure, Mears is the subcontractor in that they provide the drivers and buses. But it's operated by Disney. No waiting for God knows how long - apparently each bus departs no more than 15 or 20 minutes after the first passenger boards, full or not. Each bus drops off at no more than four resorts, tops - usually three, sometimes fewer. Some stops may take longer than others, depending if any Guests debarking have their luggage stowed under the bus instead of letting DME transport it.
As somebody else stated, you can easily choose to use DME in only one direction - so you can make whatever return-to-the-airport plans you choose (note too that if you're flying home on a participating airline, this is where you can send your luggage on to the airport without having to ride the bus). But if you did choose to go back to the airport on DME, YOU could spend two hours LESS at the airport than if you use a different mode of transportation. Your way, you both have to go back to the airport together.

Nope, control freak kicking in. I want to make sure my bags are under my eyeball and possesion. If anything happens to them (and their pricey alcohol goodness) I will commit seppeku. (Hope I spelled that right... probably didn't)

Okay, but your luggage isn't under your eyeball or your possession while you're on the plane - and have you ever watched luggage being tossed into the plane, sometimes falling off the belt?

 

[PrincessAurora]

OK, I think you may be changing my mind......

I am staying at Wilderness Lodge so the resort is not a problem since we are eating and sleeping in the same place. Can not change Artist Point since we are on a short trip and I plan my trips around the food (PS dinner places).

OK, so I am smoking crack BUT am thinking of going into rehab. Let me see if this is right:

I can take DME, it is not a smelly Mears shuttle, I do NOT have to go to baggage claim, so all I have to do is get to hotel, check in and eat (or eat and check in since we are paying for this out of pocket and not using points). THEN I can take a towncar back......

Hmmmmmmmmmm, this may work. Need to research this and the cost......

OK, you Mickey People may have changed my mind. Yeah I know that the planes could lose my luggage but since that little "incident" I can't carry my wine on the plane. It is wrapped and packed to an inch of its life but they dont' carry it at Chefs Table and we are drinking it>

OK, new plan to look at....

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It has never taken us more than an hour from deplaning to resort check-in when we rent a car. We get off the plane, go to the baggage carousel, the kids wait for the bags, I rent the car, walk back to the kids as the bags are coming out, we grab our bags and wheel them right out to our rental car. We head south on the toll road and we are in WDW in no time.

The one time we did take DME and we were staying at WL, we had to wait an hour for a bus because they were waiting for a 'specific' handicapped accessible bus. It took extra time to load that passenger and extra time to unload that passenger in addition to the hour spent waiting, and at a resort stop prior to ours. We arrived before 5 pm and we were 10 minutes late to our 8pm Chef Mickey ADRs. Go figure.

Good luck!