How long does ME take?

[k0tie8emple]

I'm curious how long it will take for ME to pick us up at MCO and get us to CBR. I have a reservation at Sebastian's Bistro at 6:35 but our flight doesn't arrive until 4:38. Is there enough time to make it for our reservation? Or should I change the reservation to 7:55? It's not a big deal but I'd prefer to use the 6:35 due having young kids that will need to get to bed.

 

[jbehr12]

I'm curious how long it will take for ME to pick us up at MCO and get us to CBR. I have a reservation at Sebastian's Bistro at 6:35 but our flight doesn't arrive until 4:38. Is there enough time to make it for our reservation? Or should I change the reservation to 7:55? It's not a big deal but I'd prefer to use the 6:35 due having young kids that will need to get to bed.

Queue at the airport can be from 5 min to upwards of 20 min. Once on the bus anywhere from 40 min to an hour on average and depending on resort.

You’re probably safe with the earlier reservation. If you feel like things are taking awhile you can always modify from your phone to the later reservation time once en route.

 

[Ensusieasm]

I'm curious how long it will take for ME to pick us up at MCO and get us to CBR. I have a reservation at Sebastian's Bistro at 6:35 but our flight doesn't arrive until 4:38. Is there enough time to make it for our reservation? Or should I change the reservation to 7:55? It's not a big deal but I'd prefer to use the 6:35 due having young kids that will need to get to bed.

You should be fine unless your flight is late. Average is 90 minutes

 

[maxiesmom]

If everything go perfectly you will be fine. But, if things don't go perfectly you can miss your ADR and have to pay the per person no show fee.

A rule of thumb is nothing important at least 3 hours from when you are supposed to land. Under 2 hours is cutting it very close, and one little delay can mean a missed ADR. Oh, and I have had ME take over 2 hours before, so while 90 minutes may be the average, it is just that. An average. Your trip could be longer or shorter. No way to know.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The one saving grace for you is the CBR is the first drop off with the Epcot resorts, so it would be the shortest timeframe, but I agree the 2 hr gap is close. Even if you are on time, depending on where you sit on the plane, it will take you 10 minutes at least to get off the plane and then another 10-15 minutes to get to ME line to check-in. That’s almost 30 minutes right there if the flight is on time.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

For tonight, I found 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 available for Sebastian's. I wouldn't book this in advance. I'd wait until on the magic express and see if I can get something then. By then you'll have a much better idea of your expected arrival time.

We had one magic express trip that was painfully slow - 2.5 hours after we landed (early), we finally got to our resort. Last time we flew into MCO, we landed a few minutes early and then taxied for 25 minutes. By the time we got to the gate, it was after our scheduled arrival time. We were heading to universal so I can't say how long DME took that time. We've had much smoother, quicker trips too, but I wouldn't risk a $40 cancellation fee.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm curious how long it will take for ME to pick us up at MCO and get us to CBR. I have a reservation at Sebastian's Bistro at 6:35 but our flight doesn't arrive until 4:38. Is there enough time to make it for our reservation? Or should I change the reservation to 7:55? It's not a big deal but I'd prefer to use the 6:35 due having young kids that will need to get to bed.

If your flight is on time then you should be fine. The restaurant will hold your reservation for awhile, too. But if you can find an ADR around 7pm it would be better.

 

[VAfamily1998]

With a 4:30 ish arrival I wouldn't feel comfortable making any reservations for arrival night. I was at Disney last month and although my flight was supposed to arrive around 4 pm, it was delayed and didn't land until 5:30 pm...and then since we were delayed we also had to wait for a gate before we could de-plane. After ME to our resort (CSR) we didn't arrive until close to 7 pm.
And then figure dropping off bags and stuff in your room...how far will your room be from the restaurant, etc.

 

[TeamSy]

I think it depends more on your flight than ME. When our flights are on time (granted we usually do early morning flights), our last few trips we never waited more than 5 mins in the ME line, and our bus ride was FAST (and we seemed to be last stop every time!). Our room was ready by like 9/10am when we got there and our luggage arrived within 15/20 mins later. So floored each time this happened!!! We always make reservations day of now and never have issues, although it doesn’t mean we won’t. We factor 2 hours from when we land.

 

[maxiesmom]

The one saving grace for you is the CBR is the first drop off with the Epcot resorts, so it would be the shortest timeframe, but I agree the 2 hr gap is close. Even if you are on time, depending on where you sit on the plane, it will take you 10 minutes at least to get off the plane and then another 10-15 minutes to get to ME line to check-in. That’s almost 30 minutes right there if the flight is on time.

The routes the ME buses take are not set in stone. Typically CBR may be the first stop. But I've had it be Pop before heading to CBR.

 

[maxiesmom]

If your flight is on time then you should be fine. The restaurant will hold your reservation for awhile, too. But if you can find an ADR around 7pm it would be better.

Maybe. That is another thing that may happen, but is not set in stone. That is the problem with trying to figure something like this out. Some things may typically happen, but there are always exceptions.

And to add to that, I had one flight where I was at the very back of the aircraft, and it was almost 30 minutes after landing before I was off. Odd things can happen that can slow you down.

 

[DJFan88]

For tonight, I found 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 available for Sebastian's. I wouldn't book this in advance. I'd wait until on the magic express and see if I can get something then. By then you'll have a much better idea of your expected arrival time.

This is great advice. So many times people are so thinking they need ADRs for everything, and I finally smartened up a bit on my last trip. There is a very good chance of getting ADRs super close to when you want to eat with the awesome App. I've even tweaked them by 10 min. here and there. And then I found out also that when I wanted to eat somewhere and didn't have one, being a walk in wasn't as big a deal as they make it seem. (No I'm not talking about BOG, but I had no prob at Via Napoli, for example).
If this makes you wonder, before you cancel a day ahead if you like this idea, plug in looking up what's available each night. You may find that routinely there is availability.

 

[mekay1012]

It took us about an hour from the time we landed until we were pull into our resort. We had a very early flight, though. I’m sure that helped.

 

[scionchigirl]

It took us about an hour from the time we landed until we were pull into our resort. We had a very early flight, though. I’m sure that helped.

I agree, we usually take the 6am flight out of Chicago,land in Orlando about 9:30 and get to wdw by 10:30. My DH and DS once landed at 10:30 pm and didnt get to WL until 1am!!!

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The routes the ME buses take are not set in stone. Typically CBR may be the first stop. But I've had it be Pop before heading to CBR.

Unless they have changed recently, every year I have stayed at BW, CBR is grouped with the Epcot resorts and is the first drop off and last pickup. Has it changed in the last year?

 

[Sandiz08]

We usually arrive late at night and it takes about an hour, but our bus has always been quite empty and almost always immediately board. I'm sure times vary, very mixed responses to routes and times.

 

[Bjkandma]

Last year our flight arrived at 11:18 am. After a,quick restroom break, went directly to Magical Express. Guess we just missed a bus to Pop Century. We waited over 30 minutes for a bus. Once on ME we were the last stop but we caught up to another bus heading exact?y where we were going. We actually say waiting for one bus to unload, while we just sat behind, but didn't unload. After second stop, driver was given permission to change order of drop offs. We arrived at POP at 1:45. It was a Monday! Perhaps a slow day for guest arivals.

 

[maxiesmom]

Unless they have changed recently, every year I have stayed at BW, CBR is grouped with the Epcot resorts and is the first drop off and last pickup. Has it changed in the last year?

They tend to follow the same route, but they do deviate from that route. I've had some unusual combos. As I said, my stay at CBR we stopped at Pop first. One stay at an All Star we stopped at the Animal Kingdom Lodge before hitting any of the All Stars. The routes are not set in stone.

 

[BalooFan]

I wouldn’t schedule ADR at any time that day with a flight arriving that late. There are too many potential delays with both the flight and DME for me to risk the no-show fee. I agree with PPs who recommended checking for ADR after you arrive.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Unless they have changed recently, every year I have stayed at BW, CBR is grouped with the Epcot resorts and is the first drop off and last pickup. Has it changed in the last year?

Every time I have stayed at Pop Century, the bus order has been Pop, CBR, AKL. The routing is genuinely fluid, based on need.