Is a year and half long enough to plan ~ A Sept 2019 Pre-Trip Report

[siren0119]

Sounds like a great start to the trip!

For Magical Express, in my experience it's been about 90 minutes from getting off the plane to arriving at the resort using DME. 10:00 sounds about right for arrival! If they have checked bags, they have the option to have the bags delivered right to the resort rather than waiting for them at the luggage carousel. There are pros and cons to that. Pro: grabbing carryons and getting right in line for DME gets you to the resort that much faster. Less stuff to cart with you through the lobby and out to your rooms. Cons: Sometimes the luggage doesn't get delivered to your room until much later in the day, so pack any clothes needed for the first day in a carry on. When DME delivers your luggage to the resort, it's not put on the bus that you will ride - it is loaded into a box truck from the tarmac and driven to the resort separately. Then it has to be sorted out at the hotel before being delivered to rooms. We didn't know that the first time we traveled and had luckily packed a change of clothes for everyone in our backpacks, our luggage didn't get to the room until almost 8pm.

 

[AllyReggie]

Of course I don't mind! Where are you staying?

We are staying at Coronado Springs! We were originally booked to All Star Sports but upgraded after my Mom decided she didn't want to stay in a motel style hotel!

 

[vleeth]

Sounds like a great start to the trip!

For Magical Express, in my experience it's been about 90 minutes from getting off the plane to arriving at the resort using DME. 10:00 sounds about right for arrival! If they have checked bags, they have the option to have the bags delivered right to the resort rather than waiting for them at the luggage carousel. There are pros and cons to that. Pro: grabbing carryons and getting right in line for DME gets you to the resort that much faster. Less stuff to cart with you through the lobby and out to your rooms. Cons: Sometimes the luggage doesn't get delivered to your room until much later in the day, so pack any clothes needed for the first day in a carry on. When DME delivers your luggage to the resort, it's not put on the bus that you will ride - it is loaded into a box truck from the tarmac and driven to the resort separately. Then it has to be sorted out at the hotel before being delivered to rooms. We didn't know that the first time we traveled and had luckily packed a change of clothes for everyone in our backpacks, our luggage didn't get to the room until almost 8pm.

What time did you arrive when you didn't get your luggage until 8PM? I'll make sure he knows the pros and cons. I know he won't want to mess with the luggage, but I might get him to let me bring one or two of his suitcases with me.

Since it sounds like they will get there before lunch, I need to decide if we will go to Disney Springs for lunch or dinner. Right now I'm leaning towards lunch. If that happens, we will go to one of the parks to get Hope's DAS pass and eat dinner at one of the hotels. But where to eat? Maybe we should do Captain Cooks that night...and eat in MK before the park closes. I wonder what's the latest we can eat at Peco's Bill on a party night. My goal is to not leave with the crowd and wait an hour for the bus.

 

[vleeth]

We are staying at Coronado Springs! We were originally booked to All Star Sports but upgraded after my Mom decided she didn't want to stay in a motel style hotel!

Have you ever stayed there? That is one resort I have never visited and I would like to stay there at some point. The pool looks awesome.

 

[AllyReggie]

Have you ever stayed there? That is one resort I have never visited and I would like to stay there at some point. The pool looks awesome.

Nope! We haven't! I have only ever Stayed at All Star Movies (back in '04) and Saratoga Springs (2016) so trying a moderate is going to be a really cool adventure! And I am really excited about the pool!

 

[siren0119]

What time did you arrive when you didn't get your luggage until 8PM? I'll make sure he knows the pros and cons. I know he won't want to mess with the luggage, but I might get him to let me bring one or two of his suitcases with me.

Since it sounds like they will get there before lunch, I need to decide if we will go to Disney Springs for lunch or dinner. Right now I'm leaning towards lunch. If that happens, we will go to one of the parks to get Hope's DAS pass and eat dinner at one of the hotels. But where to eat? Maybe we should do Captain Cooks that night...and eat in MK before the park closes. I wonder what's the latest we can eat at Peco's Bill on a party night. My goal is to not leave with the crowd and wait an hour for the bus.

Our flight landed at 11:30am - apparently it happened to be a big day for arrivals at POP and they were a little short staffed in Bell Services. The luggage may have arrived to the hotel well before then, but it took until 8pm for Bell Services to finally deliver it to our room and because they just bring the luggage to the hotels in a box truck, it wasn't like they could just pull our bags and give them to us. They had a ton of bags to sort through. We didn't end up needing extra clothes thank goodness!

On a party night, you would have to grab something to eat by 6pm - after that they start funneling guests toward the gates so that they can close up for the party at 7pm. If you want to hit MK on arrival day I'd definitely do it around lunch and not dinnertime - and if you want to avoid the crowds leaving MK I'd plan on getting out of the park by 5pm.

 

[vleeth]

Our flight landed at 11:30am - apparently it happened to be a big day for arrivals at POP and they were a little short staffed in Bell Services. The luggage may have arrived to the hotel well before then, but it took until 8pm for Bell Services to finally deliver it to our room and because they just bring the luggage to the hotels in a box truck, it wasn't like they could just pull our bags and give them to us. They had a ton of bags to sort through. We didn't end up needing extra clothes thank goodness!

On a party night, you would have to grab something to eat by 6pm - after that they start funneling guests toward the gates so that they can close up for the party at 7pm. If you want to hit MK on arrival day I'd definitely do it around lunch and not dinnertime - and if you want to avoid the crowds leaving MK I'd plan on getting out of the park by 5pm.

Years ago we got in line for Splash Mnt just before the park closed to non-party guest. Because it's a longer ride, the park was mostly cleared by the time we got out. We had no trouble getting a bus that night. So I was thinking we would order our food just before 6:00 and by the time we are done eating, most of the crowd will be out.

 

[siren0119]

Years ago we got in line for Splash Mnt just before the park closed to non-party guest. Because it's a longer ride, the park was mostly cleared by the time we got out. We had no trouble getting a bus that night. So I was thinking we would order our food just before 6:00 and by the time we are done eating, most of the crowd will be out.

Depending on how long it has been since you were there on a party night, it might surprise you how many people stay to the bitter end, and how many people are physically in the park. Party guests can arrive at 4pm even though the party doesn't start until 7, and folks stay in the park to enjoy some of the party stuff until they get kicked out I don't think you'd have any issue getting transportation, but I would expect it to be pretty busy with people leaving the park close to 7pm.

 

[vleeth]

Depending on how long it has been since you were there on a party night, it might surprise you how many people stay to the bitter end, and how many people are physically in the park. Party guests can arrive at 4pm even though the party doesn't start until 7, and folks stay in the park to enjoy some of the party stuff until they get kicked out I don't think you'd have any issue getting transportation, but I would expect it to be pretty busy with people leaving the park close to 7pm.

Thanks for the heads up. I think it was three years ago. We went to the party two years ago and did see some people being escorted out. I'm not trying to stay super late or do any party stuff. I just don't want to be in the initial crush at 6. But who knows, my touring plans may change way before then and we may decide to go to Animal Kingdom after all.

 

[vleeth]

Wow has it really been three months since I've posted?!? I guess I've been busy getting ready for my Disneyland Trip.

Then Disney World decides to add extra, extra magic hours to and now I have to redo all my plans. I really don't think 6:00 am Studios days are in my future. It's just too darn early for my kiddo. Plus our PPO BOG ADR got messed up by EMH. (pre-park opening Be Our Guest reservation) So now I'm working on getting those moved to a late breakfast, but it's slim pickings.

Despite having a ton of stuff to do for my cross country Disneyland/Yosemite/Grand Canyon/Etc trip, I spent the weekend redoing my September plans.

Currently we plan to

Arrival Day try to get DAS at MK (eat at Contempo or Captain Cooks) Disney Springs in the evening
Day 1 MK nap AK
Day 2 Ep nap DHS
Day 3 MK nap AK
Day 4 DHS possibly just chill at the resort
Day 5 AK nap MK
Day 6 Ep nap DHS
Day 7 MK and ?

I have quick service places and fp choices made, but that will probably change so I'll post that another time.

My brother really wants me to do a trip report after this trip, so hopefully that will motivate me to get it done.

Happy planning everyone!

 

[vleeth]

Four months later and the plan hasn't changed much.

Day 1 MK nap AK
Day 2 Ep nap DHS
Day 3 MK nap AK
Day 4 DHS possibly just chill at the resort
Day 5 AK nap MK
Day 6 Ep nap DHS
Day 7 MK and ?

turned into

Day 1 MK till close then bed early
Day 2 DHS nap Ep
Day 3 MK nap AK
Day 4 Ep nap DHS
Day 5 AK nap MK
Day 6 Ep nap DHS
Day 7 ? and MK

Now it's time to pack!!!