Magical Express back to airport - should we try to go to park first?

[Hoosier Mom]

What does everyone do on the day they leave?

We are staying at CSR. Our flight leaves at 4:25pm. Are we locked into getting Magical Express back at CSR?

I was thinking that we could go to Magic Kingdom for the morning time. But I'm thinking time would be tight. We'd have to eat by 11:00, then at noon catch a bus headed back to CSR in order to get back for a 1:25 departure time with Magical Express.

What would you do?

 

[Brian Noble]

Are we locked into getting Magical Express back at CSR?

Yes. Remember also that you want to be ready to *walk onto the bus* with any luggage in hand a good 10 minutes before your bus departure time.

If I were going to a park that morning and I was staying at CSR, I would probably plan to take a cab back---that makes MK tricky, because to get a cab you either have to go to CR (where one might or might not be waiting) or to TTC.

 

[goofy4tink]

Your estimate of about 1:25 is pretty fair. But, you do have to be at the DME bus stop, completely ready to go, no less than 15 mins prior to the given pickup time. The time you are given is the time the bus is supposed to leave the resort. So, be back at CSR by about 12:30. That way, you can get any carryon bags you may have left with Luggage Assistence, you can make those last minute bathroom stops and a once through of the gift shop, and be out at the bus stop in plenty of time.

This means you'll have to leave the park by noon, at the latest. If you are at MK that morning, walk over to the CR and get a cab back to the resort. It will be much quicker than waiting for a bus...unless the bus is just pulling up.

I'm not sure I would head to a park just for a few hours. Not unless I could walk there and back. But, if the park is open early that morning, or you know exactly what you want to do when you get there, then go for it. Otherwise, it might make more sense to just hang at the resort, have a last swim, and relax. But, that's your choice. As of this moment, there are no options for getting DME at any other place...it's your resort or nothing.

 

[Traveliz]

I would go to the park you want knowing what you want to do. Get that done...and then leave that park around 11 and eat when you get back to CSR.

That gives you more wiggle room if there is a delay.

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

I would go to the park you want knowing what you want to do. Get that done...and then leave that park around 11 and eat when you get back to CSR.

That gives you more wiggle room if there is a delay.

Liz

Or that....

 

[Lewisc]

I don't know how long you'll be staying at WDW or what the weather will be like.....Making your last day a pool day makes a lot of sense. Some of your group can sleep late. Some at the pool. Take pictures.

I agree with the PP. Morning at MK might make sense if there are a couple of attractions you missed or want to do again. Might make sense if the MK has EMH. Definitely consider taking a taxi back to your resort and having lunch in your resort.

 

[jmartinez1895]

Our last trip our flight time was just about what yours is. We did MK that morning and only stayed there a couple of hours. We enjoyed every minute of it. Our trip we have planned for Nov we are planning on spending a few hours in DTD before we leave.

 

[seashoreCM]

Bus service out of Downtown Disney is spotty. Be prepared to take a taxi instead of the bus back to your resort if you are trying to catch Magical Express.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Our trip is end of January and we'll have visited the parks 6 days. So maybe the suggestion of relaxing at the resort would be a good one.

I'll have to see what time check out is. Somehow I doubt we'll be swimming though. Last time we went to Disney during a January, the pools were freezing. I so wish they would heat them more.

Thanks!

 

[debster812]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Our trip is end of January and we'll have visited the parks 6 days. So maybe the suggestion of relaxing at the resort would be a good one.

I'll have to see what time check out is. Somehow I doubt we'll be swimming though. Last time we went to Disney during a January, the pools were freezing. I so wish they would heat them more.

Thanks!

I think this is a great plan. We were at WDW in January of 2009, and had the last JetBlue nonstop flight of the day. There was snow in the Northeast (we were flying into Boston). We checked out from PO-R and decided to go to Downtown Disney for lunch. Before we checked out, we checked the status of our flight, and it was on time as scheduled. Before we ate lunch, I was on the phone with a friend from home, and on a whim, asked her to check our flight. CANCELLED. Immediately called JetBlue, got the last three seats on an earlier flight, and thus began our mad rush.

We skipped lunch, got right back on the ferry back to POR. Tried to re-book DME, but were told we were too close to departure. Our plan was to collect our carry ons from Bell Services, and get a taxi to the airport. There was a DME bus at the hotel as we were collecting our bags. The Bell Services CM walked us over to the driver, explained our situation, and asked if he could take us. PO-R was his last stop, he had room, and we were ready to go, so we were able to catch the bus.

It would have been much less stressful had we just stayed at the resort, relaxed, had lunch, etc.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I think this is a great plan. We were at WDW in January of 2009, and had the last JetBlue nonstop flight of the day. There was snow in the Northeast (we were flying into Boston). We checked out from PO-R and decided to go to Downtown Disney for lunch. Before we checked out, we checked the status of our flight, and it was on time as scheduled. Before we ate lunch, I was on the phone with a friend from home, and on a whim, asked her to check our flight. CANCELLED. Immediately called JetBlue, got the last three seats on an earlier flight, and thus began our mad rush.

We skipped lunch, got right back on the ferry back to POR. Tried to re-book DME, but were told we were too close to departure. Our plan was to collect our carry ons from Bell Services, and get a taxi to the airport. There was a DME bus at the hotel as we were collecting our bags. The Bell Services CM walked us over to the driver, explained our situation, and asked if he could take us. PO-R was his last stop, he had room, and we were ready to go, so we were able to catch the bus.

It would have been much less stressful had we just stayed at the resort, relaxed, had lunch, etc.

Oh my goodness! That sounds really stressful! Yes, I think we'll be sleeping in and chilling out. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[goofy4tink]

Oh my goodness! That sounds really stressful! Yes, I think we'll be sleeping in and chilling out. Thanks so much for sharing.

Checkout is at 11. So you can relax, swim if you want, change and then head out and get a bite to eat after the official checkout time. Then, over to the DME bus stop. Perfect morning!!

 

[debster812]

Oh my goodness! That sounds really stressful! Yes, I think we'll be sleeping in and chilling out. Thanks so much for sharing.

It was a bit stressful, but as some of the other Transportation Board old-timers can tell you, travelling with me is rarely boring. If something can go amok with our travel, it will. 7 year old DS getting pulled for extra security a few years in a row. (He's now 14), snowstorms delaying us by 3 days. Snowstorms cancelling everything so we would up driving, etc etc etc. But, we always try to arm ourselves with the best info we can get, pack our senses of humor, and go with the flow as much as possible.

ENJOY your trip.

 

[goofy4tink]

It was a bit stressful, but as some of the other Transportation Board old-timers can tell you, travelling with me is rarely boring. If something can go amok with our travel, it will. 7 year old DS getting pulled for extra security a few years in a row. (He's now 14), snowstorms delaying us by 3 days. Snowstorms cancelling everything so we would up driving, etc etc etc. But, we always try to arm ourselves with the best info we can get, pack our senses of humor, and go with the flow as much as possible.

ENJOY your trip.

She's right....we all check when she is traveling and then we make alternative plans. No one wants to be traveling at the same time..way too many crazy situations!!!!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Last trip our ME pickup wasn't until 3pm. We went to Epcot and had a great lunch at Le Cellier. We were staying at the Boardwalk, so we walked over and back in plenty of time for our ME pickup. I don't think I would rely on Disney transportation on my last day just in case.