Making it to Le Cellier on time . . . .

[CindyIsMyFave]

We've only ever flown to the World once. Usually we drive. When we flew, it took DME about 90 mins to get us to our resort - we had a pretty late arrival.

This trip, we'll be landing @ 6:25 pm on a Friday. Do I have any hope of getting from MCO - POFQ - checking in to get our tickets, but not going to our room - hopping on the bus to EPCOT - and making it to Canada by 8:25?

Before you laugh at me, I realize that DME could again take 90 mins and I'd be out of luck. I also realize I could have bad bus luck and be out of luck. But I do have a good sense of how long this should? could? take, how long the walk is from front gate to Canada, etc. If DME could actually get us there in an hour this time, I'd feel fairly comfy with an hour to get to EPCOT since POFQ is so close to it. Still seems a little risky to me of course. Would it be horrible if I was 5-10 mins late for the reservation?

We are renting a car for part of the trip and if we decide to pick up at MCO instead of return at MCO, then I'm more confident we could drive to POFQ, leave our bags in the car and drive to EPCOT on time. (We'd only have carry-ons and do online kiosk check in for the car.)

I'm sort of thinking out loud, but . . . thoughts?

 

[kat3668]

No I highly doubt it... way too close and way to stressful....... Even if you fo land at 6:25 you have to unboard then take shuttle to main airport. travel down to DME or rental car place and wait on that. Takes 30 minutes to drive ot WDW from airport depending on traffic and then you have to check in and get room# and tickets. Then either get bus that can be 5 minute or 20 minute wait. get through bag check and enter Epcot. It will take 20 minutes or so to walk to LeCellier and that depends on crowd levels.
Not the way I would want to spend my first night at WDW!

 

[Nadjalu]

Sorry I really don't think it is even possible.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I agree with the other posters - unfortunately I think you're out of luck ...

... also don't forget that there could be delays with your flight getting into Orlando, especially with all the thunderstorms across the country lately. Even with a car we usually leave ourselves 2 hours from the time our plane arrives to get to the resort and check in.

 

[si-am]

I don't think you'll make it. I'd just plan on taking it easy at your resort that evening and resting up for the next day.

 

[sephorachick]

i don't think you'll make it......

 

[madalex]

This trip, we'll be landing @ 6:25 pm on a Friday. Do I have any hope of getting from MCO - POFQ - checking in to get our tickets, but not going to our room - hopping on the bus to EPCOT - and making it to Canada by 8:25?

Any hope at all? Yes, of course, it is possible to do what you suggest, but (as others have said) fairly unlikely.

 

[Hopefully]

I think it is next to impossible to acheive. DME has a 70 - 90 minute average time to the world.
If your flight is late - which is not unusual - you will not make it.
If you just miss the DME bus and have to wait - you will not make it.
If your the third stop on DME - you may not make it
If you need to wait in line to check in - you may not make it.
etc.

If you do decide to try, I would definitely suggest a cab from POFQ and not the Epcot bus.

 

[sarbah77]

This trip, we'll be landing @ 6:25 pm on a Friday. Do I have any hope of getting from MCO - POFQ - checking in to get our tickets, but not going to our room - hopping on the bus to EPCOT - and making it to Canada by 8:25?

I'm sort of thinking out loud, but . . . thoughts?

When we last stayed at POR, the bus went to two other places before POR and then it went to POFQ.

Have you considered a taxi instead of ME? The driver might even be willing to wait to let you check in and then drive you to Epcot?

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

I don't think there is any way you'll make it on time either. My experience with Magical Express & check in at the resort is it is rather on the slow side & then you have to get a bus & go to Epcot. I think a taxi from the airport & then on to Epcot is your only sure way of having a chance at making your LeCellier suppertime.

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I suppose I was afraid of all that.

The stress part doesn't bother me. We'd only be in the parks a few hours that night and likely not in them at all the following day due to other plans, so that part's ok.

It's my lack of DME experience that troubles me since we're used to driving. And as a PP poster said, anything running late or missing a DME bus or an EPCOT bus would throw the whole thing off. <sigh> Maybe I'll hold onto the ressie a little longer 'til I absolutely convince myself it won't work.

 

[MHSweb79]

On the plus side, most restaurants give you 15 minutes grace time, although I wouldn't necessarily count on that.

You could always keep the ADR and see what happens. It's not like they won't be able to fill your table if you don't show up.

 

[Sugardimples]

Save yourself some grief and accept the fact that this won't work. With a 6:25 landing time, you then need to add on the time it takes to get off the plane, and the walk to ME. Maybe 20 minutes right there. An restroom stop will add a few more minutes. So lets call it a half hour from landing to ME.

I love ME and think they do any awesome job, but you will have some waiting time before you board the bus and the bus actually leaves. The trip itself takes about 30 minutes. You may not be the first stop so add more time here. Get to the hotel and check in (assuming you need your park tickets to enter EPCOT). I figure ME + check in adds another hour and a half.

Now you have to get to EPCOT and then walk back to Canada. If you take a cab (15 minutes), go thru bag check and the turnstiles (10 minutes) walk back to Canada (15 minutes), its now 9:05 and that's if all goes smoothly. If you take a bus it will be longer than that.

 

[River Country]

I have to agree with everyone here. Sorry

Unless you are traveling with no bags(ship them down is cheaper than paying the airline anyway) No kids, thought about shipping them but i think that is a legal issue
Then take a cab to POFQ hold the cab while you check in grab the tix take the cab to Epcot get to Canada you might make 8:25

I am just being silly here please no one take me seriously that i would ship a child. Its a joke

 

[RMulieri]

IF all the stars and planets alighn properly.....MAYBE...But on average DME alone takes 90 mins.That is not including any delays by the airline, getting to the resort and waiting to check in and then hauling buns to Epcot to get thru the gate and all the way to World Showcase.

 

[Agri]

TBH, the only way you'd manage that is if your flight lands on time, your bags get off the plane promptly and you take a cab directly to Epcot. (FWIW, I think the plan is unreasonable even if you were to stay at an Epcot resort.)

Personally, I'd opt for a food court meal or a meal at DtD. If you have your heart set on going to a park that night, I'd opt for whatever park has EMH and hope for the best. When our flight was a late one to POR, we just got food court food and went to sleep so we'd have plenty of energy for the next day.

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

No, I understand what everyone is saying. You've mostly talked me out of it.

I am tempted to hang onto it just to see. I always cancel a ressie if we change our minds, so if, for ex., the plane landed late, I'd just call WDW Dine as soon as we got off to cancel. Maybe make someone's day for a walk up!

We won't be checking bags - only carryon, so we're under our own power there. If DME was like last time, I also know we wouldn't make it. (Last time, we watched everyone but our line get on an immediate bus and move out w/i 10-15 mins.)

EPCOT does have EMH that night 'til midnight - that's why I grabbed Le C when I saw it available. We only have 2 full days, this 1 night and another 1/2 day in the parks this trip, so no problem "wasting" a ticket on just a few hours. We're pretty commando-style at WDW with no kids yet.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have to say No Way! For my trip this past December I had an ADR scheduled in Epcot 3 hours after our arrival time, and we made it with about 15 minutes to spare. And we got right on the ME bus, and took off to start the resorts loop within 10 minutes.

Honestly, it just won't work.