MCO/ME travel experts: help!!!

[Ariel Wanna-be]

DS15 will be flying by himself for the first time (gulp) and will arrive at MCO at 7:30 (assuming his flight is on time). I'd like for him to come meet us at DHS as soon as possible (thought about putting ASAP but that is just too many aconyms for the first two sentences, no?) in the hopes that he can make the 9:00 showing of Fantasmic. If this does not happen, we will somehow manage to go on with our lives, but I'm hopeful this plan will work.

Anyway, it usually takes us an hour from the time we land to the time we arrive at our resort (via ME), which would put him getting to CB around 8:30. Theoretically, he could then jump on a bus to DHS and make it for 9:00. BUT - could he board a ME bus for a resort closer to DHS even if he is not staying at that resort? If so, how do I go about arranging this? Which do you suggest? BC?

BTW - he will not have any checked luggage, just a small backpack that he could easily take to the park with him.

TIA!

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[helenk]

You can not take a bus to another resort, other than the resort where you are registered. Your booklet that you receive has your resort information on it and it is scanned by the CM or driver when you board the bus.
I think that planning on getting to the resort in an hour from the time he land is cutting things pretty close. On the average, I have found that I generally get to my resort within 90 minutes of landing.
Another thing to mention is that everything I've read about ME is that guests must be 16 or older to ride unaccompanied on ME.

 

[PWammy]

Not an expert, but would he be able to navigate a regular shuttle? I think minors can take ME with parental permission, but not sure how young. I'd call, they might make an exception or give you a ticket to a different resort. U never know unless u ask.

 

[SteveMouse]

Sorry-gotta be 16 or older to ride unaccompanied.

If you ask in advance, ME may be able to accomodate one of the adults on a free round-trip to collect him.


-steve

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Hmmmm....well THAT certainly throws a monkey wrench into my plans!

I'll call ME tomorrow and see if they make exceptions - he's 15.5 years old. If they are not able to accommodate my request (aka ruin everything), would it be possible for me to ride ME from our resort to MCO, pick him up, then ride ME back with him to our resort?

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[Alesia]

Hmmmm....well THAT certainly throws a monkey wrench into my plans!

I'll call ME tomorrow and see if they make exceptions - he's 15.5 years old. If they are not able to accommodate my request (aka ruin everything), would it be possible for me to ride ME from our resort to MCO, pick him up, then ride ME back with him to our resort?

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There have been some reports that they've allowed this.

Even if they do allow him to ride by himself, making it in time to see Fantasmic! would take a miracle. If DHS closes at 9:00 that night, he probably won't be able get get on a bus at all - make sure he knows what to to if that happens.

 

[mb187143]

My parents were allowed to take ME from MCO to POP in November even though we were staying at the contemporary. They were coming in for my wedding and flying with one of my grandmothers. The DME staff allowed them to take the bus with her to POP. My dad just had a backpack and the rest of their bags were checked so after they met up with my aunt at POP and got my Nan checked in, my parents took a bus to MK, walked over to the contemporary, and met my sister and I to check in for their reservation. It took a couple pre-arrival phone calls to arrange but it ended up working out.

As far as the age limit, they may not be as flexible. Timing may make the decision about what resort he could go to a moot point anyway though. I've found that most of time when you call you get some variation of a standard answer, but you may have better luck asking in person, as the people actually doing the work may be able to make something work for you. Have a back up plan just in case though, for peace of mind.

 

[maxiesmom]

Would it be possible for a town car to pick him up? I'm not sure if they have age restrictions, but if not you could pay for a town car, and they would drop him off wherever you like.

 

[BenandMorgsMom]

Hi...We just went through this a couple of weeks ago.
No, you must be 16 to ride. It is a liability issue. Anyone under 16 must have an adult to accompany them. We had 3 riders.. 2~17 and one 15. They will allow you to ride in and meet your child and ride back. This also threw us for a loop as it is clearly stated in the print....we just never were aware of the fact. We drove in and picked them up.

 

[seashoreCM]

Now that you know the facts, I say you need to decide to fish or cut bait in advance.

1. In order to make Fantasmic on time, book a town car to take him to Hollywood Studios. Note that it will not be easy pinpointing a rendezvous so you can mee the towncar or taxi (e.g. to pay the driver) as well as him.

2. Earlier that day, make arrangements to take Magical Express back to the airport to meet him.

3. Take a chance and let him blend in with the crowd and see if he can get on the DME bus on his own. For this I suggest that you be back at your resort with your cell phone at the time his plane will land so you can get help from the resort concierge if in the unlikely chance he can't get on the bus. (The result will probably be your catching a DME bus back to the airport that evening.)

Do not even ask about taking DME to a different resort, that will complicate matters a lot.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

THANK YOU everyone, for the advice/recommendations.

For peace of mind, I think I'll just take ME over and meet him. Fantasmic will have to wait.

Thanks again!

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