Park Hopping Question (Realistic Plan)?

[dramadrew]

Our party of 15 has a reservation at BOG at 4 PM on Saturday, December 3. My DH and I would like to park hop to HS that night to catch Jingle Bells, Jingle BAM! at 6:45 PM. Is it realistic to think we can get out of dinner on time in order to do this? I thought if we were able to leave MK by 6 PM, we'd be good. Thoughts?

 

[Amelia :)]

On a Saturday night you'd need to be getting a reasonable viewing spot at 6.15. I'd say to be within any chance of making it you'd need to eat quick and aim to be leaving BOG at 5pm.

 

[han22735]

I'd grab an uber or a taxi when leaving MK. That will be much quicker than waiting for a bus.

 

[Mome Rath]

If you had a smaller group, I'd say you could make it... with 15 it would be really really really close IMO. If you can see it as a fun challenge and not a make it or break it experience, it may work out either way.

 

[Robo]

I'd grab an uber or a taxi when leaving MK. That will be much quicker than waiting for a bus.

Just know that you can't get a taxi or uber at the MK gates.

 

[Cinderella94]

If you had a smaller group, I'd say you could make it... with 15 it would be really really really close IMO. If you can see it as a fun challenge and not a make it or break it experience, it may work out either way.

I agree. I wouldn't count on this working out, but if it does, then great. If your ADR is at 4:00, expect to be seated at maybe 4:10-4:15. 15 is a very large group to get through a dinner that quickly. If it were me, I wouldn't want to rush through BOG.

 

[CAS239]

Make sure to show up early to BoG. I'd show up about 3:40 rather than wait until 4, in hopes of getting seated sooner.

Then make sure everyone eats quickly. I'd aim to be out of BoG by 5/5:15. Take about another 15/20 to get out of MK. At that time bus waits shouldn't be too bad, so bus would probably be your quickest bet

 

[dramadrew]

As far as I know, it would only be 2 from the party that would go. However, after seeing opinions and talking to others, I think I may shift it for my full Epcot day and return to EP for LATE dinner. This is our last big family meal and I think my stepsister wants to use it to really celebrate the grandparent's 60th birthday so I don't want to rush through that! I also need to find a time to get to Disney Springs just to hit a few shops. Not enough time!

 

[Alesia]

I'd grab an uber or a taxi when leaving MK. That will be much quicker than waiting for a bus.

Nope. The bus would be quicker.

 

[Tomh]

I'm not sure that would work for us, maybe for you.

Assuming you are seated directly at 4:00 (which may not happen) and eat within an hour. Give yourself another 15 minutes to hike out of MK. Now for the bus . .. . could be there immediately, could be a 20 minute wait, never know for sure. Assume 20 minutes wait, so it is after 4:30 when you get on the bus. You should still make it with plenty of time.

That being said, you may NOT be seated right at 4. Eating a table service meal in an hour to me seems like a waste of a table service meal. I always plan on those meals taking an hour and a half to two hours that way if we are seated a bit late, and linger for our meal we haven't missed anything in our plan. If you get in late, take an hour and a half to eat leisurely, then have to wait 20 minutes for the bus, that would make it pretty close.

 

[dramadrew]

Okay so let's evaluate this plan. We may do it on our Epcot day (Thursday, Dec 1). We rather eat earlier than later so I snagged a 4:15 PM reservation for two at La Hacienda. Would that give us enough time to get there by 6:45 PM? We don't need prime viewing. If not we have a back up one at 9:15 PM when we return to Epcot.

 

[Cinderella94]

Okay so let's evaluate this plan. We may do it on our Epcot day (Thursday, Dec 1). We rather eat earlier than later so I snagged a 4:15 PM reservation for two at La Hacienda. Would that give us enough time to get there by 6:45 PM? We don't need prime viewing. If not we have a back up one at 9:15 PM when we return to Epcot.

It still might be tight (but sounds more feasible than the first plan). If you spend from 4:30 to 5:45 or so eating dinner (I've never eaten at that restaurant so someone else may know if they typically spend more or less time there, and I'm assuming you have to wait a little to be seated), get out of Epcot and onto the boat to DHS by maybe 6:05....that's not really enough time, I don't think. The boat is pretty slow, then bag check... I would rather take my time with everything and use the 9:15 reservation. I generally like to be places pretty early, so take this for what you will .

 

[dramadrew]

It still might be tight (but sounds more feasible than the first plan). If you spend from 4:30 to 5:45 or so eating dinner (I've never eaten at that restaurant so someone else may know if they typically spend more or less time there, and I'm assuming you have to wait a little to be seated), get out of Epcot and onto the boat to DHS by maybe 6:05....that's not really enough time, I don't think. The boat is pretty slow, then bag check... I would rather take my time with everything and use the 9:15 reservation. I generally like to be places pretty early, so take this for what you will .

I was going to take the bus. Is that any faster?

 

[Cinderella94]

I was going to take the bus. Is that any faster?

It may be - hopefully someone else will chime in and answer! Since we usually stay at Beach Club and walk to both Epcot and DHS, I've never really thought about the bus route between them