Plane lands at 1:45. Dinner at Crystal Palace at 5:05. Will we make it?

[danjfoley]

Really it's will THEY make it. We have a party of 10. 6 of us will be at disney nice and early that day.. so we'll be at the park in the morning, back to the hotel around 2 to check in and relax then back to the park for dinner.

The other 4 are arriving at 1:45pm (i urged them to arrive earlier but this is what they got). They are going to rent a car and drive down. So:

Scenario 1:

They arrive at 1:45pm, have to get their luggage, rent a car, drive down. What time do they get to the resort (Coronado springs). If they are running REALLY late they can just drive to TTS and monorail to MK.

Scenario 2:

Since i'm down at Disney around 10am, i rent a car for them.. they just take the disney magic bus, don't have to worry about their luggage. What time do they arrive? We wait for them as long as we can. If they are really late, they just take a bus to MK (cause i won't be there to give them the key's the the rental)

Other Questions

If they miss the dinner, will Disney let us (the party of 6) in.. even though the other 4 are not there? And if the other 4 happen to show up say 15 late, will they let them in or are they out of luck?

Thanks again for all the answers.

 

[Robo]

1- 3:30-ish
2- At Resort 3:00-ish
The times can vary widely due to all sorts of factors.

Depending on the restaurant and staff, you likely can't be seated until all are there,
if you intend for the rest of the party to join you.

They will seat a smaller party than the reservation, but likely at a smaller table.

 

[danjfoley]

Ok so that answers that.. they really should just take the disney bus..

and what happens if they miss the meal? Will Disney let the 6 of us that are there in to eat?

 

[Robo]

what happens if they miss the meal? Will Disney let the 6 of us that are there in to eat?

Yes. No penalty for a smaller party.

 

[perditax]

Getting our baggage and renting a car a few weekends ago took no time at all. But we booked ahead with National and joined their free Emerald club, and you literally walk out of the terminal, about twenty feet away to the "emerald aisle" and pick any car you want. Keys are inside, get in and exit the lot, show your ID and credit card at the guard gate, boom you're out of the airport before you know what hit you. Drive to WDW is really quite short, especially if you take the southern toll road, I think 417 to 538? I'd far rather do that than risk some of the DME horror stories I've read lately.

 

[danjfoley]

thank you.. one last question. can i arrive at 5pm and still get my dinner? or do i have to be there early. if they get at resort at 3:45ish.. they check in ... we leave say at 4:30 by the latest to TTC to mono to MK.. we'll still make it i believe. Crystal palace is right at the front of the MK entrance right?

 

[Robo]

thank you.. one last question.

1. can i arrive at 5pm and still get my dinner?

2. or do i have to be there early. if they get at resort at 3:45ish.. they check in ... we leave say at 4:30 by the latest to TTC to mono to MK.. we'll still make it i believe.

3. Crystal palace is right at the front of the MK entrance right?

1. Yes.
2. Nope.
3. No. It's at the far end of Main Street, at the Hub, near the entrance to Adventureland.

 

[danjfoley]

Getting our baggage and renting a car a few weekends ago took no time at all. But we booked ahead with National and joined their free Emerald club, and you literally walk out of the terminal, about twenty feet away to the "emerald aisle" and pick any car you want. Keys are inside, get in and exit the lot, show your ID and credit card at the guard gate, boom you're out of the airport before you know what hit you. Drive to WDW is really quite short, especially if you take the southern toll road, I think 417 to 538? I'd far rather do that than risk some of the DME horror stories I've read lately.

So now long did it take you.. from airplane landing, to get to your resort?

 

[perditax]

So now long did it take you.. from airplane landing, to get to your resort?

I think we were wheels down by 12:30 and at AKL by 2:30, but that included time we spent screwing around, getting off the highway to find a Target, standing in line in the Starbucks inside Target, and waiting in some surface road traffic congestion at target. Straight shot, could have been there by two with no problem. But we also are very persistent about sitting towards the front of the plane and debarking quickly, then getting our bags and the heck outta dodge.

We were out of the Airport proper and in the rental car less than 10 mins after baggage claim.

 

[danjfoley]

Hmm.. i'm at a loss to tell them what to do them.. seems taking the bus they are guaranteed to get there on time, if not it's up to them to haul their butt.

 

[Robo]

Hmm.. i'm at a loss to tell them what to do them.. seems taking the bus they are guaranteed to get there on time, if not it's up to them to haul their butt.

Just because we have been out of the airport in X minutes on trip A, it did not mean that we made that same time on trip B, C, D...

You simply never know.
We build in extra time for everything.

 

[danjfoley]

i know. but the deals are done.. and you can't change the time, what would you do?

 

[danjfoley]

3. No. It's at the far end of Main Street, at the Hub, near the entrance to Adventureland.

robo.. so that seems like.. from monorail arrival at MK, to Crystal Palace .. in the evening.. 10-15 min?

 

[purple figment]

The other 4 are arriving at 1:45pm (i urged them to arrive earlier but this is what they got). They are going to rent a car and drive down.

We usually figure 3 hours from landing to walking through the turnstile at a park. Sometimes it takes less time, but if there are any travel delays it may take longer and they will potentially miss the dinner res.

If they are running REALLY late they can just drive to TTS and monorail to MK.

Or they could drive to the Contemporary, valet park ($20 + tip) and walk to the MK. It will be even quicker than driving to the TTC, taking the parking lot tram and then the monorail or ferry to the MK.

edit: I didn't see the scenario where you rent the car. They can either take the bus to the MK or a taxi to the Contemporary. If they tell the taxi driver they want to go to the MK, they will be taken to the TTC.

and what happens if they miss the meal? Will Disney let the 6 of us that are there in to eat?

If you tell the castmembers at the podium there are only 6 of you, you will be seated and not charged for the missing 4 people. However, if you tell the CMs you are waiting for 4 more people, you will not be able to check in or be seated because Disney will only seat when everyone is there. Most restaurants will let you check in up to about 15 minutes late and after that you might be put on the stand by list or they might cancel your res with the potential $10 per person penalty.

If your friends show up after you are seated it will be at the discretion of the CMs whether they'll seat them or not.

thank you.. one last question. can i arrive at 5pm and still get my dinner? or do i have to be there early.

Disney recommends that you arrive 10-15 minutes before your res time, but you'll be fine at 5:00. I would have a back up plan in mind if there are delays and it looks like your friends won't make it in time so you won't be anxiously waiting for them at 5:05 at CP.

 

[Robo]

robo.. so that seems like.. from monorail arrival at MK, to Crystal Palace .. in the evening.. 10-15 min?

Yup.
(You'll have to go through security bag check before entering the MK gates.)

 

[Robo]

I'd be on the cell phone or text message with "party 2" starting at their plane arrival
and continuing with frequent updates on their location/progress.
It'll allow you to make decisions as needed.

 

[Junebugwv]

I agree with others that their best chance is using Magical Express. If they still want a rental car, they could arrange to rent from one of the companies on property for a pick-up the next day.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd be on the cell phone or text message with "party 2" starting at their plane arrival
and continuing with frequent updates on their location/progress.
It'll allow you to make decisions as needed.

Yes.

1:45 to 5:05, even I wouldn't be too worried about that, especially if renting a car. And I'm nervous about travel times all the time. But I wouldn't worry about that one at all. I mean, unless the plane was actually late.

But we have National's Emerald Club, rent a midsize which means we choose from the Emerald Aisle, which means the only thing slowing us down at the car rental place is US. We have a roll of quarters for the tolls, we have a navigator and a driver (and their roles do not mix, and they communicate quickly and clearly), and we GO.

After 4pm, MK is already seeing its first exodus, so they might get lucky with parking.

 

[mom2rtk]

We usually figure 3 hours from landing to walking through the turnstile at a park. Sometimes it takes less time, but if there are any travel delays it may take longer and they will potentially miss the dinner res.

Same here. But for us that's with no delays, and us not racing or stressing. 3 hours. Touchdown to turnstile.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

If their plane is not late, there should not be any problem with them making it to Crystal Palace on time which ever method they choose. I would get phone updates from party 2 as they travel to the MK and have everyone else plan to be at Crystal Palace for your 5:00 ADR. If they are not going to make it in time, go ahead and take a smaller table and eat. No harm/no foul and no worry about charges for no show. As long as somebody shows up for the ADR there will be no "no-show" charge.