Plane lands at 7:15...

[Ariel Wanna-be]

...is making it to MK in time for the highlights of MVMCP possible?

We are arriving on 12/19, which is the last date for MVMCP. We'd like to see the snow, the special parade, and Holiday Wishes, as well as ride a couple of rides. Meeting the characters and attending the dance party is not a priority.

We will be utilizing ME, but we've thought about grabbing a cab (or Uber) to go straight from the airport to MK. However, that leaves the problem of what to do with our luggage.

In the past, its always taken us at least an hour to get from MCO to our resort using ME. That would put us getting to the resort around 8:15, then (hopefully) checking in at the speed of light and jumping on a bus for MK. If all goes as planned (yeah, I know) we should get to MK around 9:00 at the earliest.

Doable? Would I save a significant amount of time getting Uber to take us from the resort to MK?

TIA.

.

 

[DebbieB]

...is making it to MK in time for the highlights of MVMCP possible?

We are arriving on 12/19, which is the last date for MVMCP. We'd like to see the snow, the special parade, and Holiday Wishes, as well as ride a couple of rides. Meeting the characters and attending the dance party is not a priority.

We will be utilizing ME, but we've thought about grabbing a cab (or Uber) to go straight from the airport to MK. However, that leaves the problem of what to do with our luggage.

In the past, its always taken us at least an hour to get from MCO to our resort using ME. That would put us getting to the resort around 8:15, then (hopefully) checking in at the speed of light and jumping on a bus for MK. If all goes as planned (yeah, I know) we should get to MK around 9:00 at the earliest.

Doable? Would I save a significant amount of time getting Uber to take us from the resort to MK?

TIA.

.

Where are you staying? I would allow 75 to 90 minutes to get to the resort.

 

[parkluvr]

If it's the last night of MVMCP you will probably need to buy tickets in advance. In your scenario everything works perfect and you get there in time for what you want to see. In reality you could have a flight delay and get in 30 minutes or several hours late. You could have delays at baggage claim(if you use cab). You could run into traffic enroute to Magic Kindom from the airport. I personally would not take the risk, but if your willing to possibly lose out on the costs of the tickets it might work. You would still need to come up with a plan for your luggage though. Utilizing DME, I think realistically if your flight is on time you could be at Magic Kingdom by 9:30 to 9:45.

 

[CMNJ]

When we arrived two weeks ago we had to wait almost a half hour for our ME bus to arrive. Luckily we were the first stop so we got to our hotel about an hour and 20 min after arrival at MCO-but they were dropping off at 3 more resorts after us so the last stop probably didn't get to their resort for at least another 30 minutes-then if you have to wait a while for the MK bus (if you aren't staying at MK resort) it really could take 3 hrs from the time you land to reach MK-it really depends on if you get lucky and don't have to wait too long for ME or the MK bus (and hopefully aren't the last stop if they are going to multiple resorts)

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

We're staying at AKL, which is just about as far away as you can get from MK.

Looking at the scenario after I typed it all out, I don't think it's going to work for us. The only way I can see it working is if we grabbed a cab from the airport straight to MK, and unless someone figures out how to make a clone using a 3D printer, then I would still have the problem of what to do with the dang luggage.

Unlessssss....I SHIPPED everything to the resort ahead of time!!! We're only staying three days...

 

[laughinplace199]

Using DME, I wouldn't expect to get to your resort until about 8:45. Where are you staying? If you're staying somewhere in the MK area, it might be pretty easy to throw your bags in the room and hop on the monorail, boat, etc. If you're staying somewhere further away from MK, I'd grab a cab and take it to the Contemporary. You can walk to MK in 5-10 min from CR.

Would you consider renting a car? That way, you could toss your luggage in the trunk and drive straight to MK, then check into the resort after the party is over. We almost always rent a car because we don't like to depend on buses.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Cab or Uber to Contemporary, leave your luggage with Bell Services , walk/jog over to MK. After party, head back to claim your luggage and get a cab to AKL. No luggage on interproperty buses.

 

[CouchTater]

I believe after the last party the Christmas fireworks, parades etc. all become part of the daily routine. With the exception of the hot chocolate, cookies and maybe the dance parties you will get to enjoy it all with regular admission.

 

[minniegirl19]

Just like the post above how long are you staying there? After the party a day or a few days after they do the Christmas parade during the day and then the holiday wishes and normal wishes at night you just don't get the snow or fireworks! I wouldn't do the party just wait for that and enjoy your first night exploring the resort

 

[ExCMbeau]

Let DME handle your luggage. They will get it from the Airport and deliver it to AKL. Take a cab from the airport to the Grand Floridian and then monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[disneybirds]

Let DME handle your luggage. They will get it from the Airport and deliver it to AKL. Take a cab from the airport to the Grand Floridian and then monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

There are some great ideas on here. I never thought of this one, but it would have helped on our last day in the parks. You have to allow so much time to get back to the resort to catch the ME bus. We could have just taken a cab from MK!

 

[Mikie]

Let DME handle your luggage. They will get it from the Airport and deliver it to AKL. Take a cab from the airport to the Grand Floridian and then monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

I don't thnk you can do this - I can't remember if it was on a disney magical express FAQ or people's personal experience on this site, but they said that you can't just use DME as a luggage service, you have to actually ride the bus.

 

[nkereina]

I believe after the last party the Christmas fireworks, parades etc. all become part of the daily routine. With the exception of the hot chocolate, cookies and maybe the dance parties you will get to enjoy it all with regular admission.

This. You will get to see the fireworks and parade during your trip as they become standard after the last MVMCP. The snow is NOT worth going out of your way to see - you barely notice it unless you look up and into the light. If you really want to see it, they do the same effect at Osborne Lights in DHS. Being the last MVMCP, it will likely sell out which means you won't have an advantage of shorter wait times for rides - they waits will likely be comparable to what they are during the day.

Since you're not interested in special character meets, I frankly don't think it's worth the cost and hassle to rush there for it. We did the whole party last year and didn't find the cost to be worth it. JMHO. But to answer your question, I think you'd be calling it too close and would likely miss, or at least miss the start of the fireworks.

 

[ExCMbeau]

I don't thnk you can do this - I can't remember if it was on a disney magical express FAQ or people's personal experience on this site, but they said that you can't just use DME as a luggage service, you have to actually ride the bus.

I have done it several times without issue. I will go get the rental car and let my bags go with DME. Bag handlers pull bags with the yellow tags. They get scanned to see which resort and then put on the next available transport. They do not ride the bus you are on.


I have also checked my bags in at the hotel on departure and taken a cab without riding DME to the airport. It has been my experience that the bags are handled separately from the people.

 

[Alesia]

I have done it several times without issue. I will go get the rental car and let my bags go with DME. Bag handlers pull bags with the yellow tags. They get scanned to see which resort and then put on the next available transport. They do not ride the bus you are on.

It really should be said that you aren't supposed to do this. Not that you can't, but it does violate DME's terms and it could cause huge problems if the airline loses your luggage. There's actually a sticky about it at the top of the transportation board.

I have also checked my bags in at the hotel on departure and taken a cab without riding DME to the airport. It has been my experience that the bags are handled separately from the people.

That's a different situation - it's totally fine. You're not checking your bags with DME, but with RAC, which is a separate service.

 

[sharonabe]

This sounds like a VERY expensive 3 hours to me. Tickets are $74 plus tax for an adult, and then you have cab or rental car cost to add to that. As others have said, the only thing you'll miss is the snow. It snows at HS during Osborne Lights, so you don't even have to miss that. It wouldn't be worth it to me, but it's your trip and your money.