Questions about Sanaa

[godfather927]

Two questions about an ADR I have at Sanaa on our first night there...

We have an ADR about 2 hrs after our flight lands. That *should* give us enough time to get an uber to the Pop where we'll be staying, get checked in, settled, and ready to go to AKL Kidani Village.

1) As I understand it, there are no buses that go directly between resorts, so if I don't want to pay for another uber, I'd have to take a bus to the front of AK and then catch another bus from AK to AKL. Does anyone know approx how long bus hopping like this would take? I'd rather not cut it close, and if possible would even like to arrive extra early which brings me to me second question...

2) If we arrive to Sanaa 30 min prior to our ADR time, are we more likely to get a window seat to watch the animals (assuming we request it when we greet the hostess)? If not then I'd be more likely to take my chances with the buses. But if so, I'd be more likely to just suck it up and pay for the uber.

 

[loves to dive]

2 hours is cutting it close. If your flight is late, if you have issues getting an Uber, if your room isn't ready that is going to throw some more time in. That is a lot of ifs to take into consideration.

Yes, you have to take a bus to AK then another one to AKL. Sometimes, not all the time, the buses will pick up and drop off at the same place, sometimes you are going to have to walk to another line, that won't be a long walk though. No way to tell how long that is going to take. In theory, buses run every 20 min so it would depend on when in that 20 min. span you have arrived. If a bus just left, you are going to have to wait at least 20 min., and I said in theory because that is not always the way it works. You can also get there and only have to wait 5 min. The ride itself isn't long, I would say not even 5 min. I think they drop off first at Jambo House but I could be wrong.

Whether you get a seat by the window, again, depends on a lot of things. If they are crowded and there isn't one available it is what it is. If they aren't crowded it's possible. Getting there early probably isn't going to make a difference, it all depends on how many ADRs they have and how crowded it is and in some cases, what mood the CM greeting you is in.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Two questions about an ADR I have at Sanaa on our first night there...

We have an ADR about 2 hrs after our flight lands. That *should* give us enough time to get an uber to the Pop where we'll be staying, get checked in, settled, and ready to go to AKL Kidani Village.

1) As I understand it, there are no buses that go directly between resorts, so if I don't want to pay for another uber, I'd have to take a bus to the front of AK and then catch another bus from AK to AKL. Does anyone know approx how long bus hopping like this would take? I'd rather not cut it close, and if possible would even like to arrive extra early which brings me to me second question...

2) If we arrive to Sanaa 30 min prior to our ADR time, are we more likely to get a window seat to watch the animals (assuming we request it when we greet the hostess)? If not then I'd be more likely to take my chances with the buses. But if so, I'd be more likely to just suck it up and pay for the uber.

Why not cut out all of the back-and-forth and just Uber right from the airport to Kidani to begin with?

 

[FCDub]

Just pay for the Uber, honestly.

 

[IndyToThere]

You might consider just taking transportation straight to Kidani from the airport. You can give your luggage to the bellhops at the resort. They have bathrooms on the lobby floor if you need to change.

While you wait, you can look at the animals outside, which is really pleasant (during the day, there's a guide who can help explain different facts about the animals).

I wouldn't suggest doing what you proposed (go to All stars, then bus to AK, then then bus to AKL)... that would take forever and make you late. Not worth it.

 

[gharter]

As others have said, that is cutting it really close.
It all depends on your flight landing on time, not having to wait too long for your luggage.
Best case after landing is getting to your resort about 90 minutes after landing.

I agree with the others, I don't see you having time to get to Pop, check in and get to Kidani on time even if everything works perfectly. I would go directly to Kidani, store your luggage. Enjoy your meal, then Uber back to Pop and check in after dinner.

 

[godfather927]

Why not cut out all of the back-and-forth and just Uber right from the airport to Kidani to begin with?

It would likely put us at Kidani about 60-90 min before our ADR, which seems too early? Not sure what we'd do there to kill that much time. Plus after being in an airport/flight for a long time, dropping our stuff off, checking in, using the bathroom, etc seems like it might be needed.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It would likely put us at Kidani about 60-90 min before our ADR, which seems too early? Not sure what we'd do there to kill that much time. Plus after being in an airport/flight for a long time, dropping our stuff off, checking in, using the bathroom, etc seems like it might be needed.

Check-in isn't really a thing these days, unless there's a reason you really want to talk to someone at the front desk. Online check-in should take care of everything and they'll text you your room number.

I think there's a lot less slack time in your itinerary than you're calculating. Once you get off the plane and through the airport, you won't be killing much more than 30 minutes.

 

[FreeCA]

You might consider just taking transportation straight to Kidani from the airport. You can give your luggage to the bellhops at the resort. They have bathrooms on the lobby floor if you need to change.

While you wait, you can look at the animals outside, which is really pleasant (during the day, there's a guide who can help explain different facts about the animals).

I wouldn't suggest doing what you proposed (go to All stars, then bus to AK, then then bus to AKL)... that would take forever and make you late. Not worth it.

for understanding, if we are staying at one resort, we can have the bell hop at another resort hold our luggage? We then pick it up to take to our “home” resort?

 

[godfather927]

As others have said, that is cutting it really close.
It all depends on your flight landing on time, not having to wait too long for your luggage.
Best case after landing is getting to your resort about 90 minutes after landing.

I agree with the others, I don't see you having time to get to Pop, check in and get to Kidani on time even if everything works perfectly. I would go directly to Kidani, store your luggage. Enjoy your meal, then Uber back to Pop and check in after dinner.

If our flight is late, we'll definitely have to switch gears and go directly to Kidani. But does it really require 90 minutes from flight landing until getting to the resort? We have no checked bags, so we'll be going straight to the uber pick up point at MCO right after we get off the plane.

 

[gharter]

If our flight is late, we'll definitely have to switch gears and go directly to Kidani. But does it really require 90 minutes from flight landing until getting to the resort? We have no checked bags, so we'll be going straight to the uber pick up point at MCO right after we get off the plane.

that was going to be my question about bags. That saves at least 30 minutes. I would expect at least 30 minutes from landing to where you can get an Uber. Depends how long you have to wait there. Then about 30 minutes to the resort. So, best case at least 60 minutes, probably more. If you go to your resort first, I would definitely Uber to Kidani. Taking a bus to AK, then a bus from AK to AKL will easily be much more than an hour depending on how long you wait for each bus.

 

[godfather927]

Check-in isn't really a thing these days, unless there's a reason you really want to talk to someone at the front desk. Online check-in should take care of everything and they'll text you your room number.

I think there's a lot less slack time in your itinerary than you're calculating. Once you get off the plane and through the airport, you won't be killing much more than 30 minutes.

Was planning on getting physical cards as backups to magic bands but can do that after dinner just as easily.

To lay out my original times a bit more clearly...

Flight lands at 4:35pm, get to uber pick up location at 5:00pm, uber picks us up at 5:05pm. Driving to Pop takes ~40min, so uber drops us off at 5:45pm. We walk directly to room with the suggestion to use online check-in, use bathroom/change/drop off carry-ons then walk back to uber pick up point at Pop to get picked up by 6:00pm, arrive at Kidani at 6:15pm for a 6:40 pm ADR. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic with some of these estimates, assuming the flight isn't late?

 

[godfather927]

that was going to be my question about bags. That saves at least 30 minutes. I would expect at least 30 minutes from landing to where you can get an Uber. Depends how long you have to wait there. Then about 30 minutes to the resort. So, best case at least 60 minutes, probably more. If you go to your resort first, I would definitely Uber to Kidani. Taking a bus to AK, then a bus from AK to AKL will easily be much more than an hour depending on how long you wait for each bus.

Got it, makes sense. Seems like the option to bus hop is definitely out as that will take too long. Question now is whether it makes sense to uber directly to Kidani from MCO, or to go to our room first. My wife definitely favors the latter, but I'll have to keep an eye on the time to make sure we're not late for the ADR.

 

[godfather927]

Just pay for the Uber, honestly.

Yeah, the feedback so far is making that clear. If bus hopping takes an hour, then I'll be taking an uber back after dinner also.

 

[quoo]

I feel like your times are all best case. While you can get an uber in 5 min, it can take longer. What if your rooms are not ready or there is a problem with the room? do you just drop your bags?

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

I mean, I give myself 4ish hours usually between planned flight arrival and any ADR and even then, that assumes that the ADR is at a location within walking distance from my room, so either on the resort or at Epcot since we usually stay in the Crescent Lake area. That gives me leeway in case my flight is delayed, there are delays in airport transfer, if my bags are lost, if there are issues at check-in. You get the idea.

I think two hours is cutting it close, unless you plan to uber over to AKL in which case you *might* be okay. But if your flight lands 2 hours before the reservation, you're going to need to disembark, get your baggage, get the uber, and drive the half-an-hour ish over to Pop. IF all goes well, this might take you an hour. That gives you then, another hour to check in, find your room, use the bathroom, find another uber, walk to where the uber is picking you up, drive the 15 minutes to AKL, then walk into Sanaa. This is assuming everything goes perfectly, you use an uber both ways, there are no hang ups with baggage, no flight delays etc - and even then it's going to be rushed. There is no way you're going to make it if you try to use Disney transportation.

 

[gharter]

Got it, makes sense. Seems like the option to bus hop is definitely out as that will take too long. Question now is whether it makes sense to uber directly to Kidani from MCO, or to go to our room first. My wife definitely favors the latter, but I'll have to keep an eye on the time to make sure we're not late for the ADR.

I think you have several options here.
Assuming you have done mobile check in, you should be notified if your room is ready or not.
Depending on when you land and how you are doing on time, you can decide about going to Pop first or directly to Kidani. Even if the room isn't ready, you could stop at Pop and drop off your luggage (bell services will store it) and then go to Kidani without needing to get another Uber.
As others have said, I think your timeline is very tight, but it could work.
Good luck.

 

[godfather927]

You guys are all making a strong case to go directly to Kidani from MCO. I'll float the idea with the wife and see what she thinks.

 

[godfather927]

After some waffling, she's on-board with going directly to Kidani from the airport. Thanks to all for the input! This place has been phenomenal, so informative.

 

[Micca]

After some waffling, she's on-board with going directly to Kidani from the airport. Thanks to all for the input! This place has been phenomenal, so informative.

Please let us know how it works out for you, and have a wonderful trip