Strategy question...

[jeters_boy]

...for the Disney pros.

My wife, son, and I are flying in on a Friday in November. There is a Mickey's Christmas Party that night. Our plane will likely touch down around 6:30 local time. The party ends at midnight and we want to make it for as much of the party as possible.

What is the fastest way to get from MCO to the MK? Would we be allowed to use Magical Express for the luggage but take a cab straight to the park in order to save time? We are staying at WL by the way.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jimandami]

...for the Disney pros. My wife, son, and I are flying in on a Friday in November. There is a Mickey's Christmas Party that night. Our plane will likely touch down around 6:30 local time. The party ends at midnight and we want to make it for as much of the party as possible. What is the fastest way to get from MCO to the MK? Would we be allowed to use Magical Express for the luggage but take a cab straight to the park in order to save time? We are staying at WL by the way. Thanks in advance!

Yes, I think you can do that but I'm not sure why you would want to?. I know you didn't ask for opinions but I must go on record saying that seems like a crazy idea. You will spend almost $100 on and what, $250 on a party you will arrive late to at best. What if your flight is delayed? Do you really want to start your vacation with such a stressful experience?

 

[grammimouse]

Is that the only night of the party that you can attend ? Have you already purchased your tickets ? Would it be too tiring after your travel day ? Lots of questions I know , but you didn't say where you were coming in from. Good luck.

 

[grammimouse]

I just realized from your name tag and photo you are from N.Y.

 

[saraheli]

I asked the exact same question a few days ago, the day we fly in is the only night there is a MVMCP. Our flight lands a little earlier 4:30 and it was pretty much a unanimous opinion that we should skip the party.

 

[TimothyG]

I wouldn't take a cab to WDW. Your checked bags wouldn't be transported on the actual ME bus anyway so I don't see how it would affect it, but a cab would only be able to take you as far as the Guest Drop Off at the Polynesian. You would still have to take some form of Disney transportation to get to the front gate. You could just save the money and use the boat at WL.

As a word of warning, Disney World really isn't that close to MCO. It's still at least a 30 minute drive no matter how you do it. I've always found ME to be somewhat quick for the type of service it is, maybe a little slower than alternatives but not that much slower (and it's free).

I would try to move your flight up if you wanted to do this. A delayed flight would throw a big wrench in your plans. Since you are staying until midnight (I'm assuming), I will estimate that you will have about 3.5 hours of party time (8:30 - 12:00) IF your flight is on time. If you are okay with that, go for it. I think you can get more value on a different day and maybe visit a different park instead.

 

[nkereina]

"Legally" speaking (or technically), you are NOT supposed to let your luggage go on DME while you take other transportation. In the past, people could get away with it because Disney never really knew. But now with the Magic Bands, they scan your band so they know whether you got on DME or not. So I'd imagine that could throw a wrench in it, particularly if your bags got lost, etc. They'd have no record of you on DME.

The fastest way is definitely a cab, but that means you'd have to wait for your luggage. So cab vs. DME might be six of one, half a dozen of the other.

I agree with the others in that you should skip the party. IF your flight is on time, I'd guess you'd arrive at your resort by 7:45, check-in and check your bags and hop in a cab to MK (faster than the bus) means you'd get to the party around 8:15. Arriving after 7pm means you will NOT get your money's worth. If characters are an interest to you, the lines will be a mile long by then. They start letting people in with party tickets at 4pm, and people start lining up for things at that time and maximizing their time. I'd also guess you'd need to grab dinner at some point, and we have found that with limited QS places open during parties, they take forever and are always packed. More wasted time.

At the very least, don't buy your tickets in advance and wait and buy them when you get there so you can see how things go and how timing works out. At $60 a pop, that's a lot to blow if you're running late or your flight is delayed. Disney won't refund or exchange them. Parties in November don't typically sell out, so that shouldn't be a concern.

 

[Spork24]

Yes, I think you can do that but I'm not sure why you would want to?. I know you didn't ask for opinions but I must go on record saying that seems like a crazy idea. You will spend almost $100 on and what, $250 on a party you will arrive late to at best. What if your flight is delayed? Do you really want to start your vacation with such a stressful experience?

I concur, I wouldn't do this myself, but that should be a little quicker. I've never done that, my concern about going to the park without checking in at the hotel is that your room wouldn't be assigned for DME to put your luggage in.

 

[rtilner]

The luggage rule as with the airlines and Magical Express are the same. You can't send you luggage thru the ME without you using the service yourself.

You wasting your money for xmas party. If you land on time? By the time you clear the airport and catch alternative ground transportation, I would say the earliest would be 8PM. Providing everything works like clockwork.

Like somebody else said don't get stressed out especially on your first day.

 

[jeters_boy]

Thanks everyone! The reason we're thinking about forcing the issue is it's the only Christmas party while we're there, and we can't fly out any earlier in the day (long story - work related).

We may just take it easy, and if we get 3 hours in we'll just consider it a win. But we're not going to rush around and stress about it, that's for sure!