Time for Park before DME??

[KLN112]

The day we check out of CBR, our flight leaves MCO at 2:50pm. Based on what I've read, we'll need to be at CBR to board DME around 11:50am.

Is it possible to check out and complete RAC earlier in the morning and then head to a park for a little while? I was thinking about an 8am breakfast ressie in a park with maybe some time for a ride or two. How much time would I need plan on to travel back to the resort? Anyone that's been there before....is this even worth it??

 

[Alesia]

The time you are sceduled for will be about 3 hours before your flight. That will be the time your bus is leaving. You need to be at the platform, completely ready to go at least 15 minutes before that. You'll also need to allow time to get your carry on bags from bell services and make a bathroom stop. I would be leaving the park no later 1 and a half hours before your pickup time, so about 10:15.

 

[debster812]

We typically did not go to a park on our last day, just because so much can go awry with air travel. The last time we were at WDW, our flight was scheduled to leave MCO around 6pm. It was January, and shockingly, there was snow in the Northeast, where we were traveling to. We were at DTD and I was chatting with my sister in law, and just for kicks I asked her to check our flight, to see if it was still showing on time. Turns out it was cancelled. We got right back on the boat, headed back to Port Orleans, while I tried to figure out our options with our airline. They managed to get us booked on a flight that was leaving at 4:30. I called DME and because we were just inside the 3 hour window, they could not book us to get back to MCO. We intended to just grab a taxi from the hotel. The CM at Bell Services checked with the DME driver who had just pulled in. Our resort was his last stop, and he did have room for us, so they let us ride. It was a mad scramble, and we were only coming from DTD to Port Orleans. If we'd have had to get back from a park, it would have been cutting it really closely.

Of course, your mileage may vary. My family is known to have transportation 'challenges' when coming to and from WDW.

 

[CarolMN]

Bus transportation back to a resort operates less frequently than you might think mid-morning thru mid-afternoon. You could end up waiting uite a long while for a return bus. I'd skip going to a park. Not really worth it, IMO. I agree with Alesia about needing to be at the ME bus stop 10-15 minutes before the time your letter says. That time is supposed to be the time the ME bus departs the resort.

If you don't want to eat a leisurely breakfast at CBR, I'd take a cab to and from one of the deluxe resorts and have breakfast there. There are several nice alternatives at the EPCOT resorts (which are relatively close to the Boardwalk) and cabs are easy to get at the Boardwalk & BC/YC & Swan/Dolphin for your return trip. An alternative to consider would be to schedule an 8 am breakfast at the MK, then walk to the CR and take a cab there back to CBR. IMO, there may not be cabs waiting at DHS, AK or the front of EPCOT.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can do it! My last trip our pick up time was 11:30 am. We hit the EMH morning park for a few hours, and then headed back to our resort. And if you get a cab back to your resort you can spend a little more time in the park. I also booked a towncar for the ride back, so that gained us another 30 minutes.