Transportation Delima

[belle41379]

Our wait list for BC/BW didn't come through. . We have reservations with friends in Epcot at 8:50pm. Our flight lands at 7:30pm. I called ME and they said we can't be dropped off at an Epcot resort, nor will our luggage be delivered if we take a cab.

So, would you ride ME to AKV (usually last stop) then take a cab to Epcot, or take a cab to both places (AKV first to deposit luggage). I doubt we will have time to do all the transportation via Disney bus and get there in time.

Thoughts? What would you do?

 

[vicki_c]

You will barely have time to do it with a cab and/or car service - Disney transport is out of the question, IMO. Car service/cab is your only option that would even be close to getting you there on time. Don't forget that you will have to wait for your luggage to come off the plane, hail a cab or meet your car service, drive to AKL, check-in/leave luggage, get a cab if you used a car service from the airport (doesn't take long to get a cab at the resort) or you could ask the cabbie to wait if you used a cab, drive to Epcot, enter the park, walk to wherever your meeting place is.

If you're meeting in World Showcase, I would have the cab take you to Beach Club and drop you off, then walk in WS from the International Gateway.

And all that is assuming your flight is on time. I really don't think you're likely to get to Epcot on time if you have any luggage checked.

 

[DannysMom]

I think your timing is way too tight. Any delay, you don't make it. If you have to wait for checked bags, you don't make it.

How about your friends come to AKL to meet you for a drink in the lounge? Or they meet you at AKL & you head out to DTD for a late dinner & drinks somewhere.

What you are proposing is way too stressful a start to vacation IMO.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards App, please excuse any typos.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...
And all that is assuming your flight is on time. I really don't think it's likely to be on time if you have any luggage checked.

I really think you should change your plans.

 

[Greysword]

I'll hop on the "you'll never make it" bandwagon

Depending on the airline and aircraft ground traffic, once you land it can take 5-10 minutes to reach the gate, a few minutes to get the door open, and 10 or so minutes to deplane.

If you have your ME tags on your luggage, you won't need to worry about that, as they will go straight to your hotel. However, you may not have time to check-in, either. Remember, you'll need to allot time to walk from the drop-off to the restaurant, including going through EPCOT security and the ticket turnstiles (assuming you have your tickets already).

Finally, it will take a few minutes (5 -10) to get to the taxi stand, maybe a few minutes (5?) to get a cab (getting your car, loading your self and carry-on luggage in the car and pull away), then 30 -40 to get to WDW with little traffic.

If you reach the gate at 7:30, then it is:

10 min to deplane
5 to get to the taxi stand
5 to load and leave
30 to get to WDW
5 to unload and pay driver
15 to get to restaurant (remember you'll have your carry-on luggage, so if it is more than a purse and non-stuffed backpacks, security may take a few extra minutes)
Total: 70 minutes having you a mere 10 minutes early for your ADR (if this liberal estimates pan out with no delay).

If you choose to rent a car instead, it will take longer to pick it up, go through the tolls, navigate WDW and park, but you'll be more mobile.

Good luck!


ETA: I just re-read your initial post, and that is interesting that they won't deliver your luggage if you don't ride the ME bus. Not sure how they check this, since it is likely transported to the resorts via truck and not on the bus itself. That said, you will need to add an additional 20 minutes to the time below for the bags to appear, get collected, and be on your way. Then you'll need to add time for check-in at the hotel (15 minutes if super fast, leaving bags with bell service to take to room while you are gone) and movement from AKV to EPCOT (20-25 minutes if no traffic and you get another cab immediately to BWV). In this case, you will be late for your ADR, but not horribly, so maybe your fellow diners will get seated and hold the table for your arrival.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Do carryon only and rent a car to drive directly to Epcot? That might make this doable, but you are probably still going to be LATE!

Plane lands at 7:30. you don't get off the plane at 7:30. So let's say 7:45 off the plane. Then you have to get to transport and pick up luggage... we are at between 8 and 8:15. Hmm.. then you have to get to resort and drop off the luggage. Let's go with 20 minutes, 8:35. You now have 15 minutes to get from AKL to LaHacienda... not happening.

If you rent a car and do carryon only then I have been out the door and on my way in 30 minutes after landing. So that's 8, you can make it then. Of course ANY delays are going to be an issue. (Waiting on luggage would be a delay, standing in a rental car line is another one, paying tolls etc...) So you have to rent from someone where you are a member of their club and can go directly to your car (and cross your fingers that there's no line at check out) and be prepared to pay their "toll pass" deal so you can drive through the toll lanes.....

 

[nalajms]

How many are in your flight party? Maybe you can split up: one person goes with ME and luggage to hotel. Check in then take a cab to Epcot. The rest go directly from the airport to dinner.

 

[Starr W.]

It would be tough.

We have been on the road to VB 30 minutes after landing but here is what we did. Did stop at the bathrooms after deplaning.

A. Carry on bags only
B. Flew business class on Airtran
C. rented a car from Alamo and did all paperwork online, so you just pick a car and go.

With regular seats, carry on bags and Alamo online check in, we were at AK eating lunch within an hour of landing(this included stopping at guest services to buy our TIW card). But this was a 9am flight on Friday b4 MLK day.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

Are your friends staying on site and if so where? If at BW or BC pehaps you can store your bags with them, pick them up after dinner, then head over to AKV and check in. Still will be tight though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Here is the Transportation Forum thread about using the luggage delivery without actually being on a bus. I would take that more seriously than a random rep who might not EVER have been to WDW. The DME rep I dealt with a year ago had not! And the rep I dealt with another time had been to WDW but had no clue about flying...still thought you had to get roundtrip tickets and was confused that I had one way on one airline and the other way on another.

One random DME person, for me, isn't to be trusted as much as a ton of people with experience.


Ohhhh, I just saw that the reservation is at Epcot, not an Epcot resort. I had a whole scenario typed out based on it being at a resort, but no, you'll never make it.

 

[Dean]

Our wait list for BC/BW didn't come through. . We have reservations with friends in Epcot at 8:50pm. Our flight lands at 7:30pm. I called ME and they said we can't be dropped off at an Epcot resort, nor will our luggage be delivered if we take a cab.

So, would you ride ME to AKV (usually last stop) then take a cab to Epcot, or take a cab to both places (AKV first to deposit luggage). I doubt we will have time to do all the transportation via Disney bus and get there in time.

Thoughts? What would you do?

Fortunately if you don't make it, there are no charges for having less people for a regular restaurant reservation than is listed on the reservation. Personally I'd scrap it or change to another night. If the friend's had a car, I'd have them pick me up if possible. Otherwise I'd rent a car and do carry on only even though a cab will likely be a little quicker still. If you do a rental car, make sure you do everything online and try to get into one of the premier clubs like nationals Emerald club so you can just be dropped off and pick up the car without going through the line at the counters.

 

[Brian Noble]

If the reservation is important to you, I would rent a car, put your luggage in the trunk, and drive directly to Epcot. There's no other way, I don't think.

 

[daisyduck123]

What you are proposing is way too stressful a start to vacation IMO.

IMO as well.

I would cancel the ADR and have your friends come meet you at AKV for drinks.

 

[maburke]

If the reservation is important to you, I would rent a car, put your luggage in the trunk, and drive directly to Epcot. There's no other way, I don't think.

I agree. I think the only way it would work if you did not check into the resort first.

 

[belle41379]

Thanks everyone! We now have a plan we feel good about. It's going to be a great trip!

 

[lovesdumbo]

What day of the week is this? If Epcot isn't open late I wouldn't think they would let you in the park after 9:00. If it is open late I wouldn't think they would let you in the park without room key.

 

[shonnons]

Our wait list for BC/BW didn't come through. . We have reservations with friends in Epcot at 8:50pm. Our flight lands at 7:30pm. I called ME and they said we can't be dropped off at an Epcot resort, nor will our luggage be delivered if we take a cab.

So, would you ride ME to AKV (usually last stop) then take a cab to Epcot, or take a cab to both places (AKV first to deposit luggage). I doubt we will have time to do all the transportation via Disney bus and get there in time.

Thoughts? What would you do?

I would check in with transportation at the airport so they show you are riding the bus then go take a cab or rent a car. National is really fast to get in and out of if you pre register for the emerald club.

 

[vicki_c]

What day of the week is this? If Epcot isn't open late I wouldn't think they would let you in the park after 9:00. If it is open late I wouldn't think they would let you in the park without room key.

That is a very good point about park closing time that I hadn't thought about.