What would you do?

[eowensby]

My husband and I are going for our annual November trip without the kids to celebrate our anniversary in just 34 days. : ) We were originally set to drive, but found a deal with AirTran that saves us money and from being so tired from the almost 12 hour drive to and from WDW. We are flying out of Atlanta instead of our usual Nashville direct flight. Our dilemma is this, We check into Pop on Thursday, November 1st. But our flight leaves ATL on October 31 and arrives at MCO at midnight.

What do we do? How will I arrange ME for this? I know they pick up at all hours, but obviously not as frequent that early/late...however you want to look at it. Will ME still pick us up even though we are technically not checking in until the 1st? Do we just bum around in the airport for a while until we get on the ME bus? I hate to get a room at Pop if we aren't going to be there...Help!


Thanks!! Elizabeth

 

[mco65]

Been there, done that.
You could get a room at a hotel near the Airport.. catch the hotel bus to the room that night, then back to the airport the next day assuming you are using Magic Express from airport to resort..

I just noticed.. that's exactly what we are doing this year.. on the same day as you and flying from Atlanta.. spooky.
But we are on Delta standby so not sure of the flight time but my wife has booked us at the Holiday Inn near the airport for that night adn we will shuttle back to the airport on the 1st to catch the ME.

 

[sam_gordon]

My husband and I are going for our annual November trip without the kids to celebrate our anniversary in just 34 days. : ) We were originally set to drive, but found a deal with AirTran that saves us money and from being so tired from the almost 12 hour drive to and from WDW. We are flying out of Atlanta instead of our usual Nashville direct flight. Our dilemma is this, We check into Pop on Thursday, November 1st. But our flight leaves ATL on October 31 and arrives at MCO at midnight.

What do we do? How will I arrange ME for this? I know they pick up at all hours, but obviously not as frequent that early/late...however you want to look at it. Will ME still pick us up even though we are technically not checking in until the 1st? Do we just bum around in the airport for a while until we get on the ME bus? I hate to get a room at Pop if we aren't going to be there...Help!


Thanks!! Elizabeth

What's the nightly rate for POP compared to an airport hotel? If the POP price is the same (or at least close), I'd add a night to POP and arrange to take ME when we arrive. If the airport hotel is cheap enough, I'd do what mco65 advocates (hotel shuttle to hotel & back, then ME to POP).

 

[SaraJayne]

I think I would just add an extra night at Pop (I'm checking in on the 1st, too ) and go directly to the resort when you arrive.

 

[Hannathy]

I'd add the night to Pop. Midnight isn't that late! Heck we usually aren't back to the room from the parks till then or later and this way you can be all settled in and ready to go the next day instead of taking time to check in and get to your room and get situated and then leave for the parks. I would much rather just get up already there and go.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A single hotel day runs from check-in (officially* after 4 at Pop) to check-out - generally 11 AM.
Each onsite guest is entitle to one airport-to-WDW Magical Express ride on or after check-in day, and one WDW-to-airport Magical Express ride on or before check-out day.

Based on hotel reservation days, the OP is arriving 10/31. The DME system won't recognize her party as having a resort reservation on her technical arrival day, and won't (shouldn't) allow booking that night.

Either suggestion made above is great: airport-area hotel, or an extra night at Pop.

*Disney's hotel computers will allow guests to preregister as early as (reportedly) 6 AM; a room might even be ready.

 

[MinnieLee]

If the prices of the airport hotel and POP are around the same, I would book the POP for one more night. You would be at POP to start your day, could get settled in (or sleep in a bit) instead of getting up early, taking ME and then checking in.

I definitely would not bum around the airport waiting for DME to start running. MY DH and I would be ready to kill each other and no way to start your celebration.

If you do decide to book POP for one more night DON'T forget to take your luggage with you when you land! They do not take luggage over after 10:00. Also, one less thing to wonder when its going to arrive.

Have fun!