Will we make it on time to HDDR?

[mom23girlz]

Hi! We(DH,DD8,DD10,DD12) are planning our first trip to WDW--and are beyond excited! I could use some advice on our first day plan. We are arriving on March 30 at 1:20(hopefully!). We will take the ME to the BC. I have an ADR at the HDDR for the early show (only one I can get, so far). I also have to "trade-in" my AP exchange certificate before I can check in--I think. Are we cutting this too close? I know we can take a bus to MK and hop a boat to FW. I was also considering just taking a taxi to save time. Any thoughts on this would be great! Thanks!

 

[karliebug]

That is really cutting it close. If you choose to do it I would take a taxi to save time. You really shouldn't have to get your AP ticket before you check in if you show them the voucher. I would call and see if you can change to a later show. People cancel all the time.

 

[ducklite]

If your plane is delayed, there is an accident that blocks traffic, or the planets don't align, you won't make it. I would book it for a different night. We never booked something with a penalty if we missed it for our first day.

Anne

 

[mom23girlz]

Thanks for your help. I guess you just confirmed what I feared! I will keep checking to see if another time or night opens up. If not, we can look forward to it on our next trip.

 

[mmessler]

Hi! We(DH,DD8,DD10,DD12) are planning our first trip to WDW--and are beyond excited! I could use some advice on our first day plan. We are arriving on March 30 at 1:20(hopefully!). We will take the ME to the BC. I have an ADR at the HDDR for the early show (only one I can get, so far). I also have to "trade-in" my AP exchange certificate before I can check in--I think. Are we cutting this too close? I know we can take a bus to MK and hop a boat to FW. I was also considering just taking a taxi to save time. Any thoughts on this would be great! Thanks!

Definitely too close. You can count on an hour at least between when your plane touches down and when you get to your resort. (Possibly more, depends on how lucky you are with the line at ME and how the buses are filling at that moment in time. Then of course you need to take two modes of transportation between BC and FW for the HDDR, right? I think they always say allow an hour to an hour and a half for that kind of trip. MAYBE if you were to use a taxi for that instead, but I'd still say too close for comfort. Try for the next night. Or maybe for a farewell dinner of sorts, your last night there?

 

[kirbsam]

and i think you can do it. with time to spare. i say live a little and go for it.

 

[DVC California]

Let's review a timeline:

1:20 pm Arrive MCO
1:45 pm Check-in at Magical Express (Allow about 20-30 mins to deplane and shuttle to terminal)
2:15 pm Board ME Bus for your resort
3:00 pm Arrive Beach Club
3:30 pm Complete Check-in, Get HDDR Tix, and drop off carryons in room.
3:45 pm Board bus to Magic Kingdom.
4:15 pm Board boat to Ft Wilderness - Pioneer Hall
4:40 pm Sitting in Rocking Chair waiting for doors to open at 5:00.

If everything goes your way, it should work. But one mistep and it will "domino" everything else apart.

One thought I had was if you didn't have too many carryons, you might see if ME will bring you directly to Ft. Wilderness. There's no reason to check-in right away and you can purchase your tix at HDDR Will Call.

Good luck!

Steve