Subsonic Radio

Hello all,

To all those who helped me out earlier with my plans for Saratoga Springs, thank you. I have come to pick your brains again for some suggestions and advice.

I am arriving at MCO at 4:15 (on 10/3) and taking Magical Express for the first time. I am tagging my luggage so it will be brought directly to my room and I don't have to worry about dragging it around.

I would like to plan an ADR that night at either 'Ohana (Polynesian) or Whispering Canyon Cafe (Wilderness Lodge). I am wondering what time I should request the ADR for? I know that Mag Xprs can take some time to get to my resort and then I have to factor the travel time via busses from SSR to my destination (I am planning on taking the first bus to a major park and transfer to the appropriate resort bus). How long should I plan for between arriving at the airport and my ADR time.

Oh, also I plan on taking advantage of the on-line check-in process as well to speed up the time at resort arrival.

As always, thanks for your help.

ok, this will be a long process. Make it at least 4 hours from when you land. 1) you may have a delay. 2) the bus ride is around an hour, and you wont leave the second you get on the bus. 3rd) the nus wil still be taking you to your hotel for check in, if you don't check in your bags will not be brought to the room. 3) you then have to get to either the TTC or DTD to get a conecting bus/monrail to your dinner location....all of that will take some time. I once flew in at 4 and was just on time for my 8:15 reservation at Chef Mickey's.

Thanks yodiwan1,

I figured it would take some time. I just didn't want to plan for an ADR 3 hours after scheduled arrival time and find out I missed it or cut it too close. I also wanted to make sure that it was feasible. (in other words, would it be such a case where the earliest time for an ADR after all the travel is 10pm, and most resort restaurants are closed - in that situation I'd just have dinner at SSR).

Like Yodiwan suggest I would give yourself some time, but in all of our Magical Express experiences, it hasn't taken that long. On our last trip in May, you now skip the long line to check in the the M. Express. You go directly to the bus line, this speeds things up incredibly. It will take your luggage some time to arrive at your room (we've had it there in an hour and other times 3 hours) and if you're wanting to head to the Poly (which I highly recommend) or Wilderness, and you're planning on taking Disney Transportation, then allow a good 45 mins-hour. We stayed at POFQ last Nov. and had ADRs to eat at Kona Cafe so we cabbed it there to save time and then took Disney Transportation on the way back. We have not tried the online check-in yet. I like the whole check-in experience, it's part of the vacation to me.

Hope that helps?!?!

We figure 3 hours from arrival at airport to being able to make our ADR. Its never taken us quite that long but if you are waiting for a Disney bus from your hotel it will add to the time you need to get there.

Usually its just under 2 hours from landing to us setting foot into a park but I make my ADRs for at least 3 hrs to be safe.

Don't forget, youre landing late afternoon. You will have more traffic since it's a sat. night and many people will be heading towards that area and I-Dr.

Hmm this is tough to do and is always a problem for us. We usually just take a mid-late morning flight so we are in at early afternoon to make a mid afternoon ADR. On our most recent trip we landed at 2:00. We rented a car from a company on site so we had to wait for luggage and then figure out the way to load the trunk where almost eveything fits in The drive to the property was easy going with no traffic but this was a few hours before rush hour. The total time involved from our landing to check-in at the restaurant 3 hours and 30 minutes.
If your flight is delayed, you are almost guranteed to miss your ADR but the restaurants are usually pretty understanding at trying to get you in. I would advise you leave about a 4 hour time frame and make it for about 8:30. If you come early, they might be able to get you in sooner.

Thank you for all your help.

I decided to play it safe and plan on eating at the Turf Club Bar & Grill @ SSR. Although I know I probably won't need it I made an ADR for 8:40 pm.

After checking for ADRs for my other choices at other resorts, the times didn't work out well or there were no ADRs left. So, hence, playing it safe and eating at SSR.

My other idea beyond eating at a resort involved having a dinner at the airport upon arrival. I have eaten at McCoy's at the Hyatt and enjoy the food and atmosphere. This idea brought an interesting question in my head.

If I check my bags at my originating airport with the DME tags on it, I know that the bags will be picked up by Disney at MCO and delivered to my room. I do know that the bags will not be shipped separately of my travel on a bus to the resort (in other words, they will not deliver the bags unless I have checked-in and am on a bus to my resort).

The question I have is, what would they do with my bags if I were to delay my check-in at the DME podium because I am having a meal at the airport prior to going to my resort? Would they hold them aside until I check-in and then proceed to transport the bags to my resort once I have checked in with DME? Would this possibly cause any security problems (basically an unattended bag - although it shouldn't be since the baggage should be in a sterile and secure area of the airport). Any suggestions or ideas on how Disney would handle that?

I believe the luggage goes to your resort, no matter what. I would not think they would just leave your luggage at the airport just bc you delayed your arrival at the DME Podium tho this is just speculating and nothing official. I would call DME and find out for sure before you fly out.

The luggage is a separate deal from your check in at the bus. Since the buses run constantly, and they don't know how fast of a walker you are in getting from your plane to the bus (i.e. they don't know whether you are going to make any stops in gift shops, etc.), they do not tie your luggage delivery to any particular bus's departure. In other words, your luggage will get to your resort regardless of what time you do. That's why they put the Magical Express tags on your luggage at the airport you depart from. If it had to be tied to your personal check in at the buses, they wouldn't put the magical express tickets on until then.

And don't be surprised if you do not get your lugguage until later in the evening. I was really shocked at how long it took on our last trip. But, hey it was free so I'm not complaining