DME: can I take it to a different resort than where I'm staying? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Dunno, but that is certainly an interesting question.
Myself, I wouldn't make an ADR that close to my flight arrival time since you never know what delays you might experience as crazy as flying anywhere can become anymore.
We've had everything from a gate not being available to jetway not connecting properly so that they had to send the plane to another gate. Then, the DME bus may wait longer than you anticipate before it finally gets going, there's construction that slows it down. . . . You get the picture, I'm sure, with all your experience.
Too many possible monkey wrenches for my comfort. I'd plan to grab something at Contempo Cafe in the CR and enjoy a leisurely Kona breakfast the next morning.
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It's very likely that Contemporary and Polynesian will have the same DME bus, but no guarantee. I also agree that the timing of your ADR is too close to your flight time. Delays seem to be the norm these days.
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I don't believe they will allow you to do that, or will say "no" if you ask.
However, if I recall correctly, last time we took DME the bus went to CR before traveling on to Poly and GF. So, once you're on the bus, the driver doesn't really know which resort you're SUPPOSED to get off at. If the bus is the same, it'll be easy to just get off at Poly.
I agree though that your ADR is a little too close for my comfort.
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One other thought- What about your luggage? Is that going separately by DME with the yellow tags? We always pick ours up, so we'd have to lug it with us wherever we got off.
At least the two resorts are only a monorail ride away. I think the two resorts WILL share a bus, and if that's the case you can just hop off at the Poly. No one will care at that point. If they don't share a DME bus, I'd just head to the monorail when you arrive at the Contemporary.
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Thanks for all the help. Yes, it's going to be a close call....but it's our arrival day and we aren't doing anything else until 4pm when our mvmcp tickets can get us into MK. And it's a Sunday, and the first flight of the day... We're going to try to go for it.
Is that the latest ADR you could get? I would continually try & back it up even 15 minutes would help. Like you said just go for it - all you can do is try. I think if you are late they would still seat you as long as you are not too late. I know the monorail can take some time but at least when you get off at the POLY you will be right there. Good luck.
Thanks for all the help. Yes, it's going to be a close call....but it's our arrival day and we aren't doing anything else until 4pm when our mvmcp tickets can get us into MK. And it's a Sunday, and the first flight of the day... We're going to try to go for it.
You're brave, so maybe the magic will work wonders for you. Sure hope so. If it were someone less experienced with the iffiness of Disney transportation, I'd say, "No. Don't try it," but you know the ropes well enough to fake it if things just don't work out as you hope.
We Disney oldtimers understand quite well how those "just gotta do this first" thingies are.
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I personally wouldn't book an ADR that close to arrival time - things happen. But I agree, since you're staying at the Contemporary anyway, why not just take the monorail?
The worst thing that will happen is a $10 no show charge to your credit card if you don't make it so I would try it & make a back up plan just in case things don't work out so you are not scrambling for ideas at the last moment (counter service at POLY or the Contemporary perhaps by the pool. Even GF would be easily accessible since they are all on the monorail loop). Let us know how it works out.
As far as I know ... no, you cannot take DME to a resort different from the one you are staying at.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Her Dotness
Myself, I wouldn't make an ADR that close to my flight arrival time since you never know what delays you might experience as crazy as flying anywhere can become anymore.
This.
The OP has allowed far, far too little time to get from the airport and show up for that ADR. Especially if they plan on utilising a Dining Plan, and even if there isn't a single delay in arrival.
Land at 8:50? Don't count on being physically off the plane before 9:00, unless you're flying first class.
Then figure 10-15 minutes to get to the DME (possibly with a restroom stop along the way). Then an average of 30 minutes before the bus departs. At this point, it's already 9:45 ... and you've got at least a 30 minute ride ahead of you. That will make it 10:15 before the bus is pulling up to your resort. Budget 30 minutes for check-in (and honestly, that would be a pretty quick experience; you might be waiting that long just to get to the desk).
At this point, it's 10:45 ... you haven't gone to your rooms to drop off your carry-on luggage, nor even gone to bell services to have them hang onto them for you, and you're at least 15 or 20 minutes away from the Polynesian ... but at that moment you should already be at the 'Ohana podium, checking in for that meal.
It's just not possible, and that's all if everything goes as perfectly smoothly as can be hoped-for.
Now, if your flight is delayed by half an hour? If you "just missed" the DME bus to the Contemporary, so your wait jumps to 45 minutes or an hour? Heavy traffic adds ten or fifteen minutes to the drive? Then check-in is super-mega-holy-cow busy when you get there, and you wait forty minutes just to get to the desk?
You could, easily, not be ready to go anywhere before Noon or half-past Noon, let alone actually arrive by then. At which point, your ADR is ruined ... and you'll be getting billed $10/person for a no-show. Crappy way to start a Magical vacation, right?
So, personally ... I'd swap that 'Ohana ADR to another day, and maybe make plans for dinner on the night of your arrival - or a ~1pm to 2pm lunch. Or maybe Tea at the GF? Something no earlier than 1pm, anyway.
Well, I would probably risk it as long as you are willing to take the $10 penalty per person if necessary and as long as you don't plan on using DDP credits. This is why I say that.
I usually take the first flight in to Orlando, arriving at approximately the same time. You don't say which airline you are flying, but I know that my Southwest flights to Orlando almost always arrive early (I'm sure they pad their arrival times). I head straight to DME and almost every time, I arrive at my resort within an hour to an hour and a half from arrival. The Poly will most likely share a DME bus with the Contemporary, but pay attention when the driver says which resorts (s)he is stopping at. If they are not stopping at the Poly, get off at the Contemporary and monorail over. This will only work if you don't have to check in at the resort to be able to use DDP credit ( although with straight to room check in you might still be okay) and if you aren't schlepping your bags with you. If you have to claim baggage at MCO, forget trying this. Ditto if you have a ton of carry-on luggage because you'll have to bring them with you. Don't mess around with bell services.
Kona isn't likely to be crazy busy at this time, so the "check in 15 minutes early" can be taken lightly IMO. Enjoy breakfast then monorail to the Contemporary when you're done to check in.
Can you face a snag somewhere along the way? Of course. The one I would worry most about is bad weather delaying your flight (I am assuming you're going in December.) Watch the forecast and if your travel day looks iffy a day or 2 before, cancel your ADR. But I would think you have a pretty good chance of successfully making the ADR.
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