5:45 MCO arrival? plans?

[karinm]

We arrive on a 5:45pm flight in Orlando. So should I pack pjs and toothbrushes in a carry-on or will they have my bags to me by 11 or so? And do you think we will have time to get to MK and see the parade @ 8pm? I think it is the only night they are having it while we are there and they are open until 11 and it is evening Extra Magic hours @MK so when will they close?
OKAY BREATHE.... I think those are my biggest questions left .
we leave in 17 days! We are a Grand Gathering and I have planned the trip so can we say stress. I just want everyone happy. This is also the 1st time we are taking the twins so we will have 4 kids of our own to watch. Advice of anykind please----

 

[oldbay]

Definitely pack your pj's in a carry-on bag. I would also take an outfit for the next day too in the carry-on, just in case the bags are real late. We arrived at MCO at 3:00 and did not get our bags until after 9 pm. (and this was after calling a few times)

If your flight is on time you may make it to MK for the parade, but it will be close.

Have fun!

 

[deedeetoo]

I don't think you'll make the parade either. You have to get to your resort, check in, and then get to the park. That will be hard. I think I would just plan for an easy night at the resort - counter service dinner (no ADR) and swim a bit before bed. If everything goes really smooth, maybe try to head for MK, but I woudn't plan on it.

 

[nilseks]

I assume you're using Magical Express, right? (Guessing yes b/c of the question about bags). Definitely pack everything you need for the night in your carry-on. The first time we went we waited 8 hours for our bags (even w/ me making pestering calls to the front desk).

Magical Express can move pretty slowly, and so can check in. It would probably be really tough to make it to MK by 8 p.m.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I agree. I don't see you making the parade. Not saying it's impossible but getting through the airport, getting checked in, etc. takes time. I just can't see it happening in 2 hours.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We have used ME twice and both times we had very speedy service. So, you never know ... it is possible to make it into a park within a couple of hours. I don't know how likely it is though.

Our flight arrived at MCO at 4:58pm last April ... we were checked in and heading to our VWL room by 6:15pm. Our luggage arrived at 8:30pm. I think we just really lucked out and everything was perfectly timed in our case. No ME lines (walked through ME check in and the roped areas for the buses were empty), empty ME bus, no check in lines at WL. It was a Thursday night in the middle of spring break. There were only 2 families on our ME bus and we were both heading to WL, so we didn't have to stop at GF or Poly.

Last October, we stayed at POR ... flight landed at 9:40am on a Friday and we were getting Soarin' FP's by 11:50am. Again, we had very minimal waits. It took us about 5 minutes to check in at ME, we made it to the POR/POFQ ropes just as a bus was boarding, there was no wait to check in at POR and an Epcot bus pulled up about 2 minutes after we found our bus stop (our room was ready, so we swung by and dropped off our carry ons before heading to the bus stop). Not sure what time our luggage arrived ... it was there when we returned to our room around 9:00pm.

 

[tassma]

I think it could be tight to the parade. Have you thought about having one person in your party check in and take carryons to the room and then meet you at the Parade? It might be too stressful - but a thought!

Relax . . .

 

[Lstar311]

you could always get your own bags. We used the ME but because we had to reschedule our trip we never got new tags. I was too nervous about the bags, especially bc we were traveling with a baby. I needed a lot of stuff. So after the flight we just got our own stuff and didn't have to worry about not having certain items.

 

[mdurette]

I wouldn't do the parade - too much of a rush especially with 4 in tow!

We use ME for the transportation - but we get our own bags (have a toddler and need things - also don't want the door knocking at 10pm waking her up!).

We simply don't put the tags on the luggage - we get it off the airport thingy ourselves and bring it to the ME bus. (yes, I just can't remember what that belt system for luggage is called!!!)

When we get to the resort - bell services takes it to our room.

 

[billwendy]

Hi!

You are going to have a GREAT time!! As the "planner" in our family for a few trips I have learned that once we get there to just relax. I also learned that everyone does not have to be together all the time!! Sometimes that just doesnt work!!!

You might make the parade - maybe dont tell the kids about it and see how the time factor is when you check it? We usually pick up our own luggage and take it to the ME bus - it seems 50/50 what people do. I would also think about how early you are starting your morning the next day.

Have a Wonderful trip!!!

 

[disneymarie]

Maybe plan a ride to DTD area that night. There is lego land, Mickey D's play area, some rides for kids, I love the Earl of sandwhich.
We ordered Pizza one time from Papa Johns, there is an Internet coupon too.
Do an Orlando coupon search.

di

 

[billwendy]

Maybe plan a ride to DTD area that night. There is lego land, Mickey D's play area, some rides for kids, I love the Earl of sandwhich.
We ordered Pizza one time from Papa Johns, there is an Internet coupon too.
Do an Orlando coupon search.

di

Hi - did Papa Johns deliver to your disney hotel? was it cheaper than the disney pizza delivery?

 

[karinm]

Thanks for all the answers, I went to the Calendar again and saw that they have Spectro Magic (or the Main Street Electrical Parade as I remember it) on Monday night as well so I am cool with whatever. I am really a relaxed person and have only scheduled adr's 3 days for all of us and just told everyone to do their own thing and meet at the ADR's. I was only worried about that extra day ticket and when to use it. Our plane doesn't leave until 4:45 so I think we can make it to the MK the day we leave. So far I have scheduled Cinderella's Royal table, Beirgarten, chef mickey's, & whispering Canyon Cafe. I know it will be Magical.

 

[design_mom]

We arrived in Orlando in September at about 6:15pm (a half-hour later than you will be arriving). Our ME bus was waiting when we got to the ME desk, so we got right on, but it was still about 9pm before we were checked in and ready to do something that night.

The ME bus waited for quite a while for additional passengers before it departed. Then we were the 3rd stop out of 4 resorts that the bus was serving. I think ME is a great service...but it's not always fast.

I would not plan on making the parade, but if you catch things just right, you might be able to do it.

 

[disneymarie]

Hi - did Papa Johns deliver to your disney hotel? was it cheaper than the disney pizza delivery?

Yes they did. Depending on resort there are a few papa johns.
They met me at the lobby. I got soda, mozzarella sticks, other food.

di

 

[amyj1024]

You need to pack a carry-on with pjs, and anything you need for the night. You will not make the parade. We arrived at 11:15pm and did not get to our room until almost 2am. This includes checking in with Magical express, riding the bus, then checking in, and waiting for bell services to take us to our building at cbr. It took way longer than we expected. They say 3 hours till you get your luggage so you could get it by that night, but I would pack just in case. then you can make it an early night and get going early in the morning!