7:30pm MCO Arrival; MK closes at 12; Do-able??

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Planning my friend's first trip. FP+ opens tomorrow but now I'm having second thoughts about suggesting MK touring for the night. I was thinking they could get to MK before Wishes at 10 pm. Is it possible??


They will be staying at POR and will be using DME.

 

[eva]

I am interested in what people think. MY DD and her family will fly in to MCO at 6:43pm. MK is open till 1:00am that night. Not sure how tired they will be. The flight is only 3 hours.

 

[Mama Steph]

I think it would be iffy to make it by wishes. Figure 2 hours to get to the resort, then check in, then hop on bus to MK, then walk to entrance and up Main Street. I'd suggest grabbing a drink and relaxing and going to bed to be ready for the next day.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I agree. If it were me. I would be tired from traveling. The last thing I would need is to have to run through a crowded park

 

[mom2rtk]

Planning my friend's first trip. FP+ opens tomorrow but now I'm having second thoughts about suggesting MK touring for the night. I was thinking they could get to MK before Wishes at 10 pm. Is it possible??


They will be staying at POR and will be using DME.

I figure on 3 hours touchdown to walking through the gates with everything running on time. I think Wishes is iffy.

 

[IrishNYC]

I would not be wasting a day's ticket on that little time in park.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I would not be wasting a day's ticket on that little time in park.

The extra day is free from UT. It is why I'm even consider it. They can't do it on departure day because they need to drive down to Miami for a cruise.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I agree. If it were me. I would be tired from traveling. The last thing I would need is to have to run through a crowded park

I wouldn't think of it for my family with 2 young kids. My friend is going with her hubby, a teen and a tween. The flight is only 2.5 hrs, probably will not leave their house until 2pm.

I think I will let them wing it if they decided to go. Don't want to grab the FP+ if other people can enjoy them.

 

[Lee & Kerry]

Go for it, it is worth a little gamble, we do it all the time, gets the vacation started even if only for a little while.

 

[pktbMouse]

we plan to do the same..we bought a 7 day hopper so the extra day costs us peanuts...we will probably hit the park around 9pm the night we arrive...just those couple of hours are really magical! Ours is only a 2 hour flight so we are not tired at all..just ready to go! If its a free ticket I say do it! you wont regret it

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

You can get a lot done in the evening at MK. We were at the park on Monday June 1, arriving at about 8:30 pm. Here's what we were able to accomplish (in order) between 8:30 and midnight with no FP+

Jungle Cruise
Pirates
Splash Mtn
Big Thunder
Haunted Mansion
7 Dwarfs (5 minute wait right after Wishes). Posted wait was 65 minutes.
Pooh
Teacups
Speedway
Space Mtn 4x in just over 30 minutes.

I believe that our longest wait was for Pirates at about 15 minutes.

 

[DisPup75]

I would totally do it! Once you get past the fourth day or so of a pass, the small amount of money for an extra day would be worth it to me even if all I got was a view of the castle and one ride. My Disney vacations don't begin until I'm in a park and I would be too sad to sleep knowing I was so close but still so far away.

Since Wishes is kind of iffy, I might try for a FP+ for Splash or Big Thunder Mountain. Nothing like a view of the fireworks from either one and would provide a little more time flexibility.

Plus learning to swim like a fish theough crowds going in the other direction is good practice for e rest of the trip!

 

[Nancyg56]

I see no reason not to get FP for the friend, and if they make it they will be all set. If not, no problem.

You never know how people will feel when they arrive, so I err on the side of caution. I do not book ADR's that we may not make, so no stress there. I do not make plans or promises that are iffy. I do make FP plans because we look at them differently than dinners. YOu are not harming someone or taking an experience from anyone if you plan FP that you may not keep. The attraction queues keep moving, which is different than dining ADR's, so if you don't make it to the FP someone else simply takes your place in line.

If your friends are wide awake and ready to roll, they will have their plans in place. I would totally book the FP

 

[Oswin]

I would plan on them being at POR around 8:30-9:00. 8:15 maybe, if they manage to get lucky and get right on a MDE bus that leaves right away. If they do the online check in and are texted their room number, they may be able to just drop off their bags and hurry over to the bus stop to get on the MK bus. If bus luck is on their side, they will be pulling up before Wishes and can get down main street to get into the FP+ viewing area. I believe the FP+ time for wishes is 9:40-9:55 or something like that. If luck does not seem to be on their side, they can easily log onto the MDE app and change their wishes FP+ to something else at a slightly later time. They'll definitely at least be able to enjoy MK that night and get on quite a few things.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

When I suggested against it, it was more about for me the energy level I would have after a long day of traveling. A seventh day at the park is only something like $10 extra a person. By all means if you still feel energized upon leaving the airport to go for it. Just realize that in contrast to other parks, you will park. Board a monorail or a boat and then reach the front gate so it will take longer to get into the park. Also you likely won't get a prime spot as others have said it will be close.

 

[AThrillingChase]

It is close, definitely. But you will likely know once you hit the resort if it is possible based on how long magical express took. Worst case, they miss fireworks but can still have some time at MK. If it is a free added day there is no harm!

 

[TVmom]

If the park ticket can't be used any other full day during the time that they will be there, then they should definitely go for it. Plus it helps that they have older kids. I'd skip wishes, so between fast passes and shorter lines they should be able to enjoy quite a bit in 2 hours.

 

[LJSquishy]

It's worth a shot if everyone feels up to trying to make it. It's iffy if they will make Wishes, but it will be close, and even if they miss it there will still be 2hrs to ride attractions so as long as the group isn't tired it would be fun. Also, consider whether or not staying out that late will affect their ability to get moving in the morning...if they plan to do rope drop the next morning it may not be the best idea, especially if there are children. As an adult, I'd do it just to see MK at night but even I would be tired the next morning!

 

[chelseabun76]

We decided against it, even though it was open until 1am on our arrival day. We had a late departure day and would rather use our last day in the parks then, and wasn't going to add on another day just for an hour or two. I'd save it and get a good rest and hit it hard the next morning.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Just double check their flight time. The arrival time is actually 7 pm. Not much better but definitely can get solid 2 hours in the park. I will book FP+ for Wishes and 7MDT for them. Thanks everyone for your inputs.