Airport to Park - Average time?

[HdnMickeyGrl]

We've only used the Magical Express once before and I have no memory of how long it took us to get from point A to point B.

We are arriving at 8:30 a.m. on a Friday via Southwest. We will be taking the Magical Express to All Star Music to check in and grab our refillable mugs. Then we will be heading to Animal Kingdom via bus.

We have a lunch reservation for Tusker House at 11:05? Is that realistic? And what is the window for showing up a little late? 15 minutes? At what point will we have blown the reservation?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

That's way too early, IMHO. I always figure, between getting off the plane and taking the shuttle to the terminal, getting to DME, etc., that's 20 - 30 minutes. Allow at least an hour to get to the resort (maybe more depending on how long it takes them to load the bus and how many stops there are) and another 20 minutes to wait for the bus to the park. Not to mention checking in, grabbing refillable mugs, driving to AK, getting through AK security and walking back to Africa to get to Tusker House.

 

[Nancyg56]

WOW! THat is not going to happen if there is one glitch in your plans. First, do not plan to be late for your ADR. That is one good way to begin a vacation with an added stress level. No one can tell you when you will "blow" your ADR because there is no policy in place that will either save the ADR or lose it. It is all up to the management that day, and the circumstances of that restaurant at the time, and your reasons. Most peole will nto even consider an ADR less than 3 hours out from wheels sown, but I think even that is too close for comfort.


I figure at least 90 minutes to the resort when I budget our arrival day. The time it takes depends on a variety of factors, all involving the number of guests heading to your resort. SOmetimes you arrive, the bus is ready, and there is not a crowd in front of you. Off you go! Other times you arrive with a slew of others and check in takes longer. And still another time you wil arrive and the bus is too empty to justify heading out immediately, so you wait.

Whatever you decide, try to factor possible delays into that plan. You just never know.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

Thanks for your feedback. I really thought 2 1/2 hours would be enough but it sounds like that is not realistic. The only time we've used Magical Express it was a ghost town. I think there were maybe 2 people in the check in area. It sounds like that is not the norm.

Based on this feedback, maybe a Minnie Van would be helpful once we get to the resort so we don't have to worry about the bus variable.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

FYI, moved this to the Transportation board.

 

[NYIrunDisney]

*DISCLAIMER: THIS IS SOLELY BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES WITH MAGICAL EXPRESS, MCO, AND DISNEY TRANSPORTATION*

It depends on how long it has been since the last ME left for your side of the resort. Personally, I've never waited more than 20 minutes for a ME us.

So for the sake of thinking it out in "real time":

-Plane pulls into the gate at 8:30
-Disembark the plane by 8:40
-Head down the escalators and head towards ME check in and arrive there by 8:50 (make sure your have your magic bands out ahead of time for check in)
-If no wait you'll walk right through, but if there is a line, you're looking at a 10 minute wait or so, so lets say you're now at 9:00 and you're through check in.
-Board a ME bus by 9:20, arrive at your resort by 10:05 (Music is the 2nd stop on the bus route)
-Check in (do yourself a favor and do it online in advance as it will save you A LOT of waiting time.
-By 10:15 you're buying your mugs
-By 10:30 you're boarding a bus
-By 10:50 you're arriving at DAK and you make your reservation on time.

This is assuming, based on MY previous experiences, that everything you do has the highest wait times.

Yes there is a 15 minute window, but if you know ahead of time you are going to cut it close and you contact the reservation line by phone, you can buy yourself a LITTLE more time if need be. I had to do that at the Wave a couple of years ago after we got stuck in MK trying to exit after fireworks. They were more than accommodating.

Hopefully this helps you out.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for your feedback. I really thought 2 1/2 hours would be enough but it sounds like that is not realistic. The only time we've used Magical Express it was a ghost town. I think there were maybe 2 people in the check in area. It sounds like that is not the norm.

Based on this feedback, maybe a Minnie Van would be helpful once we get to the resort so we don't have to worry about the bus variable.

And hopefully you do not experience any delays, not with take off, landing, traffic, etc.

*DISCLAIMER: THIS IS SOLELY BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES WITH MAGICAL EXPRESS, MCO, AND DISNEY TRANSPORTATION*

It depends on how long it has been since the last ME left for your side of the resort. Personally, I've never waited more than 20 minutes for a ME us.

So for the sake of thinking it out in "real time":

-Plane pulls into the gate at 8:30
-Disembark the plane by 8:40
-Head down the escalators and head towards ME check in and arrive there by 8:50 (make sure your have your magic bands out ahead of time for check in)
-If no wait you'll walk right through, but if there is a line, you're looking at a 10 minute wait or so, so lets say you're now at 9:00 and you're through check in.
-Board a ME bus by 9:20, arrive at your resort by 10:05 (Music is the 2nd stop on the bus route)
-Check in (do yourself a favor and do it online in advance as it will save you A LOT of waiting time.
-By 10:15 you're buying your mugs
-By 10:30 you're boarding a bus
-By 10:50 you're arriving at DAK and you make your reservation on time.

This is assuming, based on MY previous experiences, that everything you do has the highest wait times.

Yes there is a 15 minute window, but if you know ahead of time you are going to cut it close and you contact the reservation line by phone, you can buy yourself a LITTLE more time if need be. I had to do that at the Wave a couple of years ago after we got stuck in MK trying to exit after fireworks. They were more than accommodating.

Hopefully this helps you out.

It all works out if there are no delays in travel. I cannot imagine that timetable to begin a vacation.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

If you use the tags and have your luggage sent to the resort so you can head straight to the ME bus. We’ve found we don’t wait long for a bus around that time but it could take 90 minuets to get to the resort. Forget about picking up your mugs, drop off any carry on bags with bell service and catch Uber or Minnie van to AK. No line to get into AK and walk swiftly to the restaurant. If all the pieces fall in place without a hitch you may make it but how often does that really happen? Can you push your reservation back an hour?

 

[NYIrunDisney]

It all works out if there are no delays in travel. I cannot imagine that timetable to begin a vacation.

It's not fun. Before we could afford to go for a length of time that allowed leisure at the parks, this WAS our timetable constantly. We made it work and loved it at the time but in retrospect, it was miserable.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I personally have a 4 hour rule from MCO to Park via ME. And even that’s pushing it. I won’t make any kind of reservation (whether food or party etc.) less than 6 hours from landing.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

It is possible so long as everything is running on time and there are no delays. In my last 3 trips, I was in a park 2.5 hours after my plane touched the ground. If your flight is delayed or there is a long line at DME or the check in desk at your resort, it will hold you up and you may not make it on time.

 

[Hopefully]

I never make an ADR less than 5 hours after scheduled arrival.
We have arrived at DME as our bus is finishing loading. We are first in line for next bus. We wait 20 minutes for bus to arrive and 20 minutes for bus to fill before heading out. Then we were3rd stop etc, etc, etc
This is a scenario without glitches and delays.
2 1/2 hours is not enough time

 

[maxiesmom]

We've only used the Magical Express once before and I have no memory of how long it took us to get from point A to point B.

We are arriving at 8:30 a.m. on a Friday via Southwest. We will be taking the Magical Express to All Star Music to check in and grab our refillable mugs. Then we will be heading to Animal Kingdom via bus.

We have a lunch reservation for Tusker House at 11:05? Is that realistic? And what is the window for showing up a little late? 15 minutes? At what point will we have blown the reservation?

There is no set amount of time on how late you can be. It is up to the restaurant at that time. Not to mention if you miss your ADR you will be out the $10 per person fee too, as well as missing out on your meal.

 

[reiella]

Others mentioned some good guidelines for the experience, but one thing I'd also suggest taking a look at is flightstats for your flight to see how often is it has been late/delayed before. You have a very narrow optimistic window, so if you get any think delayed, it'll likely shift you closer to the problem area. Personally, I've only done arrival day ADR once and that was a meal that we didn't care if we missed. But I've also never arrived that early before, I'd probably try for a later reservation and/or consider using a car service/taxi from MCO instead of DME.

 

[Nancyg56]

It's not fun. Before we could afford to go for a length of time that allowed leisure at the parks, this WAS our timetable constantly. We made it work and loved it at the time but in retrospect, it was miserable.

I would be a basket case. We misjudged the time it took to get to an ADR years ago and it was an awful experience for me. I would love to be able to cope but I would make my poor family miserable too. I budget plenty of tiem to get from "here" to "there" so that we have time to kill. We always fill thie time, but we are nto filled with stress.

I just talked to DD and DSIl and both are in agreement that 5 hours is their comfort zone.

 

[bastraker]

We arrived at MCO from Newark at the end of June. We had the first flight out of Newark and it was delayed 2 hours for maintenance problems.

We were so behind our schedule that we missed our fast passes.

Just so you know- stuff happens

 

[Amanda999]

You could take an Uber from MCO to ASMu, or even AK direct (put your carry on luggage in a locker at AK entrance). Approx. $35. Even with Friday morning rush hour traffic, I'd expect an hour from the time you land to arriving at either ASMu or AK. (That said, I wouldn't have an ADR for arrival day, due to risk of delayed/canceled flights - FL has alot of stormy weather. We've slept in airports twice on WDW vacations due to rain storms.)

 

[goofy4tink]

*DISCLAIMER: THIS IS SOLELY BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES WITH MAGICAL EXPRESS, MCO, AND DISNEY TRANSPORTATION*

It depends on how long it has been since the last ME left for your side of the resort. Personally, I've never waited more than 20 minutes for a ME us.

So for the sake of thinking it out in "real time":

-Plane pulls into the gate at 8:30
-Disembark the plane by 8:40
-Head down the escalators and head towards ME check in and arrive there by 8:50 (make sure your have your magic bands out ahead of time for check in)
-If no wait you'll walk right through, but if there is a line, you're looking at a 10 minute wait or so, so lets say you're now at 9:00 and you're through check in.
-Board a ME bus by 9:20, arrive at your resort by 10:05 (Music is the 2nd stop on the bus route)
-Check in (do yourself a favor and do it online in advance as it will save you A LOT of waiting time.
-By 10:15 you're buying your mugs
-By 10:30 you're boarding a bus
-By 10:50 you're arriving at DAK and you make your reservation on time.

This is assuming, based on MY previous experiences, that everything you do has the highest wait times.

Yes there is a 15 minute window, but if you know ahead of time you are going to cut it close and you contact the reservation line by phone, you can buy yourself a LITTLE more time if need be. I had to do that at the Wave a couple of years ago after we got stuck in MK trying to exit after fireworks. They were more than accommodating.

Hopefully this helps you out.

I would tend to agree with this timing. I used to figure on not booking anything for at least 3 hrs after touchdown. After having a delay of 3 hrs (waiting for a new plane too be brought in!) I changed that to 4 hrs. Much easier way to start the trip. But, you can probably do it with your timing. Because ASMusic is so close to AK, that will help. I figure on 90 mins from gate to resort. In your case that would get you to Music around 10:15, which should give you time to get to Tusker House. How long will they hold your spot? At least 15 mins. My issue would be which meal you would be getting. Don't they cut off breakfast at some point and start lunch?? If you wanted breakfast, it might not be great to arrive late and end up with lunch.

 

[nkereina]

We've arrived that early on a Friday before to find DME packed. It took us easily 30 minutes of waiting to get on a bus, and another 15 minutes or so of sitting on the bus while others loaded up. Then we waited through two other resort stops before DME got to ours. The DME process took over 2 hours for us. While its not typical, it goes to show anything can happen. It has actually happened to us more than once.

As PP mentioned, rule of thumb is 90 minutes. If you land at 8:30, I would expect to be at your resort by 10-10:30. Check-in, store bags, get mugs - bus stop by 11am. Bus to AK, walk to gates - by 11:45am. I would do a 1pm ADR or later, if you still want to make one. We usually opt for quick service.

 

[rigs32]

The biggest variable is when the last ASMu bus left. If you're the first people on the next bus, you'll be waiting awhile for it to leave the airport. Or you could luck out and board just before it pulls away.