Arrival day/planning question.

[sheriff_woody]

Hi all, first post here but I've been reading these forums for years. I just booked a trip for 9/11-9/18 and have a question about my plans for arrival day. My flight is scheduled to arrive at MCO at 12:30pm and my original plan was to hit MK after checking in at All Star Movies. Now I'm seeing that 9/11 is a rumored MNSSHP day so I'm torn between doing the party that day, going to a different park, or just skipping the parks on that day all together. Realistically what time would I be able to make it to MK if everything with my flight goes as planned? Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

[Alesia]

I never book anything that's prepaid for arrival day. There are just too many possible delays.

You would probably get to a park around 3:30. I would pick a different park if it's a party day

 

[kwdw]

I give myself 3 hours from flight arrival time to getting to a park. If the stars align in your favor, you might make it 2-2.5 hours. I'd only head to MK if you have an AP. I'm guessing you don't - so I would pick a different park if you head to a park.

Note - depending upon how early your flight was - and depending upon your plan for the next day - sometimes just settling into the resort, maybe heading to DS or a nice TS meal not at your resort - are also good options.

My rule of thumb is that if I am arriving at a park by noon on arrival day - its worth it. But when it's a mid-day arrival - it's a crap shoot what I would do based on the plans of the rest of my trip. Sometimes being well-rested for a marathon day the next day is my first choice.

 

[sheriff_woody]

I give myself 3 hours from flight arrival time to getting to a park. If the stars align in your favor, you might make it 2-2.5 hours. I'd only head to MK if you have an AP. I'm guessing you don't - so I would pick a different park if you head to a park.

Note - depending upon how early your flight was - and depending upon your plan for the next day - sometimes just settling into the resort, maybe heading to DS or a nice TS meal not at your resort - are also good options.

My rule of thumb is that if I am arriving at a park by noon on arrival day - its worth it. But when it's a mid-day arrival - it's a crap shoot what I would do based on the plans of the rest of my trip. Sometimes being well-rested for a marathon day the next day is my first choice.

I agree, now I just have to decide whether or not I want to do the party another day of the trip or skip it and just do a regular MK day (or two). So many decisions!!

 

[loves to dive]

If it were me, and you can afford the tickets, I'd head to Epcot. It will be F&W so you can knosh at the booths and wander around. I'm not sure if they are going to have a Festival Center next year (didn't this year because of all the construction) but if they do there are usually some good things to look at/do there as well.

 

[saraheliz]

We like to do a park on arrival day, even if it's just for a few quick FP rides and a meal. We've gotten lucky the last couple of trips and have gone from touchdown at the airport to being in a park in about 2 hours, but that's with very lucky timing. I'd plan on 3 and any earlier is a bonus. You should be able to be there by 3:30, I'd think! We find the cost so minimal to add an extra day and everyone sleeps better if they've gotten that initial excitement out of the way!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Arrival day is a hood day to tour your resort and others, lounge by the pool, do DS, do the campfire or movie at your resort or FW, etc. because often times later in the trip (even if you take an off park day) you just don’t get to or don’t feel like doing these things. We always do a meal at Chef Mickeys for our character fix and tour our resort and nearby ones.

 

[MarkS2112]

So if you do the party and it starts at 6 they let you in after 4 so you could basically use the party tickets for that day and save a park day. 3 would be an ok estimate but posing later depending on flights line at ME etc. in January we got to CBR in about two hours but everything went smooth.

 

[Naomeri]

January 23, I arrived at MCO at 1:30 PM (was supposed to be noon, but Sun Country was dumb that day), got on DME about 2, made it to ASMo before 3 and got to AK before 4 and had plenty of time for dinner, a few rides, ROL, and wandering through Pandora on my way out after park close. I think you’d be safe to go to a park, or do the party if it does end up being on that day.