Arrival Day Strategy....good, bad, or other?

[silenttuba]

My wife and I fly into MCO on February 14th, at 4:30 PM. Since Magic Kingdom has EMH that night, I figured we'd be able to take full advantage of that, and spent some quality time in the park on arrival day. With that in mind, I scheduled a few FP+ for that evening:

Haunted Mansion from 7:00-8:00

Space Mountain from 8:20-9:20

7DMT from 10:10-11:10

I know HM isn't the *best* use of a FP, but we'll be arriving on a Saturday in the evening, and I expect heavy crowds. HM is one of our very favorite rides, so having it as our first booked ride is a bonus (we also have FPs for Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan later in the week, and my wife hates getting wet, so Splash Mountain is out). What I'm wondering is, what time can I reasonably expect to get to the park? We're staying at All Star Sports (and getting there via DME), and there won't be any major time spent at the hotel on arrival; we just plan to drop off whatever stuff we don't need, and head to the park. Will checking in online expedite things? How does that work?

I'm just wondering if we'll be able to make that first FP time at all. I'm quite confident we'll be there well before the Space Mountain window closes, but I'm slightly worried about HM (though it's the one I'm most willing to miss, which is why I put it first.

Thoughts and advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JamiLeigh]

Do you know or can you find out the order the ME drops off at each resort? Our last trip it took 2 hours from the time we landed at MCO till we arrived at our resort. That being said we were at Contemporary and had 3 stops before us. We agreed for our never trip (Oct 2015) we may budget a car service to take us from airport to resort. Yes, we have to get our own luggage but we also have 2 young children and would rather get checked in and start our trip.

 

[JamiLeigh]

I didn't talk about check in . We did not do online check in but it was super quick. Someone actually greeted us by name as we got off the bus. We joked it was like magic. Best guess is someone from DME notifies each resort with who is on their way and they had it all waiting for us.

 

[PSUGuy]

Do you know or can you find out the order the ME drops off at each resort?

We're looking into DME for the Fall and my understanding is that there is no set order and no given line up as to which resorts are bundled on the same bus. If we use DME we're going to assume the longest travel time but hope for the best.

Bill From PA

 

[JamiLeigh]

We're looking into DME for the Fall and my understanding is that there is no set order and no given line up as to which resorts are bundled on the same bus. If we use DME we're going to assume the longest travel time but hope for the best. Bill From PA

I would allow for 2 - 2 1/2 hours from arrival at airport to arrival at resort. I know it sounds like a lot but that includes about a half hour to get off plane and get to DME, which is a good haul. Maybe another half hour before bus leaves. A half hour drive to get onto property and up to half hour of you aren't first off.

 

[g-dad66]

We've done 13 trips since 2008, using DME every time, and the amount of time from when the plane lands until the time we enter a park (after checking in at resort) has always been just about 3 hours.

If you can move your HM Fast Pass to 7:20-8:20, that would be better. (You might have to move it to some other time frame first before trying to get 7:20-8:20 because it probably won't give you a 7:20-8:20 option which would overlap with your current 7:00-8:00 time).

 

[Mikie]

Yes, I think you can make on time, but it might be a little tight. Maybe, since HM is a favorite, you could consider switching your HM and Space FPs, so if one gets missed, its not HM. If you find you're running tight on arrival, you could take a cab to MK vs waiting for a resort bus. Online check in will help speed thngs up for you. You still have to stop at the front desk, but there's a faster-moving line for those who have already done online checkin - they go over your credit card, room #, give you magic ban if you don' already have them, and give you a welcome packet. Unfortunately I think the PPs example of someone waiting for them off the MDE at Contemporary was more of a Deluxe perk and not quite the treatment you'll get at All Star Sports (not diparaging values! that's where I usually am)

 

[silenttuba]

We've done 13 trips since 2008, using DME every time, and the amount of time from when the plane lands until the time we enter a park (after checking in at resort) has always been just about 3 hours. If you can move your HM Fast Pass to 7:20-8:20, that would be better. (You might have to move it to some other time frame first before trying to get 7:20-8:20 because it probably won't give you a 7:20-8:20 option which would overlap with your current 7:00-8:00 time).

On your suggestion, I just tired that (including shuffling my FP+ first) and 7:20-8:20 simply wasn't available. Luckily, I was able to switch back to my original 7:00-8:00 time.

Based on what you just said, it looks like we'll be strolling into the park around 7:30. That might be cutting it a tad close, but we should be able to make it over to HM by 8:00, no? NBD really if we miss it; I'm sure we'll get on. It during EMH.

 

[silenttuba]

Yes, I think you can make on time, but it might be a little tight. Maybe, since HM is a favorite, you could consider switching your HM and Space FPs, so if one gets missed, its not HM. If you find you're running tight on arrival, you could take a cab to MK vs waiting for a resort bus. Online check in will help speed thngs up for you. You still have to stop at the front desk, but there's a faster-moving line for those who have already done online checkin - they go over your credit card, room #, give you magic ban if you don' already have them, and give you a welcome packet. Unfortunately I think the PPs example of someone waiting for them off the MDE at Contemporary was more of a Deluxe perk and not quite the treatment you'll get at All Star Sports (not diparaging values! that's where I usually am)

HM is A favorite, but SM is THE favorite. For me and my wife. if there's a chance of us missing one of them, I'd rather it be HM.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

that is assuming there are no flight delays or weather problems, not just your area but where your plane is coming from before it gets to your airport. my daughters had a flight in Orlando canceled because of snow. the plane was snowed in at Detroit and could not get to Orlando.

 

[g-dad66]

On your suggestion, I just tired that (including shuffling my FP+ first) and 7:20-8:20 simply wasn't available. Luckily, I was able to switch back to my original 7:00-8:00 time.

Based on what you just said, it looks like we'll be strolling into the park around 7:30. That might be cutting it a tad close, but we should be able to make it over to HM by 8:00, no? NBD really if we miss it; I'm sure we'll get on. It during EMH.

Yes, if you enter the park at 7:30, you should have no problem making HM by 8:00.

Also, as far as I know, there is still a 15-minute-late grace period for FP+s. (Didn't test this personally during 2014, but haven't read any reports that it has been discontinued. We never plan to arrive late, but it's a nice potential safety net should we get unavoidably detained.)

 

[silenttuba]

that is assuming there are no flight delays or weather problems, not just your area but where your plane is coming from before it gets to your airport. my daughters had a flight in Orlando canceled because of snow. the plane was snowed in at Detroit and could not get to Orlando.

That is of course always a possibility. Not something you can predict, or really do anything about if it happens, so there's no point in worrying about it. If we're delayed and miss some (or all) of that first night, that'll be a shame, but we'll still have the rest of the week.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

During our last visit on an EMH Saturday Night, Haunted Mansion was a 10 minute or less wait by 11 pm. I don't think you'll have a problem hitting the attraction even if you miss your FP+ window.

 

[DisneyFive]

We're big on going to a park on arrival day, but with a 4:30 arrival I don't think we would try to still make it to a park.

It will be 6 to 6:30 most likely before you get to the resort. Then there is check-in, then the bus to the park... so maybe to a park gate by 7pm at the earliest.

Will make for a very long day. Up to you of course. Are you planning to rope drop the next morning?

Dan

 

[silenttuba]

We're big on going to a park on arrival day, but with a 4:30 arrival I don't think we would try to still make it to a park. It will be 6 to 6:30 most likely before you get to the resort. Then there is check-in, then the bus to the park... so maybe to a park gate by 7pm at the earliest. Will make for a very long day. Up to you of course. Are you planning to rope drop the next morning? Dan

We're doing it because of EMH; we LOVE nighttime EMH at MK. We will most likely be there until 2 AM. The next day is DHS in the morning, break and nap in the afternoon, and Epcot in the late afternoon/evening. Likely in bed early Sunday night. Saturday will be a long day, but it's just the two of us; no kids yet.