Buffer time between flight landing and Fastpasses

[mrcase77]

I'm planning on a trip Jan 31-Feb 8. If all goes well, I should land at MCO at 12:45pm. I'm planning on using Magical Express. The slight catch is that I'm coming from Missouri and flying through Chicago and that's the middle of winter.

I've pretty much decided booking an ADR that day is a bad idea. Should I go ahead and book fast passes that first day or wait until I land? If I pretend I'm going to arrive on schedule (which will possibly take a minor miracle), how late in the day should I set my first fastpasses for? Like, maybe 4 or 5?

I'm either a genius for picking a cooler time of year in Florida or a moron for trying to fly out this time of year. Time will tell. haha. If it works out, I'm super excited that Festival of the Arts seems likely to be going on though if they stick to the pattern.

 

[verleniahall]

I would go with 5PM for your FP - then you can adjust as needed, whether later or earlier

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Definitely go ahead and book fast passes since, unlike ADRs, there is no penalty if you miss them. As PP suggested I would start them around 5pm. You can always adjust on the fly if your flights are running ahead of or behind schedule.

 

[trishadono]

I'm planning on a trip Jan 31-Feb 8. If all goes well, I should land at MCO at 12:45pm. I'm planning on using Magical Express. The slight catch is that I'm coming from Missouri and flying through Chicago and that's the middle of winter.

I've pretty much decided booking an ADR that day is a bad idea. Should I go ahead and book fast passes that first day or wait until I land? If I pretend I'm going to arrive on schedule (which will possibly take a minor miracle), how late in the day should I set my first fastpasses for? Like, maybe 4 or 5?

I'm either a genius for picking a cooler time of year in Florida or a moron for trying to fly out this time of year. Time will tell. haha. If it works out, I'm super excited that Festival of the Arts seems likely to be going on though if they stick to the pattern.

i put my "must do" one last.

So you could do 3:30-4:30. 4:30-5:30 and 5:30-6:30 stacked up. Then if arrive late move the 3:30 to 6:30.( just need to get to park by 4p for this to work)

I have done that many times. Remember ME will only take you to your own resort. You will then have to take transport to park.

 

[mrcase77]

i put my "must do" one last.

So you could do 3:30-4:30. 4:30-5:30 and 6:30-7:30 stacked up. Then if arrive late move the 3:30 to 7:30.( just need to get to park by 4p for this to work)

I have done that many times. Remember ME will only take you to your own resort. You will then have to take transport to park.

The good thing there is I’m staying at Boardwalk so I think I can get to Epcot or HS pretty quick once I’m at the hotel.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Good luck, O'Hare is so hit or miss that time of year, I've been caught in delays and overnights there a few times. I wouldn't even plan on going to the parks the first day but instead would do Disney Springs...

 

[mrcase77]

Good luck, O'Hare is so hit or miss that time of year, I've been caught in delays and overnights there a few times. I wouldn't even plan on going to the parks the first day but instead would do Disney Springs...

Should I change it to fly through DFW or just wait and watch the weather the week of?

 

[kuhltiffany]

If you can change it, without any penalties, I would. We avoid Chicago as much as possible! Here's some info:
https://weather.com/travel/commuter-conditions/news/2017-11-14-most-weather-delayed-us-airports

Should I change it to fly through DFW or just wait and watch the weather the week of?

 

[Micca]

Another vote to go via DFW if you can. Bad weather can happen in Dallas of course, but it's almost guaranteed in Chicago. OTOH, Chicago deals with winter weather so they're no strangers to flying in ice. Still I think I'd opt to go through Dallas (assuming there are no non-stop flights from your location.)

I agree you should go ahead and book your FP+ for later in the afternoon/evening. There will be plenty of places to get food that don't require an ADR.

 

[TwinkleKS]

Avoiding Chicago is a good bet, but DFW is also notorious for delays. The best bet is always to fly direct if you can. Or see if you can get further south like Houston (but even that can be an issue if there is a domino effect). I wouldn't sweat the arrival day too much. Make some FP selections for after 5 and just plan on your vacation really starting the next day.

 

[mrcase77]

Another vote to go via DFW if you can. Bad weather can happen in Dallas of course, but it's almost guaranteed in Chicago. OTOH, Chicago deals with winter weather so they're no strangers to flying in ice. Still I think I'd opt to go through Dallas (assuming there are no non-stop flights from your location.)

I agree you should go ahead and book your FP+ for later in the afternoon/evening. There will be plenty of places to get food that don't require an ADR.

Yeah, I live in Missouri and none of the three airports I can use have a direct flight unfortunately. It all goes through Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, etc. I picked the flight because it was the earliest arrival in MCO but I’m thinking Chicago was a mistake. Hmmm

I’m gonna take a $200 hit to change it. If dfw is also bad maybe I should just stay put and pray. Chicago and dfw are pretty much my only options out of this particular airport.

I think what I do have working for me is that it’s earlier in the day. So, as last no as we don’t get a huge snowstorm I have all day to recover from a delay.

 

[Micca]

Yeah, I live in Missouri and none of the three airports I can use have a direct flight unfortunately. It all goes through Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, etc. I picked the flight because it was the earliest arrival in MCO but I’m thinking Chicago was a mistake. Hmmm

I’m gonna take a $200 hit to change it. If dfw is also bad maybe I should just stay put and pray. Chicago and dfw are pretty much my only options out of this particular airport.

I think what I do have working for me is that it’s earlier in the day. So, as last no as we don’t get a huge snowstorm I have all day to recover from a delay.

Yes! The earlier the flight, the better--both for avoiding delays and getting to WDW ASAP!

 

[nkereina]

Nothing to lose by booking FPs. Even if you do end up getting delayed and running late, you'd have to adjust your FPs on the fly same day. Which would be the same as booking same day FPs anyhow.

 

[2binak]

This past February was the first time we've taken an early morning flight on arrival day. We arrived in time to have a leisurely lunch at the resort & make our first FP of the day, which started 4 hours after our flight arrived. And yes, avoid Chicago in the Winter at all costs!!!

 

[gharter]

I would book Fps and if you miss them, you miss them, no penalty. Put the ones you really want, later in the day.
We have arrived at 12:45, got our luggage, rental car, stopped for groceries, sropped everything in our room and been at the park by 3pm.
It just depends how long it takes you to get to Disney and your resort by ME. Never done it, so I have no idea.
Good luck

 

[sWDWcopeland]

I would avoid going to Chicago, even with a $200 change fee. We also live in Missouri and travel out of MCI with non-stop flights on Southwest. Maybe that could be an option for your next trip. We are arriving around 12:30 and our fastpasses start at 5:05pm. Enjoy planning your trip!

 

[gharter]

It sounds like you have your tickets, but my aunt has flown out of St Louis to Sanford Nonstop, for about $250 roundtrip. That doesn't let you do Me as they are only out of Orlando Intl, but that does get you non-stop.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We are landing at 8:25 am and I plan on booking out first FP+ for 12-1. Then staggering them.

 

[StacyStrong]

Oh man the DRAMA

I'm flying out of Chicago in December because I live here. Yes. You can have weather related delays. But so can Detroit. Or any other airport because a storm one side of the country does affect air traffic on the other. I wouldn't change my flights because of it.

If you have the tickets, use them! I'd give myself 3 hours but you can always modify.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm planning on a trip Jan 31-Feb 8. If all goes well, I should land at MCO at 12:45pm. I'm planning on using Magical Express. The slight catch is that I'm coming from Missouri and flying through Chicago and that's the middle of winter.

I've pretty much decided booking an ADR that day is a bad idea. Should I go ahead and book fast passes that first day or wait until I land? If I pretend I'm going to arrive on schedule (which will possibly take a minor miracle), how late in the day should I set my first fastpasses for? Like, maybe 4 or 5?

I'm either a genius for picking a cooler time of year in Florida or a moron for trying to fly out this time of year. Time will tell. haha. If it works out, I'm super excited that Festival of the Arts seems likely to be going on though if they stick to the pattern.

I'd start with 4:30, assuming that I'd have until 5:30 to use it. And I wouldn't make my FP for something that is "MUST DO" that I might be very upset about missing, just in case.