Busiest time for January race expo?

[es45]

What is the busiest time for the expo? We may be arriving in Orlando Friday morning, just before the kids races and from some reports I'm reading that appears to be a bad time to pick up our packets.

Also, is it convenient to drive and park at WWoS? Or are we better off taking our resort bus?

 

[cewait]

You may be better off waiting until early afternoon. The kids races make the area hectic. Parking can be an issue, I find buses easy and convenient....but have done both. You are looking for a wind between the kiddos and the local folks getting off work at noon.

Note if you are just running the full I would go first thing Saturday.

 

[joan4mickey]

When is a good time on Thursday? I fly in at 9:30 and my kids at 10:30 plus ME to resort. Think I will go ahead of them, instead of waiting at airport, and get checked in, so we should be good to go when they arrive.

 

[cewait]

When is a good time on Thursday? I fly in at 9:30 and my kids at 10:30 plus ME to resort. Think I will go ahead of them, instead of waiting at airport, and get checked in, so we should be good to go when they arrive.

I found that when I arrived about 1 on Thursday in '11 the crowds were down. I used to try to make the first opening but found that if you did not arrive with the early birds you stood in line for a while.

 

[stitchfan18]

I'm hoping to go Thursday evening. Our flight arrives around 4, so if we aren't delayed I plan to take ME to the resort and get on the bus to the expo right away. Is that usually a busy time? We have dinner reservations at Chef Mickey's at 8, so I hope we can just catch a bus from the expo to CR. I have my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.

 

[sschu717]

Last year we arrived at the expo at about 5 on Thursday and we breezed right through. I was surprised.

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

I'm hoping to go Thursday evening. Our flight arrives around 4, so if we aren't delayed I plan to take ME to the resort and get on the bus to the expo right away. Is that usually a busy time? We have dinner reservations at Chef Mickey's at 8, so I hope we can just catch a bus from the expo to CR. I have my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.

It's funny, I've been to WDW so many times and have never used Magical Express.. we've always loved the convenience of having a car. For February, my running partner and I plan to use ME. What's your experience on amount of time to budget between landing and arrival at your resort? I know it's a "mileage will vary" question.. just curious about your historical experiences.. We'll be at Saratoga Springs this time around.. but, again, just polling for previous experiences that don't necessarily have to be exactly the same.

George

 

[cewait]

It's funny, I've been to WDW so many times and have never used Magical Express.. we've always loved the convenience of having a car. For February, my running partner and I plan to use ME. What's your experience on amount of time to budget between landing and arrival at your resort? I know it's a "mileage will vary" question.. just curious about your historical experiences.. We'll be at Saratoga Springs this time around.. but, again, just polling for previous experiences that don't necessarily have to be exactly the same.

George

I can give a statistical point of 1. We have driven all but one time. We found the experience not so bad. We had to wait for5 minutes for the bus, then once on, we sat for maybe 20. We were not the first stop so a couple resort stops before we hit ours. Sounds like a lot of time, but this was a relaxation weekend. We were more than happy to just let others handle everything. On the return trip, we set our bags down and then arrived about 10 minutes pre-pickup time. We made one other resort stop and was at the airport in no time. Sorry, I do not have more exact times, but once we started moving from MCO, I was in a mode of not caring about time.

 

[stitchfan18]

It's funny, I've been to WDW so many times and have never used Magical Express.. we've always loved the convenience of having a car. For February, my running partner and I plan to use ME. What's your experience on amount of time to budget between landing and arrival at your resort? I know it's a "mileage will vary" question.. just curious about your historical experiences.. We'll be at Saratoga Springs this time around.. but, again, just polling for previous experiences that don't necessarily have to be exactly the same.

George

We've used ME since it was introduced several years ago. Usually we're at the hotel within an hour, give or take 15 minutes depending on whether we are the first or last stop. I don't think we've ever had to wait more than 5 or so minutes once getting in line for the bus, or more than 15 minutes on the bus waiting for it to fill. Your biggest wait is checking in at the resort if there are several parties arriving for your resort. When we stayed at SSR before we stopped at OKW before going to SSR. I think the bus then went on to Port Orleans resorts.

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

I can give a statistical point of 1. We have driven all but one time. We found the experience not so bad. We had to wait for5 minutes for the bus, then once on, we sat for maybe 20. We were not the first stop so a couple resort stops before we hit ours. Sounds like a lot of time, but this was a relaxation weekend. We were more than happy to just let others handle everything. On the return trip, we set our bags down and then arrived about 10 minutes pre-pickup time. We made one other resort stop and was at the airport in no time. Sorry, I do not have more exact times, but once we started moving from MCO, I was in a mode of not caring about time.

Thanks, Coach

I agree with not worrying much after MCO, heck, my worries usually disapear when I see the palm trees AT the airport. My inquiry is more motivated by "how much park time?" or "when should my first dining reservation be?"

You know, the important stuff! Appreciate the response!

George

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

We've used ME since it was introduced several years ago. Usually we're at the hotel within an hour, give or take 15 minutes depending on whether we are the first or last stop. I don't think we've ever had to wait more than 5 or so minutes once getting in line for the bus, or more than 15 minutes on the bus waiting for it to fill. Your biggest wait is checking in at the resort if there are several parties arriving for your resort. When we stayed at SSR before we stopped at OKW before going to SSR. I think the bus then went on to Port Orleans resorts.

Cool, good to know on the stops.. I understand the multiple resort stops.. for some reason I was worried about being the last of six stops or some such. Good point about everyone arriving on the same bus and creating a line, I experience that every time I rent a car that's off airport as well. Good to know!

Thanks, Heather!

George

 

[cewait]

Thanks, Coach

I agree with not worrying much after MCO, heck, my worries usually disapear when I see the palm trees AT the airport. My inquiry is more motivated by "how much park time?" or "when should my first dining reservation be?"

You know, the important stuff! Appreciate the response!

George

I am also one who would never use ME for marathon weekend. It's really due to the fact that I always have a business tie on Tuesday and need to have transportation. It is also knowing that if it is my resorts year to have a real marathon bus snafu, a set of keys are located just a few short steps away that solves that bus issue.

 

[GeorgeAndDiana]

I am also one who would never use ME for marathon weekend. It's really due to the fact that I always have a business tie on Tuesday and need to have transportation. It is also knowing that if it is my resorts year to have a real marathon bus snafu, a set of keys are located just a few short steps away that solves that bus issue.

I'm right there with you! With all the competition in Orlando, rental cars are always dirt cheap, too. My running buddy wants to "not have to worry about a car." Do you generally stay at host resorts, or are you cautious either way?

 

[cewait]

I'm right there with you! With all the competition in Orlando, rental cars are always dirt cheap, too. My running buddy wants to "not have to worry about a car." Do you generally stay at host resorts, or are you cautious either way?

For January, all resorts are host resorts. We generally stay in the BWV , BCV or OKW.