DHS on Arrival Day

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I've been reading several comments from folks leery of visiting a park on their arrival day, especially if their flight arrives in the evening.

Here's our recent experience as an example. Flight landed at MCO at 6:10 pm.

We arrived at DHS at 7 pm and had FP+ for Star Tours (6-7), RnR (7-8) and ToT (8-9).

Then we rode Toy Story 3 times in about 30 minutes before the fireworks show started. The ride closes 45 minutes before the fireworks start, but can stay open past the posted closing time if no one is in line. They just have to clear the area 15 minutes before the show starts. This is a good time for rerides with no waiting.

Then we found a good spot for the fireworks show with about a 10 minute wait.

Next, it was off to Tower of Terror for 2 more rides. They kept the gate open about 10 minutes after the park closed, which happens occasionally.

Finally, we strolled in to the Fantasmic amphitheater for the late show with about 2 minutes to spare. The place was less than half full with the two far right sections and the three far left sections completely empty. Seating was exceptional with a less than 5 minute wait.

Not a bad night and all in less than 4 hours.

 

[wdwrich]

Since your flight landed at 6:10p and you arrived at DHS at 7pm, I assume you didn't use DME from the airport?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Since your flight landed at 6:10p and you arrived at DHS at 7pm, I assume you didn't use DME from the airport?

No, we rented a van from Dollar using Dollar Express. We were out of the airport in minutes. We park hop a lot and like the convenience of having our own vehicle. Also, hopping time is our break time so we keep a cooler of cold drinks and snacks in the van and get a quick refresh during the short drive between parks. Even in the hot Florida sun you would be surprised at how long a well packed cooler will keep things cold.

One more positive of having the van is when park hopping in the evening you can often find front row space available from guests that left early. This makes park entry and exit very quick. Finally, if you're staying at the Ft Wilderness cabins you can park right outside the door and be literally steps away from bed at the end of the night.

 

[wdwrich]

No, we rented a van from Dollar using Dollar Express. We were out of the airport in minutes. We park hop a lot and like the convenience of having our own vehicle. Also, hopping time is our break time so we keep a cooler of cold drinks and snacks in the van and get a quick refresh during the short drive between parks. Even in the hot Florida sun you would be surprised at how long a well packed cooler will keep things cold.

One more positive of having the van is when park hopping in the evening you can often find front row space available from guests that left early. This makes park entry and exit very quick. Finally, if you're staying at the Ft Wilderness cabins you can park right outside the door and be literally steps away from bed at the end of the night.

That's what I thought. We always rent a vehicle for our WDW visits too. For us, the big advantage is getting to/from other resorts in the evenings for dinner. Using Disney transport, the trip back after dinner can take forever!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Including all taxes & fees, our latest rental from Dollar was $175 for a week using their "City Special" promo. Given what we spend on these vacations, it's well worth the extra 25 bucks a day. The time savings and ease of use are big plusses for us.

 

[nanaka]

If you arrived at HS at 7, how were you able to ride Star Tours (FP 6-7)?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

If you arrived at HS at 7, how were you able to ride Star Tours (FP 6-7)?

We were within the 15 minute grace period for our FP window.

We then went straight to RnR then straight to Tower, arriving just as the 5 minute grace period for that FP window opened. Then directly to Midway Mania for 3 standby rides. We walk pretty slow so don't think we were rushing around to do all of this.

You can arrive 5 minutes early or up to 15 minutes late with FP+

 

[nanaka]

That's good to know! I didn't realize you could be late for FP and still get in

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

That's good to know! I didn't realize you could be late for FP and still get in

It's not publicized. The grace period was actually printed on the back of the old paper passes after they started enforcing the return time.

 

[valentinasdad]

Arriving Sept 5th 830am. mco. I had a 10 am breakfast at Hollywood and vine. I was nervous I was going to be late and moved it to 11. I am also renting a car but figured 6 people with baggage may be cutting it close, but you did it in 50 minutes now I'm thinking I was foolish.

 

[epcotty]

Sounds good. But I still wouldn't do that unless I had an annual pass

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Sounds good. But I still wouldn't do that unless I had an annual pass

Why not?

Earlier this year, Orbitz had 5 day park hoppers on sale: buy 3 days get 2 free. I think we go our money's worth on this one.

 

[onemorejennifer]

I posted recently about our arrival day experience at MK.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-...n-arrival-day-at-magic-kingdom-w-emh.3433954/

For the extra $40ish it cost to add a day to our tickets we enjoyed 7 fabulous hours (@7pm-2am) in the park! Well worth it to us.

 

[JennyDrake]

That's good to know! I didn't realize you could be late for FP and still get in

DEPENDS UPON THE CM.

I have been turned down 2x in the MK at 7 min and 10 min past. MK seems to be more of a stickler with FP+; we were also turned down 2x 2 min early.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We drive overnight (10 hours) and hit the parks ASAP. As in we arrive around 6 am - see if the hotel room is ready (if so we take a quick shower) and then head to the parks. We have a great time and head back to the hotel around 6 pm to swim and then sleep!

We are morning people - if we arrived at 7 pm or later we'd probably just go to the hotel room - unpack and hit the parks in the morning.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

DEPENDS UPON THE CM.

I have been turned down 2x in the MK at 7 min and 10 min past. MK seems to be more of a stickler with FP+; we were also turned down 2x 2 min early.

As far as I can tell, the grace periods are programmed into the system and Mickey will turn green. No CM intervention required. This is true in all parks.

We've used several outside of the 1 hour window and never thought twice about it.

They do seem to be set to the same World Clock that I-phones are set to. Just for fun, I've tried to scan about 5:10 early which didn't work.

Exactly 5 mins early always works though. I've never tried it more than 15 mins late.

 

[JennyDrake]

As far as I can tell, the grace periods are programmed into the system and Mickey will turn green. No CM intervention required. This is true in all parks.

That wasn't what happened for us. On two different occasions we were 7 min and 10 min late for BTMRR due slow bus service, then looooong lines at bag check, and even longer line at the attraction itself. Mickey turned blue, not green and they would not let us in. SM also 2, different time, 2 min early and Mickey turned blue and they wold not let us in (I understand.)

At DHS we were 4 min late for LM because we had just gotten it as a 4th FP and again Mickey turned blue, but they let us in.

I wonder if it depends upon crowd levels etc. ???? BTW all these trips were in 2014---maybe it is different for this year?????

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I wonder if it depends upon crowd levels etc. ???? BTW all these trips were in 2014---maybe it is different for this year?????

We went in both Summer 2014 & Summer 2015. Maybe your trip was earlier than ours in 2014 and they've fine tuned the process since then.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Here's a quote from Mesa Boys' FP+ thread:

"FP+ return windows for non-show-type attractions are 60 minutes long. The MDX FP+ system allows a grace period of 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after the return window, but guests are advised against relying on the grace period. Castmembers (CMs) have the ability to override the system and deny entry during the grace period depending on the situation."

From this, it sounds like overriding the grace period is the exception and not the rule. Either way, we've taken advantage of this feature several times without any issues.