First Timer with MDE

[DisneyStarWisher]

I've never used Magical Express before. I'm trying to schedule FastPasses. Our plane lands at 8:15 a.m. I have no idea how much time to allow to get to Pop Century, check in, and then get to Epcot. What time should I make our first Fast Pass? Also, if our plane flies out at 5:00 p.m. on our departure day, what time will I need to schedule ME to pick us up at All-Star Sports (split stay)? Thanks!

 

[Arielsfanmom]

On arrival day it will most likely be around 10am before you make it to Pop from the airport using ME. To be on the safe side I would not start my fastpasses until Noon. On departure day they will assign you a time to be picked up it will be around 3 hours before your flight so 2pm. I would plan on being back at your resort no later that 1pm if you go to a park the morning you leave for home.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

On arrival day it will most likely be around 10am before you make it to Pop from the airport using ME. To be on the safe side I would not start my fastpasses until Noon. On departure day they will assign you a time to be picked up it will be around 3 hours before your flight so 2pm. I would plan on being back at your resort no later that 1pm if you go to a park the morning you leave for home.

Thank you! That helps so much!

 

[verleniahall]

I agree with the PP - you will probably want to start you FP+ about Noon -

As for the Return Trip - we were actually assigned a bus 4 hours prior to our flight time - so for your final day, you will have to kinda wait and see when your bus depature time is -

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree with the PP - you will probably want to start you FP+ about Noon -

As for the Return Trip - we were actually assigned a bus 4 hours prior to our flight time - so for your final day, you will have to kinda wait and see when your bus depature time is -

By any chance were you flying internationally? It's usually 3 hours (+/- 15 minutes) for domestic flights and 4 hours for international.

 

[verleniahall]

Nope - Flying Home to Kansas - Maybe they were considering Over the Rainbow to be international? LOL

 

[goofy4tink]

I've never used Magical Express before. I'm trying to schedule FastPasses. Our plane lands at 8:15 a.m. I have no idea how much time to allow to get to Pop Century, check in, and then get to Epcot. What time should I make our first Fast Pass? Also, if our plane flies out at 5:00 p.m. on our departure day, what time will I need to schedule ME to pick us up at All-Star Sports (split stay)? Thanks!

1. If you arrive on-time at 8:15, you should be at Pop by 9:45ish. You might be able to get into your room. If so, that will take you about 30 mins to check it out, freshen up and get back to the bus stop. If not, you can drop your carry on bags with Luggage Assistance and head to Epcot. I wouldn't make an FP+ for earlier than noon. That will allow you to be more relaxed.

2. For a 5:00pm departure flight, DME will give you a p/u time of about 2ish..give or take 15 mins either way. You don't schedule it, they will tell you what time. You need to be at that bus stop at least 15 mins prior to the p/u time they give you, bags in hand, ready to go. The time given is NOT the time to be leaving the gift shop or the rest room and ambling over to the stop!!! You could very well be left behind. So, you need to be ready to leave by 1:30ish. IF you decide to go to a park for the morning, you need to be leaving that park by noon. And don't forget to check your bags with RAC that morning.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

1. If you arrive on-time at 8:15, you should be at Pop by 9:45ish. You might be able to get into your room. If so, that will take you about 30 mins to check it out, freshen up and get back to the bus stop. If not, you can drop your carry on bags with Luggage Assistance and head to Epcot. I wouldn't make an FP+ for earlier than noon. That will allow you to be more relaxed.

2. For a 5:00pm departure flight, DME will give you a p/u time of about 2ish..give or take 15 mins either way. You don't schedule it, they will tell you what time. You need to be at that bus stop at least 15 mins prior to the p/u time they give you, bags in hand, ready to go. The time given is NOT the time to be leaving the gift shop or the rest room and ambling over to the stop!!! You could very well be left behind. So, you need to be ready to leave by 1:30ish. IF you decide to go to a park for the morning, you need to be leaving that park by noon. And don't forget to check your bags with RAC that morning.

Thank you. What does RAC stand for? Is that bell services?

 

[dis_guy]

Just to add that if you are flying domestically and you are given a pick up time 4 h before your flight you can call and ask for them to change it. I did just that in November. 3 h is plenty of time in my experience.

 

[pigletgirl]

Thank you. What does RAC stand for? Is that bell services?

Resort Airline Check In.

If you're flying with one of those airlines you can check your luggage in there and then you won't see it again until you get home.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thank you. What does RAC stand for? Is that bell services?

As noted already....RAC is Resort Airline Checkin. You should think of it as curbside check in but the curb is a loooong way from the airport. Certain airlines participate in this program. If your airline participates, you can drop off your checked bags in the morning, get your boarding passes and go on your way. Then, when you get to MCO, just go directly to security.
Now...the RAC counter is only open from 5am-1pm (possibly 2 but I'm not 100% sure). You need to be walking away from the counter, boarding passes in hand, no less than 3 hrs prior to flight departure. For example, if your flight departs at 11am, you need to be done at RAC by 8. If your flight departs prior to 8:30am, it's going to be really hard to use RAC.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

As noted already....RAC is Resort Airline Checkin. You should think of it as curbside check in but the curb is a loooong way from the airport. Certain airlines participate in this program. If your airline participates, you can drop off your checked bags in the morning, get your boarding passes and go on your way. Then, when you get to MCO, just go directly to security.
Now...the RAC counter is only open from 5am-1pm (possibly 2 but I'm not 100% sure). You need to be walking away from the counter, boarding passes in hand, no less than 3 hrs prior to flight departure. For example, if your flight departs at 11am, you need to be done at RAC by 8. If your flight departs prior to 8:30am, it's going to be really hard to use RAC.

So even if we don't have checked luggage, we need to do RAC in order to get our boarding passes, correct? I also never fly, so that's why I have all the questions. By the way, we are flying Southwest.