From plane to parks...fast pass reasonableness test

[irishdancer86]

Hi guys,

Super excited to be planning our trip and my query is pretty much how long is a piece of string I know, but does anyone have any opinions on this ???

Flight arrives in MCO at 3.30 from Uk, Northern Ireland, so have to clear customs/immigration....

From touch down to arriving at beach club ( first ever on property stay and so excited!) to getting to MK have I made my fast passes too early...

Enchanted tales with belle : 6-7 pm
7DMT : 7.15 - 8.15
Space mt : 8.20 - 9,20

Thanks for any advice

 

[Astridia]

Are you renting a car or taking magical express?

 

[vicki_c]

Maybe a little because of the customs thing. I don't know how long that adds.

Usual rule of thumb is minimum 3 hours plane to park using ME.

 

[For]

It will be a really big rush!

 

[ZoZo]

Maybe a little because of the customs thing. I don't know how long that adds.

Usual rule of thumb is minimum 3 hours plane to park using ME.

Yes, usually it takes about 3 hours from touchdown to resort using Magical Express. And that doesn't take into account any plane delays. I don't know much about how long it takes to get through customs, but you'd have to add that on to the three hours. If your plane doesn't land until 3:30, having a 6:00 to 7:00 FP window seems really optimistic. Can you move your FPs later?

 

[For]

My question is; why after such a long flight would you go racing to MK, and use a whole day pass, for a very few hours? Are you not better to check into the hotel and get a good nights sleep? Then be refreshed for a full next day. I realize that you are excited!

 

[Chitownpeeps91]

I think it is too tight. My peeps meet me at our hotel getting in, renting a car we barely made 6-7 pm fast pass with a domestic flight getting in at 3. I would not try it with an overseas flight.

We only did it because they only had two and half days for the whole family & the park was open till 1am

 

[Angel Ariel]

It took us appx 3 hrs to get from MCO to MK. We took ME to our resort (yacht club), and then took the bus from YC to MK. We had a short stop at guest relations outside MK before entering. This was with a domestic flight that arrived at 9:30am - no customs to deal with. I think a 6-7 FP+ window is cutting it very close if your flight lands at 3:30.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My question is; why after such a long flight would you go racing to MK, and use a whole day pass, for a very few hours? Are you not better to check into the hotel and get a good nights sleep? Then be refreshed for a full next day. I realize that you are excited!

It is probably a good idea to try and stay awake. The east to west time change means the OP would likely waken very very early the first couple of mornings. (When we traveled to Hawaii, we did stay away but were still up super early counting down when the hotel restaurant would open for breakfast at 5am. Lol.)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It took us appx 3 hrs to get from MCO to MK. We took ME to our resort (yacht club), and then took the bus from YC to MK. We had a short stop at guest relations outside MK before entering. This was with a domestic flight that arrived at 9:30am - no customs to deal with. I think a 6-7 FP+ window is cutting it very close if your flight lands at 3:30.

I agree with this.

OP, I would try to bump this to later if a slot is open.

 

[irishdancer86]

Thanks for the responses!

We are only in Disney for 4 full days so I was just eager to get a few extra fast passes squeezed in, I am taking my god daughter and a wee girl I teach dancing to along with her mum and my nana and the two girls are 10 and 12 and have never been to Disney before so just so eager to maximise what they see without exhausting them!

Have pushed the belle experience from half 6 to half 7,
7DMT to 7.40 to 8.40 and Space Mountain 8.45 to 9.45.

Not sure how moving through the crowds will be due to the 4th July fireworks on that evening, and we need to get back to hotel as everyone will be exhausted I'm sure! so excited though!

Tempted to push Belle to after Space Mt, or just be content that if we are running late we will miss it...

Fastpass + is so intense for undecisive's like myself!

 

[Nancyg56]

So, I would make big changes to your plan. You are staying at BC, which is a 5 minute walk to Epcot. I would check in there, and head to Epcot for the first night. Bus transportation takes time, so I would not waste a very short day . on a bus. I would FP the attractions in Epcot, stay for Illuminations and head to the for rope drop the following morning.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I don't think there is any way you are going to make this, even with pushing it a half hour. Let's say, optimistically, it takes 30 minutes to get through customs and then another 30 to get to Magical Express. It's now 4:30 pm. Depending on the availability of buses, you may not board for another 15 - 20 minutes. It's now, quite possibly, 5 pm. It is highly unlikely BC will be the first stop. In my experience, depending on where they are dropping off, they take the value and mod guests to their hotels first, so let's add another hour to that. 6 pm. You check in (hope there is no line) and immediately go to the MK bus stop. It's now 6:30 pm. If a bus shows up immediately (and it probably won't), you'll be at MK at 7 pm (more likely 7:30 - 8:00 pm). Then you have to walk to the entrance, go through bag check and try to get inside (on July 4). Expect HUGE crowds, possibly capacity crowds! Then you have to try to get to the back of the park for Belle - optimistically, it's 8:30 pm.

Are you planning on going to EPCOT during your trip? If so, I would suggest doing some EPCOT attractions on your arrival night instead. That way, you can check in and simply walk over to EP. You will eliminate up to 3 hours of transportation time to and from a park if you do EP instead of MK that night. Even going to DHS would be a much, much less hectic plan.

 

[Nancyg56]

Or the Studios. You could get there in time for the Frozen Fireworks, and then FP some attractions there. You have a relatively short period of time so I would try to maximize it by taking advantage of your location that first night. Both parks are really Disney, so the girls will still love it. WE never get to MK first, and it does not negatively impact the family.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't think there is any way you are going to make this, even with pushing it a half hour. Let's say, optimistically, it takes 30 minutes to get through customs and then another 30 to get to Magical Express. It's now 4:30 pm. Depending on the availability of buses, you may not board for another 15 - 20 minutes. It's now, quite possibly, 5 pm. It is highly unlikely BC will be the first stop. In my experience, depending on where they are dropping off, they take the value and mod guests to their hotels first, so let's add another hour to that. 6 pm. You check in (hope there is no line) and immediately go to the MK bus stop. It's now 6:30 pm. If a bus shows up immediately (and it probably won't), you'll be at MK at 7 pm (more likely 7:30 - 8:00 pm). Then you have to walk to the entrance, go through bag check and try to get inside (on July 4). Expect HUGE crowds, possibly capacity crowds! Then you have to try to get to the back of the park for Belle - optimistically, it's 8:30 pm.

Are you planning on going to EPCOT during your trip? If so, I would suggest doing some EPCOT attractions on your arrival night instead. That way, you can check in and simply walk over to EP. You will eliminate up to 3 hours of transportation time to and from a park if you do EP instead of MK that night. Even going to DHS would be a much, much less hectic plan.

WE are thinking alike! All I see for the OP's first nights plans is a lot of frustration and stress. It is recipe for a letdown.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Not sure how moving through the crowds will be due to the 4th July fireworks on that evening, and we need to get back to hotel as everyone will be exhausted I'm sure! so excited though!

OK, one big thing noticed in your post was the fact that your first night is the 4th of July. Now, I have not been to WDW on the 4th of July, and I am Canadian, but it is my understanding the the 4th of July is HUGE in the US and the parks will be packed. In fact, I seem to recall seeing discussions before that MK is often filled to capacity on the 4th of July. To be honest, I would be concerned if you will even get into MK in the evening of the 4th.

So, I would make big changes to your plan. You are staying at BC, which is a 5 minute walk to Epcot. I would check in there, and head to Epcot for the first night. Bus transportation takes time, so I would not waste a very short day . on a bus. I would FP the attractions in Epcot, stay for Illuminations and head to the for rope drop the following morning.

I agree with the above. I believe Epcot sometimes stays open even if MK is closed on capacity days. It is also much closer to your resort and less hassle to get there.

 

[Wood Nymph]

You should really go to Epcot or Hollywood Studios on arrival day. The BC is a five minute walk from the International Gateway. Five minutes is a lot better than the 40 minutes you will need for the trip to MK. And if it is 4th of July, you run the risk of having the MK being closed or so crowded you can't enjoy it. I would stay close to the BC on that day.

We have stayed at the BC many times and always make Epcot our first stop. It usually takes us at least 2 1/2 hours from landing at the airport until we get to the BC, and that is a domestic morning flight. You'll be fighting rush hour travel at 3:30pm, too. The BC is always the last stop on the Magical Express. It usually stops at three other resorts first.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

also at the time you are arriving on July 4th it is possible that MK is closed be cause of crowds for the fireworks. yes it could happen even if have fast passes and not get in. I know MK is favorite park but I would look at Hollywood Studios or EPCOT with your arrival time esp if not staying for fireworks. also after your fast passes you will have a hard time getting out of MK before the fireworks as it is going to be that crowded

 

[irishdancer86]

Hi

I honestly hadn't thought of going to Epcot or hollywood studios because i have a full day allocated to them but that does make a lot of sense

My reasoning for MK was that there are so many rides there it might let us see a bit more by using 6 fast passes...we don't have park hoppers

I am doing tax exams tomorrow but after that I am really going to have to take all comments on board and decide whether to change parks...thanks for the advice!

Just to clarify we arrive on the 3rd but there is a dress rehearsal for the 4th july fireworks that evening I believe. Thanks again

 

[JanaDee]

Yes, usually it takes about 3 hours from touchdown to resort using Magical Express. And that doesn't take into account any plane delays. I don't know much about how long it takes to get through customs, but you'd have to add that on to the three hours. If your plane doesn't land until 3:30, having a 6:00 to 7:00 FP window seems really optimistic. Can you move your FPs later?

It doesn't take 3 hours from airport to the resort. It does take about 3 hours from airport to a park, if everything goes smoothly.