How long for the Magical Express to get to POR?

[anorman]

We have an upcoming trip in just 18 days....
We have the Magical Express arranged for our arrival day. Our flight gets in at 2:30 pm. How long does it usually take to get to POR?

I have a FP+ for EE at 5:35 pm and an ADR for 7 pm at AK Yak and Yeti and will be using Disney transportation. Is this do-able?

Right now I have a car rental booked at the airport for 14 days and at Disneys Car Care Centre for 8 days. I'm trying to decide do I need the car for the whole trip or will I just have it for after my WDW stay.

Thoughts?

 

[cindyfan]

That's plenty of time to get to AK if you take Disney buses. Last year I arrived at MCO at 11:15am and was inside Epcot by 1:30. I had enough time to go to the desk (I did online check in, but had to go to the desk for something else, then saw I was in Alligator Bayou and asked to be changed because I wanted mansions. So they took the time to change it) Then went to my room, changed clothes, caught the bus and was inside Epcot by 1:30.
Now, I was solo, so I'd say if you had a large group it will take longer.... it always seems to take so much longer when I have others with me!! haha

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Figure 1.5 hrs from plane landing to getting of the bus.

30 min at resort to drop carry ons at bell services/ stop at front desk if needed/ drop off bags in room of ready

Then 45 min to get to AK by bus.

Then another 15 to walk to Everest

Total: 3 hrs from plane landing.

FP and adr should both be fine.

Renting a car at the airport may save about 15 min at the airport, having to go to the baggage carousel negates most of the time savings. However, if you rent a car you could drive straight to AK and leave everything in the car (if for some reason your package tickets are not activated, guest services would be able to fix it for you).

 

[westie55]

Magical Express can either be fairly fast and efficient or quite time consuming. Some trips I've boarded and left right away; other trips I waited for the bus then waited another 40 minutes on the bus for it to depart for the resort. Note that buses do stop at multiple resorts. Last time I was there, POR was the final stop of I think 4 resorts.

Having said this, you should be ok IF your flight isn't delayed. My last two trips I experienced significant flight delays due to mechanical issues with the planes, so know that you can't count on anything when there are unexpected variables thrown into the mix.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

POR is around an hour. We use DME every year for it.

 

[beccasmom]

I would say an hour. It would also depend on whether you're one of the first on the DME and they wait for more guests. We're at OKW now and POFQ/POR were the first stops on our way here. Took a bit longer than normal, presumably because we hit rush hour traffic and there's a good amount of road construction around the airport.

 

[Hopefully]

Figure 1.5 hrs from plane landing to getting of the bus.

30 min at resort to drop carry ons at bell services/ stop at front desk if needed/ drop off bags in room of ready

Then 45 min to get to AK by bus.

Then another 15 to walk to Everest

Total: 3 hrs from plane landing.

FP and adr should both be fine.

Renting a car at the airport may save about 15 min at the airport, having to go to the baggage carousel negates most of the time savings. However, if you rent a car you could drive straight to AK and leave everything in the car (if for some reason your package tickets are not activated, guest services would be able to fix it for you).

I would amend this only to say 90 minutes from gate, not from landing. Taxing at MCO takes awhile

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I would amend this only to say 90 minutes from gate, not from landing. Taxing at MCO takes awhile

Yes, you're right. By landing, I meant arrival at the gate. Poor phrasing on my part.

 

[writerguyfl]

However, if you rent a car you could drive straight to AK and leave everything in the car (if for some reason your package tickets are not activated, guest services would be able to fix it for you).

This strategy might work during winter, but it's a really bad idea for the mid-August dates that anorman mentions in the first post. The car will turn into an oven in the Florida sun and toiletries like make-up and deodorant will melt.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

This strategy might work during winter, but it's a really bad idea for the mid-August dates that anorman mentions in the first post. The car will turn into an oven in the Florida sun and toiletries like make-up and deodorant will melt.

True. The other option is to ship all these items to the resort and pay the fee so only stuff that can brave the heat will be in the car.

 

[buckeyeguy1]

My experience of taking the DME to PORS is roughly 1 hr of arriving at the DME line at the airport. Every time for that resort it was this time of year and between 9-11am.

Each time had the same stop pattern: Old Key West, Saratoga Springs (the first two could have been swapped), French Quarters and then Riverside as last stop.

Just an FYI, if your family is one of the only ones on the bus when you board, don't plan on leaving soon after. They try to fill the bus as much as possible before they depart. It doesn't take too long, it just feels like forever because your itching to start your vacation!

 

[anorman]

This strategy might work during winter, but it's a really bad idea for the mid-August dates that anorman mentions in the first post. The car will turn into an oven in the Florida sun and toiletries like make-up and deodorant will melt.

We have no choice but to go directly to the resort since my DD14 is diabetic and insulin definitely doesn't fare well in the increased temperatures of August. I think however, that DME is definitely do-able given my time frame from what most are saying here. Complications can arise anywhere.....so long as we make it to our ADR, we should be fine. Thanks!

 

[Spencer Wright]

Seems like a schedule which is a bit too close for comfort, for me at least. Staying at different resorts, it seems the magical express takes about 45 - 75 minutes depending on how long you wait for the bus to leave and how many stops there are before hand.

For instance, last year I took it late at night, all going to AKL. We left immediately and only went to the AKL. However my other family came early that morning and it took an hour and a half to get to the hotel.