How long to get to the resort from landing at MCO?

[Lolsmum]

We are going in mid-November and 3 out of 4 of our family have US passports so we can usually get through in a US line. We are on the Virgin flight landing at 4ish and taking the Magical Express to the Beach Club. Could we reasonably make dinner reservations at Epcot that night?

And a related question, the 14 day ticket gives you, well, 14 days right? So if you fist use it on a Saturday, the last day you can use it is a Friday, right? Or can you not go to the park one (or more) days and use it on the Saturday 2 weeks after it's first use? We're spending a few days offsite at my parents' house about 2 hours away but flying out of Orlando so wondering about a final quick trip to the world on our last day since my parents have annual passes and we could drop by for a few hours before our evening flight.

 

[flortlebap]

Unfortunately that question is how long is a piece of string!

We've done it as little as an hour after our scheduled landing time (flight landed 30 mins early, PE so our bags were off first, we ran off the plane to the front of the immigration queue and ME departed within ten minutes) but usually Id plan reservations for four hours afterwards so you have time to get to your room and freshen up. It's always a risk now there's a credit card charge cover - your flight could be delayed, immigration could take 90 mins, etc etc! And you could be too tired to want to rush for an ADR.

14 day tickets have previously given us 15 days use - but we didn't visit WDW at all over two of our days. And there's always a chance they've now closed that loophole, as it was a few years ago now!

 

[TinselAngel]

I think you're right - the Friday is your last day. IMHO you'd be better reserving somewhere outside of the parks to eat and save your park day for the last day. Provided there is no delay you should make it in plenty of time for say an 8pm reservation but seems like a waste of a park day to me, unless of course you have doubts about making it to the park on the last day. You might want to consider getting the American 10 day ticket instead of a 14 day ultimate - it may fit your plans better given that you're going to be offsite for a few days anyway.

 

[Elise79]

Personally I would never book an ADR on arrival night as I would be too tired to enjoy it properly plus if you are delayed you will be charged now.

Generally, it's usually 2 hours from landing to resort. Yes we have done it in less but ME is at least a 30 minute ride alone.

Tickets should work as you have described. It's been found by people on this board that you can enter on day 15 as long as you haven't entered on all 14 days previous.

 

[wayneg]

Personally I would never book an ADR on arrival night as I would be too tired to enjoy it properly plus if you are delayed you will be charged now.

This^^

In all the trips we have done to Florida (33?) the most we have eaten on arrival night is a McD's, usually its either nothing or a quick trip to Walgreens for a sandwich (to share) and a bag of crisps. We have never felt like eating on arrival day.

 

[flortlebap]

This^^

In all the trips we have done to Florida (33?) the most we have eaten on arrival night is a McD's, usually its either nothing or a quick trip to Walgreens for a sandwich (to share) and a bag of crisps. We have never felt like eating on arrival day.

We booked Boma for arrival night on our last trip as it was in the hotel, because we arrived so early we were pretty much asleep in the bar by half 7 and our reservation wasn't until 8! So I'm inclined to agree with you - it's not as enjoyable, and you eat a lot on the plane. This time we will probably be grabbing in room pizza...

 

[scoobydooby]

I agree too. In all our trips I've never wanted more than a banana and a decent cup of tea by the time we get to the room and get unpacked. Last year we took exactly 55 minutes from landing to our hotel using ME. But we were off the plane in the first 10 people to an empty immigration and DH and DS waited for the cases while me and DD legged it through the airport and climbed onto ME as it was about to pull out. This was me and DD. My boys picked up the car and luggage and arrived a full 40 minutes after us. Before anyone asks. We do this so we don't need a big van. A moderate car is never big enough for the four of us and all out luggage but is good for the rest of the trip.

It has taken us as long as three hours worst case scenario to get from airport to resort. Last off plane. Massive queue at immigration. Suitcases taking ages to arrive. Faffing about choosing a 7 sweater car. Getting a bit lost..... So I would never plan a meal that first night or use a whole day ticket on a couple of park hours.

 

[2Tiggies]

You can be first off the plane and straight through immigration but all it takes is a thunderstorm and they close the ramps and no luggage moves until they are happy to re-open them. We've spent over two hours waiting in a really bad storm for our luggage. You have to allow for the variables, but on that basis, like everyone else here I would not book an ADR for the first night.

 

[queendisney]

yep another one in agreement here.

We got off the plane (PE) 1st as in the downstairs dedicated PE cabin at the back. Legged it through immigration etc and at ME within about 15 mins of landing complete with luggage (very lucky that day it came off really quickly) and at our resort 30 mins later as first drop off! This is the exception to the rule and it can take a lot longer.
All we can even think about eating is maybe an Earl of Sandwich meal and sometimes not even that on arrival day. I know we are all different but we for definite could not even entertain eating a big meal.

 

[Lolsmum]

Thanks.

I was leaning the same way, but not totally sure. We don't have transportation to get offsite easily, but my mother and stepfather are visiting WDW with us but staying offsite and could easily bring us McD's.

We're arriving on a Friday afternoon, staying at WDW for 10 nights then spending some time at my dad's and flying out on the Saturday 15 days after we arrive. It sounds like we shouldn't count on getting in on the final Saturday. I could upgrade us to 21 day tickets I guess, but I'm not sure it's worth it. A few extra hours at my dad's and heading to the beach might beat it.

 

[flortlebap]

You could always just spend your first night walking round the BC, YC & Boardwalk! Plenty to see and take in and it can be as relaxed as you like. I would just wander round, maybe grab a drink and some quick food and walk back when you're tired

Personally I like to use out first night to get our bearings and work out where food and bus stops etc are located so it's not manic on the first morning.

 

[peachiepie]

It has taken us as long as three hours worst case scenario to get from airport to resort. Last off plane. Massive queue at immigration. Suitcases taking ages to arrive. Faffing about choosing a 7 sweater car. Getting a bit lost..... So I would never plan a meal that first night or use a whole day ticket on a couple of park hours.

This is similar to the situation on our last trip (except for the luggage, as immigration took so long that our luggage was going around the carousel on its own). We were last off the plane and must have arrived at the same time as a couple of other international flights, making the immigration queue a nightmare. For this reason I was glad we'd not booked an ADR...we had been planning to hit Downtown Disney for Earl of Sandwich but it was too late by the time we got to our resort.

 

[Woodview]

Another point

3 out of 4 have USA passports ....... But you just might be in the Q

that has a Stickler for the rules IMM. Officer who just might send the 4th person into another Q.

Last Day ....... Well spend the few Free Hours with your family .

Disney ...... will be there in 30 years ... will your family ?

 

[Tinks1984]

Another point

3 out of 4 have USA passports ....... But you just might be in the Q

that has a Stickler for the rules IMM. Officer who just might send the 4th person into another Q.

Last Day ....... Well spend the few Free Hours with your family .

Disney ...... will be there in 30 years ... will your family ?

From reading the OP's post, it seems that their family will be accompanying them to the park on the last day, as they state that their parents have AP's...so asking them if their family will be around in 30 years is one, not a pleasant thing to say on a msg board, and two, irrelevant as they'll be spending time with them in the parks, so will actually be with them anyway by the sounds of it.

OP...if you purchase a UK 14 day ticket it begins it's activation from first use. So will expire 14 days after it's first gone through the gate, even if you're not in the parks on days in between

 

[Lolsmum]

Thank you Tinks1984.

 

[catherine]

Another point

3 out of 4 have USA passports ....... But you just might be in the Q

that has a Stickler for the rules IMM. Officer who just might send the 4th person into another Q.

Last Day ....... Well spend the few Free Hours with your family .

Disney ...... will be there in 30 years ... will your family ?

Lost count of the number of times that I have flown into the US with my family who all have US passports! I have never been asked to go to the queue for non citizens. In fact I have been told several times that they don't want to split up families and encourage them to stay together!

 

[Lolsmum]

Lost count of the number of times that I have flown into the US with my family who all have US passports! I have never been asked to go to the queue for non citizens. In fact I have been told several times that they don't want to split up families and encourage them to stay together!

We have found the same, at various US airports (Chicago, DFW, Atlanta, LAX, Newark and Miami to list just those in the last 3 years). The kids have both UK and US passports and it has worked in reverse every time we've come back too.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

We are going in mid-November and 3 out of 4 of our family have US passports so we can usually get through in a US line. We are on the Virgin flight landing at 4ish and taking the Magical Express to the Beach Club. Could we reasonably make dinner reservations at Epcot that night?

And a related question, the 14 day ticket gives you, well, 14 days right? So if you fist use it on a Saturday, the last day you can use it is a Friday, right? Or can you not go to the park one (or more) days and use it on the Saturday 2 weeks after it's first use? We're spending a few days offsite at my parents' house about 2 hours away but flying out of Orlando so wondering about a final quick trip to the world on our last day since my parents have annual passes and we could drop by for a few hours before our evening flight.

Like others I think it is too risky to make dinner reservations for that evening. You could just walk across to Boardwalk and see what walk ups are available if you still want something big to eat on arrival. We always head down to DTD on our first night as there is a variety of food options and you are still enjoying the magic.

For your tickets, you need to check but they are usually valid for 14 days from first use. It seems a bit of a waste to use a day on arrival when you will probably only be in the park for a couple of hours and too tired to really enjoy it.

Better to save it for the last day as you can check out of your room, leave your luggage in the store with the Bell Hop and head off for a good day in the parks before heading home. There are plenty of places to get changed in the resorts so you have fresh clothes for the flight back.

 

[MrRomance]

Lost count of the number of times that I have flown into the US with my family who all have US passports! I have never been asked to go to the queue for non citizens. In fact I have been told several times that they don't want to split up families and encourage them to stay together!

Totally agree with this. My DW is a US citizen, DD and I are both UK passport holders, immigration have always told us we should go to the Citizen line together. We have never been sent to another line in all of our many trips.

OP, there is no concrete answer to your question I'm afraid. It really does depend on the day. There are countless factors that can affect how long it will take you to clear immigration & customs, get on the road and arrive at resort.

We have done it in a little over an hour, we've also taken over 3 hours. Any delay with immigration, luggage and customs can hold you up for quite some time. By the same token if the stars align, you can whizz right out of there!

I wouldn't book an ADR for arrival night, as others have said you may be too tired to eat or may not be hungry. We always plan to grab a counter service if we feel like it but never have set plans. It can be really tough that first night to keep yourself awake. Go with the flow is the order of arrival day!