How much time froM landing to park?

[zavandor]

I've never flown direct to Orlando, so I'm not sure about how much time immigration will require.
I'll land at 16:10 on the 2nd of January, how much will it require to clear immigration, take the DME to OKW and then get to the park? I'm deciding about restaurant reservation and FP+
Thank you in advance

 

[LumosQ102]

It has taken me anywhere from 45 minutes (once - it was just perfect!) to 2 1/2 hours to get to our hotel. The lines can be brutal, even with the new system. I'd highly recommend making them as late as possible.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[wayneg]

Firstly I could never eat a TS meal on first night. You would be looking at around 9-10pm to be seated, in reality your body is on 2-3am UK time, with travelling, tiredness & excitement all thrown into the mix the majority of people can't eat much more than a snack on arrival.

I would say earliest you can get to a park is around 8pm but any delays on plane, slow immigration etc it could be upto 10pm.

Going into a park on arrival day is not something we aim to do but we have done it twice to catch fireworks on Xmas day & 4th July. Both times on VA early plane landing around 3pm, got to MK around 7pm.

 

[Shazzie B]

I'd be careful about bookings on the day you arrive, I'd say it would probably be a minimum of 2 hours before you are at OKW, which if 6pm ish will feel like 11pm. We have never visited a park on our 1st evening, but the one time we had a 'full' meal we regretted it. Worst nights sleep ever.

We normally have a light meal and look around where ever we are staying, unpack, perhaps have a swim. We try and stay up until about 9pm, and then take advantage of the early wake up time to do rope drop at our 1st park the next day. If we are planning on early breakfast in park, the 1st day is the day we do it, we'd struggle to get to park by 8 am later in the holiday

I know if we went to a park on the day we land it would not be enjoyable, we'd be too tired to enjoy (much as I love the idea of getting to a park ASAP).

Enjoy what ever you decide, you'll love OKW

 

[wilma-bride]

As others have said, even with an arrival time of 16.10, by the time you have cleared immigration, collected your luggage and got the DME, it could be up to (and, worst case scenario, in excess of 2 hours) before you even get to the resort. Back in March, I went with my DD and we landed just before 4. We were through immigration in 10 minutes, waited over 20 minutes for our luggage, got straight on the DME bus and then sat and waited again, for well over half an hour, for more people to arrive. By the time we got to the Boardwalk resort it was well after 7. We did actually walk over to Epcot that night to watch Illuminations and meet up with friends but only because epcot was such a short walk from our hotel and we both had APs. Had we had to catch a bus or use up a day's ticket for a fairly short visit, we would not have bothered. And, FWIW I agree with Wayne - a TS meal on the first night would be totally wasted on us. We are normally far too tired to eat anything more than a quick snack on that first night.

 

[zavandor]

Thank you all for the feedback, I was uncertain about the reservation for the first evening, I think you cleared any doubt
It was my only chance to go to Sci-Fi for this trip, but I guess it's not worth, it will be for the next trip.

I've just picked a seat on the flight: I've chosen one in the upper deck with VA (is it the bubble?). Is it a good choice?

 

[wilma-bride]

Thank you all for the feedback, I was uncertain about the reservation for the first evening, I think you cleared any doubt
It was my only chance to go to Sci-Fi for this trip, but I guess it's not worth, it will be for the next trip.

I've just picked a seat on the flight: I've chosen one in the upper deck with VA (is it the bubble?). Is it a good choice?

I think you've made the right decision. As far as seat choice, we love the seats in the bubble. While there is less head room, it is much more cosy and quieter. In my opinion, they are some of the best economy seats.

 

[scoobydooby]

The bubble is quieter. In my experience they also let you off first with the PE people so if you are focussed you can be one of the first off the plane. Downside is you can't walk around much. It also feels a bit claustrophobic but then I am a bad flyer.

 

[maclondon]

bubble is a good choice as you'll be among the first economy passengers out of the plane.

I'm aiming to get up there or at the front of economy on the way out

but either there or the back of the plane for the home journey as I'm not too worried about being out quick!!

 

[zavandor]

I have one more question, regarding luggage: for BA flights, a personal item (a laptop bag, a small backpack...) is allowed in cabin in addition to the hand baggage. Is it the same for VA? I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere, so I presume not. But it's worth trying

 

[Elise79]

I have one more question, regarding luggage: for BA flights, a personal item (a laptop bag, a small backpack...) is allowed in cabin in addition to the hand baggage. Is it the same for VA? I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere, so I presume not. But it's worth trying

Not quite the same here is the link to the hand baggage policy: VA Hand Baggage

You can have one item up to 10kgs in weight within the size requirements plus one from a small list of other items including a small handbag which must be "used as it would normally be" it doesn't include a laptop bag or small backpack as they consider these baggage

 

[Shazzie B]

I wouldn't risk it personally, but they don't seem to stick to their own baggage policy. On our VA flight home from Miami this year two ladies who sat behind us had at least 3 large bags each (each within cabin bag size) I prefer to take minimum cabin baggage, you never know how long the walk is through immigration etc.

 

[Azza1987]

Not quite the same here is the link to the hand baggage policy: VA Hand Baggage

You can have one item up to 10kgs in weight within the size requirements plus one from a small list of other items including a small handbag which must be "used as it would normally be" it doesn't include a laptop bag or small backpack as they consider these baggage

Thanks for this!

I thought it was the same as United, I took my cabin bag and a 'large' hardbang last year with no problems was planning on doing the same this year but think I'll just take my small over the shoulder bag alongside my little hand luggage bag! Im a worrier for losing luggage (touch wood its not happened yet and I hope it doesn't) but I always pack a couple of days worth of clothes in my hand luggage 'in case'!

 

[scoobydooby]

I find the best way to deal with this in Virgin flights if you want a substantial handbag is to have a cabin case large enough to hold your handbag during check in. This is how I manage it.

 

[Minniesgal]

Firstly I could never eat a TS meal on first night. You would be looking at around 9-10pm to be seated, in reality your body is on 2-3am UK time, with travelling, tiredness & excitement all thrown into the mix the majority of people can't eat much more than a snack on arrival. I would say earliest you can get to a park is around 8pm but any delays on plane, slow immigration etc it could be upto 10pm. Going into a park on arrival day is not something we aim to do but we have done it twice to catch fireworks on Xmas day & 4th July. Both times on VA early plane landing around 3pm, got to MK around 7pm.

We usually arrive starving an go straight to the Perkins pancake place on the way to our hotel.

I wouldn't make an ADR any less than 4 hours after landing or you risk missing it. That's why we always eat offsite first night.