Magical Express Newbie

[disneydream211]

I am by no means a first timer to WDW but this will be my first time flying to MCO and taking the DME. I am debating on whether or not to go to Epcot the night we get in. Epcot is open till 11:00pm and our flight gets in at 7:10pm which will probably be 7:00pm because it always gets in a few minutes early. How long does it take to get to the DME and get on the bus and get to the resort? About an estimate? We're staying at Fort Wilderness Campground if that helps. Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I am by no means a first timer to WDW but this will be my first time flying to MCO and taking the DME. I am debating on whether or not to go to Epcot the night we get in. Epcot is open till 11:00pm and our flight gets in at 7:10pm which will probably be 7:00pm because it always gets in a few minutes early. How long does it take to get to the DME and get on the bus and get to the resort? About an estimate? We're staying at Fort Wilderness Campground if that helps. Thanks!

Budget 90 minutes from when you get off the plane to when you're walking into your resort. So that's 8pm

Assuming you can go right to the park (you don't need to check in, drop off bags, change, etc), you're looking at 45 minutes to an hour (includes wait for a bus & travel to park). So I'd guess you're walking through the gates at 9pm. Doesn't seem like a good value for two hours of park time.

 

[purple figment]

Our rule of thumb is 3 hours from arriving at MCO to walking through the gate of a park. Sometimes it is less and sometimes more. Deplaning and getting to your resort on DME takes anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, with 70 minutes about average. Checking in and getting to your cabin or campsite is another 30 minutes. Then allow about an hour by bus or boat/monorail to get to Epcot.

 

[wdwrich]

I am by no means a first timer to WDW but this will be my first time flying to MCO and taking the DME. I am debating on whether or not to go to Epcot the night we get in. Epcot is open till 11:00pm and our flight gets in at 7:10pm which will probably be 7:00pm because it always gets in a few minutes early. How long does it take to get to the DME and get on the bus and get to the resort? About an estimate? We're staying at Fort Wilderness Campground if that helps. Thanks!

You'll be doing a lot of running/traveling around just to get an hour or so of park time. Add in the fact that you've been traveling most of the day already and I really don't see that it's worth it at all. Relax and get settled in at FW, then get a good night's rest for a morning start to your park touring.

 

[msimoneaux]

What about catching dining reservations. I have a flight that lands at 3:50, taking magical express to fort wilderness, and have 6:50 dining at ohana. Do you think this is safe or should I try to get ohana for a different night?

 

[wdwrich]

What about catching dining reservations. I have a flight that lands at 3:50, taking magical express to fort wilderness, and have 6:50 dining at ohana. Do you think this is safe or should I try to get ohana for a different night?

Figure 90 minutes from airport gate to resort arrival *IF* everything is on schedule. Flight delays, traffic, etc. could put a big monkey wrench into your plans to be at 'Ohana on time. Our rule of thumb is not to make ADRs for an arrival night dinner unless our flight is schedule to arrive by noon.

 

[dawnhaze]

I think the matter of having ADRs on arrival day really depends on how willing you are to eat the no-show fee if you have a delay anywhere along the line - on the plane, at the airport, at the resort, with transportation... All that adds up to plenty of places where something can hiccup.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I think the matter of having ADRs on arrival day really depends on how willing you are to eat the no-show fee if you have a delay anywhere along the line - on the plane, at the airport, at the resort, with transportation... All that adds up to plenty of places where something can hiccup.

Exactly