Magical Express Relistic Resort Arrival Expectations

[famsen]

Our flight isn't scheduled to land at MCO until 10:30pm.
We have planned to use DME to AKL. IF the flight is on time, once we get our bags and get to DME check in, what time should we expect to get to AKL?

I'm hoping midnight or 12:30am. Is this realistic? Anyone recommends we just get a rental car for about $145?

 

[WEDWDW]

I'm hoping midnight or 12:30am. Is this realistic?

Yes-by 12:30 AM VERY likely(probably earlier).

 

[famsen]

Thank you.

 

[thisismyusername]

I think 12:30 is a good estimate. A likely scenario is:

Land at 10:30
Depart plane at 10:40
10 minutes from gate, to tram, to Magical Express (15 if you count bathroom break)
Another 0-5-10 minute wait to get on the bus. It just depends on what's going on--sometimes we've been processed to get on the bus immediately, and other times we've waited for 10 minutes.
Get on the bus at 11 p.m. Here's the unknown: Will you be the last to board and the bus will depart immediately, or will you be the first to board, and the bus will idle for half an hour, filling slowly with guests, while you wait to depart? This will be the only time at Disney where you will wish for a full bus when you step onboard.
So worse case: 11:30 departure from MCO
12 a.m. arrival to WDW
Here's the other unknown: Will AKL be the first drop off, or will it be the third or fourth? Likely drop off anytime between 12:15 - 12:45.

 

[DLM1980]

Rent the car.....this brings back bad memories of our first stay on property. Delayed flight, after midnight arrival, 5 mins before food court closed, storm, long walk in the rain to hotel room at all star sports. Disappointed in the room, finally got to bed after 1:30 am

 

[Harlemgirl720]

No AKL will not be the first stop. Depends on who's on the bus. Usually they stop at AOA, Pop Century, Coronado Springs. AKL is the last two stops with Jambo first and Kidani last.

 

[PlutoPony]

If you don't need a rental car other than to get to AKL, one way car service may be easiest/cheapest.

 

[Lsyves]

We had a flight delay one year that landed us at MCO at 11:30 pm instead of 8:30. We waited quite a long time for the magical express to show up and about halfway to our hotel, we realized in our sleepy state that the music the driver was playing was hardcore rap (curse words, sex, etc.). Thank God our kids were asleep so we didn't have to make a scene (we were too tired to do anything but try to laugh about it). I don't think we laid down to sleep until 1:45/2. Based on that one experience, I'll take a cab if we ever get in that late again - even if I have to drop one of our nice table service reservations to make up for the cost!

 

[famsen]

I think 12:30 is a good estimate. A likely scenario is:

Land at 10:30
Depart plane at 10:40
10 minutes from gate, to tram, to Magical Express (15 if you count bathroom break)
Another 0-5-10 minute wait to get on the bus. It just depends on what's going on--sometimes we've been processed to get on the bus immediately, and other times we've waited for 10 minutes.
Get on the bus at 11 p.m. Here's the unknown: Will you be the last to board and the bus will depart immediately, or will you be the first to board, and the bus will idle for half an hour, filling slowly with guests, while you wait to depart? This will be the only time at Disney where you will wish for a full bus when you step onboard.
So worse case: 11:30 departure from MCO
12 a.m. arrival to WDW
Here's the other unknown: Will AKL be the first drop off, or will it be the third or fourth? Likely drop off anytime between 12:15 - 12:45.

The one bad part of this is we have to get our own bags first at this time of night. I assume that might add another 15-20 minutes

 

[famsen]

We had a flight delay one year that landed us at MCO at 11:30 pm instead of 8:30. We waited quite a long time for the magical express to show up and about halfway to our hotel, we realized in our sleepy state that the music the driver was playing was hardcore rap (curse words, sex, etc.). Thank God our kids were asleep so we didn't have to make a scene (we were too tired to do anything but try to laugh about it). I don't think we laid down to sleep until 1:45/2. Based on that one experience, I'll take a cab if we ever get in that late again - even if I have to drop one of our nice table service reservations to make up for the cost!

Oh boy. This is exactly the scenario I worry about; a long flight delay. I mean it won't kill us to get to our room even if 1am-3am because after all we're at Disney. But we plan on hitting MK first thing in the morning and would like to get some sleep. I know I'm worrying about something that might not even happen but I always hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

 

[Lsyves]

Oh boy. This is exactly the scenario I worry about; a long flight delay. I mean it won't kill us to get to our room even if 1am-3am because after all we're at Disney. But we plan on hitting MK first thing in the morning and would like to get some sleep. I know I'm worrying about something that might not even happen but I always hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Yeah, it wasn't Disney's fault for sure (damn you JetBlue!), but I think the fatigue factor would incline us to go with a taxi at that late hour if that happened again. But I agree, at least we were snuggled into our beds at a Disney resort! Nothing bad about that!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have taken DME to POP many times, and a few of those times, we went to AKL/Kidani first....so, it could be the first stop. It's not likely, but it can happen.
If it were me, I would probably consider getting a car service, or just use a cab. Sure, you 'could' be at AKL by midnight. That would have you off the plane by 10:45, down to baggage claim at 11ish, bags in hand by 11:20, down to DME, on the bus by 11:35 and off to AKL, if it was the first stop, then you would make it for midnight. And that's all best case scenario. You could be waiting for a bus for 20+ mins, your stop could be the last of 4 or 5 stops, so it could feasibly be closer to 1 by the time you get to AKL, if it's the last stop.
A cab or car service would get you to AKL by 11:45.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

We just did a scenario very similar to yours where our flight was scheduled to land at 11:15 pm. We were delayed due to the computer problem or whatever occurred in Washington DC on August 15 and didn't land until just after midnight. We did have to grab our own bags at this time of night, but you would have to do that with any alternative transportation anyway. When we made it to the DME it was pretty full so we waited about 10 minutes before departing. We were staying at Kidani and everyone else was at one of the All Star resorts. We were dropped off first. My only complaint about the night was that there was no one in the lobby to direct us at all except a CM mopping the floor. We had done online check-in and received our room number before we had even left our house, but we had to google a map of the resort to have an idea of where to go when we arrived. Again, transportation had nothing to do with this, just giving you our experience with a late night arrival. I don't think having to go to a rental counter, find a car, load it with luggage, etc would save much time over DME. I personally wouldn't want to drive from MCO at midnight out to AKL, but could see that a car service or taxi may save you a little time. I don't think it would be worth the cost, but only you know if the cost would outweigh the time saved for how your MK morning would go the next day. Good luck and have a great trip. AKL is great!

 

[nkereina]

We've found baggage claim at MCO to be a frustratingly long process. It consistently takes 30-35 minutes, if not longer, whenever we get our own bags - which we often do for various reasons. I would say 2 hours is about what I would anticipate, understanding it could be slightly longer. The upside is that since its a late time of night, they may not make you wait until the bus fills up. Last time we arrived was around 5pm and we had to sit on the bus for 30 minutes while it filled.

 

[carmelhp]

We've found baggage claim at MCO to be a frustratingly long process. It consistently takes 30-35 minutes, if not longer, whenever we get our own bags - which we often do for various reasons. I would say 2 hours is about what I would anticipate, understanding it could be slightly longer. The upside is that since its a late time of night, they may not make you wait until the bus fills up. Last time we arrived was around 5pm and we had to sit on the bus for 30 minutes while it filled.

Right. I think at the O.P's arrival time there will be few other flights getting in that late, so there is a good chance of no waiting.

 

[nkereina]

Right. I think at the O.P's arrival time there will be few other flights getting in that late, so there is a good chance of no waiting.

Their flight gets in shortly after 10. When I've arrived that late, it's taken just as long. Might not be many other flights, but they move beyond slowly!