MCO to BLT Travel Time?

[DPlanck]

We are flying in to Orlando and catching the Magical Express to BLT. Our plane arrives around 6:30 p.m. We'd like to catch dinner at BLT's California Grill and currently have a 7:55 p.m. reservation. Have we allowed enough time to get from the airport to BLT...or should we try for a later dinner reservation?

 

[nyisles84]

We are flying in to Orlando and catching the Magical Express to BLT. Our plane arrives around 6:30 p.m. We'd like to catch dinner at BLT's California Grill and currently have a 7:55 p.m. reservation. Have we allowed enough time to get from the airport to BLT...or should we try for a later dinner reservation?

That is going to cut it very close. If you can push back, I would.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

If you are using ME, then the answer to that question is no.

Sure you have an 1hr and 20 minutes in between landing and dinner, but there's no guarentee that

1) You lose time getting from your gate to ME.
2) No gaurentee that ME will be ready to leave the moment you get there (they may be loading additional passengers from other flights, etc...
3) No guarentee that the Contemporary / BLT will be ME's first stop.

I guess in theory the stars might align and pixie dust will fall on you just right......but it sounds offly tight to me.

 

[Sandisw]

We took ME to BLT in December. Our flight landed at 9:50 am and we pulled in to the CR at 12:05 pm. We were the last stop on the bus. It went to Poly, GF, and VWL before us. We only stood in line waiting for the bus for about 15 minutes before they loaded us on. We waited another 20 minutes waiting to leave the airport.

Some have said it is quicker to jump off at the Poly and then monorail it over to CR.

I think that you are cutting it a bit close.

 

[steery1]

You also cannot guarantee that your plane will arrive at 6.30pm. Migh be delayed. Havent been on a plane yet that wasn't delayed

 

[TinkGirl]

We just flew in June 18. We landed at 10:30 and didn't get to BLT until after 1:00. As luck would have it, we were the last stop on the ME bus.

 

[clc053103]

I think the rule of thumb is 2-3 hours from landing to arrival at hotel using ME.

 

[crisi]

I think the rule of thumb is 2-3 hours from landing to arrival at hotel using ME.

Nope

Think of it this way - your landing time is your touchdown time - you still need to get to the gate, get the gate open, debark the plane (if you are at the back of a big plane, that part alone can take ten minutes!), get through the MCO airport (POTTY BREAK), and get to the ME counter. You will likely not catch a bus that is pulling out RIGHT NOW - we've usually had a half an hour wait or something between checking in and being on the road. So its now 7:30 and you are leaving the airport. Disney is about 40 minutes away - so its now 8:10 - and BLT isn't necessarily the first stop.

We've done the "land at 11:00 be walking around the parks by 1:00" - but not with ME - we've done it by catching a cab.

 

[Pixieflip]

We waited over an hour in line at the ME station in Feburary. And we were first in line, no one else even there. A few people trickled in here and there, all got their bus within 10 minutes...us? Over an hour. I know it's frustrating but you just never can plan how that will go.

Maybe make two reservations and if it looks like you can't make the early one, you call and let it go.

 

[dianeschlicht]

One of the reasons we rent a car and don't take ME is the waiting. I HATE to wait once I've arrived at MCO, so we always rent a car.

 

[Candy Orlando]

We always rent a car. I love parking the car outside our door at OKW and SSR. It take us about one hour to get from touchdown to the resort.

 

[antnyh]

We must be the exception to this rule. While it does take approximately 30 min to get from plane to the ME area we never had to wait longer than 10 to 15 mins for a bus to arrive and begin loading. With that being said, I still don't think you will have time. I just wanted to share some positive light on ME.

 

[goofy4tink]

If your plane arrives, ontime, at 6:30, you will most likely be off the plane by 6:45ish...the time the plane lands is not the time you are walking out the gateway. The average time, from gate to resort checkin, is about 70 mins. BUT...I am seeing more and more reports of longer times to CR/BLT since it is usually the last stop on the route. I would plan on arriving at BLT by 8, not much sooner. I never make any ADRs, even at my resort, within 3 hrs of my landing time...just too many variables.
Even if you had a car service pick you up, and you had no bags to get, it would still take you about 50 mins...so that would be almost the time you have your ADR for. Way too much stress for me.

 

[DPlanck]

Thank you everyone! This is fantastic info! I'll plan for a later dinner and avoid the stress of praying we get there in time. Thanks again!

 

[stitchineeyore]

and one more thing to remember! if the stars are NOT aligned and you don't make your dinner reservation at all, go up to the Top of The World Lounge and have flatbreads for dinner! we did this our first night on our last trip, and it was great. the lounge serves food at least until 11 p.m, I believe. Hope you have a great time

 

[Disneypubgal]

You may really want to re-consider having Cali Grill first night... they have a cancellation policy and if anything goes wrong with your flight and you are really late you could be charged for missing your reservation, UGH!!!

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

You'd be cutting it really close. If the stars line up for you, you'll make it to your reservation but, If there are any delays for the ME you'll be late. Good luck I hope the stars line up for you.