realistic arrival time to MK

[NashvilleMama]

I'm surprising my daughters (6 and 8) with a whirlwind weekend trip to MK over Veteran's Day weekend next month since school is out Friday and I have Southwest vouchers expiring. This is basically a nightmare for an advance planner but I'm trying to deal with it and be excited instead of stressed.

We land in Orlando at 8:45am Friday morning and have rented a car (Hertz - so straight to car, no counter stop). I was thinking we'd go drop our bags at the hotel and check in (Marriott Village - used points, no onsite resorts were available) but now I'm thinking we just go straight to MK.

What time should I realistically plan on being INSIDE after parking and getting through gates for when FP+ opens up for me here in a few days? Is 11am laughable? noon? We have a 3:20pm LTT ADR since I'll be shocked if my girls make it all the way to 7pm park close after a 3am wake-up for our flight!

thanks!!

 

[NashvilleMama]

p.s. no checked bags, I travel every week for work so am a pro at airport navigation and car rentals.

 

[beesly]

I'm surprising my daughters (6 and 8) with a whirlwind weekend trip to MK over Veteran's Day weekend next month since school is out Friday and I have Southwest vouchers expiring. This is basically a nightmare for an advance planner but I'm trying to deal with it and be excited instead of stressed.

We land in Orlando at 8:45am Friday morning and have rented a car (Hertz - so straight to car, no counter stop). I was thinking we'd go drop our bags at the hotel and check in (Marriott Village - used points, no onsite resorts were available) but now I'm thinking we just go straight to MK.

What time should I realistically plan on being INSIDE after parking and getting through gates for when FP+ opens up for me here in a few days? Is 11am laughable? noon? We have a 3:20pm LTT ADR since I'll be shocked if my girls make it all the way to 7pm park close after a 3am wake-up for our flight!

thanks!!

I don't personally think 11am is laughable. We landed at a different time of day and headed to a Disney resort instead of a park, but on Friday night my DD and I landed at MCO at 8:30pm and got to our resort by 9:30 - we had no checked bags, I'm also comfortable with airport navigation, and I used Budget's Fastbreak program so that we didn't have to wait in the regular rental car line - just went right over to the desk in the garage to give them my license and find out which space our rental car was in. Being able to do that much in an hour, I'd think you could be parked and inside MK within two hours or less (barring flight delays, traffic incidents, etc.).

 

[Accident]

I would assume an hour from hotel to standing in front of MK at security in the worst case senario but more likely 30-40 minutes. an hour to probably get to hotel and check in.. noon I think is a safer time for fp+ and a common trick I use when I plan to hop into the park after work is go by the end time of the fp+ and generally cms are great and give you 5-10 minutes extra to get there.. then getting your first for 11:30 give you until about 12:35ish to actually be at the ride..

 

[Txshadow]

I think an 11AM first fastpass is totally doable. You'll have your hour window to use it so no stress.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Totally doable. According to my trip notes, last year we had a flight land at 8:15. We took Magical Express to Old Key West, (2nd stop after Saratoga Springs) and were IN the Animal Kingdom by 10:15. We saw the 11 AM Finding Nemo show. But...our flight was one time. In my experience those super early morning flights usually are, but you never know. I still wouldn't hesitate to book at 11-12 Fast Pass...it essentially gives you until 12:15 to ride.

Good luck and have fun! That sounds great

 

[NashvilleMama]

I totally forgot about the hour window and was just focusing on the actual time. Thank you!! That makes me breathe a lot easier for flexibility.

 

[CAS239]

I would start scheduling FP's a little later in the afternoon just in case you have any flight delays.

 

[lroger01]

I'd make that first FP+ for a ride you like but isn't necessarily a must do in case you miss it and can't reschedule for later. Also something nearer the entrance like Jungle Cruise or Pirates rather than Splash or Haunted Mansion.

 

[GeneralTso]

I think that's tight but not impossible. That assumes no delays on any part of the trip. Your reservation is later in the afternoon, so you'll be fine. Just get there when you get there and take the pressure off of yourself to arrive at 11.