Virgin Flight VS027 (departs Gatwick 11:15am)

[LorraineH]

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone can help with this query.......

We are booked on the 11:15 Gatwick to Orlando International through Virgin, travelling in October 2004.

I believe it arrives local time 15:25 (or something like that).

What with all the new queues and finger prints, and photos etc, what time (roughly) is it likely we will reach our offsite hotel on International Drive? No car to pick up, we're using Virgin's transfers.

If anyone's flown this route recently, and could give us a time guide, that would help with our "first day planning".

Plus, as we're first-timers, would we want to do anything that day anyway?? Or will we be too tired?

Any thoughts?


Lorraine

 

[Celestine]

Can't answer the first bit, but regarding what to do, we've found that by the time you've got yourself sorted it's early evening. We normally go for a light bite 7 maybe a walk around downtown disney before hitting the sack about 9-10pm local time (your body will be saying 2-3am)! Although you'll still wake early, it has helped us localise quickly. When you do wake early, we've found that having a drink (not caffeinated)or read for an hour allows you to then go back to sleep for a couple of hours before you hit the parks etc. Whatever you do, have a great time. As you're going in October, don't forget MNSSHP

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi LorraineH,

I flew on VS 27 on the 30th April.

We left on time and had a fast trans atlantic crossing landing a t around 1435. We got to the gate around 1445. We were kept on board the aircraft ( immigration hold) for 5-10 mins.

Immigration took around 5-10 mins ( we were first off almost as we were in Upper Class). No fingerprinting was don ( UK passport) and the bags were on the upper belt when we cleared immigration.
Security took a few minutes only and a couple of minutes after arriving at the baggage reclaim belt the bags came off ( this was around 1525).

I was at the Hilton WDW by 1600.

I think the main factor for you is that you will probably have to wait for everyone on your transfer list to arrive and then possibly multiple dropoffs before your hotel?
Have a great time!!

Regards

TBS

 

[keswick1uk]

Hi,

We went on the 11.15 on 8th March. Left 3/4 hour late but made up time and arrived 3.05 local time.

Immigration, MCO double baggage collection, and car hire collection, travel to Lake Buena Vista with no wrong turnings, and fully checked in by 5 o'clock.

If anything it'll be the whether you go straight to your accommodation without hitch that will be the major time factor. If you have to wait for others to board your coach and then go around the houses before your hotel...who knows. Having said that, if you are not driving, you are already there in a sense so lie back and relax........you'll be in the land of the mouse!

All we did was visit the local supermarket, buy some goodies including our tea (we had a kitchen in our accommodation) and had an early night. (Because it was midnight to us at 7 o'clock!)

 

[LorraineH]

Thanks guys for all the quick responses.

Gosh, Im hoping we'll be as lucky as you lot!! My kids are hoping to hit the hotel pool when we arrive and we may be able to do that.

Alas, we wont be in first class, we've prebooked our seats at the rear of economy so it looks like we'll be last off the plane.

It would just be so great if we had a couple of hours after unpacking to have a quick look round.

Thanks again,


Lorraine

PS - Just a quickie - I dont suppose any of you lot had Nintendo on your flights did you??

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi LorraineH,

I was lucky, my lfight was a LHR fleet aircraft ( doing an aircraft swap) -" Cosmic Girl" so we had vport ( Ninento Games and AVOD movies- fantastic).

I think the flight is back to the LGW fleet so it will only be the Nova system ( no games).

However by next year the LGW fleet will have had vport( and games fitted)

Regards

TBS

 

[jockey]

Hi lorraineH

Doesn't matter if you are last off the aircraft as all the econonmy bags come off together!! In my experience it normally takes around 30 minutes from the first person gets off so there is no hurry to pick up the bags!!!!!