What time should I make my first Genie+?

[Lexje06]

Hi everyone. I am landing in Orlando airport at 7:00 am. I am checking luggage, then taking the shuttle to animal kingdom lodge. Then dropping my bags and taking the bus to animal kingdom.

My question is, how long will all this take (ASSUMING MY FLIGHT IS RUNNING ON TIME). I do not want to book my first genie+ too early and miss my time a lot, but also do not want to book it too late and waste time. Of course, this is again assuming we take off on time but I’ll know that by 5 am that day.

Edited to add- wow just realized there is no more free shuttle. This means a Lyft or Uber? Or what are my options now?!

 

[NJlauren]

You won’t be able to make the genie till 7, so you’ll have a good idea If your on time by then.

I would say 9:30-10:30 or 10-11 that gives you time to get off the flight, get your bag, get an Uber drop your bag, maybe get a coffee and get to the park.

I was waiting for my friend at MCO at 1pm and was in MK by 2:44, with a coffee stop and we stopped by our room.

But we had no checked bags, and she probably landed 20 minutes prior. So figure 2ish hours.

 

[KristaZ]

As far as your options to get to your resort you have Uber/Lyft or there's still shuttle service - it's just paid now. Mears Connect is what Magical Express used to be, and Sunshine Flyer is another similar service. Both are around $17pp/each way, but I think Sunshine Flyer is running a kids ride free promo right now.

If your Uber/Lyft you'll be to your resort likely much faster. If you go this route, you'd probably be at AK around 9:30/10 if everything goes perfectly. If you go the Mears Connect/Sunshine Flyer route, I would plan for closer to 11, just to be safe. In my experience, using one of the shuttle services we're usually at the resort around 2 hours after landing.

You'll also have an hour to use your Genie+ pass from whatever your start time is, plus usually a 15 minute grace period after that.

 

[snikki]

I would book for 10-11 am. That way you aren't rushing and you have time to soak in the atmosphere of your first park arrival.

We've landed at 8:30 am, done Magical Express, dropped off bags at POFQ, ate QS breakfast at POFQ and been in the MK by 11 am.

We have Tiffany Towncar booked for our next trip since DME is gone. I chose this over Mears and SF since we are flying in late (9 pm arrival) and I want to get to the resort ASAP. I also don't want to use an Uber/Lyft late at night with my teen daughter. We are going to use their grocery stop too.