Magical Express question

[gettingsmaller]

Hey,
We'll be arriving at the Orlando airport at approx 11:45AM (in Sept). We'll probably be hungry. We also plan to visit MK that day. So, my thinking is that maybe the best use of our time (and maybe better for our stomachs) will be to grab something at the airport on our way to the Magical Express...
Anyone else have any experience or comments on this? Just thinking we could get a sandwich at McDonald's and eat while we walk or something... Then, we don't have to take time to get something once we're at the resort...

Also, we'll be eating at Crystal Palace around 5PM, so we just need something to keep us going until then...


Thanks!

 

[goofyman]

I think this is one of those, do you want to spend the time eating now or later. Magical express can be one of those timing things. If you stop to eat at airport you might miss a bus that's ready to go at that moment that you are eating and thus you would get to resort faster and have time to eat. Or if the timing is right you could eat at airport and the bus may not be ready to go so you save time. I guess what I am saying is "it's all about timing":brick:

 

[Hakunamatata]

Hey,
We'll be arriving at the Orlando airport at approx 11:45AM (in Sept). We'll probably be hungry. We also plan to visit MK that day. So, my thinking is that maybe the best use of our time (and maybe better for our stomachs) will be to grab something at the airport on our way to the Magical Express...
Anyone else have any experience or comments on this? Just thinking we could get a sandwich at McDonald's and eat while we walk or something... Then, we don't have to take time to get something once we're at the resort...

Also, we'll be eating at Crystal Palace around 5PM, so we just need something to keep us going until then...


Thanks!

You could actually sit down and eat after you land. There would be no reason to eat while walking to ME.

 

[tink68]

The first 2 times we went to DW we got right on a bus with no wait. The last time we stood in line for 30 min waiting on a bus. I would suggest you grab a snack before you board the plane or right after you land and get going. By the time you get on the bus, get to your resort and get your room it may be closer to your dinner time than you thought. I don't like to waste any time either eating. hehe I just want to get there and start having fun.
P.S. I am in Arlington not too far from you:wave: Have fun!

 

[EMThompsen]

I know when I arrive at an airport I want to get out of that airport ASAP. I usually have a change of clothes in my carry on because it may take a while to get my luggage to my room. Then as soon as I get to my hotel room I don't have to wait to go from cold New England garb to sunny Florida wear. You might try including a few snacks in your carry on...do they let you do that these days?
Then just munch on snacks while you wait for the ME bus. That should take the edge off & hold you over until you get to your destination & can have something more substantial.

 

[gettingsmaller]

This is our first time using ME, and I haven't been through the Orlando airport in almost 10 years. So, I just wasn't sure about the layout of the airport, where you go for ME vs. where the food places are, etc.. When it comes to timing, it seems like if we just grabbed and kept walking, we'd hopefully catch that bus that's ready for us to just walk on... but, if not, we're fed and can wait for the next one... Part of my question (which I didn't really put into the post) is: is McD's, etc. "on the way" to wherever you hook up with the ME? I don't know about going way out of my way to get food, but I feel like I may as well grab it if I'm passing by...

tink68, :wave: back at ya.

 

[Rob562]

This is our first time using ME, and I haven't been through the Orlando airport in almost 10 years. So, I just wasn't sure about the layout of the airport, where you go for ME vs. where the food places are, etc.. When it comes to timing, it seems like if we just grabbed and kept walking, we'd hopefully catch that bus that's ready for us to just walk on... but, if not, we're fed and can wait for the next one... Part of my question (which I didn't really put into the post) is: is McD's, etc. "on the way" to wherever you hook up with the ME? I don't know about going way out of my way to get food, but I feel like I may as well grab it if I'm passing by...

tink68, :wave: back at ya.

There are food places out by the gates, but the main food court at the airport in the the middle area of level 3 (the level the shuttles from the gates arrive at). The gates are to either end of the main terminal. So it's not all that far to walk to get to the food court. From there you just go to the proper side (B?) for where Magical Express is located, and go down to Level 1.

-Rob

 

[shari71]

Could one in your party go to ME and another grab the food? They only need one person in your party to check-in and they usually send the rest to sit down in the waiting area. That way you could meet up after you check-in and eat while in the line or on the bus.

Other than that, I don't see a reason why you couldn't grab something on the way like McDonald's. With kids I have learned to eat and walk at the same time

 

[wannabeBelle]

Me personally I eat prior to boarding the plane at my home airport and the airline usually serves some kind of small snack. That is almost always enough to hold me over for the trip to my resort. I prefer to eat at Disney than in the airport so I will usually wait until I get there then hit the food court. Belle

 

[slappy magoo]

My dillemma is, despite the fact that so much of the food there really isn't THAT good, I like to get to WDW ASAP, and eat there, especially if the other option is the same fast food I can get everywhere else. A WDW cheeseburger might not taste any better, but you can ONLY get it in WDW, you know?

My advice, eat a halfway decent breakfast at the airport before boarding. A bagel and an apple, or something similar. Something that will curb your hunger, but not make you feel all bloated and cramped on the plane. like, say a fast food greasy egg and sausage sandwich, tasty though they are. Your future passengers, Im sure will thank you. And pack some snacks for the plane ride, stuff you can nibble on during the flight and after. Pretzels, trail mix, celery and carrots, stuff like that. Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a turkey wrap if you think you'll need something more, but I'd stick to the snacks, because they'll keep if you don't eat them more than the sandwich would. This way, when you get off the plane, you won't feel like you just ate a seven-course meal, but you shouldn't be starving either, and can go right to Magical Express. If they tell you there that you missed the bus, and the next one isn't for 20 minutes or so, you might have time to run and grab something, but if not, you still have the snacks.

 

[Rob562]

Here's a map of the main terminal at the airport.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/images/diagrams/terminal_layout_l.jpg

Magical Express is on Side B, Level 1.

Another option would be to get off the plane, take Magical Express to your hotel, and head right for the food court at the hotel after getting off the bus. Nothing says you have to check in *right* after you step off the bus. Or alternately, send one adult to go check in while the rest of your group gets food.

-Rob

 

[figmentmom]

My guess here is that you're going to have less free time once you land and head for the ME than you think. By the time you take the ME to the hotel, check in, take your carry-on luggage to your room, wash up, and arrive at the parks, it's going to be REEEAAAL close to 5 p.m.

That said, pack sandwiches in your carry-on luggage, and chow 'em down a half hour before landing. You and your family will be refueled for the sprint across the airport, the bus ride to your resort, the amount of time you'll need to wait to check in, and the trek to your room. With all that runnng around, the family ought to be good and ready for a nice sit-down meal at 5 p.m.in the park.

In any case, have a great trip! :wave:

 

[CleveRocks]

My guess here is that you're going to have less free time once you land and head for the ME than you think. By the time you take the ME to the hotel, check in, take your carry-on luggage to your room, wash up, and arrive at the parks, it's going to be REEEAAAL close to 5 p.m.

I guess it all depends on your definition of REEEAAAL close to 5:00 p.m..

Average DME time from plane landing to resort drop-off is 70 minutes. But let's say it takes 90 minutes. So now it's 1:15 p.m. Let's say check-in is slow and takes 30 minutes, so now it's 1:45 p.m. 10 minutes to find the room, 15 minutes to freshen up and sit for a bit, so now it's 2:10 p.m. Then off to a bus and get to MK within 30 minutes, so now it's 2:40 p.m. And that's if DME is a bit slower than average and check-in is a little slow and you leisurely get to your room and hang there a bit, and then you have a 15 minute wait for an MK bus.

So even at a slow pace, is 2:40 p.m. REEEAAAL close to 5:00 p.m.? For some it might be, for most I'd say it isn't.

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I didn't want others who aren't as familiar with all the systems to think that by taking DME it would take them nearly 5 hours to get from airplane to Magic Kingdom.

 

[Cole'sMom]

I would personally prefer to grab a meal at WDW in one of the parks. There is nothing like taking a breather after a hectic morning leaving, fighting the airport and rushing. It's the calm before the vacation storm! It helps me deflate.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I guess it all depends on your definition of REEEAAAL close to 5:00 p.m..

Average DME time from plane landing to resort drop-off is 70 minutes. But let's say it takes 90 minutes. So now it's 1:15 p.m. Let's say check-in is slow and takes 30 minutes, so now it's 1:45 p.m. 10 minutes to find the room, 15 minutes to freshen up and sit for a bit, so now it's 2:10 p.m. Then off to a bus and get to MK within 30 minutes, so now it's 2:40 p.m. And that's if DME is a bit slower than average and check-in is a little slow and you leisurely get to your room and hang there a bit, and then you have a 15 minute wait for an MK bus.

So even at a slow pace, is 2:40 p.m. REEEAAAL close to 5:00 p.m.? For some it might be, for most I'd say it isn't.

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I didn't want others who aren't as familiar with all the systems to think that by taking DME it would take them nearly 5 hours to get from airplane to Magic Kingdom.

Absolutely true Cleve!!!! My rule of thumb is that I can be in a park within 5 hours of my plane take off time at Newark NJ's Liberty International Airport. That is from my take off time, not my arrival time in Orlando!!! I would completely agree that you should eat probably at arrival at the resort, maybe prior to check in. I have done that as when I got there the line to check in was NUTS. So I took a little while and went to go eat!!! It worked out very well!!! Belle

 

[Raven66]

We always take a morning flight. We grab a quick breakfast such as a bagel for me and dd and pop tarts for dh. And in my carry on I pack snacks. I make homemade trail mix(big hit with the family), packs of fruit snacks, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, basically everything but the kitchen sink. I guess we are just so excited about being there we just don't want to take the time to stop and buy any food. If I'm going to wait in line for a cheeseburger, I want to wait in a WDW line.:ROFLOL:

 

[gettingsmaller]

Thanks everyone for the input.
While I understand the desire to get to the resort/parks as quickly as possible, I am really *hoping* that a quick McD stop, etc would not slow us down very much.
I like the idea of packing sandwiches and eating them on the plane... have to think about that one... snacks wouldn't be bad, either--except... we'll probably eat some quick breakfast at about 6-7AM and then it would be nothing but snacks until 5PM... of course, my kids would probably prefer that... hmmmm....
You guys have been helpful. Thanks for the tips--and the info about where ME is located at MCO.
We still have a while to think about it, so I guess I'll keep pondering... I have just gotten excited because we just got the air booked and have definite times, gates, etc..