Opinions needed for my airport to ADR timing...

[Jae99]

How much time should I allow to get from the airport to our resort and then to Epcot?

We are landing in Orlando at 1:25 pm and have reservations in Epcot at Chefs de France for the Candlelight Dinner Processional dinner package. Will I have enough time to make it for the reservation? How much of a mad rush will it be?

 

[sxeensweet]

Too many variables such as delays on your flight for any numerous issues, delays with magical express, Disney transportation to Epcot (unless your renting a car) etc, and what time is your reservation? I personally if flying would not chance it that day. We always drive in but give us ample extra time before we schedule a late evening reservation like 9pm. Is there another day you could reschedule it to?

 

[4disneylovers]

I wouldn't do it. We have been delayed the last 4 times we flew

 

[Jae99]

Thank you for the replies. After looking at things realistically and not wanting to be worried or rushed at any point throughout the day I cancelled the reservation for 4:40 and booked one at Rose and Crown for later in the evening. Maybe I will be lucky and get a good table for viewing Illuminations. I was able to change reservations and book an early afternoon ADR at Chefs de France (Candlelight Dining Package) for our last day in the parks.

 

[dreamfinder]

I usually allow for 30-45 mins from expected arrival time to getting down to the DME area. Time to get off the plane, walk to the train/monorail thing, walk through the main terminal etc. Add in time for restroom/snacks, etc. And not to mention if your icon is indicative of your home, time to clear customs as well? Then its usually 15-30 mins to board bus, then 45-60 mins til you get off at your resort. Then 15-20 mins to check in/drop bags with bell services etc. Then 30-60 mins to wait for bus/ride bus to Epcot. Another 20-45 mins to get from the bus depot to France. So best case w/o knowing things like your resort would be about 2:45-3 from landing to being in France. More realistically 3:30+ easy.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I usually allow for 30-45 mins from expected arrival time to getting down to the DME area. Time to get off the plane, walk to the train/monorail thing, walk through the main terminal etc. Add in time for restroom/snacks, etc. And not to mention if your icon is indicative of your home, time to clear customs as well? Then its usually 15-30 mins to board bus, then 45-60 mins til you get off at your resort. Then 15-20 mins to check in/drop bags with bell services etc. Then 30-60 mins to wait for bus/ride bus to Epcot. Another 20-45 mins to get from the bus depot to France. So best case w/o knowing things like your resort would be about 2:45-3 from landing to being in France. More realistically 3:30+ easy.

Wow - you must have had a rough experience to quote those sort of timings

 

[dreamfinder]

Wow - you must have had a rough experience to quote those sort of timings

Eh, get stuck at the back of the plane takes 15 mins to get off even when it's not full of kids and families that don't travel all that often, gate at the far end of the terminal, just missing a DME bus (at least being the first ones in the queue), being 3rd or 4th stop on DME, only 1 person working checkin and a bunch of newbies in front of you, seeing 3 buses for every other park go by, etc. That said, I have had trips where I was in park about 1 1/2 hours after landing (lucked out opposite end and got run on everything just before it left). But when Disney says to allow 1 1/2 hours for transit when you are already on property, adding another 2 hours from plan landing to resort isn't that unheard of.

 

[Weather_Lady]

My family is a bunch of impatient, fast-walking, hyper-excited people. We travel carryon only, and even allowing for time to deplane, walk to the monorail-style shuttle, ride the shuttle, cross the airport, stop for a restroom break (and change from pants into shorts, if traveling in winter) and get to our line for DME, all with our bags in tow, we've never taken more than 15-20 minutes.

On an average day, we'll have taken the DME bus to our resort, checked in, unpacked, freshened up, hopped an MK bus and will be walking through the gates of the Magic Kingdom within 2 1/2 hours of the moment our plane touched down. However, as others said, a delay or two at any stage of that journey could snowball into a sizeable one...

 

[Mukta]

My family is a bunch of impatient, fast-walking, hyper-excited people. We travel carryon only, and even allowing for time to deplane, walk to the monorail-style shuttle, ride the shuttle, cross the airport, stop for a restroom break (and change from pants into shorts, if traveling in winter) and get to our line for DME, all with our bags in tow, we've never taken more than 15-20 minutes.

On an average day, we'll have taken the DME bus to our resort, checked in, unpacked, freshened up, hopped an MK bus and will be walking through the gates of the Magic Kingdom within 2 1/2 hours of the moment our plane touched down. However, as others said, a delay or two at any stage of that journey could snowball into a sizeable one...

You are my kind of people!!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

If we're running on time, flight-wise, it's usually about 10 min to get off the plane...15 min to get to DME...about a 10-15 min wait for the bus to depart...about 45 min to our resort once we do take off on DME...anywhere from 5-30 min with resort stuff upon arrival (depends on how smoothly things are running that day)...about 10-15 min wait for a bus to the park...drive time to the park on said bus...and then walking time to get from the bus to your restaurant- which could add to another 20 min.

While we are typically on the go as soon as we arrive, things can take longer than expected and travel day delays are all too common, so any arrival day ADRs are usually booked with a ton of cushion. i.e. with a morning or noon arrival, I normally look at ADRs around 7pm or later.