Realistically when would we get to parks?

[HRHPrincessAriel]

Landing at 11:25 and using DME to POFQ.

 

[KCheatle]

You'll get to your hotel around 1:30 (maybe a little before depending on how busy DME is and whether you catch the first bus). After you check in, which will take 15-20 minutes, and you get to your room and get unloaded, another 15-20 minutes if you're quick, you're looking at 2:10 before you're ready to get to a bus. Assuming your bus gets there fast (5 minutes or less), and then it's an approximately 30 minute ride to get MK, I would say you are through the gates, at the earliest, by 2:45-3:00. However, more realistically, I would say closer to 3:30.

If you are going to other parks, you'll have to factor in the bus ride to those parks. Obviously, Epcot and HS are closer to POFQ than MK. AK is also slightly closer. So those bus rides will be shorter.

 

[mcurtiss]

this is almost the same timeframe as us last year going to CBR. We were at CBR via the DME by about 2 and at the MK by 3:30 or so

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

would a 3:45 fantasmic package reservation be crazy?

 

[Weather_Lady]

It depends on a number of things (see below) -- you could end up in a park anywhere from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. I think a reasonable expectation would be that you'll get to your resort around 1:00pm. How long it takes to get to a park from there depends on whether you plan to stop in your room for awhile, eat lunch, etc., but in our experience, it will take less than an hour from stepping out of your room toward the bus stop to stepping off a bus at the park of your choice (although a good rule of thumb is always to allow yourself at least an hour to get anywhere at WDW). In our experience, time from landing to hitting a park (including a 30 minute stop in our resort room to unpack and freshen up) is typically 3 hours.

On-time landing: 11:25am
[Do you have to collect bags at baggage claim? Add 10-20 minutes. Assuming you don't have to...]
Take shuttle to terminal, walk through airport, potty break, walk to DME and check in: 10-20 minutes
Stand in line for bus to POFQ: 0-20 minutes
Bus to resort, possibly with a stop at 1-2 other resorts: 40-60 minutes
Check in at resort: 5-15 minutes
Visit room, unpack and freshen up (if ready) or check bags with Bell Services: 5-30 minutes
Wait for bus to a park: 0-20 minutes
Bus to park: 20-35 minutes

 

[Weather_Lady]

would a 3:45 fantasmic package reservation be crazy?

No, but have the dining reservation/cancellation numbers handy, so you can call and explain the situation in the event your flight gets delayed or something else messes with your schedule.

 

[wdwmagic]

would a 3:45 fantasmic package reservation be crazy?

I would say yes, because I would not want to be keep looking at the time as soon as I get on the plane trying to see if we would make it or not. I like to leave the arrival day very flexible. So many things can delay you.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

Do it you'll be fine it has ever only taken be no more than 1 hour to get from my plane to the resort I've stayed at cbr and pop

 

[disney4life2008]

I have arrived at Noon at MCO via Southwest -

Noon arrival; DME check in and travel to resort (60 to 90 mins); if room is ready (shower and lunch) and arrive at any park by 4pm (sometimes earlier depending on how quick the buses are running). If my room is not ready, I tend to wait around - it is hard for me to go to the parks without freshening up in my room first.

 

[Tom 55]

The Magic Express buses that I have used to get to POFQ only stop at Old Key west before POFQ. Then it is on to PORS. In Sept. of 2013 our flight arrived at 9.30 and we were in our room at POFQ at 11.30am. I went back and looked at time stamp on pictures. We took boat down to DTD and were there at noon. That trip take as much time as the bus to HS. I stayed at PORS Sept. 2004. POFQ i stayed Sept 2009 and 2013. Was there in Dec 2012. Will be back again in Sept 2014.

 

[buseegal]

what happens if your flight is delayed for any reason and your 3:45 ressie is a no show with $10.00 per person charge? delays happen any time of year not just winter

 

[mcurtiss]

yeah, i wouldn't cut it that close. not worth stressing over.

 

[jlsHouston]

would a 3:45 fantasmic package reservation be crazy?

What if your flight was delayed? OR for some reason they didn't send the DME bus for POFQ right away to load? I have waited 30 minutes to board DME before. I have used DME 3 times and twice we were on our bus quickly and the other time for CSR, it took a while.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

While I don't think it's impossible, I think you have to consider a variety of travel delays.

We arrived at 11am for our 2010 trip...it was around 12:30 when we got to WL...took forever to check in, but were making our way over to MK by about 1:45p. Our flight landed early, which was good, but as noted before- we had to wait a while to finalize check in and we also were the 2nd or 3rd stop on DME.

Ultimately, I really don't like booking ADRs on our arrival day unless they are much later. Ex. our dinner ADR on that 2010 trip was something like 7:20pm.

 

[BigTxEars]

All of these other folks know a lot more about this question than me, but I am chiming in with good Disney wishes that you make it on time to the ADR.

We land at 3pm at MCO, taking DME to the BW and have FP+ on Tower Of Terror at 6:15p -7:15p so we are kinda in the same boat

 

[coltow]

From flight arrival at gate to resort front desk can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. Depending on how much time you then need at resort to check in, dump bags in room, get to bus and get to park can be another 1-2 hours. For my 9am arrival in August I'm keeping my fingrs crossed to be at MK at 1pm