Disney world Florida

[WelshMoth]

Quick question for any experienced WDW travellers:

If we land in Orlando at about 4 in the afternoon, about how long would it take to get to Disney Caribbean? Would you know roughly how long it takes to check in?

Am hoping to get some Park hours in on our first evening - even if it's just a walk around to explore.

[tisonlymeagain]

How long it takes to get out of the airport is anyone's guess but then it will be about 30-40 mins drive to get to your hotel, depending on traffic etc. Check-in at Disney Resorts is normally quite quick in my experience.

I've always headed out to the parks for a bit on first evening, can't see it being a problem for you but rather than make firm plans I'd just wing it. I always like to stay up late and get onto local time as soon as possible.

[Casperandjasper]

It really is just luck of the draw.
US immigration is the biggest factor. Last year (July), after landing in Orlando, we weren’t allowed off the plane for about 1 hour because immigration was so busy (first time that has ever happened to us). Depending on how many flights have arrived, it can take anything from 30 mins to a couple of hours to get through.
Picking up rental cars can be very slick - not more than 20 mins (we use Alamo, pre-checked in). We’ve never used Disney buses for transport to hotels so I can’t comment on them.
As a pp said the journey to Disney is 30/40 mins but can take longer at peak times.
Check in is quite quick.
However, a 4pm landing would usually see us settled in our hotel by around 7pm.
Have a great time.

[NeedAUsernameGenerator]

Took us 2 hours to get through the airport which I think is unusually awful and then under an hour to Disney after that. Check in at the hotel was quick.

[WelshMoth]

Thanks everyone. I've booked just one fastpass rise (Frozen) at Epcot but I'm not counting on it. Anything on the 12th will be a bonus.

[PoptartPoptart]

From experience op, by the time you get off the plane, through immigration, collect your luggage, drive to the hotel, check in and find your room, you are looking at anywhere between 2-4 hours.
You would have been travelling for the best part of 13-14 hours by this point and you will likely be quite tired.
We always get to our room, unpack and then go exploring around the hotel. We usually book dinner at a restaurant at the hotel we are staying in.
We have an early night (Florida time about 9pm, but remember your body clock will be telling you it is 5 hours later, so 2am on English time).
Then we usually naturally wake up early the next day (jet lag/time difference) and make the most of it by getting to the parks for rope drop). By early afternoon we are usually knackered so head back to the hotel for a swim and a bit of a rest. Then off out again later for dinner/fireworks etc.
I’m very jealous op, you’ll have an amazing time!

[AnguaUberwaldIronfoundersson]

We went in September and landed at 5pm. By the time we’d got through immigration, got our car, drive to the hotel and checked in it was dark and we were exhausted. Our hotels were really close to Disney but we decided to get an early night and be up early the next day.

[WelshMoth]

Poptart and Angua fair point. I hadn't factored in the time difference!

I may cancel actually - we'll be raring to go by next day.

LOVE the name Angua - one of my fav TP characters ❤️

[Oldraver]

Orlando airport can take ages to get through...it has huge taxi ways and from landing can take an age to get to the terminal.

Then you have US immigration...ahem.

This airport also used to have a weird set up where after you have collected luggage and gone through customs you then have to give your luggage back for it to be sent over to another terminal (which I didnt like as anyone can pick it up) while you get the monorail thingy....

[ValleyoftheHorses]

We don’t stay on site but can’t imagine feeling like a park after the flight and travel.
You’ll be awake at 4am so plan rope drop on day 2 instead. Enjoy!

[ValleyoftheHorses]

If you travel light enough to carry all your luggage in one go up one steep flight of stairs you can keep it with you.
No lifts, no trolleys, no returns so it has to go on the belt.

[ZenNudist]

Im going next year. I wish i was as excited as you guys.

[underneaththeash]

So if you land at 4pm, it'll be 5pm by the time you head downstairs for the magical express. You then queue to check in for this and bus departing takes anything from 20 minutes to an hour.....so with the ride to the hotel (which also stops at other hotels) it will be 60 minutes.

So you'll get to the hotel to check in at 7pm - which will feel like 2am!

[josette]

Agree with others who are saying you will be tired on that first night with the time difference. We landed at 3 and got to our Disney hotel at about 6pm. I had decided against booking a table service meal in the parks on that evening and we just had a quick service meal in the hotel food court. Ds was asleep by 8pm Florida time, and we weren’t far behind.
Woke up very early the next morning though..4am (so about 9am UK time). It took a few days for us to get used to the time difference! Have a fab time. I loved it.

[Bogiesaremyonlyfriend]

We landed at similar time and were so set on going for a little bit on the first evening. We were exhausted after travelling and went for an early night instead. Disney is exhausting and loads of late nights so may as well be well rested for the first day!!

[HappySonHappyMum]

Always exhausted that first evening and trying to last out the extra few hours to stop time differences taking their toll. Plus why would you waste a whole day of entry on a just a couple of evening hours?!

[WisestIsShe]

We did exactly this in May this year. Flight arrived about 4, 95 minute queue through immigration. Arrived at Caribbean beach about 18.30. Made our fast pass in magic Kingdom about 19.30. We were traveling with DC aged 12 and 16 do although we were tired we just wanted to dive right in.
Couple of rides, quick service dinner, into bed by 23.00. Amazing start to the holiday.

I'd say plan for it and then if you can't be bothered just cancel your fast passes and chill at the hotel.

[eurochick]

I always feel really spacey with jet lag when I land in the US. We got to our hotel at around 7 but with 4 hours of time difference (we went in the week between clock changes so it was 4 rather than the usual 5) it felt much later. We just got a room service dinner and crashed out. The time difference helps the next day as you are likely to be up early.

[HermioneWeasley]

They seem to be processing immigration in a different part of the airport from before - I’m hoping it’s temporary. Our best ever has been less than an hour from landing to collecting the car. Last time we were over an hour in the immigration queue, and a friend who went a few weeks later said they were in the immigration queue for over 4hours 😱😱😱

[WelshMoth]

4 hours! Oh my God!!!

[RedTideBlues]

If you are going for 14 days and you have got 14 day tickets then you can use them on the day of departure as long as you don't use them on the day of arrival and miss at least one day in the middle.

[FitzChivalry]

Give it two hours average, and don't use the baggage claim if you can help it

[FitzChivalry]

Second baggage claim

[absolutelyknackeredcow]

Two hours in the immigration queue for us - it was absolutely terrible

[Quartz2208]

Immigration, luggage collection, long walk to Magical Express, waiting for and the drop off for that plus any delays it will be 7pm easily before you get there - which is midnight UK time. Immigration is bad at the moment as well!

Then you have to get to your room and check in. Then it takes around 30 mins from room to Epcot entrance (via the bus service). Epcot then has bag check and get in plus the walk its another hour - you are looking at 9 easily earliest. Then back home

We do it though when we stay at Universal first as its all walking distance

[federationrep]

We've been 5 times and never made it to a park first evening. Staying at a WDW resort will be magical enough to take in. I'd bank on everyone being awake early next day so check which parks have extra magic hours (ie open early for guests staying on resort). One year we made rope drop at Magic Kingdom & were offered a ride up Main Street in a vintage car to the Castle. We booked character breakfast at Crystal Palace. If you do feel like doing something first night there's always Disney Springs to explore or see if you can find any hidden Mickeys at your hotel. My DC do like to spot a hidden Mickey - we make it like a treasure hunt so when they find one they get an ice cream or dole whip (pretty sure Google's help is enlisted but whatever, we're on holiday)