12:15pm Flight after Disembarkment?

[goeva]

I'm thinking to book 12:15 pm flight after disembarkment. I know it's a bit rush but do you think I'll be able to make it to airport on time?
Thanks!

 

[ludari]

DCL prefers you do not book any flights before noon but you might be okay. What is your disembarkment port?

 

[goeva]

DCL prefers you do not book any flights before noon but you might be okay. What is your disembarkment port?

Thanks!
Port Canaveral.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Assuming you're talking about Port Canaveral to MCO and you're on one of the first DCL buses off the ship, you should be fine.

Possible pessimistic problems: the ship docks late; has problems clearing immigration; traffic congestion on the way to MCO; airport security backed up.

 

[Saamh]

We've easily made an 11:30 and an 11:00 flight from MCO but we had a rental car parked at the port so we could go on our own timeline. Not sure how early the first DCL transfer leaves the port.

 

[Runnergal]

We flew out on the Sunday after thanksgiving. Our flight was later than yours -1:40 - but we were off the boat at 9 and at the airport by 10. We even took our time getting off the boat. I think you will be fine.

 

[goeva]

Oh! ...Not using Magic Express.
I'm thinking to reserve a rental car.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Oh! ...Not using Magic Express.
I'm thinking to reserve a rental car.

FWIW, Magical Express is free and runs between MCO to the WDW hotels only. The cruise bus service is called DCL transfers, and cost $35. per person each way.

Renting a car should be cheaper.

 

[goeva]

FWIW, Magical Express is free and runs between MCO to the WDW hotels only. The cruise bus service is called DCL transfers, and cost $35. per person each way.

Renting a car should be cheaper.

I see. Thanks for the info.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I just returned again yesterday from the 12/5 Dream sailing. We had 12:25pm flight home (I aim for around 12 noon). We had early dining at 6:45am, took our time, seriously and were off the ship by 7:30am. We were therefore at the airport by 8:45am (after grabbing luggage and going through customs after disembarking). We checked in our luggage with SWA and went through TSA (which took 25 mins and it was busy) and had *plenty* of time.

As others have mentioned, as long as all goes smoothy you should not worry at all. This was my 5th time departing from Port Canaveral and MCO and I've never had any issues and I'm overly cautious, trust me.

Heather

 

[goeva]

Thanks, everyone.

 

[goeva]

Okay! Hubby doesn't want to drive on this trip, so we'll be using DCL transfer instead. Do you think we'll still be able to make it on time?
Never take one of these DCL transfer before. Don't know how it works.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Okay! Hubby doesn't want to drive on this trip, so we'll be using DCL transfer instead. Do you think we'll still be able to make it on time?
Never take one of these DCL transfer before. Don't know how it works.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

We've flown out around that time after all 3 of our DCL cruises and have had plenty of time to spare. We used DCL transfers all 3 times.

 

[goeva]

We've flown out around that time after all 3 of our DCL cruises and have had plenty of time to spare. We used DCL transfers all 3 times.

Thanks, Lisa.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Just like Lisa we have taken DCL transfers back to MCO every cruise and no issues at all.

Heather

 

[goeva]

Just like Lisa we have taken DCL transfers back to MCO every cruise and no issues at all.

Heather

Thanks, Heather.
Now I'm feeling confident to book the 12:15pm return flight for our trip.

 

[allison0523]

You will be fine. We made a 1045 flight last January. At the time I booked it I didn't do my homework and didn't realize the airport was 45 minutes away. Now, I wouldn't book that early again because everything has to go just right, but we made it with plenty of time to spare.

 

[ibela]

We had a 12:15 flight and barely made it. There were delays with disembarkation, they couldn't guarantee our luggage would be there in time (so don't check-in your luggage at the boat), and DCL transfer buses left and the other rental agency vans left but we were stuck waiting for ours. Murphy's law. We did ultimately make it on time but it was a bit stressful and a fairly close call.

 

[goeva]

You will be fine. We made a 1045 flight last January. At the time I booked it I didn't do my homework and didn't realize the airport was 45 minutes away. Now, I wouldn't book that early again because everything has to go just right, but we made it with plenty of time to spare.

Thanks, allison0523.

 

[goeva]

We had a 12:15 flight and barely made it. There were delays with disembarkation, they couldn't guarantee our luggage would be there in time (so don't check-in your luggage at the boat), and DCL transfer buses left and the other rental agency vans left but we were stuck waiting for ours. Murphy's law. We did ultimately make it on time but it was a bit stressful and a fairly close call.

Thanks for the tip, ibela.