Earliest Flight Out of Vancouver? - The DIS Discussion Forums

bzss7x · 11-12-2012, 05:22 PM

Hello. We are planning for our upcoming AK cruise in July. We have booked the cruise and now we are trying to book the flights. We are facing an issue that most people probably have faced - when to return. The ship docks at 8:30. Would it be possible to make an 11:30 AM flight out of YVR?

We are familiar with the disembarkation procedure and the fact that we can carry our own bags. I am just not sure if we can make it off the ship and to the airport (and through customs) in time for an 11:30 AM departure. There are no flights after that without us flying over night.

I'd appreciate any advice from those of you who have been on this cruise. Thanks.

wdwwishes · 11-12-2012, 06:40 PM

I think that would be cutting it close. The airport is easily 45 minutes and you never know about traffic and what you'll encounter once you get to the airport. I forget what time our flight left in '11 but it was later than that. I don't care to spend more time in airports than I need to however I'd rather do that than be rushed and potentially miss a flight especially if there are connections that would be messed up too.

EastYorkDisneyFan · 11-12-2012, 09:37 PM

Also don't forget flying out of Vancouver you will go threw US Customs in Vancouver. In Toronto the airport recommends to be there at least tow to three hours ahead of time for a US flight and I'm sure Vancouver is the same.

cdndisneydaddy · 11-12-2012, 10:22 PM

Hello,

Sorry i didn't reply earlier. I live in Vancouver and I think 11:30 will be tight. I travel a lot in and out of YVR and can tell you:
1 - traffic to the airport can be very busy (approx 45 min drive)
2 - check in lines at YVR always seem to be long
3 - once though check in, if you don't have Nexus then customs lineups also can be very long.

I've only been on 3 cruises and I have been late off the boat every time.

My suggestion would be to take a little later of a flight. The airport is quite nice and very relaxing once you get onto "Secure" side. Hope this helps.

ratt1345 · 11-13-2012, 12:49 PM

To the OP, DW and I arranged it to where we stayed one more night in Vancouver before flying out. That gave us a good night's sleep and most of the day we disembarked to look around one last time. We got a flight out the next morning at around 6:30am. I think it worked out very well. Yes, it was one more night hotel stay, but I believe it was worth it.

bzss7x · 11-13-2012, 02:02 PM

Thanks all. I was hoping to travel home on disembarkation day, but it looks as though we may stay until the next day. Thanks everyone for the advice.

jnweinmann · 11-13-2012, 10:34 PM

Stay the extra day. Vancouver is beautiful. Look into the Big Red Bus, you can see most of what Vancouver has to offer in a day.

KEmum · 11-14-2012, 12:46 AM

Have you looked at departures from the Abbotsford (YVX) airport? It's not that far from Vancouver if you were set on leaving on departure day.

11-12-2012, 05:22 PM	#1
bzss7x Mr. Incredible went to LSU Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LSU! LSU! LSU! Posts: 109	Earliest Flight Out of Vancouver? Hello. We are planning for our upcoming AK cruise in July. We have booked the cruise and now we are trying to book the flights. We are facing an issue that most people probably have faced - when to return. The ship docks at 8:30. Would it be possible to make an 11:30 AM flight out of YVR? We are familiar with the disembarkation procedure and the fact that we can carry our own bags. I am just not sure if we can make it off the ship and to the airport (and through customs) in time for an 11:30 AM departure. There are no flights after that without us flying over night. I'd appreciate any advice from those of you who have been on this cruise. Thanks. __________________ 2004 Wonder 4 Nights to Bahamas 2009 Wonder 4 Nights to Bahamas 2012 Fantasy 7 Nights to Eastern Caribbean in Walt Disney Suite 2013 Wonder 7 Nights to Alaska WDW - 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 Disneyland - 2008

11-12-2012, 06:40 PM	#2
wdwwishes Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the midwest Posts: 468	I think that would be cutting it close. The airport is easily 45 minutes and you never know about traffic and what you'll encounter once you get to the airport. I forget what time our flight left in '11 but it was later than that. I don't care to spend more time in airports than I need to however I'd rather do that than be rushed and potentially miss a flight especially if there are connections that would be messed up too. __________________ Contemporary 2004 Yacht Club 2006, 2008, 2013, Grand Floridian 2007, 2010, 2012 A.K.L. 2008, 2011 Poly 2009 Wilderness Lodge 2010, 2011, 2012 The Wonder 2007, 2008, 2011 The Fantasy 2013 The Dream in 2014

11-12-2012, 09:37 PM	#3
EastYorkDisneyFan DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: East York (Toronto), Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,935	Also don't forget flying out of Vancouver you will go threw US Customs in Vancouver. In Toronto the airport recommends to be there at least tow to three hours ahead of time for a US flight and I'm sure Vancouver is the same. __________________ Heading West for DPN WestFest 2010 - TR underway F & F at the DLR! Fun and planing for DPN WestFest 2011 You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality. - Walt Disney

11-12-2012, 10:22 PM	#4
cdndisneydaddy Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 48	Hello, Sorry i didn't reply earlier. I live in Vancouver and I think 11:30 will be tight. I travel a lot in and out of YVR and can tell you: 1 - traffic to the airport can be very busy (approx 45 min drive) 2 - check in lines at YVR always seem to be long 3 - once though check in, if you don't have Nexus then customs lineups also can be very long. I've only been on 3 cruises and I have been late off the boat every time. My suggestion would be to take a little later of a flight. The airport is quite nice and very relaxing once you get onto "Secure" side. Hope this helps. __________________ Roy "Loi" , Shari "Kali" , Taylor "Kailolu" , Jordyn "Lolukine" Magic 2006, Magic 2010, Wonder 2012

11-13-2012, 12:49 PM	#5
ratt1345 Always wishing I was Disney cruisin'!!! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Titletown FL Posts: 446	To the OP, DW and I arranged it to where we stayed one more night in Vancouver before flying out. That gave us a good night's sleep and most of the day we disembarked to look around one last time. We got a flight out the next morning at around 6:30am. I think it worked out very well. Yes, it was one more night hotel stay, but I believe it was worth it. __________________

Sponsored Links
The DIS Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000

11-13-2012, 02:02 PM	#6
bzss7x Mr. Incredible went to LSU Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LSU! LSU! LSU! Posts: 109	Thanks all. I was hoping to travel home on disembarkation day, but it looks as though we may stay until the next day. Thanks everyone for the advice. __________________ 2004 Wonder 4 Nights to Bahamas 2009 Wonder 4 Nights to Bahamas 2012 Fantasy 7 Nights to Eastern Caribbean in Walt Disney Suite 2013 Wonder 7 Nights to Alaska WDW - 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 Disneyland - 2008

11-13-2012, 10:34 PM	#7
jnweinmann Earning My Ears Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 41	Stay the extra day. Vancouver is beautiful. Look into the Big Red Bus, you can see most of what Vancouver has to offer in a day. __________________

11-14-2012, 12:46 AM	#8
KEmum Earning My Ears Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 37	Abbotsford Airport Have you looked at departures from the Abbotsford (YVX) airport? It's not that far from Vancouver if you were set on leaving on departure day. __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: