10:00 a.m. flight after Ft Lauderdale debarkation…

[dkis4nu]

Well, we decided to try it. We plan to get in line for express walkoff as soon as possible, take a taxi & hope for the best. The other flights were bad connections & we’d get home much later. But I did book another flight with points just in case. I can always cancel & get the points back.
What’s the earliest you’ve been able to debark at Port Everglades & make an early flight?
dk

 

[Luvmypetz]

Not with Disney but Celebrity this past February, my friend had a 9:35/9:45 Southwest flight on a Saturday morning. Even though the ship had been docked, they held us till the 7:30 arrival time. SO many people in line with their own luggage. We got in the line for shared shuttle ($11pp). We both have Global Entry and only had carry on so definitely saved time. It was very busy at the airport but he made his flight and we DID have time to sit at the gate. I tried to order an Uber and I can’t remember what issue I was having so we just went to the shared shuttle line. Good luck! I’m always trying to get home with the best flight schedule as well.

 

[meliscan]

I was at FLL last Feb and saw people from the Dream going through security with me at 8:45am. I was super surprised and talked to them and they did what you are proposing, express walk off and then to the airport. This isn't a guarantee and it was as departure mid week, not the weekend.

 

[DCLMP]

Just debarked the Dream. Walk off started at 715. We left our room at 8am and were at the cab stand by 820. Lots of cabs and no line. I debated on taking a 9:35 flight on SW to Orlando or rent a car. I cancelled my fIight the night before debarkation. I decided to save my points and drive. We made it to the airport by 835. I could have easily taken the flight and we didn't even get off the ship early.

The line at 8am was long, but it moved fast and there is facial recognition through immigration which is a breeze. I would have no qualms about taking a 10am flight, but we have TSA precheck and don't check bags. If you have to check bags and don't have precheck. I'd try to leave at 730.

 

[justafigment27]

We were through security and at our gate at 9:15am in November … that was using the normal luggage service (setting it out the night before), taking Disney transportation and checking a bag.

We weren’t trying to hurry, but did get up and eat breakfast in the dining room (early seating) … all clear for express walk off was given at 7:15am and our luggage tag was called at 7:30am. We pretty much walked off the ship and had basically no wait. It took us 45+ minutes to check a bag at the airport, but security only took 15-20 minutes.

 

[Joel0917]

again..always a gamble. if ship is delayed. you just never know. it is totally possible as all here have shown. But i'm also a totally nervous time person., i probably wouldn't sleep and be a nervous wreck all morning. But do what you have to do to get the early flight.

 

[bbn1122]

Ok, I am looking at a 11:00am flight out of FLL after my Dream cruise in September. I am flying on points and 11am is half the points of 1:15pm, which is the next direct flight.

I was thinking that is close, but now I am thinking not. I am so used to going out of Cape Canaveral that I forgot how close the airport is to this cruise terminal.

I appreciate these boards so much, to bounce ideas off of so many experienced cruiser.

 

[WxKristin]

We booked a 10:30 am flight out of FLL after our Destiny cruise in Dec. This was the only one that didn't have us returning after 8 or 9 pm. While I would prefer after 11 am as the family (since my family can be cranky with early wake ups), I'm not particularly worried. I'll probably just make sure everyone has a carry-on only and grab breakfast from cabanas. We are using points on Southwest (Wanna Get Away +) and connecting through BNA.

Our last cruise we had second seating, did the sit-down breakfast, and took our sweet time leaving the ship and we were still to the airport by 10 am. Our uber/lyft was less than a 15 min ride from the port to FLL drop off. The longest wait we had was honestly from booking the uber until pickup -- the taxi line would have been faster for that reason.

 

[dkis4nu]

Our 10:00 a.m. flight is also on Southwest connecting thru BNA & we’re also using points. Otherwise it would be 12 hours getting home with long layovers-so we are hopeful. Connections to FLL are not good-I miss the direct non stop to MCO!

dk

 

[Girl of the South]

I would absolutely say you’re safe with an 11am flight.

I did the express Walk Off after my cruise into FLL, but there was a delay with the ship clearing customs or something. I think I was in a taxi by 9? Will look back at my notes.

 

[bbn1122]

I would absolutely say you’re safe with an 11am flight.

I did the express Walk Off after my cruise into FLL, but there was a delay with the ship clearing customs or something. I think I was in a taxi by 9? Will look back at my notes.

Thanks for your input. I have never done Express Walk off, but I really never like to last morning breakfast, so I have no problem skipping that.

 

[Donna3271]

We had an 11:15. We got there so early, we went standby and got on an 8:30 am! The port is SOOO close to the airport. We were among the first to get off the ship and got an uber right away

 

[Girl of the South]

I believe Express Walk Off starts around 7am IF the ship gets cleared on time. People were lined up (on my ship) starting at 6-ish. Line didn't start moving until 7:45 (some issue with customs?). But we were through it all and on a taxi by 8 and to FLL 15 minutes later. Do note which terminal your flight leaves from as they are separate. You can walk between them but a couple are not connected. What seems to be a 'secret' is that Cabanas is also (or WAS) also open for a limited breakfast from around 6:30 to 8:30 SHARP. This would be quicker than going to the dining room.

 

[Donna3271]

I believe Express Walk Off starts around 7am IF the ship gets cleared on time. People were lined up (on my ship) starting at 6-ish. Line didn't start moving until 7:45 (some issue with customs?). But we were through it all and on a taxi by 8 and to FLL 15 minutes later. Do note which terminal your flight leaves from as they are separate. You can walk between them but a couple are not connected. What seems to be a 'secret' is that Cabanas is also (or WAS) also open for a limited breakfast from around 6:30 to 8:30 SHARP. This would be quicker than going to the dining room.

This! I failed to mention we were lined up early for the express walk off. We were by the taxi line by 7:15. at the gate by 8 and got on an 8:30 flight standby. But for us, the stars aligned.

 

[Girl of the South]

Yeah. YMMV! Walk off was late. I was 5 minutes too early to check in my luggage (4 hours). Then my flight was late. Then I had too long in Charlotte. Won't fly American Airlines again. As much as I'm 'over' Southwest, at least they are direct. I almost could have driven back to Nashville faster than taking AA.

 

[DCLMP]

Our 10:00 a.m. flight is also on Southwest connecting thru BNA & we’re also using points. Otherwise it would be 12 hours getting home with long layovers-so we are hopeful. Connections to FLL are not good-I miss the direct non stop to MCO!

dk

I could not find a direct flight into FLL from the west on any airline. I was surprised considering the amount of cruises out of there.

 

[DCLMP]

again..always a gamble. if ship is delayed. you just never know. it is totally possible as all here have shown. But i'm also a totally nervous time person., i probably wouldn't sleep and be a nervous wreck all morning. But do what you have to do to get the early flight.

Well everything is a gamble when traveling. I got home a day later than expected due to all the weather in Texas. My flight going was delayed 2 hours due to weather in Texas. You just never know. The ship being delayed would be the least of my worries and if that happened{extremely rare} depending on how much it was delayed even early afternoon flights could be a problem. If it's a storm that delayed the ship you could be delayed for days.....yes that has happened.

You have to plan for normalcy. Not the what ifs.

 

[Girl of the South]

BUT the “what ifs” are the new normal.