10am flight upon disembarkation

[Drewmama]

Is a 10am flight at MCO too early if you are disembarking from Port Canaveral? If yes, what is the earliest flight I should book? Noon?

 

[Drewmama]

Nevermind. I tried to delete this thread but couldn't. Did more searching and it looks like 10a is too early.

 

[undertheradar]

Nevermind. I tried to delete this thread but couldn't. Did more searching and it looks like 10a is too early.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Way way too early even with PRE.

 

[Drewmama]

Way way too early even with PRE.

What is PRE?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What is PRE?

It is a status that gets you through security faster via a special line, although my experience of MCO is that their security is a mess anyway.

 

[Drewmama]

It is a status that gets you through security faster via a special line, although my experience of MCO is that their security is a mess anyway.

TSA pre-check? Good to know... I was thinking of getting it but if it doesn't save that much time, I won't bother.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

TSA pre-check? Good to know... I was thinking of getting it but if it doesn't save that much time, I won't bother.

It can, but not at MCO.

 

[DCSWO]

I have travelled quite a bit and I was shocked at the size of the security lines at MCO the first time I passed through there. Quite pathetic. Give yourself a solid hour just for security to be safe.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yeah. MCO is chaotic. The line control is not good. The way they handle Pre-Check is nearly worthless.

 

[Shanti]

TSA pre-check? Good to know... I was thinking of getting it but if it doesn't save that much time, I won't bother.

Yeah. MCO is chaotic. The line control is not good. The way they handle Pre-Check is nearly worthless.

I've gone through MCO security many times with Pre-Check and it's never taken more than a few minutes. It's a big improvement over standing in the security line, just like it is at any other airport.

MCO general security is sometimes slow and/or has a long line, but I've never seen anything chaotic happening there.

OP, in response to your original question, it certainly is possible to make a 10am flight, especially with Pre-Check, but it's risky. To make the flight, the ship would have to arrive and open up to departing passengers on time, customs must be functioning well, you must disembark on the early side, and have no issues slowing you down significantly on the highway or airport... So it's only for people with high risk-tolerance, who won't freak out if something goes wrong and they miss their flight. That's why the cruise line recommends 11:30am or later.

 

[bumbershoot]

TSA pre-check? Good to know... I was thinking of getting it but if it doesn't save that much time, I won't bother.

MCO is an outlier in everything lol.

In the past hubby has had pre so our son went with him (when he was under 13 and eligible). We often book bunny separately so we don't get his Pre status on our tickets. I would go through normal security and generally they were nearly asleep by the time I got through. But if a problem with precheck is going to happen it's going to be at mco.

With our son's birthday looming, he and I chose to get NEXUS, which gives you easier transit between US and Canada, plus the benefits of Precheck and of Global entry. And it's cheaper than global entry or precheck. BUT it's harder to get and takes longer AND the places for interviews are fewer and far between. But for those who have interview locations nearby I highly recommend it!!!

So now he and I get Pre on our own.

 

[hrhdhd]

MCO is my home airport, and I have TSA Pre-Check. I have never waited more than 5 minutes with it.

And MCO is a busy airport, with a lot of tourists (duh!) who don't seem to know how to follow directions. Before I had Pre-Check and security was set up in sections for type of traveler, families with three strollers and no clue about removing shoes would get into the "Expert Traveler" lane. And all of those stuffed animals, mini carry-ons, and Mickey hats take a lot of time to get through the scanner.

The system would work better if people paid attention and were prepared.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

When I was there, pre-check was a mess. They were sharing the scanner with regular for no apparent reason. Several business travelers we're quite irate. I was underwhelmed.

 

[Dug720]

When I was there, pre-check was a mess. They were sharing the scanner with regular for no apparent reason. Several business travelers we're quite irate. I was underwhelmed.

I've also been "gifted" pre-check by an airline on check-in only to discover that many of the clueless masses (who I can only assume had something happen to their car to make them fly home as they clearly by their confusion have never flown before) were also "gifted" it... And the added benefits of pre-check were lost on them as they were more confused if that was possible.

 

[kiford]

The way they handle Pre-Check is nearly worthless.

We've used it (Nexus card) and it was great. Very quick. Of course, we've also been at MCO when the Pre-Check line is closed for some unknown reason. And the security lines were at least 1 hour long. You just never know.

 

[lisa3635]

I've only used precheck once through mco, but we were through security in less than 5 min, the regular lines looked to be at least 1/2. In always amazed at how long the lines are. My favorite part of precheck is acually not having to take my shoes off while watching my stuff and 3 and 5 year olds. I'd consider it.

 

[cmwade77]

I definitely wouldn't, especially since airlines have been changing flight times at the last minute recently and making them earlier. Really what we do is fly in at least 1 day before the cruise and fly out no sooner than the day after the cruise, then we aren't stressed at either end.