7:45 Departure Flight- what time to leave MK?

[Zeppelin]

i did a quick search and could not find anything...

1) our departure flight is 7:45PM...
2) we are renting a car that must be returned at the airport
3) we are staying at the Contemporary

i am assuming the total travel time, check in and getting through security will be about 90 minutes which means we should be walking out of the MK about 6PM....anyone have any opinions or experiences??

thanks in advance...

 

[DebbieB]

i did a quick search and could not find anything...

1) our departure flight is 7:45PM...
2) we are renting a car that must be returned at the airport
3) we are staying at the Contemporary

i am assuming the total travel time, check in and getting through security will be about 90 minutes which means we should be walking out of the MK about 6PM....anyone have any opinions or experiences??

thanks in advance...

That's too late, you have to remember flights start boarding 30 minutes prior and you have to allow for delays. I'd be out of there by 5:00.

 

[mcraige]

Depending on the time of year, and your status with the airline (or if you have TSA Pre-Check), I've seen wait times of 90 minutes to get thru security in MCO.

What is your "Plan 'B'" if you miss your flight? I always prefer to be safe rather than sorry. I'd leave by 4:30.

 

[msjprincess]

That's too late, you have to remember flights start boarding 30 minutes prior and you have to allow for delays. I'd be out of there by 5:00.

Same here. I always give myself at least 2 1/2 hours. I remember years ago getting to MCO 90 minutes before our flight and by the time we made it to the gate they were already boarding.

 

[ain0004]

Will you have your bags checked? Boarding passes in hands? I would leave your resort no later than 5:30pm. That gives you 30 min for airport. five another 30 to check in car just in case. Then another 1 hour and 15 min for you security check and gate. But they board 30 min prior to departure, so that pushes it to only 45 min. Cutting it very very close

 

[Zeppelin]

Will you have your bags checked? Boarding passes in hands? I would leave your resort no later than 5:30pm. That gives you 30 min for airport. five another 30 to check in car just in case. Then another 1 hour and 15 min for you security check and gate. But they board 30 min prior to departure, so that pushes it to only 45 min. Cutting it very very close

thanks for the responses...will probably leave 5:30...i can check the bags curbside, let me wife and daughter out to get through security then i'll return the car...

 

[msjprincess]

Which airline are you flying? You may be able to check your bags at CR.

 

[Zeppelin]

Which airline are you flying? You may be able to check your bags at CR.

Jetblue....didn't know that....

 

[Polydweller]

thanks for the responses...will probably leave 5:30...i can check the bags curbside, let me wife and daughter out to get through security then i'll return the car...

That's not enough time. Notice the poster said that's cutting it close. Your primary goal the final day is to catch your flight home not extend time in the park. You are giving no margin for error and things that are out of your control. For instance, what if there is an accident on the road and you get slowed down on the way. What if the lines are long at security for some reason and MCO can have long lines on occasion. What if there is a problem at car return? And do on. There are lots of what ifs that you can't control.

Remember also, that the time you are aiming at is not 7:45 but more like 7:15. The time on your ticket is the time the plane rolls back from the gate and you have to be ready to board as much as 30 min in advance.

Seasoned travelers never cut things tight if they don't have to and leave themselves extra time for the unexpected if they can. Leave MK at 4:30 and make sure you meet your primary goal of getting home. Why undo a great vacation with a lot of tension because you're cutting it too close.

 

[msjprincess]

Jetblue....didn't know that....

Jetblue is a participating airline. So you can check your luggage and get your boarding pass before going to MK for the day. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

 

[aubriee]

I'd be out of there by 5:00 at the absolute latest, but probably 4:30. I was stuck in a wreck once on the way to MCO (while on a DME bus, not driving). We weren't hit, just stuck in the traffic and barely made it on our flight and DME picks you up three hours before your flight. They were calling later boarding zones as we rushed up. I've also seen really long security lines at MCO. This past May it took us well over 45 minutes to get through security and I've seen lines longer than those a few times. I'd rather sit at the airport for a little while than have to rush for my flight and maybe even miss it.

 

[Zeppelin]

Jetblue is a participating airline. So you can check your luggage and get your boarding pass before going to MK for the day. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/resort-airline-check-in/

beautiful....just saved me a lot of time...thank you...

 

[Alesia]

beautiful....just saved me a lot of time...thank you...

But you still should leave MK by 4:45.

 

[LilyWDW]

I would be leaving the MK parking lot no later then 5, which means I would aim to leave the park between 4:30 and 4:45. I do everything in my power to be sure I do not miss my flight. It is not worth another 30-60 minutes of park time to flirt with not giving myself enough time.

 

[kda]

For years we allowed 1/2 hr to drive to the airport, but it just seems to take longer the last couple visits, especially when we stay at BLT or VWL.

 

[SteveMouse]

Be at gate @ 7:15.
Bathroom break @7:05 (account for line at ladies room).
7 minute walk from shuttle to gate. 6:58
8 minute wait for shuttle and shuttle transit: 6:50
90 minute wait for security: 5:20
10 minute walk from rental to security: 5:10
10 minutes to drop car and complete paperwork: 5:00
45 minnute drive to MCO: 4:15
10 minute walk from the gates of the Magic Kingdom to your car in the Contemporay parkng lot: 4:05.
You MIGHT get away with 4:15.

 

[sam_gordon]

My plan would be...

Plane leaves 745
Drop off rental 530.
Leave CR 445.

I might push that to 5 if I've already chrcked bags with RAC.


That means walking out of MK gates by 430.

No WAY am I going to chance walking out of MK gates @ 6.
15 min to get to car, situated, and leave
45 min to get to MCO
15 to drop off rental and enter terminal.

Its now 715 and you haven't gone through security yet.

I'd rather sit at the airport for an hour than be 5 minutes late for my flight.

 

[musicmama]

We will have a similar flight time on Labor Day. Should we plan on similar timing or is MCO more crowded on a holiday like that? Also, are we eligible for RAC even if we don't take ME?

 

[goofy4tink]

For a flight at 7:45, you need to be at the gate by 7, latest. That has you arriving at MCO by 6:30. Which has you returning the car at 6:00ish. So you need to leave the CR by 5:30. Now all those times are absolutely best case scenarios. In order to leave the CR at 5:30, you're going to have to leave MK by 5ish. The walk takes about 10 mins and you will probably want to use the restrooms. If it were me? I would be heading out of MK by 4:30, leaving the CR by 5.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Does it make a difference that they're travelling to the airport during the middle of Orlando rush hour?

I'm probably conservative, but I'm thinking leaving the MK at 4:00. That would get them on the road by 4:30. Allow a full hour to get to the airport (in case there's traffic jams, etc). Allow about 15 minutes to return the car; that would get them inside the terminal by 5;45, or two hours before plane departure.