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

[puffkin]

We've done that time of day flight many times from BLT and the MK. I would be out the gates of MK absolutely no later than 4:30.

 

[Zeppelin]

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.

thanks...i will say its never taken near 90 minutes to get through security at MCO and we go to Florida at least once a year....

well i'll let everyone know what happens when i get back....

 

[DebbieB]

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?

Yes, you can use RAC if your airline is participating. You don't have to take ME on the way back to the airport.

 

[Zeppelin]

found this website- maybe good for all...gives you some relatively updated wait times through security at airports:

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/airport_search_results.aspx

 

[siskaren]

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?

RAC has no connection to ME. Think of it as curbside check-in, only the curb is 20 miles from the airport.

 

[ncc1701]

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.

Agree about sitting at MCO for an hour. The lines at TSA there have been the slowest we have dealt with .Our flights have been in the early afternoon.Philadelphia during the morning rush hour is usually better. We have asked for an earlier pick up by ME on our last couple of trips so we can get lunch before our flight.

 

[sam_gordon]

found this website- maybe good for all...gives you some relatively updated wait times through security at airports:

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/airport_search_results.aspx

Just for grins, I checked Orlando's wait times. The most recent time posted is from yesterday. It has 25 reports going back two weeks. Some of the reports are "no waits", others are 31+ minutes. I'm assuming the 31+ minutes could be 32 minutes or it could be an hour.

I would NOT use this to decide how late I can get to the airport. I'm sorry, I would assume at least an hour (if it's shorter, great) going through security. 20-30 minutes to get from parking to security and from security to the gate. That's 90 minutes. The airport recommends two hours. I have no problem with an extra 30 minutes.

 

[goofy4tink]

found this website- maybe good for all...gives you some relatively updated wait times through security at airports:

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/airport_search_results.aspx

I will say that I have never had a 90 min wait at security...at any airport. Doesn't mean they don't happen, I just haven't experienced one. I have waited for up to 30 mins many times at MCO though. Lately, the wait times have been a bit shorter...mostly around 20 or so mins, from the actual security area. That doesn't count on a huge crowd that has you standing for 5-10 mins prior to the actual starting point!!!

Seriously.....figure on leaving your resort 2.5 hrs prior to your flight departure if you have already checked your bags and have boarding passes in hand. You could run into traffic, especially at that time of day, you need to actually return the car. Security could possibly be running with a 30 min wait time. No way of knowing beforehand. So, plan on the 2.5-3 hrs from resort to gate. Then, if you're early, get a snack, relax, use the bathrooms.

 

[Zeppelin]

I will say that I have never had a 90 min wait at security...at any airport. Doesn't mean they don't happen, I just haven't experienced one. I have waited for up to 30 mins many times at MCO though. Lately, the wait times have been a bit shorter...mostly around 20 or so mins, from the actual security area. That doesn't count on a huge crowd that has you standing for 5-10 mins prior to the actual starting point!!!

Seriously.....figure on leaving your resort 2.5 hrs prior to your flight departure if you have already checked your bags and have boarding passes in hand. You could run into traffic, especially at that time of day, you need to actually return the car. Security could possibly be running with a 30 min wait time. No way of knowing beforehand. So, plan on the 2.5-3 hrs from resort to gate. Then, if you're early, get a snack, relax, use the bathrooms.

thanks...with your post plus the info msjprincess gave me in post #7 I think the plan will be to walk out the gates of the MK at 5PM for the trip back unless i hear there are major delays...

 

[sam_gordon]

thanks...with your post plus the info msjprincess gave me in post #7 I think the plan will be to walk out the gates of the MK at 5PM for the trip back unless i hear there are major delays...

Just something to think about... how do you anticipate hearing of any delays? The link you posted showing the TSA wait times is not real time (the most recent post was a day ago).

Again, just something to consider.

 

[ChristmasElf]

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...

Not enough time. I live within a 10 minute drive to WDW and I can tell you that it takes a minimum of 1 hour door to door on days I go over to the Magic Kingdom vs. under 20 minutes to any other park.

You have to remember that you have to leave the Magic Kingdom park, travel by ferry boat or monorail to the TTC and from there either take a bus or ride the tram to your parked car.

Even if you have a car parked at the Contemporary, you will still have at the very least take the monorail which will take at the very least 20 minutes with all the stops.

After you get to your car you will have to then drive to MCO-25 minutes minimum and that is with very light traffic. If you take 536 cross over 535 to the 417 you would get off at Bonnet Creek which narrows down to one lane. Where there will always Murphys law be the one right behind the classic driver right smack in front of you that does NOT have a clue where he is going causing YOU great frustration as you are now running late and at the same time wondering how much longer until you hit the rental return?!

(Another 6-7 minutes in case you were really wondering) Now, you have to turn in the car, walk to the terminal signs, thengather in the security lines where I promise you, no matter what day of the week or time of day it is, in your case early evening, there will be a realllllyyyyyyyy lllooooonnnnggggg line. (unles you have CLEAR-which will help cut off the lines a bit)

Security. Such fun. Add 6 minutes for this, 12 if the people in front of you have never flown before, have small children with 23 diaper bags, or a 2 year old that is dangerously over tired and hungry and not afraid to let anyone know it.

Get through security, put your shoes back on, adjust your clothing, your belt, gather up your stuff and now trek on over to the tram (shuttle,train) to get you over to the actual terminal. This can take several minutes depending on how long it was since the last tram left.

Get off the tram and now walk to your gate. You are probably walking faster than usual, even though you don't want to, as no one ever really wants to leave Florida (even those of us that will return in just a few days) so you will end up dodging and weaving the people that are not in as much of a rush, which will add even more time to your run to the gate.

Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure as this will be boarding time.

So, to answer your question, I would leave the Magic Kingdom no later than 4:45.

(but that's just me. Someone that does this trip at least twice a week, so I like to think I know what I'm talking about )

 

[msjprincess]

Not enough time. I live within a 10 minute drive to WDW and I can tell you that it takes a minimum of 1 hour door to door on days I go over to the Magic Kingdom vs. under 20 minutes to any other park.

You have to remember that you have to leave the Magic Kingdom park, travel by ferry boat or monorail to the TTC and from there either take a bus or ride the tram to your parked car.

Even if you have a car parked at the Contemporary, you will still have at the very least take the monorail which will take at the very least 20 minutes with all the stops.

After you get to your car you will have to then drive to MCO-25 minutes minimum and that is with very light traffic. If you take 536 cross over 535 to the 417 you would get off at Bonnet Creek which narrows down to one lane. Where there will always Murphys law be the one right behind the classic driver right smack in front of you that does NOT have a clue where he is going causing YOU great frustration as you are now running late and at the same time wondering how much longer until you hit the rental return?!

(Another 6-7 minutes in case you were really wondering) Now, you have to turn in the car, walk to the terminal signs, thengather in the security lines where I promise you, no matter what day of the week or time of day it is, in your case early evening, there will be a realllllyyyyyyyy lllooooonnnnggggg line. (unles you have CLEAR-which will help cut off the lines a bit)

Security. Such fun. Add 6 minutes for this, 12 if the people in front of you have never flown before, have small children with 23 diaper bags, or a 2 year old that is dangerously over tired and hungry and not afraid to let anyone know it.

Get through security, put your shoes back on, adjust your clothing, your belt, gather up your stuff and now trek on over to the tram (shuttle,train) to get you over to the actual terminal. This can take several minutes depending on how long it was since the last tram left.

Get off the tram and now walk to your gate. You are probably walking faster than usual, even though you don't want to, as no one ever really wants to leave Florida (even those of us that will return in just a few days) so you will end up dodging and weaving the people that are not in as much of a rush, which will add even more time to your run to the gate.

Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure as this will be boarding time.

So, to answer your question, I would leave the Magic Kingdom no later than 4:45.

(but that's just me. Someone that does this trip at least twice a week, so I like to think I know what I'm talking about )

I would walk to the CR parking lot. It doesn't really make any sense to take the monorail. But even if they did take the monorail, CR is the next stop.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I would walk to the CR parking lot. It doesn't really make any sense to take the monorail. But even if they did take the monorail, CR is the next stop.

Not always.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not always.

Pretty much always. The resort monorail line runs clockwise....route is MK, CR, TTC, Poly, GF, MK. The express line runs counterclockwise between MK and TTC. The walk from MK to the CR is 10 mins, probably less....I've walked it many times.
The rude between the CR and MCO is about 30 mins. Yes it can be longer. If you figure on it taking 45 mins, you should be fine.
Leaving WDW 3 hrs prior to your flight is fine.

 

[msjprincess]

Not always.

In all my visits to WDW have never seen the resort monorail go counter clockwise.

 

[Zeppelin]

I would walk to the CR parking lot. It doesn't really make any sense to take the monorail. But even if they did take the monorail, CR is the next stop.

exactly....10 minutes tops....

 

[DebbieB]

In all my visits to WDW have never seen the resort monorail go counter clockwise.

I agree, the resort monorail always goes clockwise.

 

[ChristmasElf]

In all my visits to WDW have never seen the resort monorail go counter clockwise.

There have been several times that this has happened. Usually in the very hot summer months when one of the trams breaks down, the a/c is out, a tram will need to go backwards.

Not an everyday event, but it does happen.

 

[Polydweller]

exactly....10 minutes tops....

If, repeat if, everything goes right. With the monorail it can go down as you are riding it or there can be a delay when a train is brought on to the tracks (they do that at the time of day you are leaving). Things can happen even walking.

And one final thought, what if the last ride you go on breaks down when you are on it and it takes 30 min to an hour to evacuate you and that does happen with regularity.

But it now seems obvious to me that your are determined to make going to MK on your last day a higher priority than getting home. Good luck, but you ARE NOT giving yourself any leeway for problems. But so be it and I hope you make it because an extra ride won't make up for the problems caused by missing a flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

There have been several times that this has happened. Usually in the very hot summer months when one of the trams breaks down, the a/c is out, a tram will need to go backwards.

Not an everyday event, but it does happen.

I have been there when there have been issues with the monorail. If the cars are going 'backwards' they most likely are not going to be stopping anywhere.
I never, ever recommend taking the monorail from MK to the CR. by the time you've walked up to the platform, you would have been halfway to CR on the walkway. It takes me about 8-9 mins to get from the MK exit to the CR. If I use the monorail it's seldom less than 15 mins! And with all the issues with the monorail lately it could take a lot longer!!!