Can we make an 11:17 AM flight home?

[LoveMyBirmans]

Grrrrr ..... I booked our flights a few months ago already and originally had a 12:43 flight out of Orlando back home. Now the airline has informed me they bumped it to 11:17 AM. What are our chances of getting off the ship and to MCO in time? Last time we took the Disney transportation right from the ship to the airport and it ran pretty quick, but is this pushing it? I checked Airtran's website and they don't have any other flights later that day. What do I do?????? By the way, they also bumped our flight to Orlando up by 5 hours, which means my kids are going to miss an additional day of school. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks DISers!!!

 

[tvguy]

Sounds like you'll have to switch airlines. Don't know what type of tickets you have, but I can't imagine an airline not refunding your money when they make such radical changes to the flights.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Get up early and eat early breakfast. Keep your luggage with you-all of it so you can take it off with you. Hire a towncar to pick you up and take you to the airport. Hope that there is not a problem with customs!

 

[littleowensmommy]

We have taken an 11:00ish flight home from our 3 previous DCL cruises and we've always been at the airport before 9:30am.

 

[KarenP99]

We've cruised 4 times, with return flights around 11:30. We've never had a problem making it on time.

 

[LoveMyBirmans]

Thanks for your responses. I'm still undecided ... contemplating having the airline try to switch us to the next day and spending a day at Disney or something. I just don't know.

~ Leanne

 

[Grendalynn]

We just booked a 10/27 L&S vacation. When I inquired about the best time/flights and stuff for our return to NH, I was told to book a flight that departed after 12:30pm. The shuttle from Port to Airport starts early in the am, 7:30am if I am correct and run til 12:30 or so. I am not sure how accurate this is exacatly as this is our first cruise. But that is what a Disney Cruise Line operator told me just last week ! Happy Sailing!!!

 

[belleandthebeast]

We booked flights later in the day (the 4pm was the cheapest) rather than the 11:30am because DCL told us that we most likely wouldn't make the flight. Wanted the earlier flight. We saw people walking off the ship @ 7:30am. We definitely would have made the earlier flight and wound up paying $25/piece @ the pier to change to the earlier flight. Should have trusted my own instincts.

That being said, if you book the earlier flight and there is a delay, you can run into some problems.

 

[TammiMcMan]

The short answer to your question is Yes, provided you don't run into any delays. This past January, we were sitting in the airline terminal at 9am.

I think KSjayhawks gave some excellent advice if you decide to chance it.

 

[captaincrash]

YOu can make the flight provided....

You're on the bounce and make certain the DCL staff usher you off early.

It probably is a good idea to check what later flights your airline has. I don't know what airline you have booked - but on United and AA - when they change your flight time we've been able to reschedule to any other flight without change fee. So a high dollar flight yesterday is now free to book if space remains. It does NOT have to be in your original ticket catagory - but usually it is not going to mean you can upgrade to business or 1st class. However, stranger things have happened to folks depending on circumstances and timing!

We've been upgraded, bumped voluntarily and received vouchers for travel or simply credit on a future flight. But these circumstances are a lttle different compared to flight changes.

If this is the case you should consider a later flight if you're in no hurry to get home. We depart at about 2PM and we were planning on running around a little just before we returned home! Last minute shopping and touring!