Dear Magic Eight Ball: Can I be off the ship by 7:30?

[perditax]

I know this is one of those questions that doesn't have a definitive answer.

But ...

If we are concierge (and I'm not clear if this matters) AND there are only two of us and we tend to move quickly AND we will do express walkoff/wrangle our own belongings, should we be able to be on the street and able to meet our Mears car by 7:30, or shortly thereafter?

This is the Dream coming into PC on a Friday morning. Looks to me like there will be one other ship in port that day, if it matters.

I'm tempting fate with a fairly early flight out of Orlando (rather than hang around for seven hours).

(Don't feel the need to chastise me, I have a plan B in place.)

 

[Quellman]

I would think it is doable provided there aren't any ship delays, either returning OR with customs clearance. First breakfast is at 630, so being off the boat by 730 doesn't seem unfathomable. Concierge will be nice at least because you'll know where your luggage is. You should be able to breeze through without much issue.

 

[mmouse37]

Should be doable as long as there is nothing outside of your control that holds up the ship like a delay of some sort that keeps the ship from docking on time or clearing customs on time. These are not outside the realm of possibility. They don't happen often but they do happen. Sounds like you are good with a Plan B!! Have a good cruise.

MJ

 

[lorimay]

We do express walk-off on every cruise, we have always been off the ship by 7:30ish, but like PP says things out of your control can happen.
We were on the cruise in 2002 where many passengers were hit with Norovirus, the CDC kept us all on board pretty late filling out forms.

 

[Otimon]

Be good to yourself and go with Plan B!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

7.30 imho is pushing it, if everything lines up correctly it's doable, but expect other cruisers with the same idea and things can go wrong, I treat 7.30 as a bonus but plan for a later disembarkation, I do not like clock watching.

 

[darkwing818]

Our last 2 cruises on the Dream (concierge) we were off by 7:30, if fact a concierge CM escorted groups down to the lobby(express elevator no stops) & basically walked us to a concierge only express line to get off the ship. As long as the ship clears Customs there should be no problems. Good Luck

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I think it's mostly doable, bar any unexpected delays. It's not the norm but always possible, of course. Most of the time 7:30 is very doable. If you have a plan B I say go for it!

 

[turtle27]

I think this may be pushing it a bit, now if you have a spare hour, you will be ok, most likely. You never know what can hold up the ship, fog, other weather, customs, etc. You have a good chance, but if 7:30 is absolute cut off, you may not make it.

 

[gumbypee]

I would stress whole cruise about making it off in time so the edge of possibility of it being do-able is not enough for me personally. I would not run risk

 

[The Sasquatch]

How early are we talking out of MCO?

 

[mmouse37]

Also be aware that security lines at MCO can be very long any time of the day, any day of the week.

MJ

 

[Disneyteachers]

I have no advice but this is something I'm still wrangling with for Alaska!

 

[poohs4me]

I have been off early most times. Stressed out the last time cause I was trying to make a 10:55 flight and you never know. I did not do express walk off. Was through airport security by 9:30. I have TSA Pre-Check. Had a towncar pick me up at 8 and he was 10 minutes late. I would book an early flight again and risk it rather then have to stick around for 7 hours.

 

[perditax]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I forgot that creating a thread doesn't automatically subscribe you to it (!!) and I thought no one responded to this and that everyone just thought I was too dumb for words.

 

[perditax]

Actually, I have another really stupid question.

I've only been flying for about two years out of my entire adult life (was phobic until xanax). On the trips I've done with the BF (who has traveled a bit more than me, but had established a very specific system for his work-related commutes), we go to the airline's check-in desk to hand over our luggage. This occasionally means waiting in a line (and then another line at security).

When I was heading back from my solo cruise in June (and only the second time in my adult life flying alone), the guys on the curb at FLL (skycaps, I guess they are called?) politely offered to take my bags instead. I was confused but there was no line. Extra confusing was that the guy kept saying "I'll be handling your luggage, no tip required, no tip required" while thumbing through a huge roll of ones. (Not kidding.) This kind of subtlety is usually lost on me, so I just said "Look, I have no idea what I'm doing," and he was just all "Have a nice flight!", and since I had no cash to tip him anyway, I went on to security, vaguely hopeful that I'd see my clothes again someday.

So the questions:

1) I was supposed to tip him, right?

2) Is there any reason NOT to use these curbside guys to avoid the airline's check-in desk line, other than needing to tip? BF always goes to the airline desk. (No, I haven't asked him about this yet, I just remembered it.)

 

[jdb in AZ]

Actually, I have another really stupid question.

I've only been flying for about two years out of my entire adult life (was phobic until xanax). On the trips I've done with the BF (who has traveled a bit more than me, but had established a very specific system for his work-related commutes), we go to the airline's check-in desk to hand over our luggage. This occasionally means waiting in a line (and then another line at security).

When I was heading back from my solo cruise in June (and only the second time in my adult life flying alone), the guys on the curb at FLL (skycaps, I guess they are called?) politely offered to take my bags instead. I was confused but there was no line. Extra confusing was that the guy kept saying "I'll be handling your luggage, no tip required, no tip required" while thumbing through a huge roll of ones. (Not kidding.) This kind of subtlety is usually lost on me, so I just said "Look, I have no idea what I'm doing," and he was just all "Have a nice flight!", and since I had no cash to tip him anyway, I went on to security, vaguely hopeful that I'd see my clothes again someday.

So the questions:

1) I was supposed to tip him, right?

2) Is there any reason NOT to use these curbside guys to avoid the airline's check-in desk line, other than needing to tip? BF always goes to the airline desk. (No, I haven't asked him about this yet, I just remembered it.)

Yes, you're supposed to tip him. The sky caps are there for your convenience, and the line is usually shorter than the airline check-in desk inside.

 

[sambycat]

i say no. off by 8 (with all the express hooha) - doable with no complications happening. in line to disembark at 730? yes. off and outside at 730? i guess if you line up to leave at 6 or something. good luck!

 

[poohs4me]

Actually, I have another really stupid question.

So the questions:

1) I was supposed to tip him, right?

2) Is there any reason NOT to use these curbside guys to avoid the airline's check-in desk line, other than needing to tip? BF always goes to the airline desk. (No, I haven't asked him about this yet, I just remembered it.)

Yes tip him.

I like you using the curbside desk if they are there. Half the time they are nicer. Not sure why. One guy noticed my tsa precheck hadn't applied and re-entered it and it was accepted. Airline desk is always like oh well next person.

For both airline desk and curbside, I wait until they actually tag my bags before I go inside.

 

[skiingwife]

A few weeks ago we had an early flight home (11:05 a.m.). We did express walk off so we kept our luggage. We were in the lobby around 7:30. As we got there, they were just letting the first guests off - - and they started with the concierge guests (they were all on one side). Our DCL bus left before 8 and we were at the airport by 9. We had a short wait in line to drop off our bags, then we had time to eat breakfast and do some last minute shopping. We had plenty of time for our flight. It was only my husband and I so we could move quickly. I'd say you can make it.