Disembarking and flight times

[juliekzp]

We're going on our first cruise this February (Disney Dream, Feb. 12-15), and our flight options home on the 15th are either 11:20 am or 3:10 pm. Which should I do? I've read that Disney recommends flights no earlier than 11:30 (plus I don't want to wake up too early). But I've also read that we have to be off the boat by 9:00, so if we're getting transportation to the airport then we'll be sitting around for an awfully long time -- with kids ages 8, 6, and 3.

Edited to add -- cruising out of Port Canaveral, flying out of Orlando.

Would appreciate input from all you seasoned cruisers!

 

[juliekzp]

FWIW, we have TSA Pre-check, so security line would be fast for us. Could maybe arrive at the airport by 10 and be fine? Especially if we send bags out the night before?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We're going on our first cruise this February (Disney Dream, Feb. 12-15), and our flight options home on the 15th are either 11:20 am or 3:10 pm. Which should I do? I've read that Disney recommends flights no earlier than 11:30 (plus I don't want to wake up too early). But I've also read that we have to be off the boat by 9:00, so if we're getting transportation to the airport then we'll be sitting around for an awfully long time -- with kids ages 8, 6, and 3.

Would appreciate input from all you seasoned cruisers!

Yes, DCL does recommend flights after 11:30.

If you want to participate in the onboard airline check in you cannot do that with an 11:20 flight. If you are traveling with private transportation, your chances are fair to good that you will make an 11:20 flight. But, you do need to be off the ship by 9:00 at the latest. For an 11:20 flight you'd need to be at the airport by 10:20 at the latest. BUT, security at MCO can be brutal sometimes (on occasion, close to 2 hours).

My comfort zone says "take the 3:10 flight". There's lots to do at MCO. You could look into a day room at the Hyatt, but it's kinda pricey (IMO) for 2-3 hours.

FWIW, we have TSA Pre-check, so security line would be fast for us. Could maybe arrive at the airport by 10 and be fine? Especially if we send bags out the night before?

You will put your bags out the night before, but you still will claim it in the terminal and take it through customs yourself. And you'll check them at the airport. So allow that time once at the airport before security.

 

[perditax]

I recently made it through check in and security and was in the terminal (through the monorail) by about 9:15am.

But:

--We had concierge and we took their earliest debark slot (7:20a). I think this allowed us to skip a bit of line.

--We had a car pick us up (7:30 scheduled, I think she was there closer to 7:45a).

--Not sure but I think second week of September may be slightly more offseason than mid Feb?

Anyway, it can be done. If you're willing to do express walk off and you aren't trying to shuttle to a rental car agency (meaning you have private transport), totally doable. I had originally scheduled a 10:15 time and in the end we could have made it. I didn't even bother worrying about the 11:30 flight given the facts above. (And then our flight was delayed anyway.)

 

[juliekzp]

How long does it usually take to disembark, and how long is it to airport in a private car? We are concierge level, in case that matters.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How long does it usually take to disembark, and how long is it to airport in a private car? We are concierge level, in case that matters.

As Concierge, you will probably be escorted to the front of the line getting off the ship. But once there (at the door of the gangway, you will join the "regular" line into the terminal, claim your bags, and go through Customs/Immigration. It can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 45 minutes to do all that, depending on how may others are trying to get off "first" also.

The trip from port to airport is about an hour (barring any construction/traffic issues).

 

[perditax]

This past week on Dream, during our initial concierge meet, we we're offered several slots for our priority disembark. We picked the earliest, 7:20. We were instructed to put our bags out the night before and meet in concierge lounge at 7. We were able to grab a last snack and caffeine, then Ashley escorted us in groups to elevators, and led us to the customs area. Our luggage was close by and at hand. Customs took no time at all.