Earliest flight we can take home from MCO?

[wjbc]

What is the earliest flight time that we can book our return flight on the day of debarkation? Would we be able to make a 10:40 flight or would that be cutting it too close?

 

[prymsu]

I think it would be possible, but that would really be cutting it short, and you can't always count on the ship clearing at a certain time...If it were me, i would go anytime after 11:30 a.m.

 

[cathyrob]

Back in Feb. we had an 11:00 and had plenty of time to kill. The only down fall was that they would not check our luggage at the dock because it wouldn't get to the airport till later. So, we just took our luggage with us.

 

[BeanoC]

Wow, 10:40... in my opinion, that's pushing it!

If the ship is at all late getting cleared, you could be in trouble.
What is it they say nowadays - that you should be at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight? Well, even if you get right off the ship and drive straight to the airport, you'd be doing good to get there by 9:30. That only leaves you 70 minutes. Maybe it's enough, but it doesn't leave any 'breathing room'. It's nice not to have to sit around at the airport for 3 hours, but it beats missing your plane! If it were me, I'd look for a flight closer to noon.



'Beano'

 

[JCarangal]

We were on the Wonder last June (2002). Our flight was at 11:00 and we made it with no problem at all. We had DCL transfers. Got off the ship (we didn't rush about this, but were among the first 40 people off the ship), found our luggage, passed through customs, went to our designated DCL bus (depending on airline). The bus driver put our luggage on the bus (I forget which airline we flew with, but we were unable to check in at the port and had to wait to get to the airport). The bus dropped us off at MCO and we had plenty of time to do what we had to do. (including grabbing a bite to eat and socializing with some friends we bumped into)

In fact, when we got to the airport, we realized there was an ealier flight (at 10:20, I think). A portion of our group (about 12 people) were able to get on that earlier flight (they didn't want to wait until their later flight at 4pm). I would have been too stressed if that had been our planned flight home, but it worked out very well for them and they made that flight with no real trouble.

So, it can certainly be done but the early flight time can make for a very hectic/stressful morning (especially considering all that can go wrong to make you miss your flight).

Good luck!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi wjbc.

What is the earliest flight time that we can book our return flight on the day of debarkation?

The earliest flight you can reserve on the day of debarkation - (doesn't that word, debarkation, kinda make you want to go 'woof, woof?') - anyway, the earliest would probably be around 6am. You wouldn't MAKE the flight but you sure could BOOK it...

 

[prymsu]

a lot of the airlines now charge $100 to change your reservations, so that is another thing to think about when booking your airfare.

 

[inkkognito]

The earliest flight that we've made is 11 a.m. We always use Happy Limo rather than the Disney buses so we know we can leave immediately, and we skip breakfast and keep our luggage with us so we won't have to look for it.
But a word of warning: In 31 cruises, we've had 3 delays (fortunately not on cruises with early flights). One was due to a high terrorism alert, when people were required to present two forms of ID when leaving the ship. No one had paid attention, so everyone was searching their luggage and causing huge delays. Another one was due to fog causing a delay getting into the port, and the third was when another party took our luggage by mistake. Disney wouldn't do anything about it until literally everyone else had claimed their luggage, to make sure ours didn't show up (and it didn't...the people who took it brought it home and then sent it back to us when they discovered what happened). That was the same trip when I popped off my kneecap, so I was in a wheelchair. We weren't allowed to go out and tell the towncar that we were delayed, but thankfully they waited for us.
That's only 3 out of 31, so the odds are not big, but they are there.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Barb, what time do you tell the limo/towncar to pick you up? Our flight is 11:45 and haven't given them a time yet. Thanks!

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Luckymommy,

I would think that you could have them pick you up a bit after 9:00am and that would give you plenty of time. Since everyon is supposed to be off the ship by 9:00, you could take your time in the morning. If you're out of the terminal and through customs shortly after 9:00, you should get to the aiport in plenty of time.

When we've taken the DCL busses, the latest we've ever gotten to the airport AND through security is 10:15am, and that was shortly after 9/11/01, with the hour-long security lines and no luggage check at the port. If we eat the early breakfast, we're usually to the airport by 9:45, latest.

 

[BeanoC]

Quote:

"I would think that you could have them pick you up a bit after 9:00am and that would give you plenty of time."

Wouldn't that mean you're getting to the airport around 9:45-10:00AM?? Aren't you suppose to be there at least an hour and a half before your flight?? Sounds like you're pushing the envelope to me...


As for the arrival time of the towncar, most companies have a standing rule to arrive at the DCL terminal at 8:30AM and wait for their passengers.

I'd love to be on a 10:40 am flight and get back home early, but I would be worried all morning that we weren't going to make it!


'Beano'

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Originally posted by BeanoC
Wouldn't that mean you're getting to the airport around 9:45-10:00AM?? Aren't you suppose to be there at least an hour and a half before your flight?? Sounds like you're pushing the envelope to me...

I was referring to Luckymommy's question, where she referenced an 11:45 flight. My thinking was that this time frame would give them plenty of time to make this flight. I would think a 10:00am arrival at the airport is not even approaching the envelope, much less applying pressure to it.

I don't believe you need to arrive an hour and a half early for a domestic flight. You should call the airline to confirm, but it seems to me that I've arrived an hour early for recent flights (most recently early April) and had no trouble. Admittedly, this was not out of MCO, so checking with the airline is probably the best policy.

Regarding the original poster, I personally would not book a 10:40am flight, although I would have made it most of the times I've cruised out of Port Canaveral. Our return flights are usually after noon, but I tend to err on the side of caution, as far as this goes. I'd rather sit reading a book in the airport being early for my flight than deal with having to re-book because I was late.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thanks for the replies. I think we'll aim for the 8:30 pick up time so we don't feel too rushed getting off the ship and we won't feel too nervous getting to the airport too late. We're normally up between 5 and 5:30 so that will still give us plenty of time on our last morning.

 

[erikthewise]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
The earliest flight you can reserve on the day of debarkation - (doesn't that word, debarkation, kinda make you want to go 'woof, woof?') - anyway, the earliest would probably be around 6am. You wouldn't MAKE the flight but you sure could BOOK it...

I may be wrong, but on our cruise I could swear the Cruise Director used the term "disembarkation" more than once. I'm not sure that's even a word!

Also, unless procedures have changed, passengers with early dining times have early breakfast the last day and are off the ship quite early. I don't remember exactly but I think we were off around 8:00-8:15.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Originally posted by erikthewise
I may be wrong, but on our cruise I could swear the Cruise Director used the term "disembarkation" more than once. I'm not sure that's even a word!

From Dictionary.com:

debarkation

\De`bar*ka"tion\, n. Disembarkation.

The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers. --U. S. Grant.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

 

[BeanoC]

Seems like disembarkation is the better word for it. Debarkation sounds like a procedure for having your dog's vocal chords removed.

You know what I like to call it? Getting off the ship with my stuff.




'Beano'

 

[mmmom]

We originally had noon flight that got bumped earlier to 11:45 AM. After reading posts and talking to DCL I was worried about pushing it and changed flight to 2:45. Well, we ate early breakfast and leisurely left ship around 8 and quickly arrived at airport by 9-would have easily made it but you never know what could happen. I only wish the DCl bus had been as efficient picking us up from airport and getting us to hotel and to the parks sooner!