Flying out of MCO at 11:20am on final day - Enough Time?

[Impromark]

Oh, for sure. I've connected in Winnipeg to go to Phoenix with a two-hour layover, and we were able to do it smoothly and easily; we went through Toronto to New York with about the same amount of time and were sprinting from wheels down to final call.

Mark

 

[Barbamama]

We have booked 11:30 flights to Canada from MCO before and didn’t have any problems. This year, we are a bit nervous because the airline changed the time to 11:05, but we are taking the chance. We will skip breakfast and carry our luggage off. Fingers crossed!

 

[Minniesgal]

We have had massive issues with check in at MCO. Once we had a flight where they kept the line waiting about 3 hours before checking anyone in. We were pretty much first in line and the it was already past the boarding time on the boarding card when they checked us in. Obviously flight was delayed as all passengers were still at check in but MCO can be a nightmare so I wouldn't chance a flight that early.

 

[Impromark]

There does seem to be a dichotomy of choices here. Obviously it's a risk, but people have reported taking that risk and making it; but on the other hand it's clear that a couple of delays could throw a significant wrench into things. We haven't heard here of anyone MISSING their flights, so that's something too.

I'm going at the end of October, does that say anything for the overall busy-ness of MCO? It's not during the summer months.

Mark

 

[hanscarlet]

MCO is under construction in an expansion and one of the trams was shut down when we were there in May and so it caused a lot of crowding at MCO.... we had a 12:30pm flight and sat for 2 hours at MCO killing time, I think you'll be fine for your flight

 

[Minnie - Not the Mouse]

I have an 11:30 to Buffalo (we're Canadian too). My plan is to hit Cabanas for breakfast and take our own bags off. That way we will get an earlier shuttle. My trip is in 10 days. I'll let you know how it worked out.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hi everyone, been reading the forum with immense interest as we plan our first cruise! We're eager to try this out after our so-so honeymoon cruise on Princess in 2009. But now with our 8 year-old DD (did I get that right?) in tow, we're raring to get back into the Disney of things in the US after trips to Disney Paris, Shanghai, and TDS in Tokyo.

First question: how much time is ENOUGH time to get back to the Orlando airport to fly home? We dock at 7:30am on the Saturday, and the most convenient flight back home (to Canada in this case) leaves at 11:20am. Is that too tight for a typical transfer, or would it make more sense to have the extra day and head home on Sunday?

I've read about the service DCL offers to check in before the flight and so on, but it states a limit of 11:30am flights. I'm guessing that's for domestic US flights, but it SHOULDN'T matter that much as we Canucks do all our customs stuff on the Canadian side. Regardless, does a 11:30am for Disney suggest that a mere 10-minute difference be negligible? And how long DOES it take to get back to the airport from Port Canaveral, anyway? I'm assuming we wouldn't be leaving at 7:30 sharp, after all!

Thoughts on this? Happy to be here, everyone - it's a super exciting time!

Mark

We do it all the time. 11:20 and 11:30 is ideal to us. I can't stand sitting in an airport for hours. I would skip DCL's bus service. Any time you move 50 people, it takes longer than moving 3. Also the bus stops at the A side and B side. So the first stop, the driver is unloading people's bags, etc. It's feels slow when you're in a hurry. I'd hire a private transfer company and be ready to roll at 7:30. Assuming you visit CC the day before, the ship actually takes its time getting back to PC because it's not a long distance and starts unloading in the wee hours. I have personally witnessed this many times at 5:30-6 am. If you will feel stressed, pack light and have bags you can easily roll out yourself in the am. I think they call this Self Check Out. This allows you to skip locating your bags in the terminal and when you disembark you can go straight to the immigration line then out to your driver who will take you straight to your airline. We use Orlando Sun Transportation but have also used Happy Limo in the past.
I suppose it is possible the ship could be delayed clearing customs but in 20 Disney cruises we've never experienced that.

 

[Lisa F]

Right now MCO is saying you should ARRIVE 3 hours before your flight and I think getting off the ship and to the airport by 8:20 is not very doable. A year ago they were only saying 90 minutes or something.

https://www.orlandoairports.net/faq/

under checking in:

• How long before my flight should I arrive at the airport?
  The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority recommends arriving three hours before your scheduled departure time, but please check directly with your airline for specific recommendations for your flight.

This is as of December or so. A friend of mine just flew out of Orlando this morning and she said the lines were much worse than she's ever seen before.

 

[Billinaz]

Hi everyone, been reading the forum with immense interest as we plan our first cruise! We're eager to try this out after our so-so honeymoon cruise on Princess in 2009. But now with our 8 year-old DD (did I get that right?) in tow, we're raring to get back into the Disney of things in the US after trips to Disney Paris, Shanghai, and TDS in Tokyo.

First question: how much time is ENOUGH time to get back to the Orlando airport to fly home? We dock at 7:30am on the Saturday, and the most convenient flight back home (to Canada in this case) leaves at 11:20am. Is that too tight for a typical transfer, or would it make more sense to have the extra day and head home on Sunday?

I've read about the service DCL offers to check in before the flight and so on, but it states a limit of 11:30am flights. I'm guessing that's for domestic US flights, but it SHOULDN'T matter that much as we Canucks do all our customs stuff on the Canadian side. Regardless, does a 11:30am for Disney suggest that a mere 10-minute difference be negligible? And how long DOES it take to get back to the airport from Port Canaveral, anyway? I'm assuming we wouldn't be leaving at 7:30 sharp, after all!

Thoughts on this? Happy to be here, everyone - it's a super exciting time!

Mark

Ive taken 1130 flights out before. The best way to do this is carry your own luggage off the ship (dont leave it out the night before) and get to the lobby for the express walk off. Then you are first off the ship. You should be able to get right thru customs.

Use Disneys bus to MCO, you should get to MCO by 9AM or 930.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you feel like breakfast will cause you to lollygag too long, you could always grab a container of raisin bran, bowl, spoon & milk from Cabanas the day before at breakfast and keep it in your room, eat while you're getting dressed. Shower the night before. Etc. Then eat at the gate. Or bring some pre-packaged granola bars in case of some hiccup so you're not famished if by chance you don't have time to eat at the gate. You can't carry on or off any food items that are not pre-packaged so don't make plans to tuck a banana or something like that; it will be confiscated.
You could order some uncrustables from room service in case your child gets hungry much sooner than you. When my kids were 8 they had to eat more often than us.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There does seem to be a dichotomy of choices here. Obviously it's a risk, but people have reported taking that risk and making it; but on the other hand it's clear that a couple of delays could throw a significant wrench into things. We haven't heard here of anyone MISSING their flights, so that's something too.

I'm going at the end of October, does that say anything for the overall busy-ness of MCO? It's not during the summer months.

Mark

I don't think there is an off season at MCO anymore. Halloween is popular at all the parks and DCL. The first week on November a lot of NJ schools close so WDW is packed then but still, they would be arriving Nov 2-4, not leaving. I'd go for it but then be sure to explain to the family that 0 time is to be wasted in the am.

We had a 10:40am flight home from Barcelona post cruise and had no problems; well except a certain random group of around 15 of us being selected for super screening at the gate. rechecked bags, got a full pat down, verified our passports by computer and phone calls. whew. They held the plane for us but wow, I was sweating it, just being separated from my family. I've never had that experience in a US airport.