Getting daughter to MCO

[bethbuchall]

We're driving down to WDW in August. My daughter (adult) will need to fly back before the rest of us leave.

She has a flight for 9:20pm on a Sunday. What is the best way to get her to the airport and maximize park time?

Magical Express would pick her up at Pop Century at 6:05pm.

I could drive her. What time would you leave Epcot to drop someone at the airport? And is it pretty simple driving? She does have TSA pre-check.

How much would Uber/Lyft cost? What time would you leave with that?

I can maximize my time by not having to drive her, but I'd also like her to have as much time as she can.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would uber and leave at 7pm. The question would be where to pick up uber. Does she need to get carryons from Pop? Or can she take her "carry on" into the park with her?

 

[NYCgrrl]

We're driving down to WDW in August. My daughter (adult) will need to fly back before the rest of us leave.

She has a flight for 9:20pm on a Sunday. What is the best way to get her to the airport and maximize park time?

Magical Express would pick her up at Pop Century at 6:05pm.

I could drive her. What time would you leave Epcot to drop someone at the airport? And is it pretty simple driving? She does have TSA pre-check.

How much would Uber/Lyft cost? What time would you leave with that?

I can maximize my time by not having to drive her, but I'd also like her to have as much time as she can.

The bus ride via MDE will be free yet require leaving 3-4 hours in advance.
You'll still need to arrive 2-3 hours in advance if you are driving her to MCO. The ride is fairly simple includes a toll fare (at least via the ride we took w/ Mears) and took about...an hour?
Whether family car, taxi, or MDE you have to factor in the 2-3 hour MCO wants to process people via TSA and airline. I'm clueless how much time is cut off from this process utilizing TSA pre-check.
Plug in the zip code for the resort you are staying at to get a current cost of a one way trip to MCO via Uber, Lyft or other taxi service.
HTH

 

[tjmw2727]

My kids often leave before we/I do and I send them on DME, its free and easy. Since they are also adults if they want to use lyft / uber they are free to do so but they have their own accounts and make that decision. They usually choose DME

 

[bethbuchall]

Thanks for the input! I guess I should see what she's thinking, too, but it's good to have the pros and cons on it. We can drive to the park and have her carry on with us if she chooses to go from there.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

With a 9:20 pm flight time, consider that the pre-check lines may close at 8 pm or so. It would not be good to plan on arriving too close to flight time only to discover that she had to use the regular security line.

 

[bethbuchall]

With a 9:20 pm flight time, consider that the pre-check lines may close at 8 pm or so. It would not be good to plan on arriving too close to flight time only to discover that she had to use the regular security line.

That's important to think about, and I didn't know. Thank you!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would not leave at 7:00 p.m as a PP mentioned. That is cutting it too close. I would leave at 6:30 at the latest for a 9:20 flight. It is a 35 minute drive to MCO.

 

[georgina]

I just had an 8:55 PM flight out Saturday night. I left Epcot a little after 6, had to fill my rental car gas tank, return the rental, check a bag at the SW counter. There was no line at TSA precheck, and I was off the tram to my gate area by 7:25. Everything does not always go that smoothly, but if she wasn't checking a bag and was just getting dropped off to go straight to security, I think 7 would be fine. If checking a bag, I agree with 6:30.

I used Google Maps which said is was shorter time wise to go up I4 to 528.

 

[richmo]

Personally, I think I'd have her take DME, since that's an option.

If you do decide to drive, its quite simple, especially from Epcot. I do tend to disagree with the poster immediately prior to mine -- while driving I-4 to SR-528 could show up as a little quicker on Google Maps, the potential for hitting traffic is much, much higher. I-4 can be a mess just about anytime and is very unpredictable. I'd just take the direct route out of Epcot and follow SR-417. On a Sunday night, I doubt you'll hit much traffic.

 

[georgina]

Whatever, since Google maps includes real time traffic info, I have found it to be pretty good when checking it just before leaving. It was a 5 min or so difference.

 

[richmo]

Whatever, since Google maps includes real time traffic info, I have found it to be pretty good when checking it just before leaving. It was a 5 min or so difference.

That I certainly would not disagree with. I misread your post to be a generality, so apologies there. If Maps or Waze or the like suggest that route, definitely go for it. In general, these days, I try to stay away from I-4...and, not that it matters, I find 417 to be a more pleasant ride.

 

[goofy4tink]

We're driving down to WDW in August. My daughter (adult) will need to fly back before the rest of us leave.

She has a flight for 9:20pm on a Sunday. What is the best way to get her to the airport and maximize park time?

Magical Express would pick her up at Pop Century at 6:05pm.

I could drive her. What time would you leave Epcot to drop someone at the airport? And is it pretty simple driving? She does have TSA pre-check.

How much would Uber/Lyft cost? What time would you leave with that?

I can maximize my time by not having to drive her, but I'd also like her to have as much time as she can.

For a 9:20 flight.....
DME would pick up at 6:30ish, which would mean leaving the park by 5:15ish. If she's flying international, then add an hour to that time.
Driving would mean leaving around 7ish. With precheck closing around 8pm, she'll want to be sure to make it in time to use it!
Uber would cost around $30-40. I would have them p/u around 7 as well.

As for the route for driving....I tend to take 417. The ride is much nicer. 4 to 528 can be miserable. Traffic can be gridlocked on 4 with a moment's notice. It has been fine when I got on it, but then something happens and it just stops!!!!

 

[ChristmasElf]

I just had an 8:55 PM flight out Saturday night. I left Epcot a little after 6, had to fill my rental car gas tank, return the rental, check a bag at the SW counter. There was no line at TSA precheck, and I was off the tram to my gate area by 7:25. Everything does not always go that smoothly, but if she wasn't checking a bag and was just getting dropped off to go straight to security, I think 7 would be fine. If checking a bag, I agree with 6:30.

I used Google Maps which said is was shorter time wise to go up I4 to 528.

Do NOT follow Google maps. The 417 will be much quicker.

 

[joelkfla]

Do NOT follow Google maps. The 417 will be much quicker.

I've driven from WDW to MCO many times, and I always follow Google's recommendation. At times when it recommended 528, the arrival time was pretty accurate -- I'd say within 5 minutes. There's usually a few minutes of backup passing 535, but smooth running after that. Google won't send you that way if there's a major backup on the route.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would not leave at 7:00 p.m as a PP mentioned. That is cutting it too close. I would leave at 6:30 at the latest for a 9:20 flight. It is a 35 minute drive to MCO.

7:00 + 35 minute drive time gets you to the airport at 7:35. That's an hour, 45 minutes before the flight. Assuming there's no bags to check, I would have no problem with that time frame, even with pre-check. WITH precheck (which OP says they have), AND even allowing that pre-check may close at 8, you've still got time.