Help! Will I make my return flight home??

[Tigger2252]

I'm hoping all the experienced cruisers can help me. The flight times available for our return trip home aren't great, with most being too early or really late in the afternoon. There are only two flight times that will have us home before 8:00 p.m. One leaves at 11:40 and the other isn't until 3:30. Naturally I would really like the 11:40 flight because the prospect of sitting in an airport all day is not attractive. Would you book the 11:40 based on your past experience? I know Disney recommends booking after 12:30 but the options are really terrible for times. TIA

 

[danfromca]

I'm hoping all the experienced cruisers can help me. The flight times available for our return trip home aren't great, with most being too early or really late in the afternoon. There are only two flight times that will have us home before 8:00 p.m. One leaves at 11:40 and the other isn't until 3:30. Naturally I would really like the 11:40 flight because the prospect of sitting in an airport all day is not attractive. Would you book the 11:40 based on your past experience? I know Disney recommends booking after 12:30 but the options are really terrible for times. TIA

11:40 is borderline. You'll probably make it. The problem is that you don't know how long the security lines will be, so if there's any delay getting off the ship or in transportation, you could run into trouble.

Allocate some extra cash for curbside checkin - the lines inside (depending on airline) can be deadly....

 

[mommasita]

Disney recommends nothing before 12:30, but I have done 2 flights at 11:30 without problems. I don't eat breakfast, get off ASAP, and use a towncar service to get us to MCO..We have been ok, and check-in and then relax and eat. Security lines at MCO tend to be long, so I arrive early..

What I do is ask the airline before I leave, to possibly put us as standby for the next flight, they always do without a problem once I explain the cruise part...

There is always a chance, albeit small of the ship being late, custom problems, weather, etc..So, do keep that in mind..

 

[tchoney]

I would take the later flight! You will probably make the 11:30 flight, but its not worth the risk. We also experienced the same problem with a cruise several years ago. We took the DCL transfers to the airport, checked our bags and then we found alternate transporatation to take us to Downtown Disney. The kids played, we had lunch and found transportation to the airport in time for our flight.

It was much more enjoyable than sitting in the crowded airport and it kind of extended our vacation!

We did the same thing in California when we went on our DCL Mexican Riviera Cruise. We went to the airport and checked in all of our luggage. We hired a limo service to pick us up and take us on a private tour of LA/Beverly Hills/Hollywood/Venice Beach and then take us back to the airport just in time for our flight. It was a great way to wind down after such an exciting vacation!

 

[poohs4me]

I would gamble as well. I hate having to kill time until my flight.

 

[kcashner]

You'll probably be fine, but it depends. Normally you can get off the ship about 7:30, but on one of our cruises the big doors didn't open till after 9. If you are using a participating airline you can check your bags at the port and hop on the bus--it leaves as soon as it is full. However, you must check bags at least 3 hours before you flight in order to do it at the port. Checking bags at port means that you avoid one major line at MCO, which is a real convenience!

If you are not on a participating airline, the lines at MCO can be long. It is one of those airports that recommends 3 hours, and we have had it take nearly that long to do baggage check in/screening and then the security check. On the other hand, we've had it move very quickly also.

 

[flexsmom]

If you do decide to do the later flight, you can always do a day room at the Hyatt for $89. Our flight wasn't until 6:30pm, though, so it was most definitely worth it for us - the two kids took a 3 hour (!) nap in the peace and quiet while DH enjoyed the wireless in the room and I read a book on the couch in the lobby. It was great decompression and we arrived home very refreshed. I don't know if a 3:30-4pm flight would make that worth it - I think it depends on your circumstances!

Now - after all of that - 3 for 3 cruises, we would have easily made an 11:40 flight and the security lines would not have been prohibitive. But I also know that I would have been a nervous twitch if I had known I was trying to make that flight.....even though it would have worked out.

 

[Sandaneli]

WE've been on two cruises and both times would have easily made an 11:40 flight and would have been much happier than sitting in the airport for hours waiting for our later flight. We have always taken a "limo" to and from the port and would HIGHLY recommend it. The cost for 4 is less than the transfers and there is no waiting. You tell them what time to pick you up.
S

 

[tvguy]

Won't bore everyone again with my story, I'd go later......OR be prepared for a chance (granted, small chance) you won't make your flight.
I'd just plan on a leisurely lunch at the airport.

 

[curlybop]

We had a 12:20pm flight out. People were lined up to leave quite early, but we waited in the Promenade lounge for a bit, got the luggage, and had towncar service. It was around 8:45 am when we left, the towncar came at 9am, and we were at the airport by 10am. Even then, we had LOTS of time to roam, get a snack, and shop. Depending on how you get from the port to airport, if you can get transportation to leave quite early, I'd take the early flight. Security took us about 10 minutes to get through in MCO, and we had no problems at all.

 

[tvguy]

We had a 12:20pm flight out. People were lined up to leave quite early, but we waited in the Promenade lounge for a bit, got the luggage, and had towncar service. It was around 8:45 am when we left, the towncar came at 9am, and we were at the airport by 10am. Even then, we had LOTS of time to roam, get a snack, and shop. Depending on how you get from the port to airport, if you can get transportation to leave quite early, I'd take the early flight. Security took us about 10 minutes to get through in MCO, and we had no problems at all.

This is simlar to our experience ,except we took the Disney buses and were at the airport by 10:15 am, boarding pass in hand. Our difference was security took us over 90 minutes minutes to get through. Our 12:35 flight was already boarding by the time we got to the gate. No, these security delays don't happen every day, however, my travel agent warned us before we left that Orlando was on her list of airports where you should be there at least 3 hours before flight time because of potential security delays.
After 7 relaxing days on the Magic, I didn't need that stress.

 

[Barbossa]

We had a 3:00pm flight on AAL, so we checked-in at the cruise terminal and took the bus to Orlando Intl. A noon flight would have been better as we waited around for a long time. I think it's unlikely that you'd have a problem with an 11:40 flight, but if something does go wrong (i.e. 90 minutes through security) you might be out of luck. I think a mid-afternoon flight + Hyatt day room would be optimal.