How do you spend your departure day?

[RLGNC]

So, a little side question. If I have a 1:05 flight and have to return a rental car, what time should I be leaving WDW?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

how much is it likely to cost to take a cab or uber or something to MCO. three hours early seems a bit long. Idk why they think we need 3 hours early.

 

[bookgirl]

how much is it likely to cost to take a cab or uber or something to MCO. three hours early seems a bit long. Idk why they think we need 3 hours early.

Airports prefer that you check in 2 hours early (and at MCO I've actually stood in a security line for over an hour during not peak season, I've also done it in less then 15 but you plan for the worst). WDW is about 30 minutes away from the airport. DME picks up multiple resorts so they allow 30-45 minutes for that. Hence 3 hours. You can give them a false flight time (but you won't be able to check in your luggage with the resort service) so that you cut your time but if you miss your flight it's your fault.

 

[disneydeal]

I'm seriously considering this for our departure day. We depart on a Saturday in October at 655pm. How was the drive from WDW to the ocean and back to MCO? Worth the trip?
If you done it a few times, any recommendations on a good destination?

Staying at Disney for 12 days then staying staying at the beach 2 nights so we'll wake up already at the beach. I have made day trips from disney to beach and back to disney a few times and although the drive isn't all that long I prefer to just add a few nights at the beach hotel to catch the sunrise.

 

[MeganMango]

I'm shocked no one wants to do anything on the last day LOL.

I planned a 9:50pm flight because I want to do parks on my last day. I'm an early bird though, and will be at one of the parks for rope drop that morning, probably one more day of finding characters to get pictures with that I didn't see along the way!

 

[beccasmom]

We normally opt for a mid-morning flight home, so we're usually at the airport by 7:00-7:30. By the time we go through security and grab a quick bite, we only have at most a 1/2 hour wait at the gate. Longer if we breeze through security, but that's ancient history, at least in our recent experience at MCO.

 

[Betty_Baylor99]

We have a mid-afternoon departure flight but we will just have the kids enjoy some pool time and do an early lunch on property before we depart on MDE at noon. We have no issues with MDE picking us up 3 hours ahead of the time of our departure flight. IMHO the security line to clear through TSA at MCO is a logistical nightmare during peak hours mid-day and their TSA screeners are very inefficient. When we were there last April, it easily took over an hour just to get through security.

 

[Starclassic]

We usually go to a park for the morning. This year we have a 7 pm flight home and planning on just relaxing, maybe going to Disney Springs for a little while.

 

[megster1123]

I'm shocked no one wants to do anything on the last day LOL.

I planned a 9:50pm flight because I want to do parks on my last day. I'm an early bird though, and will be at one of the parks for rope drop that morning, probably one more day of finding characters to get pictures with that I didn't see along the way!

That's our plan right now...PPO ADR at Garden Grill, Soarin'...and then I have a big blank space for the remainder. Maybe a water park? Maybe skip GG and just day trip to the ocean? Honestly I'm kind of tired of planning for now so will probably just let that idea simmer for a month or so.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I spend my departure day dining at an awesome character breakfast then floating in the pool till 3 hours before mco. Then I hop on the bus soaking wet with the wife crying that our vacation us D-U-N.

 

[85glht]

I loathe late flights on departure day. Did it once, never again. Say goodbye the day before. We book a late morning flight and go home! When it's time to go, it's time to go.

Agreed.... Why prolong the agony. We book the earliest nonstop flights and get home ASAP. When home, unpack the luggage, wife starts a load of laundry, we head to the grocery store and get that dreaded task done. Do other needed errands just so we can have a relaxing Sunday before heading back to work on Monday. I know, it sucks but this is just us.

 

[Anonny]

Agreed.... Why prolong the agony. We book the earliest nonstop flights and get home ASAP. When home, unpack the luggage, wife starts a load of laundry, we head to the grocery store and get that dreaded task done. Do other needed errands just so we can have a relaxing Sunday before heading back to work on Monday. I know, it sucks but this is just us.

We follow the same plan. Vacation ends on our last full day. In March, our flight home was 9:15 am. In three weeks, we fly home at 8:30 am. Magical Express picks us up very early.

 

[85glht]

We follow the same plan. Vacation ends on our last full day. In March, our flight home was 9:15 am. In three weeks, we fly home at 8:30 am. Magical Express picks us up very early.

Yes they do! Our last departure was at 7:20 am.... ME picked us up at 4:15am. Ugh, that was a little too early but we were home by 11:30am, errands done by 2:30pm, went and got an early supper and in "comfy clothes" on the couch by 5:30pm. Still early enough for a good nights sleep into Sunday.

 

[tomatecerise]

For non USA residents it's 4 Hours before the flight. In november We made rope drop at magic Kingdom And wait for Tiana because it's the more Beautiful princess And You can't have fast pass for meet And greet. We shop around magic Kindom And My Sister Go to the resorts pool. Bad idea, You have no more room to change And wet stuff In your carry on...

We arrive more exhausted Then happy, the flight Was too late, We were hungry...

The last trip (We arrive this monday) We quit happy, the bus driver was fun, the flight Was at 12:25pm. We Took the bus at 7:55am. Much more relax!

 

[RedOne3781]

Let me preface by saying we almost always rent a car, so DME is not really a factor for us. And that kind of alters our timeline/plans.

That being said: For many years we had late morning flights so we would basically wake up, do last minute packing/double (and triple) check the room then head out for the airport.

For the last handful of trips we started booking flights later in the afternoon and typically drive over to the Poly to have breakfast at Kona and then sometimes go to DTD (I guess it's Disney Springs now....but that's a different topic) for a little shopping.

This trip is a bit unique as we are driving to Daytona Beach for a few nights after WDW and have decided to spend that last morning at MK for some last minute rides and lunch before heading to the beach.

 

[CounselorX]

For me personally, I wouldn't be able to enjoy much on our departure day. We dedicate the entire day before departure to wind down, get things mostly packed and relax. We may go to Disney Springs if we got everything packed and are good with time. Departure day, we try to get a good amount of sleep, wake up, hang around and then leave. This is why I prefer long vacations.

On our first trip, we had an early flight out and we stayed up late at MK the night before our departure and it was terrible. We were dead tired and rushing to get packed and ready.

 

[RedOne3781]

I'm seriously considering this for our departure day. We depart on a Saturday in October at 655pm. How was the drive from WDW to the ocean and back to MCO? Worth the trip?
If you done it a few times, any recommendations on a good destination?

I have never gone to the beach on departure day, but have gone there for our mid day break many many times. (Usually on a day when DHS opens early for EMH. We go there from like 8-12, head to Cocoa Beach, relax by the water til three, go back to our resort to freshen up then hit whatever park has evening EHM). For me, even a few hours by the ocean is worth it. But it really depends on your family.

All that being said: Cocoa Beach is about an hour from WDW. And even closer to the Orlando Airport. And it is a pretty easy drive, just take FL 528 E to A1A S.

Since you have a 6:55pm flight and MCO always has long security lines, I would maybe get to the beach around 10 and then make sure you leave the beach for the airport by 2:30.

 

[FloridaPixie]

We drive and live 5 1/2-6 hours away. Our summer trips usually last 10-14 days, so we wake up fairly early (8 am-ish), pack up the van, grab a bite to eat, gas up the van if needed, then head home. We sometimes stop at the Disney Outlet near WDW for a few last-minute souvenirs if there was something we were thinking about getting from an earlier visit. If we get a later start in the morning, we might stop by Sweet Tomatoes for an early lunch on the way out of town, since we don't have one at home!

 

[mickeymom22]

Things we have done on departure day:

Stroll leisurely through Disney Springs...super easy since you are at POR.

Participate in the animation class at Pop Cetury.

Hang out at the resort pool.

Get one last Dole Whip at the Polynesian.

I am with everyone that says too late of a departure on that last day will cause severe (DDD) Disney Departure Depression.

 

[bbak30]

We usually drive so we leave early in the morning to head back home.
If I ever did take a late flight, I could see myself visiting MK early that morning.
I would also totally Uber to the airport. The 2 times we did fly, we rented a van through a service to bring us back and forth. We had a large group and it seemed easier than dealing with DME.