How early to schedule return flight

[Patty106]

After a cruise what is the earliest people schedule a return flight. I am wondering if a 10:35 flight is too early.

Thanks

 

[disneybride96]

10:35 is pretty early. We have an 11:05 and most people will tell you that is too early, but possible. If everything went exactly right you COULD make that 10:35...we have been sitting in the terminal at 9:30, but I don't think I'd plan on that.

 

[WDWLVR]

I agree that 10:30 is too early. Personally I wouldn't make any flight times earlier than 11 or 11:15. Many times you may make it with time to spare but you can't count on that. Even if you get to the airport in time getting through security is taking a while.

 

[Oliviaclare]

Much too early!! I would suggest that you schedule your flight no earlier than 12 noon. We had a flight from MCO at 12:05 and had plenty of time but fortunately we disembarked early from the Wonder and we were at the airport early. Had there been a delay with the ship clearing Customs or a long delay at airport security, we might not have been so lucky. I have heard of people spending up to one hour on the security line at MCO!

 

[crisi]

We lost luggage and that put a delay in the schedule. Anything can throw you off bad enough to not make a 10:35 flight. You are supposed to be at the airport two hours early, which means leaving the ship right at 8:00 - sometimes they aren't even disembarking then.

If there has been an accident on the road, if your luggage isn't right there and you need to look for it, if the ship doesn't clear customs quickly, if - for some reason - customs decides to pull you aside reentering the country, if there is an extra long line at security - you will miss your plane.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I agree with the other posters. I think 10:35 is cutting it pretty close. That said, I have an 11:56 flight -- I understand not wanting to wait in the airport all day!

 

[verandah]

you could make a 930 flight only if you get off the ship by 8am but to be safe i would say 11 am flight would be the best

 

[kcashner]

10:30 is too early. They want you at the airport 2 hours before the flight. Based on our June WDW trip, 2 hours is not too much time. MCO is a busy airport and the security stuff took quite a while. A 10:30 flight would mean MCO at 8:30...which would mean off ship at 7:30. That's just not realistic. DCL would like everyone off by 9, but I was on one cruise where Customs held up the disembarkation. The big doors didn't even open until after 9:30.

I've been at MCO by 9 something. We had a 12:30 flight, and the airline put us on the 9:30 because we were there and could make it....however, it isn't a realistic option. DCL recommends that you not schedule till after 12. That said, on my next cruise, DCL did the air and put me on an 11:45! I even asked about it, and they said, "We'll have you there in plenty of time!"

 

[Patty106]

thank you everyone for your help!

 

[tvguy]

Disney suggests nothing before 12:30 pm, probably based on having to shuttle upwards of 7500 people a week between the ships and the airport.

Having said that, we BARELY made our 12:35 pm fight, even though we were physically at the airport by 10:15 am. The line at the metal detectors was 90 minutes long, and the walk to our gate long. We literally walked from the metal detectors right onto our plane.

 

[Jillpie]

I agree with the other posters. I think 10:35 is cutting it pretty close. That said, I have an 11:56 flight -- I understand not wanting to wait in the airport all day!

Maria, I noticed you are from Boston. If you are on Song, have you checked their flight changes lately? The flight home is now at 11:00 am. We decided on the 2:40 pm flight to be on the safe side coming home from the Magic in June.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Maria, I noticed you are from Boston. If you are on Song, have you checked their flight changes lately? The flight home is now at 11:00 am. We decided on the 2:40 pm flight to be on the safe side coming home from the Magic in June.

No, I hadn't seen that at all! I will check into it right away. Thank you so much for the heads up!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

No, I hadn't seen that at all! I will check into it right away. Thank you so much for the heads up!

Well, I just called, and supposedly the flight is at 11:47 now instead of 11:56. Delta e-mailed me the change at work, so I'll know for sure when I get in. I can live with 11:47, but much earlier and I will definitely be changing flights. I feel confident we will be at the airport by 10...

JillPie, thanks again for the heads up! I had not even thought to check my flights! You're a lifesaver