How late is too late to land at MCO the day of a cruise?

[trickiwoo]

My past 2 flights to Florida have been delayed significantly! On my last flight to Orlando in September, there was a thunderstorm over MCO preventing our plane from landing. We were put in a holding pattern until we ran out of fuel, we ended up having to fly to Tampa, refuel in Tampa, then fly to MCO. We ended up landing in Orlando about 3 hours after we were originally scheduled to. Then back in February I flew to Fort Lauderdale. Our plane was about 2 hours late arriving at our airport due to an issue at the airport the plane was traveling from, so our flight was delayed.

And 2-3 hour delays aren't as bad as some delays. Recently my sister-in-law had to spend the night in the airport because her flight was delayed by 15 hours due to a mechanical issue.

I never fly in the day of for a cruise. If everything goes according to plan, it can work out just fine. But there are so many things that could go wrong and cause delays. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[diznymom]

You are flying from Michigan. In January.

Please call Delta, let them know that their change won't work for you and have them book you flight the day before.

 

[undertheradar]

I would fly in the day before. No sense in worrying about all the possible issues that could arise from same day arrival.

 

[Donna M]

We like to fly in two days before and spend the time at Disney hanging around the resorts, then a day after the cruise to relax. Just got home yesterday from our trip. The cruise is so much fun you won't want to miss it by cutting it too close, especially in winter.

 

[Skittlesmom]

A few years ago, we had a very early morning *direct* flight (no connections) to Orlando, then DCL shuttle to the cruise...a great plan. Unfortunately, 3 of our 4 bags didn't make the flight...next available flight would arrive in Orlando at 8pm (at least 5 hours *after* the ship departed Port Canaveral). Spirit Airlines told us how to submit a claim and asked for our cruise itinerary. We were devastated. The DCL staff at the airport calmed us down and said unfortunately lost bags were frequent. They hailed us a cab and sent us to the nearest WalMart where we purchased a suitcase and kids/adult clothing and personal items to last a few days. Quickest 30mins shopping ever, trip back to the airport, then the shuttle to Port Canaveral. We let Guest Relations know about the bags and they did everything possible to help us to calm down and enjoy our vacation and they did a fantastic job. Thankfully, our bags arrived in our room 3.5 days into the cruise. The claim process with the airline was an absolute nightmare, took several months (different claim forms, inventories, letters, and notarized claim form!), and finally I had to threaten to notify the airline's corporate leadership about the experience. I hope nobody has a similar experience. After that experience, I'm convinced to avoid flying in the day of a cruise departure.

 

[jlemieu1]

As OP mentioned it can be very stressful to fly the day of departure and not recommended. But that being said I have done it 2 times out of our 5 cruises. I believe they still board till 3pm ish so I think you should be able to make it to port on an almost 12:00 ish arrival time

 

[tinker&belle]

If you have to do it I would check the minimal
Amount of luggage and carry on as much as possible.

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

It could be done. But this is too risky to try in my opinion. I will only fly day of if:

1) it's not winter
2) I'm on the first flight of the day for that plane (i.e, that plane spent the next night at my airport), and
3) there are several later flights that would get me to the ship on time

Your scenario breaks all three of my conditions for day of flying. And, even with all these conditions, I'd still fly in day before where possible.

Oh, and someone here reminded me of my fourth rule -- must be a direct flight. Connections vastly compound the possibility for something to go wrong.

 

[disboardlover]

Assuming you are going to still fly into Orlando the morning of your cruise and there are no issues, the main question is whether taking Disney transport will be quicker; it may be less stressful, but it likely will be more expensive. Whether it is quicker depends on how long the bus you are on has to wait to fill up. If this is a half hour or so, a private transport for 7 may still end up being faster and will certainly be less expensive. You can check in after 2pm at the port so that isn't a major issue, and it is only about an hour from the airport.

But as others have said indicated, the major concern for you should be the flight or flights getting you to Orlando. So long as they get you to MCO before noon, with all your baggage, you should be fine.

 

[GrannyDee]

I hate to pile on, but ...

I would never cut it so close. I can't imagine starting a cruise vacation without flying in at least a day early. We're from the frozen North and always cruise in winter. For our upcoming Disney cruise, we've given ourselves a three-day buffer and will use the pre-cruise time to visit WDW.

I guess the bottom line is, as a previous poster wrote, you have to do your own risk analysis and decide if the late-leave is worth the known risk.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also make sure you have trip insurance. Would suck to lose the cost of the cruise because you couldn't get to port.

Also get passports so they can possibly fly to the first port.




If it goes well it goes well. Not a lot of thinking or consideration goes into that scenario.

But SO MUCH could cause it to NOT work, and that's the part that needs the thought. So it's good to hear all of this. I've walked into seatac on a bright beautiful sunny day to find my airline lines backed nearly up to the doors because weather on the east coast wasnt letting the west coast have planes. We had a pure west coast flight to Anaheim, and yet our flights were delayed and cancelled and had to be changed. They just didn't have the planes they needed because of what was going on across the country.

 

[RedSox68]

We have never flown in on the day of a cruise before, but we are this time due to the timing of our next cruise (January 2nd). We had originally booked the earliest flight possible, which would have gotten us to MCO at 9:25 a.m. I felt comfortable with this. Then, Delta went and changed our flight by two hours, and our new arrival time at MCO is 11:37 a.m. I am really nervous about this change.

Our original plan was to hire a car service to get our party of 7 to the ship. Now, I'm thinking that might not be the best choice. I'm considering the Disney ground transfer simply because then we don't have to retrieve our luggage. I want to make sure that we can arrive at the port in time.

Any words of wisdom to offer?

There is a thread on here about someone who booked air through Disney and Delta changed their flight to the afternoon day of -- and they missed the cruise. They had to be flown to Boston to catch up with the ship. I wouldn't chance it. Have Delta give you a new time for the day before -- there should be no charge since they changed it on you.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I have to weigh in on the other side. Look. Most of the people here on this board are planners. We LIKE to account for every possibility.

But realistically, LOTS of people fly in the day of. Sure. Some of them miss their cruise, but MOST do not miss it. Disney transfers or a private service that picks you up at the airport will probably get you there with plenty of time to spare.

And of course, get trip insurance, either through Disney or privately. I find the private ins covers more and costs less.

It all comes down to you. If your flight is cancelled/delayed and you miss the trip, are you willing to take the insurance money and re-book? Do you even have a possibility of coming a day ahead? Some people can't. Most people who come the day of have no problem.

Of course, personally, I came a day before and left the day after, but that's me. I'm a planner. I LIKE to dwell on all the what-ifs. BTW, my flight came in on time, I could have been to the port in a couple of hours.

 

[coloradocutie]

You are flying from Michigan. In January.

Please call Delta, let them know that their change won't work for you and have them book you flight the day before.

Words of wisdom.

Don't risk it. fly in the day prior and stay at hyatt MCO and take the Disney transportation over to your cruise.

 

[mhconley]

Heck, we drive to port from southwest Florida and still we arrive the day prior and stay at a Titusville hotel the night before a cruise. For our upcoming cruise out of San Juan we're arriving 4 days early, partly to explore San Juan but also to give us time catch another flight should something unforeseen occur.

Martin

 

[disneyholic family]

call delta and tell them you do not accept the change - that you will not make your ship and that you want to be flown in the day before...
if they move the flight by more than an hour they must offer you an alternative...
come in the day before and pay for a night in a hotel (either at the airport or at the port)..

there are just too many things that can go wrong....it is not worth it....
for your potential ulcer alone you should have them fly you in the day before...

if you want details of all our various delays and cancellations over the years, i'll be happy to share...but suffice to say, the chances are good you will miss the boat...literally...

 

[Tozzie]

call delta and tell them you do not accept the change - that you will not make your ship and that you want to be flown in the day before...
if they move the flight by more than an hour they must offer you an alternative...
come in the day before and pay for a night in a hotel (either at the airport or at the port)..

there are just too many things that can go wrong....it is not worth it....
for your potential ulcer alone you should have them fly you in the day before...

if you want details of all our various delays and cancellations over the years, i'll be happy to share...but suffice to say, the chances are good you will miss the boat...literally...

While Delta most likely will reschedule for the day before, the hour thing is a myth it all depends on what their contract of carriage says. If you read the DOT rules regarding when they must get you to your destination on rthe day of your flight you would be speachless.

 

[disneyholic family]

While Delta most likely will reschedule for the day before, the hour thing is a myth it all depends on what their contract of carriage says. If you read the DOT rules regarding when they must get you to your destination on rthe day of your flight you would be speachless.

i'm a delta frequent flyer (pretty much the only airline you can get in and out of detroit airport on for that matter)..
anyway, every email i've ever received from them regarding a change in flight states the hour rule...

oh and to the original poster - keep calling delta back until you get a decent agent...
even if one agent can't help you, call back a second, third, fourth, etc time until you get an agent who knows what they're doing....(typically former northwest employees who have a brain and know how to think outside the box)...

 

[Dug720]

i'm a delta frequent flyer (pretty much the only airline you can get in and out of detroit airport on for that matter)..
anyway, every email i've ever received from them regarding a change in flight states the hour rule...

oh and to the original poster - keep calling delta back until you get a decent agent...
even if one agent can't help you, call back a second, third, fourth, etc time until you get an agent who knows what they're doing....(typically former northwest employees who have a brain and know how to think outside the box)...

I can vouch that there ARE some good agents. The first weekend in October we were out of school (Rosh Hashanah - advantage of being in NYC) and I was flying home. I knew there were delays all day long out of LGA (last choice airport, but it was on miles, so...) on Friday because of weather. Well, I was in the car service almost to the airport when I got a text that my non-stop flight had been cancelled and I had been rebooked on a series of flights the following day - TWO connections and home almost 24 hours later. I called immediately and said that was unacceptable. My agent started looking for any possible options while I went on to the airport (I'd prepaid the car service and figured that BEING there might give me options). I asked him about the direct flight before mine that was still on the ground, but at first he didn't understand where I was - and I guess didn't see that it was delayed. But when I asked about stand-by he said "Wait. Where are you now?" When I told him at the airport he asked how long security was. THERE WAS NO SECURITY LINE!! "And no, my bag is carry-on. Nothing to check." He clicked around and said "Go to the kiosk NOW." Out popped a ticket for that earlier flight...IN THE EXIT ROW. I went from tears of frustration to tears of joy in like 5 seconds. Granted that was a "right here right now" situation, but I was able to get where I needed even earlier.

BUT part of that was also me doing what research I could at the time (in this case looking at the departures board and seeing a flight to Nashville that was delayed). So perhaps the OP could look and see what earlier options exist - either earlier that day or the day before and ask specifically about those rather than just letting the agent have free reign. I don't know if they have the authority to look at a different airline this far out or not since the route isn't cancelled all together (in which case re-routing you even to another airline is on them) - but I know my agent was even searching other airlines to try and work magic for me the day-of.

 

[disneyholic family]

I can vouch that there ARE some good agents. The first weekend in October we were out of school (Rosh Hashanah - advantage of being in NYC) and I was flying home. I knew there were delays all day long out of LGA (last choice airport, but it was on miles, so...) on Friday because of weather. Well, I was in the car service almost to the airport when I got a text that my non-stop flight had been cancelled and I had been rebooked on a series of flights the following day - TWO connections and home almost 24 hours later. I called immediately and said that was unacceptable. My agent started looking for any possible options while I went on to the airport (I'd prepaid the car service and figured that BEING there might give me options). I asked him about the direct flight before mine that was still on the ground, but at first he didn't understand where I was - and I guess didn't see that it was delayed. But when I asked about stand-by he said "Wait. Where are you now?" When I told him at the airport he asked how long security was. THERE WAS NO SECURITY LINE!! "And no, my bag is carry-on. Nothing to check." He clicked around and said "Go to the kiosk NOW." Out popped a ticket for that earlier flight...IN THE EXIT ROW. I went from tears of frustration to tears of joy in like 5 seconds. Granted that was a "right here right now" situation, but I was able to get where I needed even earlier.

BUT part of that was also me doing what research I could at the time (in this case looking at the departures board and seeing a flight to Nashville that was delayed). So perhaps the OP could look and see what earlier options exist - either earlier that day or the day before and ask specifically about those rather than just letting the agent have free reign. I don't know if they have the authority to look at a different airline this far out or not since the route isn't cancelled all together (in which case re-routing you even to another airline is on them) - but I know my agent was even searching other airlines to try and work magic for me the day-of.

absolutely - delta has some brilliant agents....it's just a question of being lucky enough to get one of them on the phone!!