How much time needed to the Airport from Disney

[gogo]

We are visiting WDW in January. We have always taken the ME from/to the airport since this service was implemented. I plan on using ME to get to our resort upon arrival but I want to hire transportation to return to the airport as the flight I want to book leaves at 9:45 a.m. I don't want to rush in the morning and ME usually picks you up 3 hours before the plane leaves. So, my question is, what would a good time be to have a car pick us up at this time in the morning?

I dislike having to spend the extra money for a car service but I think it would be worth it.

Thanks!

 

[Sweettears]

I usually allow for 1/2 hour to get to MCO. It depends on how early you like to be there before your flight. I've seen some horrendous lines at security at all times of the day. It can easily take 45minutes to an hour.

 

[gogo]

Thanks for the reply...I guess I will hire transportation.

 

[Lewisc]

According to SW the suggested arrival time at MCI is 2 hours before your flight Th-Monday and 90 minutes Tue-Wed.

That suggests a pickup time 2 1/2 hours before your flight Th-Monday. You might cut 15 minutes if you don't have luggage to check.

You have to decide an extra hour of sleep is worth the money. You should be at the DME stop 10 minutes or so before your scheduled pick up time. Not required with a car service.

 

[gogo]

Lewisc, thanks for your response. I really like using ME to save the money but then I figured that the trip is already expensive so maybe another $80 to $100 is worth it.....even hiring a car we still would have to leave at 7:30. Sometimes I wish I was a morning person lol

 

[Sweettears]

I always use ME on the way to WDW and cab it back. Adding an additional hour or so at WDW is worth it to me.

 

[siskaren]

I always use ME on the way to WDW and cab it back. Adding an additional hour or so at WDW is worth it to me.

Personally, I'd rather not worry about the possibility of traffic problems or long lines at security. Since the typical recommendation is to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight if you're flying domestically, and WDW is about 20 miles from the airport, 3 hours really isn't too long. I'd rather relax at the gate for a little while then risk having to race through the airport to make it to my gate in time. You can get breakfast at the airport while you're waiting. Besides, with a morning flight, it's not like the OP is going to be able to get any last minute time in a park.

 

[dburg30]

If you are leaving later in the afternoon or evening I can KINDA see 'getting that extra hour at WDW'. But I'd never do it. Way too easy for time to get away and all the sudden you are one of 'those people'wanting everyone to let you thru security lines because you are going to miss you flight.. In the early AM no way I would pay for transportation back to MCO you arent getting any extra WDW time IMO... What really are you going to do with that extran 30 min - 1 hour?

 

[Lewisc]

.. What really are you going to do with that extran 30 min - 1 hour?

An extra hour of sleep. Worth the $50-$60 to some people but not worth it for others. I'd just sleep on the plane. I appreciate the fact that different people have different priorities in how they spend their vacation $.

 

[Donna M]

This past Nov. we had an 8:00am flight, left SSR at 5:45 dropped off car at 6:30, 20 minutes for security. Arrived at gate at 7:10, plane started boarding at 7:30.

Last Feb. had a 7:45am departure. Left WDW at 6ish and had to run to the plane! Security took almost 40 minutes!

We'll give ourselves 2 hours on a weekend and 1.5 on a weekday.

This past April part of our group took ME to the airport and had to leave before us. We had a rental and left later. We were at the gate a good 30 min. before they arrived.

 

[goofy4tink]

A 9:45 flight will, most likely, start boarding by 9:15ish. So, you want to be at the gate no later than 9. 10 mins to the gate from security. Figure on it taking between 15 and 25 mins to get through security. Maybe 5 mins from the ground level to security. 30 mins from your resort.

That is the minimum amount of time you will need. There is no way I would plan on leaving my resort 70 mins prior to flight departure. There is a reason that MCO recommends arriving 2 hrs prior to flight time. Yes, you spend a bit more time at the gate, but that's not a bad thing. You get to use the restroom one last time, you get to grab something to eat, you get to relax and not stress over being late.

So, for a 9:45am flight, I would plan on leaving the resort no later than 7:30am. DME will pick you up at 6:45ish. I'm not sure I would spend the money to sleep an addtl 30 mins. Even when I book a car service to take me back to MCO, I always book them 2.5 hrs prior to flight departure.

 

[gogo]

Thanks for the replies everyone, very helpful

 

[maxiesmom]

We just got back from WDW last night, and the security checkpoint at MCO was horrendous. At most hiring a car will save you 30 minutes, if you hope to make your flight.