How Much Time To Get To Airport

[WolfpackFan]

As I've mentioned previously DD25 and I will be at BWV and VWL the week of March 19. We are flying with Southwest (from Raleigh-Durham). I will be renting a car. Our return flight is on Friday at 10:30 AM. This will be my first time flying and renting a car (we usually drive down). I know traffic is terrible basically anytime, but I can imagine on a Friday morning it will be especially bad. How long do you think I should allow for leaving VWL, driving to airport, returning car, checking in, going thru security and getting to the gate? My DD does not function well early in the morning, so I can anticipate it being a real struggle to get her out of the room, car loaded, etc. Thanks for your help.

 

[CarolMN]

IMHO, you should arrive at the SW check in counter no later than 9 am for a 10:30 am flight. (Earlier if you care about the Boarding Pass category and can't check in online ahead of time).

It takes about 35 drive minutes to get to the airport from WDW - use the south route and avoid I4/Beeline. Allow 10 -15 minutes to return the car and get your luggage to the counter. (You might consider dropping off the luggage at curbside check in before returning the car if SW offers that service at MCO. Makes the whole car return thing and security rigamarole easier, IMHO).

Anyway, if it were me, I'd try to be in the car pulling out of the resort no later than 8:15 am - 8:00 would be better.

JMHO. YMMV.

 

[DVC-Don]

We leave the resort or park parking lot 3 hours prior to our flight.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're in the "leave three hour before" crowd.

Bobbi

 

[bongo59]

always depends upon traffic and the day and time you leave. If you go out on a FRI-Sun give yourself more time. And if you leave before 9AM or after 3PM also leave more time.

 

[quentina]

There is a 3 hour club???

I am starting a new club...It is the "refuse to check luggage and run to the gate club".

Anyone with a nervous stomach does not want to travel with me. I am one who is packing as everyone else is in the car.

I would leave 1 hour and 15 minutes prior at the most. If you do this, wear well made comfortable running shoes

In all seriousness, I very rarely run into any type of traffic jam. I would say 30 miuntes top from resort to airport.

Good luck!

Kim

 

[DebbieB]

I've been on 417 to the airport many different times of the day and have never hit much traffic. I always curbside check before returning the car.

 

[JudithM]

We left Celebration this morning at 7:45, took I4 to the Beeline ($1.50 tolls), returned the rental car at the airport & were in the terminal by 8:30 a.m. My flight left at 10:30 a.m. The line for seciruty was minimal especially compared to the line we saw when we arrived last Monday. This includes several people leaving this morning after the big international builder's conference.