I need your experiences with DCL transportation post-cruise from Port Canaveral to MCO

[MickeyD]

Delta continues to move our flight up. It was originally for 2:40pm from MCO (which was perfect). Should have known they would mess with it. It is now 11:40am. DCL says don't book anything earlier than 11:15am, but I am wondering what everyone's experience is with using DCL transportation post cruise. What time do you get to the airport if you use walk off and take your own luggage off. We are first class on Delta so can use that line to check in, and we are tsa pre-check. In any of your experiences, do you think we can make an 11:40 flight?

Thank you,
Lisa

 

[Mommb]

If Disney says to book flights after 11:15, then 11:40 should be fine barring unusual circumstances with the ship. Weather delays in docking are likely to move your flight time too.

If you are on a bus leaving at 8, you should be at the airport by 9. You may not even need to do express check-out. See what information you are given onboard about your bus time.

 

[cinnamoroll]

Used DCL transportation in May and November from Port Canaveral to MCO. We did express walk-off and pulled up to MCO at around 8:45am both times. There were fortunately no issues with weather, port customs, or traffic.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Delta continues to move our flight up. It was originally for 2:40pm from MCO (which was perfect). Should have known they would mess with it. It is now 11:40am. DCL says don't book anything earlier than 11:15am, but I am wondering what everyone's experience is with using DCL transportation post cruise. What time do you get to the airport if you use walk off and take your own luggage off. We are first class on Delta so can use that line to check in, and we are tsa pre-check. In any of your experiences, do you think we can make an 11:40 flight?

Thank you,
Lisa

I'll just chime in here to point out - if your airline changes your flight they're supposed to ask you if it's OK. You just have to say "no, it doesn't work for us" and they are supposed to work with you to find a flight that does.

you have rights: monitor emails/apps, and if a change is significant (e.g., 3+ hrs domestic), you can accept it, choose another flight (often free), or request a full refund, documenting everything. Contact the airline to explore options, or use DOT/AirHelp for help if they're uncooperative, especially if it means losing seats/downgrades.

 

[Girl of the South]

What day of the week? Near a major holiday? Just thinking about TSA. I have TSA PRE and it still took nearly 15 minutes in November.

Here is website that shows MCO (or other airports) wait times.

https://www.tsawaittimes.com/security-wait-times/MCO/Orlando-International

 

[apathetic]

You shouldn't have any problem making that.

 

[MickeyD]

I'll just chime in here to point out - if your airline changes your flight they're supposed to ask you if it's OK. You just have to say "no, it doesn't work for us" and they are supposed to work with you to find a flight that does.

you have rights: monitor emails/apps, and if a change is significant (e.g., 3+ hrs domestic), you can accept it, choose another flight (often free), or request a full refund, documenting everything. Contact the airline to explore options, or use DOT/AirHelp for help if they're uncooperative, especially if it means losing seats/downgrades.

Thank you! We are aware of that. Unfortunately, our other option that day gives us only 38-minute connection in Minneapolis. In February, that would not be ideal at all. If this seems like a viable option, we will keep it, otherwise we might move our flight to Sunday. Delta does not charge a change fee, but you do have to pay any difference in fare. At least on Sunday, the flights are a little cheaper.

What day of the week? Near a major holiday? Just thinking about TSA. I have TSA PRE and it still took nearly 15 minutes in November.

Here is website that shows MCO (or other airports) wait times.

https://www.tsawaittimes.com/security-wait-times/MCO/Orlando-International

It will be on a Saturday, and in Feb, and on Valentine's Day, and I do know there are at least 5 other ships in port that day. 15 minutes isn't too bad at MCO for TSA pre check. We have flipped lines before because the pre check was longer than the regular line. LOL Thank you very much for the link. I will keep an eye on that.

If Disney says to book flights after 11:15, then 11:40 should be fine barring unusual circumstances with the ship. Weather delays in docking are likely to move your flight time too.

If you are on a bus leaving at 8, you should be at the airport by 9. You may not even need to do express check-out. See what information you are given onboard about your bus time.

What Disney says, and what actually happens can be vastly different, so I am asking for actual experiences for people that have made early flights like this. Thank you for your reply.

Used DCL transportation in May and November from Port Canaveral to MCO. We did express walk-off and pulled up to MCO at around 8:45am both times. There were fortunately no issues with weather, port customs, or traffic.

That would work as long as we can get to the gate quickly. Do you remember what time you got through security and to the gate both times? Thank you very much for the first-hand experience!

Lisa

 

[Pixarfans]

we might move our flight to Sunday. Delta does not charge a change fee, but you do have to pay any difference in fare. At least on Sunday, the flights are a little cheaper.

Check the change rules for delta. You may not have to pay the difference depending on the situation. For example JetBlue changed our flight by more then 3 hours, so we had 5 days to select any new flight no charge for fare difference.

 

[sammykster]

We have never had a problem with the return and usually get there far earlier than we need to. We usually have the 2pm flight and have always had to sit and wait to be able to drop our bags for a couple hours because Delta will not allow until 3 hours before if it is busy. We have also done the noon flight a couple times and been 3+ hours early. I would definitely do an 11:45 to prevent sitting around longer. Disneys 11:15 is a safe option to them but I also think it is plenty generous with the standard there. If anything were to happen, it could prevent later flights as well.

 

[MickeyD]

We have never had a problem with the return and usually get there far earlier than we need to. We usually have the 2pm flight and have always had to sit and wait to be able to drop our bags for a couple hours because Delta will not allow until 3 hours before if it is busy. We have also done the noon flight a couple times and been 3+ hours early. I would definitely do an 11:45 to prevent sitting around longer. Disneys 11:15 is a safe option to them but I also think it is plenty generous with the standard there. If anything were to happen, it could prevent later flights as well.

Thank you so much for this! This gives me a greater sense of peace about this. They originally moved it back to 12:40 and I thought that was perfect and I was content with that, and then all of a sudden it got moved to 11:40! I keep hoping when they add some flights, they will move it forward an hour or so and go back to the 12:40 just so any "glitches" can be accounted for.
Lisa

 

[foolish-mortal]

I've booked pretty early flights home before - just because I really wanted direct and there were limited options. I'm pretty sure my last one was 10:30 and I was fine. I knew it had a risk, and I was prepared to jump in a cab if I didn't want to wait for DCL transportation. I was totally fine.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Delta continues to move our flight up. It was originally for 2:40pm from MCO (which was perfect). Should have known they would mess with it. It is now 11:40am. DCL says don't book anything earlier than 11:15am, but I am wondering what everyone's experience is with using DCL transportation post cruise. What time do you get to the airport if you use walk off and take your own luggage off. We are first class on Delta so can use that line to check in, and we are tsa pre-check. In any of your experiences, do you think we can make an 11:40 flight?

Thank you,
Lisa

You will be fine. We've had 11:30am flights many times. We eat an early lunch near the gate just so we're not hangry when we get off the plane. You will see, it's so much better than sitting around the airport for hours. Enjoy your cruise.