Ideas for the gap between debarkation and our flight home?

[Seltzer76]

I am taking a 3 night Bahamas cruise in Nov with my husband and 2 daughters and our flight home will not be until 330 of the day we get back to Port Canaveral. I would like to do "something" to fill the time but I have no idea what mood we will be in...it's possible we will be tired/slightly seasick and will just want to relax - probably not in the mood for many rides if any. We are annual pass and DVC members and I wonder if there are any options I'm missing:

Fun options:
1) go to a park for a few hours

2) attend the Epcot food and wine festival (never been, and this is the last day of the year). But I think it doesn't start until 11am right? I would need to be back in the parking lot by 1pm so not sure that's enough time.

Relaxing options:

1) go to the DVC member lounge in Epcot - anyone been?

2) camp out in a hotel lobby - any come to mind that are especially comfy?

Would love any and all suggestions!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am taking a 3 night Bahamas cruise in Nov with my husband and 2 daughters and our flight home will not be until 330 of the day we get back to Port Canaveral. I would like to do "something" to fill the time but I have no idea what mood we will be in...it's possible we will be tired/slightly seasick and will just want to relax - probably not in the mood for many rides if any. We are annual pass and DVC members and I wonder if there are any options I'm missing:

Fun options:
1) go to a park for a few hours

2) attend the Epcot food and wine festival (never been, and this is the last day of the year). But I think it doesn't start until 11am right? I would need to be back in the parking lot by 1pm so not sure that's enough time.

Relaxing options:

1) go to the DVC member lounge in Epcot - anyone been?

2) camp out in a hotel lobby - any come to mind that are especially comfy?

Would love any and all suggestions!

With a 3:30 flight, you're not going to have a lot of time. Sadly, TSA at Orlando can be brutal at times (upwards of 2 hours). For me, I'd be more comfortable just heading for the airport on the last bus (around 9:15) getting to the airport around 10:15-10:30. There are lots of shops, restaurants there. Or, if you want, you could look into a day room at the Hyatt (but it'll be pricey to do that).

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I agree not a lot of time, not for going to the park at least. You could go to downtown Disney for a couple of hours though.
Hanging around the boardwalk would also be cool.
Or the Polynasian resort or Wilderness lodge lobby... Either way I think you have maybe 2 hrs to really do anything near Wdw.
Not sure if you will have a car, if not heading straight to the airport might be a better idea
There is a Disney store, bars and restaurants there.

 

[Seltzer76]

We will have a car.

With a 3:30 flight, you're not going to have a lot of time. Sadly, TSA at Orlando can be brutal at times (upwards of 2 hours). For me, I'd be more comfortable just heading for the airport on the last bus (around 9:15) getting to the airport around 10:15-10:30. There are lots of shops, restaurants there. Or, if you want, you could look into a day room at the Hyatt (but it'll be pricey to do that).

Hyatt is a good backup for us if we are not feeling well I like that idea...that would a last resort I think. We will have a car, and tsa pre check. Of course that means we need extra time to return the car. Figure would have at least 3 hours to kill...

 

[Seltzer76]

I agree not a lot of time, not for going to the park at least. You could go to downtown Disney for a couple of hours though.
Hanging around the boardwalk would also be cool.
Or the Polynasian resort or Wilderness lodge lobby... Either way I think you have maybe 2 hrs to really do anything near Wdw.
Not sure if you will have a car, if not heading straight to the airport might be a better idea
There is a Disney store, bars and restaurants there.

Like the idea of the Poly and we've never seen wilderness lodge. DD and Boardwalk are good too. Really hoping I can decide on something besides heading right to the airport. Seems like a shame to do so...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We will have a car.

Hyatt is a good backup for us if we are not feeling well I like that idea...that would a last resort I think. We will have a car, and tsa pre check. Of course that means we need extra time to return the car. Figure would have at least 3 hours to kill...

Well, it'll take about an hour from port to WDW (whatever park/resort you pick). Then, probably, 20-30 minutes to park and actually get to the park (at best). Then reverse that at the end of the visit (20-30 minutes to get back to your car, 45 minutes/1 hour to airport). Doesn't leave a lot of time.

 

[Dug720]

We will have a car.

Hyatt is a good backup for us if we are not feeling well I like that idea...that would a last resort I think. We will have a car, and tsa pre check. Of course that means we need extra time to return the car. Figure would have at least 3 hours to kill...

Pre-Check in Orlando is not necessarily the dream line it sells itself as - especially because airlines do randomly give people Pre-Check. I've found that more times than not I've gotten it flying out of Orlando, and my guess is they pick the notoriously worst airports to give the random Pre-Check out in order to entice people to pay for it. And so you still end up with a lot of people in the line, and some of them are still completely clueless. I think when I was randomly given Pre-Check it MIGHT have cut 20 minutes off my time.

 

[Seltzer76]

Well, it'll take about an hour from port to WDW (whatever park/resort you pick). Then, probably, 20-30 minutes to park and actually get to the park (at best). Then reverse that at the end of the visit (20-30 minutes to get back to your car, 45 minutes/1 hour to airport). Doesn't leave a lot of time.

True...I haven't parked a car at the parks in...ever? Thank you for the referee. We always stay on site....guess parks are out.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

If you think you have 2-3 hrs then you should be able to something with that time if you have a plan and no unforeseen delays happen..
I would probably try to be first off the ship in the morning.

 

[Seltzer76]

If you think you have 2-3 hrs then you should be able to something with that time if you have a plan and no unforeseen delays happen..
I would probably try to be first off the ship in the morning.

Yep we definitely will be off first thing. By 8 am is possible?

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Yep we definitely will be off first thing. By 8 am is possible?

Do express walk-off... You have to take your luggage with you but you will be first off the ship and through customs.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Yep we definitely will be off first thing. By 8 am is possible?

I believe express walk off is around 7:30 maybe even earlier. You need to be ready to disembark then if using this option.
You can eat breakfast in the buffet (cabanas) at 6:30. You won't be able to have breakfast in the MDR if you are doing express walk-off.

 

[Seltzer76]

I believe express walk off is around 7:30 maybe even earlier. You need to be ready to disembark then if using this option.
You can eat breakfast in the buffet (cabanas) at 6:30. You won't be able to have breakfast in the MDR if you are doing express walk-off.

Thank you. This is only my second cruise and first one for my husband who was always hesitant bc of motion sickness...he's got Rx meds from the doc and is psyching himself up. That said we are planning on being off the ship as much as possible during the trip and might be first in line to exit the ship when we get back . Hoping for the best though...but of course planning for the worst just in case.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Thank you. This is only my second cruise and first one for my husband who was always hesitant bc of motion sickness...he's got Rx meds from the doc and is psyching himself up. That said we are planning on being off the ship as much as possible during the trip and might be first in line to exit the ship when we get back . Hoping for the best though...but of course planning for the worst just in case.

Hopefully hubby will be ok with the meds
I am very prone to motion sickness, but don't have an issue on the cruise taking Bonine.
We have never done express walk-off ourselves but if we were trying to get to WDW for a couple of hours before our flight, we would definitely do that.
Otherwise you may not be on the road until nearly 10 am.. Especially on the bigger ships, it's taken us 2 hrs to disembark and go through customs with the "masses".
Doing the express walk-off can mean being in your vehicle by 8 am versus 9:30-10.
Hope it all goes well for you

 

[MUN]

I would rent a car and go to Disney Springs. Also, don't buy into the horror stories about the Orlando airport TSA lines. I'm sure it's been "upwards to 2 hours" at times, but that is very very rare. My experience is the lines there go pretty quickly and aren't long at all.

MUN

 

[CesD]

you could visit the outlet for some shopping. a nice lunch somewhere. the space center for a quick look

 

[redsonja76]

http://www.premierexhibitions.com/e...xhibition/titanic-artifact-exhibition-orlando

Titanic exhibit. Bucket list of mine!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thank you. This is only my second cruise and first one for my husband who was always hesitant bc of motion sickness...he's got Rx meds from the doc and is psyching himself up. That said we are planning on being off the ship as much as possible during the trip and might be first in line to exit the ship when we get back . Hoping for the best though...but of course planning for the worst just in case.

If this is your husbands first cruise I wouldn't try to cram in something to do the last day to fill time, it's going to leave a rushed crappy taste in his mouth.

Take your time getting off the ship, head to the Hyatt and a get a day room. You can take some time to relax, nap, use bathroom, etc. you can also take that time to repack your suitcases, do you don't have to waste time doing that on the ship, just throw your stuff in and you can reorganize in your room. My worst cruise experience was being stressed the last day trying to cram one more activity in before our flight. Just my $.02

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Maybe head to the Polynesian for brunch at Kona Cafe or an early lunch? We have done both. Beautiful resort and a nice relaxed way to spend a bit of time when you only have a few hours.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Disney Springs