If taking Uber or Lyft to MCO

[gulliesmom]

How far ahead should we get there. Last trip we did DME, so three hours before our flight and barely made our flight, but the bus stopped at like three other hotels before getting to the airport, and then had to stop at all the gates, etc. Was thinking this time we will just take Uber or Lyft for our departing flight. Wondering how much time to give. It is a Monday morning flight, right after Thanksgiving weekend. Hoping most people will have left Sunday...

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I would give myself LOTS of time.

Monday mornings are normally busy at airports. (keep in mind that lots of business people actually live in Orlando and will be doing their normal flights on a Monday morning) And you won't be alone in having stretched your weekend to Monday morning. Due to higher airfares on that Sunday I find the days surrounding it have gotten more crowded.

 

[AngiTN]

We always use Ride Share back to MCO and Monday's are the day we often choose to fly home, making our trips a long weekend.
We leave Disney (or Universal) 2 hours before our flight.
In the past 2 years, after over a dozen flights, it's never even been close, we have always have plenty of time at our gate. We do have TSA PreCheck and check our bags either curbside or at Disney using RAC.
I am not one that feels a need to hang around the airport more than necessary. I actually try to time it so we are there right at boarding time, especially if we are on an airline that has already assigned our seats. If it's Southwest we make sure we make it in time to get in position to board.

Some recent times,
Saturday 7/7 flight at 7:17 (so following the 4th of July) - Left BWI at 5:19, got to MCO at 5:47 and we were at our gate at 5:58
Wednesday 9/5 flight at 5:15 (so following Labor Day) - Left AK at 3:14, added stop at BWI to get carry on bag, got to MCO at 4:06 and was at the gate at 4:20 - I had time to stop and order a sandwich to take on the flight to eat dinner.

 

[kaytieeldr]

and then had to stop at all the gates, etc.

How long ago? Doesn't DME only drop off at one point on each terminal?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

How long ago? Doesn't DME only drop off at one point on each terminal?

Yes DME only drop off at one point

 

[AngiTN]

How long ago? Doesn't DME only drop off at one point on each terminal?

DME has only 1 drop off (and pick up) period. Not one per terminal.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes DME only drop off at one point

DME has only 1 drop off (and pick up) period. Not one per terminal.

So, not at all gates. I don't think they ever did. Once at each terminal for a while, but even that ended years ago. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[sam_gordon]

Saturday 7/7 flight at 7:17 (so following the 4th of July) - Left BWI at 5:19, got to MCO at 5:47 and we were at our gate at 5:58
Wednesday 9/5 flight at 5:15 (so following Labor Day) - Left AK at 3:14, added stop at BWI to get carry on bag, got to MCO at 4:06 and was at the gate at 4:20 - I had time to stop and order a sandwich to take on the flight to eat dinner.

11 minutes and 14 minutes to get from car to gate? That's amazing! Even with precheck.

It takes me 15 minutes to get from the parking garage to gate in my small home airport, but that's without precheck, but also no train needed to get to the airside terminals.

Anyone reading, I would NOT count on duplicating Angi's experience.

 

[gulliesmom]

DME has only 1 drop off (and pick up) period. Not one per terminal.

I meant terminal not gate and that's good to hear.

 

[AngiTN]

11 minutes and 14 minutes to get from car to gate? That's amazing! Even with precheck.

It takes me 15 minutes to get from the parking garage to gate in my small home airport, but that's without precheck, but also no train needed to get to the airside terminals.

Anyone reading, I would NOT count on duplicating Angi's experience.

I don't park a car, that's a drop off at the departure level entrances. I do always stop for a bathroom break first, otherwise, straight to security. While the non-Precheck at MCO can be awful we've had over 20 flights since enrolling in PreCheck and never once had a delay, no lines to get our ID checked and then minimal waits of 2, 3 people to get our bags on the belt, and right through from there. We've had it happen the same way every time to the point I do believe we will duplicate it each trip.
Otherwise, all I am doing is relating my experience, first hand, timed for reference purposes. People are then free to do whatever they want with that information.

My home airport is even smaller. We have a 5 min walk in. Not even a parking garage, just a flat surface lot. Granted, we have just 5 gates too. We fly out at 5:00 AM Friday morning (first of the day) and they don't even open the TSA lanes till 4:30.

 

[georgina]

We have flights that Monday, and most of the SW wanna get away fares are sold out. We have precheck but my DD and her BF do not. I am expecting security lines to be very long.

 

[lambdabeta]

How far ahead should we get there. Last trip we did DME, so three hours before our flight and barely made our flight, but the bus stopped at like three other hotels before getting to the airport, and then had to stop at all the gates, etc. Was thinking this time we will just take Uber or Lyft for our departing flight. Wondering how much time to give. It is a Monday morning flight, right after Thanksgiving weekend. Hoping most people will have left Sunday...

I would be at the airport 2 hours before your flight. That is what most airlines recommend. I have always gotten to the airport 90 mins to 2 hours before a flight and have never had a problem and that is without TSA precheck. We usually are waiting at the gait for 30 mins at a minimum. Unless your flight is super early like before 7:30 am, late after 6PM, or you don't have any luggage to check then 90 mins is fine.

I can understand how @AngiTN gets to the gait quickly. If she's not checking a bag she doesn't have to go to the airline desk to check in. She even stated she goes right to security from being dropped off. The other thing is she didn't say what time her flights were. If they are at non peak times, which are the cheapest then there wouldn't be many people in line at security. The last time we were at MCO it only took us 5 mins or so to go through Pre check security (we just got this last year) and the only reason it took so long is because the person in front of us was in a wheelchair and moving slowly. Once our bags went through we were able to grab them while that person was still trying to get it together. If they weren't in line we would have been through in mins when the regular security line was really long. Our daughter and her friend who are late to everything made it through at both Logan airport and MCO without missing either flight even with checked bags. So unless you have serious issues with something 90 to 120 mins is plenty of time.

 

[AngiTN]

No idea what is considered peak time but we fly out anywhere between 3:00 and 7:00. PM. Never earlier, even if earlier is cheaper. I like half a day at the parks and I'm not getting up early on departure day to get a really early flight.