Is 4pm too late to leave for a 6:25pm flight?

[sejeta]

I booked a town car for my return trip to the airport. I'm flying Southwest.

I was told its 30min to the airport and it should be enough time to get through security. Should I call them back and get them to pick us up earlier, or is 4 pm okay? If not what time should I get them to pick us up.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Are you checking bags? I've been to MCO where the line to check bags w/ SWA was an hour long. You are not leaving any spare time in case of traffic jams or some other unexpected thing. I like to leave a little extra time and not worry about having to rush.
We left Universal 3 hrs before our flight time, Airtran, with rental car trunk already full of luggage, and we had just enough time to grab a quick bite at the Burger King in the terminal. When we got to our gate we had about 5 mins to spare before boarding began.
Granted, returning a rental car adds a little time but still, if we had gotten a flat tire, had heavy traffic due to an accident or something, we would have missed our flight.

So basically, you will be fine if NOTHING goes wrong or slows you down.

 

[sejeta]

so I'm not sure if that makes a difference in traffic.

Not sure If I should call back and get a different pick up time. Not sure what to do?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Alesia]

I think it's definitely pushing it. I would want to be picked up at 3:30.

 

[DebbieB]

If there's a long line inside, go outside to curbside check. I've never seen a long line out there. Tip a few bucks, it's worth it. I think you are fine with 4pm. If you change it to 3:30 you may as well ride Magical Express.

 

[Traveliz]

I honestly think it will be fine and I am one to always error on the side of early. I would definitely curbside check and go right through security but I would feel comfortable with that time line. My daughter lives on Universal Blvd (so about 15 minutes from Disney) and the car service she uses picks her up two hours before her flights and she is usually calling me from the gate about 40 minutes after she has been picked up for her flight.

Liz

 

[nobull]

I agree with pp you should be fine..it doesn't matter what flight we have taken in the past the 2 1/2hr window your leaving yourself is what we usually do and its always been more than enough time...we always have to drop off car rental,check in bags and lug 2 kids.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If there's a long line inside, go outside to curbside check. I've never seen a long line out there. Tip a few bucks, it's worth it. I think you are fine with 4pm. If you change it to 3:30 you may as well ride Magical Express.

That was the line I was referring to. Inside was worse. I know it's not typically like this but just saying it can and does happen. This was on a Saturday around noon, 2/10/07 to be exact. (after our 1st Disney cruise) Not sure if Pres day holiday had something to do with it.
My dad ended up tipping a supervisor some huge amount and he took our cart and we didn't have to wait in the line. We would have missed our flight even with arriving 2 hrs ahead.

 

[safetymom]

You shouldn't have a problem with traffic. That should be enough time. What time of year and what day of the week would this be?

 

[goofy4tink]

You should be fine. Most towncar companies will pick you up 2 hrs before your flight, which is too short a time in my opinion. But 4:00 should be plenty of time for a 6:25 flight.

 

[francie57]

We had a flight about the same time in Aug. and left for the airport at 4:00. We had checked our bags at the desk in the resort though so we didn't have to worry about that and had our boarding passes in hand. We returned the rental car and were through security in no time. We also stopped at the deli and bought sandwiches for the trip. If your resort offers the airline check-in, it is definitely worth calling BAGS the day before to pay for your luggage and use the hotel airline desk. It is one less thing to have to do at the airport.

 

[seashoreCM]

We left Universal 3 hrs before our flight time, Airtran, with rental car trunk already full of luggage, and we had just enough time to grab a quick bite at the Burger King in the terminal. When we got to our gate we had about 5 mins to spare before boarding began.
Granted, returning a rental car adds a little time but still, if we had gotten a flat tire, had heavy traffic due to an accident or something, we would have missed our flight.

And people have been complaining that having to take Magical Express back to the airport 3 hours in advance was a waste of time!

Suggest you get your bite to eat at the rotunda food stands inside security and after the tram ride.

 

[DebbieB]

That was the line I was referring to. Inside was worse. I know it's not typically like this but just saying it can and does happen. This was on a Saturday around noon, 2/10/07 to be exact. (after our 1st Disney cruise) Not sure if Pres day holiday had something to do with it.
My dad ended up tipping a supervisor some huge amount and he took our cart and we didn't have to wait in the line. We would have missed our flight even with arriving 2 hrs ahead.

I think there can be a surge in the lines on days when people are coming off cruises. Noon is probably a peak time considering people get off the cruise in the morning. The OP's flight is at 6:25pm even if it is a day with alot of cruises ending, by that time those people should be gone.

 

[disneyyes]

On Wednesday, October 14th I had a flight home out of Orlando, and on that day the security line was just awful. (No theme park attraction line has ever moved more slowly than that security line, it was so frustrating and they had many lanes open too!!! LOL ) Seriously, we were all checked in, and were in the security line at 2:50 for our 3:48 takeoff. Sounds like plenty of time, right? At 3:45 we were not even on the shuttle out to the gate yet. We sprinted to our gate (think Home Alone!) and only out of the kindness of the staff were we allowed to board, because they were absolutely ready to leave without us. I have sometimes been one to cut it a little close because I have always gotten through security with plenty of time to spare . . . but never again; I will always allow for at least an hour and a half just for the security line. Another lesson I learned. . . seemed like lots of folks were holding up the line because their carryons had to be hand-checked, and often it was for the souvenir canisters of coffees, hot chocolates, etc.; that stuff must be placed in the checked luggage, not in the bags which go through security.

 

[pooch]

and, yes we're lucky, but have never encountered lines at security. We bring our last CS meals to eat there & always have WAAAY too much time to kill. We eat at the nice little courtyard right near Security & go thru when the line is short, easily cooling our heels for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs, always fly SWA home & have left at various times of the afternoon & late evening.

 

[sejeta]

I'm not sure how to do muti quote posts so I'll try and answer everything here!

I'm flying out Dec 20 which is Sunday. Since I'm flying SWA I have to check my bags in at the airport anyway, I figured I may as well go to the airport in comfort.

I'll see how things go with time but I will probably just wait to eat after the tram and we get through security, thanks for the advice on this.

How does curb site check in work? Don't I still have to check in anyway?
I have never flown out of the Orlando airport before so I am clueless how it works. I'm planning on paying the extra fee so I can check in at 36 hours and I will print my boading passes at the airport. Dumb question but will my luggage get on the same plane with me if I do curb site check in? Do I have to have my boarding passes first?

Thanks everyone. I think I will keep my time and enjoy the resort a little longer

 

[DebbieB]

I'm not sure how to do muti quote posts so I'll try and answer everything here!

I'm flying out Dec 20 which is Sunday. Since I'm flying SWA I have to check my bags in at the airport anyway, I figured I may as well go to the airport in comfort.

I'll see how things go with time but I will probably just wait to eat after the tram and we get through security, thanks for the advice on this.

How does curb site check in work? Don't I still have to check in anyway?
I have never flown out of the Orlando airport before so I am clueless how it works. I'm planning on paying the extra fee so I can check in at 36 hours and I will print my boading passes at the airport. Dumb question but will my luggage get on the same plane with me if I do curb site check in? Do I have to have my boarding passes first?

Thanks everyone. I think I will keep my time and enjoy the resort a little longer

Multi-Posts - next to the quote button, there's a " and + on the button. Click on it for each post you want to quote, then hit post reply.

Curbside Check-in works just like the counter except the skycap calls up your reservation and prints out the boarding pass (no kiosk). They tag your luggage and then wheel it inside to be combined with the counter luggage. Tip $1-$2 per bag checked.

 

[tinkmom2]

I had Airtran but I was able to check my luggage online and proceed to a separate line when I got to MCO for those who need luggage tags. I have also checked our luggage curbside but wasn't able to due to the computers being down on 11/16. I print out my boarding passes and paid for our luggage online and brought the receipts with me.Curbside you just need your ressie and id and they can look up your info to check luggage for you.

We stayed at the Hyatt inside the airport and had a sedan pick us up at Port Canaveral earlier that morning. I was able to print out my boarding pass and check in for flight when I was on the Wonder.

About security. If you have children you can use their family line. Even though the crowds were big we were able to zip through even with a few hiccups along the way. (DH was swabbed for the flu and DD's DS set off a alarm) We left the Hyatt around 4 went to terminal B to get our luggage tags and still made it to our gate for a 5:30PM flight with a hour to spare.

 

[sejeta]

Multi-Posts - next to the quote button, there's a " and + on the button. Click on it for each post you want to quote, then hit post reply.
I just tried this . Thanks!
Curbside Check-in works just like the counter except the skycap calls up your reservation and prints out the boarding pass (no kiosk). They tag your luggage and then wheel it inside to be combined with the counter luggage. Tip $1-$2 per bag checked.

I'll wait to decide to use curbside check in but it sounds like it might be worth the money. I'll only have 4 bags.

I had Airtran but I was able to check my luggage online and proceed to a separate line when I got to MCO for those who need luggage tags. I have also checked our luggage curbside but wasn't able to due to the computers being down on 11/16. I print out my boarding passes and paid for our luggage online and brought the receipts with me.Curbside you just need your ressie and id and they can look up your info to check luggage for you.
sounds easy enough. Thanks
We stayed at the Hyatt inside the airport and had a sedan pick us up at Port Canaveral earlier that morning. I was able to print out my boarding pass and check in for flight when I was on the Wonder.

About security. If you have children you can use their family line. Even though the crowds were big we were able to zip through even with a few hiccups along the way. (DH was swabbed for the flu and DD's DS set off a alarm) We left the Hyatt around 4 went to terminal B to get our luggage tags and still made it to our gate for a 5:30PM flight with a hour to spare.

I will have two kids 8 and 5 so I'll look for the family line when I'm going through security.

I love dis boards, I've learned so much! LOL

We leave 2 weeks tomorrow!!