Late departure after cruise

[sigafoos]

How many have had a late flight out after a cruise? I may not be able to be choosy about flights to get the best price. One example is a possible 5:15 from MCO. What can we do until we leave? If we rent a car and hang out in Orlando or maybe downtown Disney would we be able to check our luggage at the port if our airline offered it? Does anyone have other ideas for me?

 

[SuperDisneyDad]

On our last cruise, we had a 4PM flight out and we were able to check our luggage at the port before the bus ride back to the airport, so I assume you can do the same for a 5:15 flight. We took a cab from the airport to downtown Disney for a few hours, then went back to the airport for our flight. It worked out well.

 

[eva]

We are going on our first ever cruise in May and I will likely have a ton of questions. But this topic is one that I am concerned with. What time do you usually get back to Orlando after the cruise? We will probably have a rental car that will need to be turned in at MCO around noon. Will we make it back by then? If we decide to go with DCL transportation will we have to go back to WDW first? If so, what time do they usually get back to WDW? We are trying to pick flights and I am having a tough time trying to choose.

 

[mmouse37]

You can start leaving the ship after it clear customs. They will make an announcement and start letting people off around 8:00, sometimes even earlier. The latest anyone can stay onboard is 9:00 am. There are two sets of buses, ones that go to WDW only and ones that go to the airports only. The bus ride to MCO is only about 45-50 minutes.

If you rent a car for the return to airport you still should have enough time if you are off the ship by 8:30 ish.

MJ

 

[chmb1]

We just returned last week from the 10/12 cruise and our flight didn't leave until 4:45pm. Here's what we did:

I left the family with the luggage at the port and rode the shuttle to Avis at 8am sharp. I returned in 15 min. with a rented Pontiac Aztec ($54 incl. tax) and picked everyone up. After some discussion on where to go (I wanted to check out Kennedy Space Center), we then drove to that big shopping mall between WDW and Universal and spent some leasure time shopping and eating. About 2pm we returned to the airport with the rental car and made it to our gate with an hour to spare.

Chris

 

[two-foxes]

We got a room at the Hyatt (our flight was at 6:05 pm and we arrived at MCO at about 10:15.) It cost $60, but at that point, it was the most conveinent option. We took a needed nap, went to the workout room and got a workout in, watched a movie or two, grabbed a bite to eat, then we were off, back to Denver....

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Another post-cruise option which can be quite entertaining is the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp. It is located 9 miles north of Cocoa's city limits on Route 520. They offer wonderful Everglades-like airboat rides with very informative guides and at very reasonable rates. You also have the option of fishing as well as having some delicious local fare such as catfish or alligator or even turtle! Yes, it's different, but heck, you've just been on a Disney cruise...

 

[scsagh]

In November, we have a car rented from Avis and are debating between Kennedy Space Center, Blizzard Beach, Wet & Wild, Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure since our flight back isn't until 8:10 p.m. Told the kids it would depend on what the weather was like when we returned and what everyone felt like doing that day.

Since we are on a charter flight, I know we can't check our luggage. Should there be any problem keeping it locked in the trunk?