Late flight after disembarkation

[adabotcon]

Hello everyone!

My mother and I are taking a Disney Cruise in Feb. 2016. We were able to find a really cheap flight (usually they're over $500 each) the problem is that the flight back home is at 8pm at night.

Now we're going to be staying at the Walt Disney World resort the day before the cruise and take the Magic Express to Port Canaveral to get to the cruise (there is only two of us, so this is the cheapest option so far).

My question is about the Magic Express back to the airport. Is it possible that we could get dropped off at Downtown Disney or somewhere (if we can find somewhere to put our bags). And then get picked up at a hotel to go back to the airport (I realize this isn't likely but thought I'd ask)

If not, does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to be at the airport for hours and hours...

 

[E ticket rider]

Hello everyone!

My mother and I are taking a Disney Cruise in Feb. 2016. We were able to find a really cheap flight (usually they're over $500 each) the problem is that the flight back home is at 8pm at night.

Now we're going to be staying at the Walt Disney World resort the day before the cruise and take the Magic Express to Port Canaveral to get to the cruise (there is only two of us, so this is the cheapest option so far).

My question is about the Magic Express back to the airport. Is it possible that we could get dropped off at Downtown Disney or somewhere (if we can find somewhere to put our bags). And then get picked up at a hotel to go back to the airport (I realize this isn't likely but thought I'd ask)

If not, does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to be at the airport for hours and hours...

When you get back to the airport, check your bags and rent a car for the day. There is no rule that says you have to immediately proceed through security once you check-in. That way you don't have to worry about your large checked bags and can lock your carry-ons in the trunk. Or you can rent a room for the day at the airport hotel and chill by the pool.

We get off the Dream on the 26th and are renting a car at the port and going to WDW for the day. Our flight home is after 7pm.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello everyone!

My mother and I are taking a Disney Cruise in Feb. 2016. We were able to find a really cheap flight (usually they're over $500 each) the problem is that the flight back home is at 8pm at night.

Now we're going to be staying at the Walt Disney World resort the day before the cruise and take the Magic Express to Port Canaveral to get to the cruise (there is only two of us, so this is the cheapest option so far).

My question is about the Magic Express back to the airport. Is it possible that we could get dropped off at Downtown Disney or somewhere (if we can find somewhere to put our bags). And then get picked up at a hotel to go back to the airport (I realize this isn't likely but thought I'd ask)

If not, does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to be at the airport for hours and hours...

Just a bit of clarification: Magical Express is the shuttle that runs between the airport and WDW resorts. There is no charge for this. From WDW resorts to the port, as well as from the port to MCO, it's DCL transfers and they cost $35.00 per person each way.

No, they can't just "drop you off" at DTD or anywhere else. Each bus has a designated route and only goes there.

I second the suggestion to get a rental car, but I'd probably pick it up at the port and drop it at MCO (that's what we did). You can then have your luggage in the car. In our experience the earliest we could check bags for a flight was 4 hours, don't know if it's the same at MCO.

 

[adabotcon]

That's a good idea. Though I thought you couldn't check your bags in until four hours before your flight? Maybe I"m just remembering the wrong thing...

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

Hello everyone!

My mother and I are taking a Disney Cruise in Feb. 2016. We were able to find a really cheap flight (usually they're over $500 each) the problem is that the flight back home is at 8pm at night.

Now we're going to be staying at the Walt Disney World resort the day before the cruise and take the Magic Express to Port Canaveral to get to the cruise (there is only two of us, so this is the cheapest option so far).

My question is about the Magic Express back to the airport. Is it possible that we could get dropped off at Downtown Disney or somewhere (if we can find somewhere to put our bags). And then get picked up at a hotel to go back to the airport (I realize this isn't likely but thought I'd ask)

If not, does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to be at the airport for hours and hours...

I don't think you'll be able to get ME back to Downtown Disney or a resort from the port or airport since you don't have a resort reservation for the night of disembarkation.

You could look into getting a day room at the Hyatt at the airport so you can rest, use the pool, etc that day at the airport. Or consider renting a car at PC and driving yourself to downtown Disney or seeing sites in the PC area that day.

If you're flying an airline that will take your bags from the port and get them checked at the airport for you so you don't have to deal with them, I'm sure you could get private transportation to wherever you'd like to go for the day, then to the airport to catch your flight.

You have plenty of options, just have to consider time, convenience, and expense.

 

[gismo1554]

You can't for international flights but some US carriers allow you to check them earlier I believe. Another option is to look for a day room at an airport hotel. I've only ever done this in Miami so can't really give you advise on whether it does this or not but its a good option. You get a bed for a few hours and to use their pool etc

Edit - yeah someone mentioned the day room! There is one! Its always a good option to think about

 

[jdb in AZ]

The DCL cruise buses do not stop at Downtown Disney. You could take the DCL bus transfers just one way to the port (note it's not the same as Magical Express which is free. The cruise transfer bus is $35 per person each way.) You could rent a car at the port when you get off the ship. No point in paying the $70 for the two of you to take the bus back to the airport if you're just going to rent a car when you get to MCO. You can keep your luggage in the rental car while you're at Downtown Disney. Depending on the airline, they might not accept your bags until 4 hours before your flight.

 

[adabotcon]

Just a bit of clarification: Magical Express is the shuttle that runs between the airport and WDW resorts. There is no charge for this. From WDW resorts to the port, as well as from the port to MCO, it's DCL transfers and they cost $35.00 per person each way.

No, they can just "drop you off" at DTD or anywhere else. Each bus has a designated route and only goes there.

I second the suggestion to get a rental car, but I'd probably pick it up at the port and drop it at MCO (that's what we did). You can then have your luggage in the car. In our experience the earliest we could check bags for a flight was 4 hours, don't know if it's the same at MCO.

Oh, alright! I'm usually going to Disneyland rather than WDW so I've never used the the Magical Express. I knew that it dropped off at the hotels, but wasn't sure if it dropped off at any of the parks.

I'll look into a rental car, and keeping it so we have somewhere to put our luggage. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you're flying an airline that will take your bags from the port and get them checked at the airport for you so you don't have to deal with them, I'm sure you could get private transportation to wherever you'd like to go for the day, then to the airport to catch your flight

In order to use the Onboard Airline Checkin, DCL transfers must be used. OR you must have purchased your flights through DCL.

You can't do the OAC and send your bags through while you do private transportation.

 

[E ticket rider]

Also, a rental car could be a cheaper alternative to DCL transport. You could do a 1 way rental from MCO to the port. Return the car in Cocoa Beach (2 minutes past the port exit) and take their shuttle to the terminal. Then do same process in reverse when you get back. You rent the car by the day, not the hour, so whether you return it at 10am or 5pm later that day, it's the same price.

 

[bumbershoot]

In order to use the Onboard Airline Checkin, DCL transfers must be used. OR you must have purchased your flights through DCL.

You can't do the OAC and send your bags through while you do private transportation.

But, IF they qualified for Onboard Airline Checkin, they *could* buy the transfers back to the airport and have their luggage taken care of, and then do whatever they wanted to do.

This works best when you rent cars often and have a free day (as we tend to do), but depending on your flight time, etc, it could work. Get back to teh airport on the DCL bus (with bags all taken care of by onboard checkin, having only carryons), then go rent a car. Go wherever you wish. Twice now we've gone to Universal, because we keep APs for Uni and it's nice to get one last butterbeer.

But you could go to DTD or WDW, etc.

Just keep track of when you have to be back. I count backwards. Flight time, 2 hours before that and walking in the door of MCO b/c security can be nightmarish there, walking from rental car dropoff to doors, dropping off car and getting receipt, driving from gas station, getting gas, driving from where you are to gas station, leaving where you are to walk to your car.... Be generous with each step so you're not late or having to rush. Because nothing destroys the nice vibe of leaving a cruise like having to rush!

You could also just rent from the Canaveral rental agencies and return to MCO.

You could just get the day room at the Hyatt in the airport and still take rental car or the bus.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

In order to use the Onboard Airline Checkin, DCL transfers must be used. OR you must have purchased your flights through DCL.

You can't do the OAC and send your bags through while you do private transportation.

Thanks for that PrincessShmoo. UGH! So sorry for providing misinformation!

 

[LSUfan4444]

If not, does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to be at the airport for hours and hours..

Our flight leaves MCO at 6 pm. We rented a car from Budget for $73. Our plan is to head to Downtown Disney for lunch, then go play some mini golf.

 

[gismo1554]

Just to say parking in DTD at the moment is a bit of a mess so it will take a bit longer than it used to but I think that's a great idea!