Latest time to arrive in MCO?

[jfs9900]

What is the latest time that you can arrive in MCO airport for a Disney Cruise?

Is the time different if you have ground transfers with Disney?

When is it cutting it just too close?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

As you read whatever answers are posted to your question, just keep in mind that there's often a difference between the scheduled arrival time and the actual arrival time.

I fly on too many business flights that are one, two, or three hours late. I avoid connections as much as possible, because it's too easy to miss a connection if your first flight segment runs late -- which can mean that your second flight segment has already left by the time you get to the connecting airport.

The advice you'll see over and over on this board is to fly in on the day before. I know that's not an option for everyone, but it's good advice.

 

[jfs9900]

Well we booked the CA 14 day cruise in may, very excited. However, I just found out a family member will be getting married that date at 9am!

We would defiantly book a direct flight, usually direct flying time is 2.5 hours (with some padding in)..... So we could leave really as late as 1:30 (provided there is a flight then) and still arrive by 3pm.

If we use Disney transfers I would assume that as soon as we got on the bus we would be safe.... When does the last Disney bus leave MCO??/

 

[Greysword]

You can call DCL and ask who to contact that will be doing transfers (to see when the last bus leaves. This gives you the greatest security blanket, since if you are late, you can contact them and they may hold the bus for you (say if you have just pulled up to the gate).

Now, we need more info. Where are you traveling from (home town) and which CA cruise (eastward or westward)?

 

[jfs9900]

Airport would be ACY (Atlantic City) or PHL airport.

 

[Greysword]

You can call Mears Transportation to see what the DCL bus schedule is or line-up your own transportation. I bet if you get to the port before 5, you will be ok.

 

[crisi]

According to my Passporter - 1:30

 

[sluggo]

Something to think about.

If you are going to try and cut it close, remember it takes a while for your luggage to get taken from the plane. If you cut it too close you might make it, but your luggage might not. Then you would be without your clothes until your first port of call.

It takes any where from 20 minutes (Delta) to 45 minutes (United) to get your bags placed on the carousel by the airline.

Sometimes, when there is a thunderstorm (and there are plenty), the airlines will not unload any baggage until the storm passes. This can sometimes take an hour or two.

Sluggo

 

[mmouse37]

Also...don't forget potential traffic delays on the Beeline.....we have seen accidents that have held up traffic for hours.... there is basically one highway that runs from the highway to the port.

Did you mean you could land at MCO at 1:30 or take a 1:30 flight from AC....if the latter than you would not be at MCO until almost 4:00 if it was a 2.5 hour flight....the trip to the port from airport is over 45 minutes...so you would definately miss the ship. Standard all aboard is at about 3:30 pm with obvious exceptions.


MJ

 

[mickeyboat]

PLEASE FLY IN THE DAY BEFORE. Our flight was scheduled to be at MCO at 1:30. Flights were delayed, we barely made our connection. We landed at MCO at 4:00. We made it to the ship via DCL transfer at 5:00. Our luggage did not. We went without until St. Maarten. DCL was more than accomodating to us so it was o.k. But don't take the chance. Even though we made the ship, the day was filled with so much tension that it took three days - and our luggage to arrive - before we were able to relax and enjoy ourselves.

Denae

 

[TheWog]

Fly in the day before, but otherwise I wouldn't want to arrive later than 1:30 or so. With all mentioned above. Waiting for luggage, if you use your tags, you may be alright, traffic delays. You want to be at the port before 3:30. Besides there is so much to do before you leave. Don't forget muster drill is at 4:00, which I believe is mandatory.

 

[jfs9900]

If we could be there the night before - we defiantly would.

However there could be a wedding in the family on Saturday of the repo cruise to CA. If the wedding is on the 14th and is late in the day - the cruise is off completely. If I would be possible to go to the wedding and make it to the cruise in time we may still try to get there.

Wedding would be around 9. Leave for airport at 11pm + 1 hour drive to 12pm + 2.5 hour flight = 2:30pm 1 hour drive to port arrival at port is around 3:30pm

My thinking was if there is a Disney transfer leaving after 2 pm we may be able to make it. As long we are on the bus I would assume the ship would wait if there were any kind of further delay.

Holding on to the reservation for now....

 

[crisi]

Aren't you forgetting something.

9am wedding
leave at 11am
1 hour drive to airport - noon
you need to arrive at the airport an hour before your flight to check bags and clear security, so the earliest flight you could take is 1:00
2.5 hour flight 3:30
30 minutes to debark and pick up your luggage 4:00
60 minutes to the Cape 5:00

Ship sails at 5:00, they pull the gangplank before then unless they have Disney air guests arriving late (they have been known to hold for Disney air guests - but Disney air won't book you a flight leaving that late) - although I suppose for the repositioning cruise they could said earlier or later.

Any timezone changes? - we are in the midwest, so we always lose and hour flying East.

 

[Greysword]

According to DCL site, the foirst stop for the cruise is castaway Cay. The next is Curaco.

I don't know if it is possible, but if you could fly to the Bahamas and get transportation to the Cay, then perhaps Disney will allow you to meet the ship there. Missing one day and the official sail away party would not be too bad, since you have a large chunk of cruisin' left!!

Just a possible option.

 

[WRH3MD]

We have been confronted with a similar dilemma. We booked the east to west repositioning cruise only to find out our sin graduates from college that morning! When this conflict was mentioned he responded forget the graduation, how many times will I get to go through the Panama Canal! Even so... We name cruises according to the highlight of the cruise. For example, the most recent western/family reunion DCL was nicknamed the Booze Cruise because we all got tanked at Cozumel. This repositioning cruise will be henceforth named The Guilt Trip!
For my two cents worth, we figured every possible way of getting him from Collegeville, Pa to the checkin line at the Terminal and there was no concievable way it could be done. Even with the graduation ceremony in the morning and no longwinded keynote speakers! My advice: get into Florida (Orlando or Cocoa) the night before and then you have eliminated a lot of uncertainty. Good luck with your decision. Wes

 

[WRH3MD]

I guess I should have read the post before I posted it. That's not some Freudian slip. Its my SON not my sin. Cheers, Wes

 

[Laurabearz]

Just tossing this out.... ya dont have to catch it...

Have you thought about asking them to move the wedding date up?

You never know... if you explain your desire to be with them on their special day, but a second (and totally unmovable), once in a lifetime opportunity has popped up...

Just a thought....

Did I say that outloud?

 

[jfs9900]

Laurabearz - nice idea!
WRH3MD - Would it be possible to get a boat onto Castaway Cay?

We will keep the res until March. A million things could happen between now and than that could change the date or even postpone the wedding.

If we find other people to cruise with us we may end up going anyway even if it makes it impossible to go to the wedding. Just wish there wasnt any decision to be made. If no one else goes we will cancel when the remainder is due.