Leaving MCO on a Saturday

[cinders28]

I was wondering if anyone had some recent info on lines at MCO on Saturdays. I did a search and the best info was about 8 months old....
We are flying out of MCO the second Saturday in January at 5 pm. We plan on getting to the airport about 2 hrs prior to flight time. We will need to drop off the rental car and get through security and bag check. Will this be plenty of time? too much? The US Air website advises to be "checked in" no later than 45 mins before our flight. Can we get our bags checked and through security in an hour and 15 on a Saturday evening?
Thanks!
Cinders

 

[francie57]

We had a 6:00 p.m. flight in Aug. and we arrived at the rental car return at just after 4:00. We had the car dropped off and were through security and at the gate before 5:00. Are you staying at Disney? If you are use the airline check-in at the resorts and you won't have to check your bags at the airport. Even if you are using ME you won't have to take your own bags. We use the airline desk at the BW and leave our luggage in the morning (if there is a luggage fee you call BAGS the day before and take care of that - info in the rooms), they check you in and print the boarding passes. We then go to a park and just get to the airport about 2 hours ahead and its a breeze.

 

[cinders28]

francie57- thanks for your experience. Sounds like we are allowing about the amount of time you did and you were fine. We are actually switching from AKL to Universal for our last 2 days so we will be leaving from the Hard Rock Hotel. I wonder if Universal has an airline checkin program like Disney? We won't have baggage fees, but will need to check a couple of our bags. I am hoping that most travelers on Saturday are arriving at the airport in the AM.
Cinders

 

[Brian Noble]

Two hours prior is about what I shoot for. Usually this gives you time to sit down for a bite to eat. Every once in a while, though, you need that time.

 

[Missytara]

Actually I switched my departure day from noon on Sunday to late afternoon on Saturday, to take advantage of an extra park day. I would think people would most likely leave later on a Saturday, because they still have an extra day at home before returning to work/school.

Now on a Sunday, I think people would be leaving early, but not Saturday.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Actually I switched my departure day from noon on Sunday to late afternoon on Saturday, to take advantage of an extra park day. I would think people would most likely leave later on a Saturday, because they still have an extra day at home before returning to work/school.

Now on a Sunday, I think people would be leaving early, but not Saturday.

Remember that while everyone on HERE is going to and from Disney...

There are LARGE numbers of poeple who live in Orlando and travel for business. They tend to leave late Sunday and early Monday.....

 

[Uncleromulus]

Security at MCO is well known for being a bit of a "zoo".
We always fly out on Saturday and it's NEVER been a breeze getting through.

BAGS might be a good idea but sometimes you have to wait just as long in the BAGS line as you do at the airport!
Plus--you need to tip the BAGS people--they aren't Disney employees.

 

[francie57]

Universal doesn't have an airline desk. You would have to store your luggage and then pick it up before leaving (unless you have a car and put the luggage in the car first). We have left from Universal in the past at the end of our trip also (lately we do Universal first). You should still be okay with your timeframe. When you get to security if the first lines are extremely long, go to the ones further down on the left since they tend to be less crowded. Just pay attention after getting through security and get on the right tram for the gate you need.