MCO flight time after disembarkation

[sanglee23]

Hello. We are a group of nine including three small children and were considering 11:40 AM flights out of MCO on a Friday. I know that Disney recommends flights after 11:30 AM so it should be fine in theory, but I was hoping to get some other opinions, especially from those that have used MCO recently. We were hoping to leave the port at about 8 or 8:30 using a private transportation service. The next flight doesn't leave until 2 PM so we wanted avoid waiting around at the airport with small children. Thanks.

 

[Trera]

we are off the boat typically by 7:30 and we are home in just over an hour and we live 25 min north of the airport. Seems like you could easily be at the airport by 9-9:30 and that will be over 2 hours before your flight. Security/TSA lines can be long but once you are through that, you will have a short shuttle ride to the terminal.

 

[RedSox68]

I think you should try to leave the port earlier than 8 a.m. If you leave at 8:30, that only gives you three hours to get there, check in and get through security. MCO can be nuts right after a cruise disembarks, and if you hit traffic on the way there you won't have much of a time buffer.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I would leave by 7 or 730 personally. Mco security can be horrible unless you have Precheck. I'm one that prefers a cup of coffee and reading the paper at the airport rather than worrying.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

MCO security has been a mess. Especially with little ones, the earlier you can leave, the better

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

MCO security has been a mess. Especially with little ones, the earlier you can leave, the better

Can't agree more. Two hours will give you just enough time to get to the gate at opening. I learned to be at car rental return 3 hrs prior. With the 1 hour travel time from port to airport, 11:40 flight is very tight especially with group of 9. There are plenty of shops and restaurants at MCO. You can even do some last minutes shopping at WDW store or Universal Store. (where I get my Harry Potter stuff without visiting the parks) I will suggest to take the 2pm flight. Leave the ship when everyone is nice and ready and have lunch at the airport before the security nightmare.

I missed a disembarkation flight once at Miami. My cousin worked for the airline at the time and were able to give us priority at standby. Our group of 12 were able to leave the same day in small group. I left with the last flight. Without my insider help, I was told it would take us till another 2-3 days to leave.

 

[moosecrouse]

With that large of a group I would go for the 2nd flight. All it would take is one person in the group getting tied up and then everyone could be put in risk of missing the flight. And rebooking a large group could be a problem.

 

[lilroo442]

I would take a later flight. We flew out of MCO this week- we got to the air port almost three hours early and we ended up getting to our gate 20 minutes before our flight left. The security line was crazy crazy long.

 

[sanglee23]

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate it. I didn't realize that the security lines could take so long at MCO. I usually get to the airport about 1.5 hours early where I live, but yeah, re-booking a group of nine could turn into a mess.

 

[The Sasquatch]

here is what I experienced in April, granted it was Spring Break.

I got into the airport around 9:15 for an 11:15 flight. No line at all returning the car, no line at check in. I walked around the corner to security and it was complete mayhem. I got to my plane at 10:50 and they were getting ready to shut the door. Security at MCO is a nightmare

 

[The Sasquatch]

I would take a later flight. We flew out of MCO this week- we got to the air port almost three hours early and we ended up getting to our gate 20 minutes before our flight left. The security line was crazy crazy long.

sounds like its the same no matter when lately. A worker told me in line this is the same thing every day

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I agree with Sasquatch. In fact from a previous thread posted, I believe we were on the same cruise! We returned the car earlier, by 3 hours, thinking we would have dinner before security. Nope. TSA told my husband the lines are always like that and that many passengers miss their flights due to the lines. TSA suggested 2+ hours to make your flight. That would not count time to check your bag. They brought in a K9 and that moved things along, but that was after 40 minutes of the line going nowhere. The decision is yours, but I would not want to leave a relaxing cruise to be in a panic at the airport, or worse miss my flight with little ones.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I got into the airport around 9:15 for an 11:15 flight. No line at all returning the car, no line at check in. I walked around the corner to security and it was complete mayhem. I got to my plane at 10:50 and they were getting ready to shut the door.

It is the same story over and over again at MCO. Same experience in Sept & Nov. Plane delay may be a blessing sometimes. LOL
Last year, I was looking for departing flight from Tampa for my WDW vacation. I would rather drive the extra 1/2 hour to Tampa than to deal with the MCO security. Too bad the price and schedule didn't fit.

 

[sanglee23]

Wow, so I guess it's not uncommon to spend well more than an hour in the security line? That's going to drive my kids crazy.

Thanks for all your input. I'll have to convince the rest of my family that we should just stay on the boat until 9 and then take the later flight.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Disney should talk to the TSA people about putting in a fastpass system.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Disney should talk to the TSA people about putting in a fastpass system.

They do have a "Fastpass" system called TSA PreCheck. $80 for 5 years--which can really adds up for a family. ($100/5 years for Global Entry which is good for international flights) The worst part of the application process is that it requires in-person interview.

I'm actually considering it--mostly for MCO & JFK.[/QUOTE]

 

[ladyofthetramp]

If we all traveled more often Ii would invest in TSA PreCheck. Even with the in-person interview, well worth it. To me, anyway. Waiting in those security lines just raises my anxiety level as I don't like to fly.

 

[myrtleturtle]

If you aren't doing WDW, consider flying into and out of Melbourne. That's what we just did for our Dream cruise and it was a million times better than going through MCO. Small, uncrowded, TSA was a breeze. I want to say it's about the same distance from the port.

 

[MikeyNS]

I was worried about an 11:35 flight we had in March. We had the early breakfast, got on to the bus at around 7:40?, waited about 20-25 minutes for the bus to fill and was at the airport just after 9. Security lines looked massive but we were at our gate at 9:40. Easy peasy.

Like others have stated IF there is a hitch with customs at the port, or docking delays you could miss your flight, but for me I'm comfortable with an 11:30 flight.

 

[sanglee23]

They do have a "Fastpass" system called TSA PreCheck. $80 for 5 years--which can really adds up for a family. ($100/5 years for Global Entry which is good for international flights) The worst part of the application process is that it requires in-person interview.

I'm actually considering it--mostly for MCO & JFK.

[/QUOTE]

Even if you only travel a couple times a year, I think it's worth it. The cost becomes negligible really quickly and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't rave about it.