MCO question

[FigmentSpark]

I'm looking at some possible flights right now. One leaves at 7am and another leaves in the middle of the day (2:15pm)

I've seen the kinds of line ups that can form at the security in Orlando for the evening, which is scaring me off the much cheaper 7am flight. Does anyone have experience with baggage drop and security for an early morning flight out of Orlando? How much time do you allot for getting to your gate?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm looking at some possible flights right now. One leaves at 7am and another leaves in the middle of the day (2:15pm)

I've seen the kinds of line ups that can form at the security in Orlando for the evening, which is scaring me off the much cheaper 7am flight. Does anyone have experience with baggage drop and security for an early morning flight out of Orlando? How much time do you allot for getting to your gate?

Personally, I'd rather fly later in the day. I don't think morning or afternoon, it's going to be that much different. I could be wrong.

Are you staying in Florida after your cruise and flying out later? I mean, you're not asking about debarkation day/flight are you?

 

[FigmentSpark]

No, we're staying a couple of days. There aren't any flights at reasonable prices for a Sat debarkation. I'm just thinking about how early I will have to get up and get the family up, fed and out the hotel door to make a 7am flight, considering TSA can be a madhouse. I'm assuming there are flights at all times of the day, given that it is essentially a resort town. I don't want to be standing in a baggage line at 5am and a TSA line at 6am.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

No, we're staying a couple of days. There aren't any flights at reasonable prices for a Sat debarkation. I'm just thinking about how early I will have to get up and get the family up, fed and out the hotel door to make a 7am flight, considering TSA can be a madhouse. I'm assuming there are flights at all times of the day, given that it is essentially a resort town. I don't want to be standing in a baggage line at 5am and a TSA line at 6am.

I'd allow at least 2 hours for check in and security at MCO, regardless of time of day. Don't recall if you're traveling with kids, but getting kids up that early to catch a plane? Not me....I don't need to start the trip with grumpy kids.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That's my fear. My kids will be teens... the worst type of kids to get up early!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Take the later flight.

 

[tz2989]

Another vote for the later flight. Security lines at MCO have been horrible recently (even worse than the past)

 

[FigmentSpark]

Mmm... I'm thinking it may be worth the $300 difference, indeed. You've all confirmed my fears. Thanks, though.

 

[lilroo442]

I'm looking at some possible flights right now. One leaves at 7am and another leaves in the middle of the day (2:15pm)

I've seen the kinds of line ups that can form at the security in Orlando for the evening, which is scaring me off the much cheaper 7am flight. Does anyone have experience with baggage drop and security for an early morning flight out of Orlando? How much time do you allot for getting to your gate?

I flew out of MCO this morning on a 7:20am flight. It was pretty much chaos, it was organized but still chaos. We got to the airport at 5 and got to the gate around 6:20. I would have picked a later flight but we needed to be somewhere at home earlier in the day. Every time we go to Orlando I'm always surprised at how busy MCO is!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Wow! That was just enough time to get yourselves organized before boarding! That's crazy. So for a 7am flight, I'd have to get there before 5am!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Second to confirm that the lines at MCO have been nuts. Out of our family of 4, I was chosen for Pre, so I sailed through. But my family was stuck, for a long time... This was on a Monday, at 4pm, this past April. TSA told my husband that they have been informing passengers to arrive even earlier than 2 hours for domestic travel. They said that many, many passengers have been missing their flights due to the lines. We were more than 2 hours ahead after returning a car, hopeful to have dinner before security, but once we saw the lines, we decided to carry on our bags and eat after, if there was time. Thankful, after about a 40 minute wait, they brought in a K-9. He did a sweep of the huge, huge line, passengers weren't required to remove shoes etc, and things sped up considerably. We are traveling back through MCO this summer to visit WDW and I am already having anxiety over the lines

 

[cheermom2four]

Honestly, I agree to take the later flight, for one you mentioned "teens". That right there doesnt coincide with "early" (I have raised two already and going thru my 3rd teen now and one more after that yikes). We stayed at the Hyatt in the airport and faced one of the TSA lines. Actually I woke up early before our cruise and the line was already long and stayed that way. Honestly, we watched late at night that line and it moved pretty good even at the later hours. its constantly busy

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

MCO is my home airport and there is really just no telling what the lines will be like at any time or day or night. I've left many times where I've thought that surely it was a slower time of year only to see lines that make you do a double-take.

I would say get there a good two hours before your flight unless you don't mind cutting it close.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks for all your input. While I'm quite happy to know that the TSA is so thorough, I have to wonder why they don't upgrade the area and increase the screening staff.