Miami layover on disembarkment day

[Joseph Andrew Hunt]

My family and I have over a 5 1/2 hour layover in Miami on our disembarkment day this coming March. Any advice or ideas on how to spend the time. My wife and I will be traveling with our almost 3yr old son and the thought of spending 5+ hours in an airport with nothing to do but wait is terrifying.

 

[dcassetta]

My family and I have over a 5 1/2 hour layover in Miami on our disembarkment day this coming March. Any advice or ideas on how to spend the time. My wife and I will be traveling with our almost 3yr old son and the thought of spending 5+ hours in an airport with nothing to do but wait is terrifying.

I am not sure this would be great for a 3-year-old, but Disney does offer a post-cruise excursion in Miami that includes a hop on hop off bus with several options and then transfers to the airport. You can only sign up for this once on board.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...-with-airport-transfer-onboard-bookings-only/

You might also consider renting a car and visiting the zoo.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

We have 10 hours in Miami before our flight leaves. We decided to book a day room at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon. We get the room from 10 to 5 and it’s $170 (which I think is almost the same cost as staying overnight, so not much of a deal). We’ve never been before but it looks nice. Hoping to shower, nap, relax, and enjoy the pool.

 

[czmom]

We are renting a car and going to the Everglades. It’s only $69 for a minivan from Costco.

 

[Capt_BJ]

concur with rent a car

Jungle Island (former Parrot Jungle) is a lot closer to port & airport than the zoo

https://www.jungleisland.com/

 

[Frozen2014]

We have 10 hours in Miami before our flight leaves. We decided to book a day room at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon. We get the room from 10 to 5 and it’s $170 (which I think is almost the same cost as staying overnight, so not much of a deal). We’ve never been before but it looks nice. Hoping to shower, nap, relax, and enjoy the pool.

We did similar last summer but at Pullman.
Day hotel works well...gives you somewhere to drop your luggage, can use pool for the day, and shower. Our older one got a bit bored as he didn't feel like swimming after lunch but kept our younger one busy.

Looking for ideas for next summer as similar flight home.

 

[dclpluto]

You really don’t have much time to do anything. You don’t say what time your flight is you just say 5 and a half hours. I’m guessing your flight is around 2:30. Doesn’t leave you much time to do anything.

 

[remlap]

Full disclosure, we spent the night and flew home the next day. However, we rented a car after getting off the ship and drove to the everglades. It was amazing. You might not get down to road's end, but you'll get far enough to see lots and lots of crocks.

 

[Joseph Andrew Hunt]

Thanks for the input. Our flight leaves at 1:35 PM. We are thinking about renting a car. However, the down side to that is we are disembarking on a Sunday morning. I don't think much will be open early on a Sunday morning. However, spending hours in an airport with a toddler isn't exactly exciting either.

 

[dclpluto]

Thanks for the input. Our flight leaves at 1:35 PM. We are thinking about renting a car. However, the down side to that is we are disembarking on a Sunday morning. I don't think much will be open early on a Sunday morning. However, spending hours in an airport with a toddler isn't exactly exciting either.

Just take your time getting off the ship. Usually last call is around 9.

 

[Dug720]

Just take your time getting off the ship. Usually last call is around 9.

This. Plus there are a lot of stores and stuff in the Miami airport. And some gates take a while to get to. It's not a little boring airport with like one store and one coffee shop.

 

[Brendan Glynn]

You could go to the eclectic area of Wynwood that has “curated graffiti” in their Wynood Walls area and all around that neighborhood. It is just a short Uber trip from the Port and not far from the airport. Plenty of outstanding restaurants there as well. The artwork on the “walls” all around Wynwood is being updated now and worth the trip.

If you want something a bit more sophisticated there is Midtown Miami just to the North of Wynwood with some nice shopping and some great places to eat around there as well.

Good people watching in both places!

 

[squirk]

This. Plus there are a lot of stores and stuff in the Miami airport. And some gates take a while to get too. It's not a little boring airport with like one store and one coffee shop.

This. Also, maybe a long shot, but if you have an American Express Platinum or Centurion (Black) card, the Centurion Lounge at MIA is really nice. Playroom and giant cookies for your son. Great food and full open bar for you and your wife.

 

[LNMom]

We were supposed to have a long layover on a recent trip to Europe (flights got changed last minute) and a girlfriend who is Cuban and grew up in Miami recommended eating lunch at Havana Harry’s and walking around Merrick Park mall so the kids could run around a bit. This is in Coral Gables and close to the airport. It would be easy to use Uber to get around. Just check the opening hours for Sunday.