Need Advice - Time from MK back to Airport

[gumbo1009]

Trying to figure out when we'll need to leave Magic Kingdom to get back to MCO...

Flight leaves at 3pm from MCO on Saturday. My current plan is for us to hit MK for a quick visit that morning, get in the rental car, gas it up, return it, then head to the airport for our return flight.

There are a number of unknowns for me...

• I have never parked at MK before (this is my 1st time with a car), so I am not certain how long it takes to get from the park exit to the parking lot.
• I am not sure how likely we are to hit traffic on a Saturday in Orlando (planning to take 417).
• I do not recall how busy the departure security lines at the airport are on Saturdays.

I am trying to work backwards to figure out when I need to leave the park. I've been thinking Noon, but I'm not sure if this is realistic...

Does anyone have advice/tips for me?

Thanks very much!

 

[sam_gordon]

Trying to figure out when we'll need to leave Magic Kingdom to get back to MCO...

Flight leaves at 3pm from MCO on Saturday. My current plan is for us to hit MK for a quick visit that morning, get in the rental car, gas it up, return it, then head to the airport for our return flight.

There are a number of unknowns for me...

• I have never parked at MK before (this is my 1st time with a car), so I am not certain how long it takes to get from the park exit to the parking lot.
• I am not sure how likely we are to hit traffic on a Saturday in Orlando (planning to take 417).
• I do not recall how busy the departure security lines at the airport are on Saturdays.

I am trying to work backwards to figure out when I need to leave the park. I've been thinking Noon, but I'm not sure if this is realistic...

Does anyone have advice/tips for me?

Thanks very much!

Where are you returning your rental car? I'd assume MCO, but want to make sure. Here's how *I* would do it...

1:45 Through security
1:00 Walking through airport doors
12:45 Drop off rental car
12:30 Gas up rental car
12:00 pulling out of Disney parking lot
11:45 boarding parking tram
11:15 boarding ferry/monorail
11:00 walking out of MK gates

There is a lot of "slop" time, but you don't know...
1) how long you need to wait for the ferry/monorail
2) how bad traffic is going to be
3) How long it will take to fuel up
4) How long it will take to return rental.
5) How long security will take

I think if you leave MK gates @ Noon, it's too close. You're looking at an hour to get from there to your car, get to gas station, fuel up, and return rental. Of course, if everything goes fine, you'll be ok. But it won't take much to set you back.

I'd rather sit at the airport for an hour than be 2 minutes late.

 

[gumbo1009]

12:00 pulling out of Disney parking lot
11:45 boarding parking tram
11:15 boarding ferry/monorail
11:00 walking out of MK gates

Thanks! Wow, I didn't realize just how long it would take to get from the gate to the parking exit - I am so glad I asked, thanks for your help!!

 

[sam_gordon]

Thanks! Wow, I didn't realize just how long it would take to get from the gate to the parking exit - I am so glad I asked, thanks for your help!!

Like I said, I've built some "slop" in there. You can walk out of the gates, straight onto the ferry/monorail and it immediately pulls out. The parking tram is waiting on you and you're the first stop, and your car is next to the tram. What I have slated to take an hour could take 30 minutes (or less).

 

[lions1995]

I agree, 4 hours is a good number. Consider that DME picks up 3 hours prior and drops you off at the airport's door. I have had times when I was glad my flight was delayed because I was concerned that DME was cutting it short.

You may want to grab a bite to eat at some time as well.

 

[2binak]

We've made a stop at MK before leaving for our flight home twice in the last 6 months. Both times we had a rental car and left the gates of the park 4 hours before our flight.

We estimate 1.5 hours to get from the park gates to the security line, 1 hour to get through the security line, 45 minutes to eat, and 15 mins to grab a snack for the flight and use the restroom before boarding starts (usually 30 mins before take off).

Keep in mind that returning the car isn't always as quick as you think it would be. Last Nov there were at least 8 cars ahead of us and only 2 reps checking cars in. It took nearly 20 mins for them just to get to our car and another 5-10 to look it over. This May, we were the 2nd car and it took maybe 10 mins total.

We always leave on a Saturday and the security lines at MCO are long, especially in the afternoon/evening. If you're traveling with kids, have a phone, ipad, toy or book handy for them to use while you're in line. Unlike the lines at Disney which are designed to entertain you, airport security lines are anything but entertaining. Everyone is stressed about missing their flights, complaining about the wait and cramped together, which makes it hot...leading to more misery and complaining...and by the end of it, everyone looks like this especially the kiddos who've been stuck down below the hot mess, unable to see anything but legs & bums the entire time

 

[gumbo1009]

Thanks!

Dumb question - I am assuming the tram stop at the closest sections first (for example, I see on the map that Aladdin and Jafar are the closest sections) - is that correct? And it looks like if we can park in those sections it may be easier to walk (rather than waiting on the tram).

This is our first trip with a car (so parking will be a new adventure for us!)