plane leaves at 11am or 6pm - which should i take

[imgoingtodisney]

We really dont want to wait at the airport until 6pm for our return flight. Would it be possible to make the 11am flight? If we book the 11am and dont make it the airlines does not have to let us fly on the 6pm correct? What do you do at the airport until 6pm? Or should we book a car rental for the way back to the airport and take the day? What would you do?

 

[DizMare]

One option might be to book the 6 pm, and then go to the airport as early as you can and try to get on the earlier plane.

We cruised in January, left the ship at 8 and were at the airport at 9. We could have jumped on several earlier flights, but we stupidly didn't ask until after we checked our luggage. (So, ask first, then check luggage.)

The airport has enough to keep you interested for a couple of hours, but, IMHO, not most of a day.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

HI,

Last time we cruised we had a return flight that left at 5:00pm. We wanted to make sure that we would get to the airport on time. We took our time that morning, we ate breakfast in the dinning room and we looked around the ship one last time and we still were at the airport by 9:00am. We decided to take a chance and asked if we could get on an earlier flight and they put us on it. So we got to leave on an 11am flight. I am sure you could make it to the airport in time for the 11:00 flight since we did and we were dragging ourselves since we thought we had more time. But..with the security slow downs if it makes you feel better to take a later flight then I say to do that.

 

[mmouse37]

In light of 9/11 and all the new airport security, I would definitely take the 6 pm flight. Yes, you probably could make, but you might be stressed. On our last DCL cruise there was a medical emergency at CC and we did not leave the island until after 10PM. That made us very late getting into Port Canaveral (9 am). We did not get off the ship until after 10 am. These are rare, but can happen. There are so many variables that could possibly make you late. Don't worry.

You should check out www.mousesavers.com and find the rental car page. There is a code for an Avis group rate that you supposedly don't need a group for (Iam sailing 2/23 and am using this code when we disembark...I will let you know if it works). Go to Avis.com and add the mousesavers code in AWD box. Reserve a car for the day you disembark to be picked up at the Radisson at the Port (about a mile away with free shuttle) and then drop off at the airport before your flight home. That is what we are doing since our flight is at 7 pm. We are going to visit downtown disney for the day. A one-day rental is very reasonable.

The code for the Avis at Radisson is P3F, the code for Orlando airport is MCO.

MJ

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by DizMare

One option might be to book the 6 pm, and then go to the airport as early as you can and try to get on the earlier plane.

This is what I recommend.

 

[mom2grace]

We did the opposite....had a 3:45 flight and flew stand-by for an 8pm. We DID CONFIRM on Saturday morning that there were "plenty" of seats available for the 8pm, otherwise we would've shown up for the 3:45.

We rented a car from Avis and spent the day at WDW. We went to Animal Kingdom Lodge because we hadn't seen it yet, had lunch at Boardwalk, and then spent the rest of the day at Wilderness Lodge!

It was very relaxing and made Saturday feel like a "vacation" day instead of just a travel day!

Have a great time!

Susan Bryan and Grace