Port Canaveral & Flight Departure Time

[TwinkleStar]

Is an 11:00 flight out of MCO something that can be done? I realize that we wouldn't be able to take the Disney shuttle back to the airport so I'm thinking we'd have to find a taxi. But not sure if making the 11:00 is realistic.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is an 11:00 flight out of MCO something that can be done? I realize that we wouldn't be able to take the Disney shuttle back to the airport so I'm thinking we'd have to find a taxi. But not sure if making the 11:00 is realistic.

Yes, people have made flights that early. I'd suggest you be prepared to be the first off the ship, and don't leave your bags outside your door the last night.

Figuring that the ship arrives on time, and clears immigration/customs in a timely manner, the big doors open about 7:30 for debarking. Travel time to MCO is about an hour (barring any road work, accidents, weather issues). And TSA at MCO can be brutal at times (up to 2 hours).

Also, a taxi is going to cost you $100+.

For my personal comfort zone - I always book flights after 12:00.

 

[apathetic]

I think you can make it even on a Disney bus. Without even trying, we've arrived at MCO at 930. If you walk off with your luggage and get on the first bus, you should be ok, depending on what airline you take. Keep in mind, if you have a lot of luggage, expecting to find a taxi may be optimistic. You need one that can hold your luggage. Grab some numbers before you leave for the cruise and maybe even talk with a company. Before you get off the ship, you can arrange for a big enough vehicle to meet you. If you leave Canaveral by 8 you will be at MCO before 9. Taxis move a lot faster than buses.

 

[TwinkleStar]

Thank you for the feedback! It's GREATLY appreciated!

 

[dclpluto]

11 o clock you will be fine on 99 percent of the time.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

I'm planning an afternoon flight for our Jan 2017 cruise -- I don't trust fate or TSA. This is our first time not going to WDW so I'm being conservative.

 

[AUTigerFan]

When we flew out of Miami before noon Disney wouldn't allow us to book their transfers. Is there a similar restriction for port canaveral?

 

[mousefan1972]

We did so this morning.

Kept our bags last night (utilized express walk off), ate breakfast at Lumiere's at 7:00 am, left the Magic at 7:30, boarded the DCL shuttle at 7:40, drove away from Port Canaveral at 7:45, arrived at MCO at 8:30. In PLENTY of time to make our 11:05 flight home.

Only negative is if your flight is before 11:30 you can't use on board airline check in. Didn't matter to us cause we flew SW and they don't participate.

We saw the doors open and people start leaving the ship at 7:00 as we sat down to eat. As long as the ship isn't delayed significantly arriving to port, you'll be fine. I'm so glad we took the 11:05 and not the next nonstop at 2:20!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When we flew out of Miami before noon Disney wouldn't allow us to book their transfers. Is there a similar restriction for port canaveral?

I know you can't do the onboard airline check in if you have a flight before 11:30. And DCL recommends flights after 11:30. I don't know if that means you can't take the transportation though, if your flight is before 11:30 (at your own risk).

 

[mousefan1972]

When we flew out of Miami before noon Disney wouldn't allow us to book their transfers. Is there a similar restriction for port canaveral?

You can book their transfers but not utilize onboard airline check in if your flight is before 11:30. Our flight was originally 10:45 am (got changed to 11:05) and I had no problem booking DCL transfers.

 

[AUTigerFan]

You can book their transfers but not utilize onboard airline check in if your flight is before 11:30. Our flight was originally 10:45 am (got changed to 11:05) and I had no problem booking DCL transfers.

That's good. Must be a Miami thing.

 

[TwinkleStar]

We did so this morning.

Kept our bags last night (utilized express walk off), ate breakfast at Lumiere's at 7:00 am, left the Magic at 7:30, boarded the DCL shuttle at 7:40, drove away from Port Canaveral at 7:45, arrived at MCO at 8:30. In PLENTY of time to make our 11:05 flight home.

Only negative is if your flight is before 11:30 you can't use on board airline check in. Didn't matter to us cause we flew SW and they don't participate.

We saw the doors open and people start leaving the ship at 7:00 as we sat down to eat. As long as the ship isn't delayed significantly arriving to port, you'll be fine. I'm so glad we took the 11:05 and not the next nonstop at 2:20!

Thank you, that's great to know. The airline we're using is SW as well. The next non stop for us is not until 6:20pm. Ugh.

 

[mousefan1972]

Thank you, that's great to know. The airline we're using is SW as well. The next non stop for us is not until 6:20pm. Ugh.

Ugh, 6:20 would be awful. Definitely do the 11:00, and you'll be fine taking the DCL shuttle. Lots of people were headed to the airport this morning. We sure weren't the only ones with an early flight!

 

[lbus42]

You might want to consider getting TSA pre-approved. We had a flight on United which is at Terminal B. The lines through security were VERY long. Since we were pre-approved we were able to go around all of that to a short pre-approved line. We were through security and on the way to our gate in 10 minutes.