Return flights after Cruise?

[BraMax]

I have a question for my fellow Canadians. We are going on a Disney Cruise Feb '08 and I am starting to look into air fair. My question is what is the earliest flight possible out of MCO back into Canada. I don't want a specific flight or anything just a time that people have had returned flights at after getting off the ship? We don't really want to stay over night but I also don't want to risk missing our flight altogether. Does any of this make sense. I think I might be confusing myself lol

 

[drag n' fly]

We are thinking of taking a cruise after our trip in March. We would be taking a AC flight that leaves MCO at 6:30pm and arrives in Calgary at 9pmish. We always fly on a Tuesday and return on a Thursday as that is when we always get the cheapest flights. I would check Kayak.com or Expedia or Travelocity and it will give you a list of flights with different airlines and times. If you have AMA you can also check through there. hth

 

[mom_rules]

You can disembark and be at the airport (using DCL transfers) by 10:30ish but...

I would try not to book a flight that leaves before noon. We usually try for the 1:30 or 2:00pm flight so that we aren't rushed and panicked. We check in at the airport and then shop and have a snack before boarding.

 

[BraMax]

The earliest-latest flight back to Edmonton that I can find so far is 4:30 pm what do you do with that much time?

 

[talicskai]

The earliest-latest flight back to Edmonton that I can find so far is 4:30 pm what do you do with that much time?

Shop, Eat, Shop, Eat, Shop, shop, shop, Krispy Kreme, Shop......

Seriously, there are worst places to "put in time" ~ it is one of the nicest airports ~ enjoy yourself.

Teresa

 

[B&B Mom]

How will you be traveling back to MCO? If you are renting a vehicle you could always stop at Downtown Disney, shop, have lunch, etc...

They do want everyone off the ship by 9am and as Canadians you have to report to clear custums at 6am that last morning! So you will have an early start to the day no matter what option you choose.

 

[BraMax]

6AM You've got to be kidding me. That will really suck. Maybe we will just stay over that night as the kids will be cranky after spending 8 hours in an airport then 10 hours till we get home. I think I would rather pay the extra night in a hotel and come home on the Monday. Maybe I can get us into one of the Value resorts and then at least the kids can play in the pool or something. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[IncredibleEdna]

Perhaps you might want to try this same question on the Cruise Board ?

 

[twinz]

I use to work for a Cruise wholesaler...and there ARE air parameters that HAVE to be met. For instance you can not have a ship that arrives to port at 10 am and have a flight that departs at 10:30am. Keep in mind that most ships arrive to port at 6am and you may not be able to get off until 11am. I don't know what the Disney air parameters are (as we never sold Disney cruises when I worked there). Ask your travel agent (if you used one) they should be able to help you. Or you can call the Cruise line and ask them as well. Also this would be considered an international flight and I believe their parameters tend to be more. Good luck

 

[SAGE]

I didn't know Canadian's had to clear customs at 6AM? So...we clear customs and what then? Go have breakfast on the ship or are we now off the ship?
(First cruise booked Sept 07)
I appreciate your feed back - will help with that days itinerary.

 

[minnie56]

You cannot 'legally' have a flight that departs any earlier than 11:35 a.m. Anything earlier than that, if the ship or disembarkation process is delayed in any way and you thereby miss your flight, you are on your own! They also will NOT sell you a transfer to the airport for any departure earlier than this either.

 

[B&B Mom]

I didn't know Canadian's had to clear customs at 6AM? So...we clear customs and what then? Go have breakfast on the ship or are we now off the ship?
(First cruise booked Sept 07)
I appreciate your feed back - will help with that days itinerary.

As with everything Disney does it's very well organized!

Basically, everyone that has surrendered their passport has to go to the theatre and it is returned to you...I believe in the past just one person in your party could go but not anymore. You then proceed into the theater with your customs declaration form completed, and the agents check passports and the form. As long as everything is in order it doesn't take long. There were kids there in pj's and slippers lots of people just out of bed! We had lots of time afterwards for showers and a final check of the stateroom before heading to B'fast.

The last night you will receive info about where and when breakfast will be served for you (it's usually the same place you had supper the night before). They tell you to take any remaining bags with you to b'fast then once that's done it's off the boat!!


Hope that helps.

 

[shaycamp21]

Like the above poster said with DCL it is very organized. We always had the later breakfast seating and were still off the ship by 9:00-9:30. If you do chose to stay at one of the Disney Resorts overnight they will Magical Express you back to the airport.

This is slightly off topic but for those of you who fly Southwest and cruise DCL and want to return home the same day after disembarking you can change to an earlier flight when you check in at the airport (if there is room). My sister cruised last Sept and really wanted to book the 10:30 am flight but was afraid the would not get there in time well she booked a later time but they got to the airport early and asked to change to the 10:30am and there was room so they got on. Probably can't on this for peak travel times but if you travel in the off season.

 

[NAB]

Custom get you up for 6:00 and everyone has to go. You are usaully of by 9:00 . We were at the airport by 10:00. Didn't use transfers and had a town car pick us up. So there was no waiting for buses etc.

We have done the cruise 3 times. We did a day rate at the Hyatt(?) there at the airport because our flight was late in the afternoon. We napped. We used there pool ,washed and then got our flight. I think we had to be out of the room by 6:00 pm.

If you are on the Magic and going to St Thomas on the Wed. You too have to get you for customs early in the morning too!!!! Again everyone has to be there and the ship can't be cleared until everyone is there.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Even doing both early and late breakfast, had wonderful DISers to say good bye to, I was still at MCO on Disney bus by 10 am. I was booked on a 1:30 flight, had to wait to check bags and then had time to have lunch at the hotel in MCO with DISer's I had already shed tears with earlier in the morning. Still had time to sit at the gate.

This time we are doing towncar and I just booked the 11:40 jetblue flight to BUF, we will have lots of time, even if we leave the Magic at 9:00 am. I am booking the towncar for 9:10am, should get us to MCO around 10am and at our gate by 11:15

 

[candizfan]

We were on the Disney Magic in for March break 2007. We were off the ship very early. It was only 8 am and we had collected our baggage and were heading to the car rental.

You can rent a car in Port Canaveral for the day and return it to the airport without paying a drop charge (but ask each company to be sure). We went and saw the Kennedy Space center. That was a lot of fun but I really wished we had spent a day at Disney as well.

Renting the car was cheaper than paying for transfers for 4 people (we did the transfers to the ship to ensure an easy trip) but I never worry about getting home....funny how that is.

I flew out of MCO for Detroit (we live in Windsor) on the 5:55 pm flight and it worked out great. The 8 pm flight would have given us more time, but it was fine.

Disney asks you to book flights after noon on the day you get off the ship.

Good luck.