Storing luggage after cruise for late flight?

[Chaitali]

I’m trying to decide what to do after our January cruise on the Wish. We have a choice of an 11:30 am flight back from Orlando but I’m worried whether thats too early. The next option is 4:45pm. If we do that, it seems like it would be too early to go straight to the airport. Is there somewhere to store luggage at the port so we could go to the space center for a couple hours or something? We’d probably want to leave to go to MCO by 2 if we book the 4:45 flight.

 

[dcassetta]

You could rent a car, use it for luggage and to get to both the space center and the airport.

There is no luggage storage at the port.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks! Do you think the 11:30am flight would be pushing it for getting there on time?

 

[happycamper47]

Thanks! Do you think the 11:30am flight would be pushing it for getting there on time?

We've been sitting at the Navy Exchange which is on MCO property at 8:30 after a cruise, but we did have our own car in the garage. If you use DCL trans you definitely have to get on an early bus.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks! We’d probably be using Lyft/Uber.

 

[brentm77]

Thanks! We’d probably be using Lyft/Uber.

I'd look at a company like Happy Limo to pre-arrange your drive if you have an early flight. It's probably very close in cost to Uber and is guaranteed to be there when you need it, unlike Uber. It's a pretty long drive.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks, I’ll look them up!

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

You can always look at Uber Reserve also for pricing in advance. That normally offers some peace of mind.

If you did Express walk off at 7, you could easily make it for an 11:30 flight but I would arrange my own transfers for sure.

 

[brentm77]

Thanks, I’ll look them up!

We haven't used them for about ten years, so double-check recent reviews. But they were great when we used them.

 

[jimmymc]

Thanks! Do you think the 11:30am flight would be pushing it for getting there on time?

I think that's reasonable. Either be in the first group of luggage tags, or self-debark first thing. You should be able to get to the airport by 9 am.

 

[loislane]

After our August cruise, we kept our luggage with us, grabbed breakfast at Marceline Market when it opened at 6:30 a.m. and did the early disembarkation. DCL transportation had us at MCO by about 9:15 a.m. and we were through security by 9:30. Our flight was at 12:30 so we had plenty of time.
Of course there are always variables and you have to do what is most comfortable for you.

 

[Cheburashka]

Thanks! Do you think the 11:30am flight would be pushing it for getting there on time?

That's a perfect flight time imo.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks everyone! This was all really helpful

 

[closetmickey]

That's a perfect flight time imo.

Even with breakfast at Marceliene? I’m also looking at an early flight- 11:18

 

[Tasmen]

I’m trying to decide what to do after our January cruise on the Wish. We have a choice of an 11:30 am flight back from Orlando but I’m worried whether thats too early. The next option is 4:45pm. If we do that, it seems like it would be too early to go straight to the airport. Is there somewhere to store luggage at the port so we could go to the space center for a couple hours or something? We’d probably want to leave to go to MCO by 2 if we book the 4:45 flight.

You should be ok. We've done 11:30am flights a couple times and made it just fine to the airport. Pre-arrange your ride (as others suggested) and you'll be good to go.

 

[Cheburashka]

Even with breakfast at Marceliene? I’m also looking at an early flight- 11:18

Yes, you'll be off the ship by 9am (departure day breakfast is always served quickly, intentionally), through customs by 9:30, and at the airport around 10am, which is a little over an hour before your flight. Perfect timing imo. I have TSA Pre-Check, which makes arriving an hour before the flight ideal. If you don't, you might want to reconsider having a late breakfast and instead leave the ship earlier that morning. Also, I recommend getting a taxi to the airport, not waiting around for a DCL transfer or any other pre-booked transfer.

@closetmickey ETA: I was thinking of Miami, not Port Canaveral. PC is at least 30 minutes further from the airport than the Miami port is, so I would leave the ship on the early side if I wanted an 11:18am flight. I still would consider it a great flight.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, you'll be off the ship by 9am (departure day breakfast is always served quickly, intentionally), through customs by 9:30, and at the airport around 10am, which is a little over an hour before your flight. Perfect timing imo. I have TSA Pre-Check, which makes arriving an hour before the flight ideal. If you don't, you might want to reconsider having a late breakfast and instead leave the ship earlier that morning. Also, I recommend getting a taxi to the airport, not waiting around for a DCL transfer or any other pre-booked transfer.

You must drive fast. Port Canaveral to MCO is at least a 45 minute drive. MCO is an airport that it is recommended to be at 3 hours before flight time. We left the **** at 9:15 am, got to MCO at 10:15 am, checked in and in security line at 10:30 am, and by the time we cleared security it was 12:20! We literally walked on our 12:35 flight. So much for a nice lunch at the airport before our flight!

 

[Cheburashka]

You must drive fast. Port Canaveral to MCO is at least a 45 minute drive. MCO is an airport that it is recommended to be at 3 hours before flight time. We left the **** at 9:15 am, got to MCO at 10:15 am, checked in and in security line at 10:30 am, and by the time we cleared security it was 12:20! We literally walked on our 12:35 flight. So much for a nice lunch at the airport before our flight!

Oh, I was thinking Miami. Yeah, Port Canaveral would add another 30 minutes drive time, so I would leave the ship early if going for an 11:18 flight. I still wouldn't hesitate to take that flight, though. I've arrived at the MCO airport around 9am post-cruise, using DCL transportation.

I have TSA Pre-Check, and with that, I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes max for security at MCO.

 

[tvguy]

Oh, I was thinking Miami. Yeah, Port Canaveral would add another 30 minutes drive time, so I would leave the ship early if going for an 11:18 flight. I still wouldn't hesitate to take that flight, though. I've arrived at the MCO airport around 9am post-cruise, using DCL transportation.

I have TSA Pre-Check, and with that, I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes max for security at MCO.

My last time through MCO was June 2017 and security was so backed up they were pulling people out of the regular line and running them through the TSA-Pre line.

 

[Cheburashka]

My last time through MCO was June 2017 and security was so backed up they were pulling people out of the regular line and running them through the TSA-Pre line.

That was a fluke. I've flown out of MCO seven times since June 2017, and never had any issue with security.