time to fly

[dvccruiser]

We are flying southwest back to home on sat oct 10th after 7 day cruise.
what time do most people eating second breakfast start arriving at airport?

 

[DrCavin]

DCL recommends that you book flights after 12:00 or 12:30. Does that answer your question???

 

[tvguy]

We had second seating, ate at 8, were in line to get off the ship at 8:30, got off the ship at 9:15, (45 minute wait to get off) and were at the airport using the Disney buses by 10:15, had a 90 minute wait in line for airport security, and a 10 minute walk to our gate. We literally walked onto our plane. We had a 12:35 flight, and made it to the gate at 12:15 and they were already boarding.
Disney "recommends" flights after 12:30, and based on my experience, I sure wouldn't book one before then, even though some on these boards HAVE made much earlier flights. Especially considering how much overbooking airlines do now. If you don't have a firm reservation and assigned seat and you miss your flight, there may not be an open seat for days. We had a problem 4 weeks ago with a flight out of LA after a Disneyland trip. If we didn't make that flight, United had no open seats to Sacramento for the next 8 days!!!!!

 

[kcashner]

DCL would like to have everyone off the ship by 9 am. However, they are not in control here--from the time the ship enters the port, it is under the control of US Customs. The big doors will open when all non-US citizens have been to the immigration check in, the luggage has been dog sniffed, etc. and Customs "clears" the ship.

Normally, if you have late breakfast, there is no line or waiting to get off...the early seating people are mostly off by the time you finish eating, and you walk right off. However, if there was any delay in opening the doors, you may wait in line (or worst case, wait for the doors to open). We have had one cruise where we were at the airport at 9 ish...and Delta moved us up from a 12 something flight to a 9:30 flight! We had another cruise where we were still on the ship at 9:30 with the doors closed. Don't know what the problem was, but DCL brought out the entertainment staff to keep us occupied while we waited.

Basically, figure on off the ship at 9, on the bus by 9:15 and at the airport by about 10. THen you have security check, etc.....and a 12:00 flight.

 

[goofyforlife]

We had 2nd sit down breakfest, got off the ship and got our rental car from budget by (9:30 am.)

But if you are flying SW, consider this.....

We flew SW fron MCO twice last year. THis first time we got to the airport one hour before flight time, checked luggage, got to gates with plenty of time, but then when we got off plane, none of our luggage was there.

When we flew the second trip, we arrived two hours early, checked bags, and was the only one in BWI to get their bags off of our flight.

I think that when the reach their weight limit...luggage that arrives later has to wait..... So I get to MCO with time to spare... there's stores to shop in, etc...