Time to return car at MCO?

[hmp2z]

Hi! Thank you for the help earlier; my husband & I will be renting a car at WDW & returning it at the airport (MCO). Does anyone know approximately how long it takes to return the car there and then get to the terminals? I assume there's some sort of shuttle from the rental location, but didn't know how long it took.

We plan on leaving the Boardwalk 2 hours before our flight departs, and we will have already checked in online. Do you think this will be ample time? Our flight departs at 6:40 pm, so we'd planned on leaving around 4:40 pm. We will be hitting rush hour, I know. We found Mapquest directions that have us taking I-4 to 528 - will this get us there in sufficient time?

Thank you for any help/thoughts!
Heather W

 

[safetymom]

If you are renting right at the airport no shuttle needed but I would allow at least 15-20 mins at the minimum.

Do curbside checkin with your luggage before you return the car.

 

[hmp2z]

OK, so we are dropping off right at the airport itself, not at a satellite lot? That is GREAT news!
Thanks again,
Heather W

 

[safetymom]

Who are you renting from. NO 2 hours from your resort to your gate is not enough time.

It takes about half an hour to get to the airport, drop off luggage 15 mins, drop off car 15-20 mins. Then you have to get through security. Sometimes that can take at least 45 mins, sometimes it is less. Then you start boarding 1/2 hour before flight time.

 

[hmp2z]

We're renting from Alamo/National. We have a pickup at the WDW Car Care Ctr and a drop off at MCO.

My husband has business in the city, so we probably can't leave WDW until 2 hours before, though we might be able to make it 2 hours 15 minutes. We're checking in online & having carryon only, to try to save more time.

Thank you again,
Heather W

 

[safetymom]

That will save some time but just be aware that MCO has long security lines during certain times of the day. I can't tell you how many people I see running to their gates.

 

[NCRedding]

The National/alamo return is usually quick. You just pull the car into the lot, follow the directions of the workers to pull all the way forward into the appropriate lane. The workers will have a hand-held computer that will check the car in and give you a receipt for the car rental.

Then you walk across the street, or under the street, into the airport. Hopefully, you'll be flying at a time when the security lines are not as busy.