What time should I book return flight after cruise?

[niklynn1]

I know DCL recommends 12:30 or later, but as I search for flights, I'm finding more options in the 11:00-11:30 range. From reading others' posts, it looks like most often people are off the boat and ready to drive back to Orlando by 8 or 8:30a.m. How important is it to stick to an afternoon flight, or would I be okay to book something at around 11:00 a.m.? I am planning on using DCL transfers if that makes a difference.

Thanks

 

[RedOnion]

I'm sure you'll hear from others who have "been there," but I asked my travel agent about this, because the only two options for flights on our return day were 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. She turned to her Disney contacts who said (off the record) that nearly all of the time, anything after 10:30 or so is fine, even using Disney transportation, as long as you get on the first bus to MCO.

However, that "nearly" is a key word here: there's no denying it's a risk. Others have mentioned on these boards that they've been on cruises where the big doors haven't opened until 9:00 or later.

Chances are very good that the a.m. flight will be fine, but you'll have to decide your own family's tolerance for missing your flight and incurring the expense/inconvenience of rescheduling.

Good luck! We're going for the 11:30 departure, so as you can see, we're in the same boat (no pun intended).

 

[deanna23]

Our flight lefted at 12. We were most likely sitting in the airport for at least two hrs waiting for our flight. We were close to front waiting to get off the ship and we also took dcl tranfers.

 

[kcashner]

11 is fine. Anything before that can be risky.

Yes, I've been at the airport by 9 sometimes, but I've also been on 3 cruises where the Customs clearance was seriously delayed. In one case, the "big doors" didn't open till 9:10.

Yes, DCL quotes 12:30, but......I'll go with anything 11 or later.

 

[tvguy]

We barely made a 12:35 pm flight, ALL because of lines AT the airport.
When both ships are in Port Canaveral, Disney runs about 4500 people a week on and off the ships, so THEY know, and if THEY say nothing before 12:30 it must be because they know it is clearly in the safe zone.
Orlando IS an airport where it is recommended you be there 3 hours before flight time, so keep that in mind too.
We figured we were in good shape when we were at the airport by 10:15 am, and had our boarding pass by 10:30 am. THAT was before we encountered the 90 minute line to get through security.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

When people respond it might be good to find out *when* they refer to and how many cruises they have done and was it a normal one or special.

Things have changed over the years so a one off cruise experience say at holiday time might be unrepresentative.

I have been on six DCL cruises, 5 Ended at PC.

Disembarkation:-

• 2002 7.35am/7 night
• 2005 8.15am /14 night
• 2006 7.35am / 7night
• 2007 Med doesnt count./11 night
• 2008 8.20am/ 15 night
• 2009 7.35am/ 7 night

I have made WDW at 8.45am and Seaworld at 8.50am.

DCL does recommend nothing before midday but 11am would be fine.

I have never experienced lines (10 mins plus), at MCO recently;- last time was 2001.

You would note special cruises and thoose at peak holiday times might have a slight delay.

 

[loveadobie]

We are looking at arranging our own airfare to Mco.

Taking DCL transport back to the airport, what is the earliest time we can make for a return flight out of MCO?

 

[kcashner]

DCL will say 12:30, I'll say 11:00. Yes, I've been there before 9, but I've also been on cruises where the ship didn't clear Customs normally and we were ALL still on the ship at 9.

You don't want to risk missing the flight....so 11. It's about a 45 minute drive from port to MCO, and you might wait on the bus for a short while before it departs.

 

[tvguy]

I'll say 12:30 pm....because when both ships are in port Disney runs thousands of passengers a week through Orlando airport, so there must be a reason Disney says 12:30pm. They are the experts.

 

[jilljill]

We are looking at arranging our own airfare to Mco.

Taking DCL transport back to the airport, what is the earliest time we can make for a return flight out of MCO?

I'm merging your thread with a thread from earlier since they are asking the same question and you will most likely get the same responses.
Thanks.

 

[glindamood]

If you are using the DCL transportation where they check you in - that says nothing before 11:30. It is an awesome service - got our boarding passes the night before, you don't have to mess with your luggage at all, and just head to go through security when we got to MCO. It is a great service for us (just DH and myself) and worth the price.

 

[caribn7]

I have the same question for the MR cruises. Flying out of LAX, how soon should our flight leave? We are flying back to the Midwest and have school/work the next day. We would like to get home at a decent time to rest from our vacation. lol DCL says ashore @ 9:30am which seems late to me.
Thanks

 

[Gigi22]

I have a similar issue--our only direct return flight to our originating airport is just after 12 p.m. the day our DCL cruise ends. We chose to stay overnight at the MCO Hyatt and leave the following day rather than risk missing our return flight. It gives us an extra day in Florida to enjoy the warm weather and decompress after our vacation! We've done this before, and since we don't have to worry about using up vacation days from work, this is a lot less stressful way to finish a vacation!