What time should we leave for the airport?

[Iggipolka]

I don't know why this is so difficult for me to figure out. I think my brain is fried with all this Disney planning!

Our flight leaves at 10:50pm on Saturday night. We live about 40 miles away from the airport on a good no-traffic day. I'm thinking that we probably won't have too much traffic given that we're leaving on a Saturday night. We don't have to worry about parking since we're just going to be dropped off at the airport.
So, what time should we leave? I was thinking 7pm, but that would get us there around 8 and that seems way too early!

 

[shafke]

Typically you want to arrive at the airport about two hours before the flight. For a 10:50 flight I would plan on arriving at the airport at about 9:00. For a 40 mile trip I would plan on about an hour to get there so you should probably plan to leave for the airport no later than 8:00.

 

[Iggipolka]

Thanks! I was thinking about 8:00 too.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

"WARNING" on the way home, make sure you get to MCO airport at least 2 hours before you leave. Going thru security, there is always a line, at least 30 to 40 minutes. I have traveled there 4 times in the last year. Each time seemed to worst than the last.

My last trip, I saw some "many" people screaming that they were going to miss the flight. The workers shook there shoulders, and said "oh well" you should have gotten here earlier.
It was horrible.

GO EARLY

 

[Maggiemom]

I experienced the same problem with the MCO security check line last year in April. We had a 7:00am flight and we got to the airport at 6am. I couldn't believe the crowds of people at the airport that Mon. morning. When we got to security there was 60 people in front of us before you got to the winding line behind the barracades. My husband told the security guard that we had a 7am flight and we would miss the plane if we didn't get through fast enough. He shruggged his shoulders. I very nice woman in the front of the line let us cut in front of her(We thanked her profusely). It took about 15min at that point to get through the line. We had about 5min to spare before the plane took off. Never again. It was a horrible experience especially with two kids. I would be at the MCO airport 2hours ahead of your flight. At JFK in NY we breeze right in with no wait at all. They should learn some tips from NYC area.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

Last year we planned on getting to Boston/Logan Airport 2 hours before the flight. We left for the Airport 2 and a half hours before the flight.
It was a 15-20 minute cab ride to the Airport; it took less than 5 mnutes to check ourselves and the bags in at the curb and another 10 minutes to pass through Gate Security.
We spent 2 hours and $75 at the Cheers Bar drinking Bloody Marys and eating chips.

MCO was a different story.
I forgot I had a cigarette lighter in my bag with my Cigars. All Hell broke loose with the bag screeners. It took us 2 hours for them to go through all the bags and check us in for the flight.
Don't put cigarette lighters, matches or anything combustible in your bags.
Good luck all,
Joe