What time should we leave the park for our departure flight?

[goingtotheworld]

We are staying at POFQ and plan to go to AK on our departure day. We do not have TSA pre-check and will need to check our bags. Planning on using Uber/Lyft to get from AK to POFQ, and either Uber/Lyft or a private car service to get from POFQ to the airport. Our flight leaves at 7:30 p.m....what time do we need to call for the Uber/Lyft from AK to get back to our resort for our luggage?

 

[sam_gordon]

We are staying at POFQ and plan to go to AK on our departure day. We do not have TSA pre-check and will need to check our bags. Planning on using Uber/Lyft to get from AK to POFQ, and either Uber/Lyft or a private car service to get from POFQ to the airport. Our flight leaves at 7:30 p.m....what time do we need to call for the Uber/Lyft from AK to get back to our resort for our luggage?

Well, this is me, but it's a simple case of math, starting with: What time do you want to get to the airport? For me, that's at least 2 hours before flight. So, let's start with 5:30...

Arrive at airport: 5:30p
Leave WDW: 4:45 (should only take 30-35 minutes, but I'd rather have some buffer time).
Pick up luggage from POFQ: 4:25 (might not take 20 minutes, but better safe than sorry)
Leave AK: 4:00 (supposed to be a 15 minute drive, but better safe than sorry)
Call for Uber/Lyft: 3:45

There's a lot of "pad" time built in, but I'm one who would rather be waiting at the gate for an hour than miss the plane by 1 minutes.

 

[MrKnight]

You should be getting into your Uber/Lyft at POFQ no later than 4:45pm and should arrive at MCO no later than 5:30pm, especially if you are checking bags..

 

[VandVsmama]

We are staying at POFQ and plan to go to AK on our departure day. We do not have TSA pre-check and will need to check our bags. Planning on using Uber/Lyft to get from AK to POFQ, and either Uber/Lyft or a private car service to get from POFQ to the airport. Our flight leaves at 7:30 p.m....what time do we need to call for the Uber/Lyft from AK to get back to our resort for our luggage?

Work backwards. For example:

• 7:30 pm - flight departs from MCO
• 4:30 pm - approx. goal to leave POFQ for drive to airport
• 4:00 pm - target time to get back to POFQ from AK so you can get your luggage from Bell Services and all that other last minute stuff
• 3:30 pm - leave AK if using Uber/Lyft to get from AK to POFQ.
• 3:00 pm - leave AK if using free WDW transportation.

 

[Lewisc]

A poster on a flyer board said a pax who never missed a flight is a pax who's wasted too much time in airports through the years.

Keep that in mind when deciding how early to arrive at MCO. Security wait times can be 30-40 minutes. What airline? An "A" BP with SW won't help you if you get to the gate after boarding started. Frontier requires pax be at the gate 20 minutes before scheduled departure. Early Frontier flights might push back 15 minutes before scheduled departure time.

 

[_19disnA]

I would rather be at the airport too early then miss my flight. You can always shop/eat at the airport if you are there with a lot of time to spare. I consider getting there early as good planning and don't view it as a waste of time. Even if where you are traveling has multiple flights per day, there is no guarantee open seats will be available that day. Seems it is easy for others to advise you cut it close, but wonder if they do the same when traveling? Your airplane will depart without you if you aren't at the boarding gate on time. Most airports advise you arrive at the airport 2 hrs before your flight, so that is where I would start as others above have suggested.

Just never know how long of a line there will be checking in your baggage & going through security. MCO tends to always be very busy (i.e. Universal AND Disney) with families/small children many of whom don't seem familiar with airport procedures, don't know where to go or what to do, so that is another reason to allow extra time.

 

[goingtotheworld]

Well, this is me, but it's a simple case of math, starting with: What time do you want to get to the airport? For me, that's at least 2 hours before flight. So, let's start with 5:30...

Arrive at airport: 5:30p
Leave WDW: 4:45 (should only take 30-35 minutes, but I'd rather have some buffer time).
Pick up luggage from POFQ: 4:25 (might not take 20 minutes, but better safe than sorry)
Leave AK: 4:00 (supposed to be a 15 minute drive, but better safe than sorry)
Call for Uber/Lyft: 3:45

There's a lot of "pad" time built in, but I'm one who would rather be waiting at the gate for an hour than miss the plane by 1 minutes.

Work backwards. For example:

• 7:30 pm - flight departs from MCO
• 4:30 pm - approx. goal to leave POFQ for drive to airport
• 4:00 pm - target time to get back to POFQ from AK so you can get your luggage from Bell Services and all that other last minute stuff
• 3:30 pm - leave AK if using Uber/Lyft to get from AK to POFQ.
• 3:00 pm - leave AK if using free WDW transportation.

Thanks everyone! I think we will plan to leave AK by 3:30.

 

[cedricandsophie]

When we were in DW in March, I got an email from TSA giving me the option to make a reservation for going thru security. The line for people without a reservation was very very long. . And I’m United premier So we could Drop off our bags quickly. Our flight was at 12 30. We were at OKW and called the Uber at 815. Got to the airport about 915. Got thru bag drop in about 10 min. Got to our TSA reservation at about 9 30. We were in the United termInal a little before 10. had breakfast and a final Bloody Mary at the United Club before our flight, Thats how I prefer to travel Without getting too stressed.

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks everyone! I think we will plan to leave AK by 3:30.

Coming from one who has run for a few flights over the years…

If weekday, I’d opt for closer to 3 pm. you should miss the bulk of rush hour traffic. always seems much heavier closer to 4 - 5 pm.

Was going to mention ridiculously bag lines, your united service def in your favor.

 

[seashoreCM]

A poster on a flyer board said a pax who never missed a flight is a pax who's wasted too much time in airports through the years.

That poster must work for a company that expects its traveling employees to book refundable tickets, for example to not have to up and leave work quite so early for a same day flight out or flight home of a business trip.