What time to leave for airport MCO

[harrowgirl]

If we have a 10:10am flight from MCO, and we have a rental car (staying in windsor hills)....what time should we leave for the airport to return the rental car and make our flight? (Domestic flight). We have a 3 and 5 year old

 

[sympatico]

Around 8 o'clock should be ok. It takes about 30-35 min. to the airport. Usually only takes a few minutes to return car. Tickets and security another 30 min.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

I would suggest planning on arriving at the airport by 8:10. The drive from Windsor Hills only takes about 20 minutes. You might find a back up of traffic a the last toll booth just before entering the airport. The rental ramp is usually easy but there can be a back up if they don't have enough agents to scan your car and check you in. Baggage check/ticketing is another few minutes but the longest wait is the TSI security check. It's usually a bottleneck and takes around 30+ minutes to get through and probably longer on a weekend.

Since you will be traveling with little ones, I would say your best bet for a trouble free return trip is to leave WH around 7:40.

Good luck!

 

[theladyloki]

I would suggest planning on arriving at the airport by 8:10. The drive from Windsor Hills only takes about 20 minutes. You might find a back up of traffic a the last toll booth just before entering the airport. The rental ramp is usually easy but there can be a back up if they don't have enough agents to scan your car and check you in. Baggage check/ticketing is another few minutes but the longest wait is the TSI security check. It's usually a bottleneck and takes around 30+ minutes to get through and probably longer on a weekend.

Since you will be traveling with little ones, I would say your best bet for a trouble free return trip is to leave WH around 7:40.

Good luck!

I totally agree. I'd definitely leave no later than 8am - I think 7:30/40 is the way to go.
Not factoring in possible traffic, security at MCO can be extremely long! I travel solo (and have someone drop me off directly at the airline check-in, so no rental car to deal with) and it still generally takes 45min-1hr on a weekend.
In the end, it's always better to get there early than to be rushing to your flight...or worse case, miss it. IMO it's not worth possibly missing my flight for an extra 30min of sleep...I can do that on the plane.

 

[Rpsemont]

We own at Oakwater Resort - right by Windsor Hills - I would plan to be at the airport at 8:45Am - with two little kids, I would make that 8:15 - 8:30.
I would probably leave at 7:30Am

It takes about 30-35 min. to the airpor

I think this is correct. I think the person who does it in 20 minutes might not be factoring door to door.

Length of time to return the rental car is dependent on the rental car company. If it's one of the on site companies, it's pretty easy and usually pretty quick, but I would still allow 15 minutes; I can't speak to off site - but I would imagine you need more time.


How many bags will you have?
Sometimes, my DH would drop off me and DD with the luggage, we would use the skycap and he would drive around and drop off the rental car and meet us at the gate. Of course, that was only with one child, not two. But the walk from the car rental back to the terminal is a bit of a ways; how did it work on your arrival? that should help you gauge what to do on departure (as far as juggling bags and children)

What day of the week is your 10:10 flight? Monday mornings can be brutal because of all the business travelers. So security can take longer than usual.

Good luck! and don't forget change for the tolls!