When to leave park for airport

[Raya]

We have a 5:15 departure time. We'd like to arrive at the airport at 3:45. What time do we need to leave USO? (We intend to use the hotel's car service or a taxi waiting outside to get to the airport.)

So any ideas on how long it would take to:
exit the park
get back to RPR
get our bags from the bell stand
travel to MCO

 

[TheConsciousness]

I would say it takes 15 minutes to get through crowds to your boat.
X minutes to go from boat to RPR.
35 minutes from RPR to airport.

This will all vary by the direction of the wind, but make sure to overestimate the time it will take.

 

[keishashadow]

I would say it takes 15 minutes to get through crowds to your boat.
X minutes to go from boat to RPR.
35 minutes from RPR to airport.

This will all vary by the direction of the wind, but make sure to overestimate the time it will take.

Boat might have a good 20 min wait if one just left, to RP there is now a light, you can sit a few minutes. I'd allow 45 minutes just to reach the portico...then there's the need to deal with bell services to grab the stored luggage and call a cab. They aren't always sitting there waiting. Uber is another option.

OP

So any ideas on how long it would take to:

exit the park. Depends where you are in the park and how fast you move as a group. Not fun to rush, make sure to take your time heading home

From exiting the park gates, would consider leaving at least 3-1/2 hrs before your flight.

get back to RPR If you just miss a boat, could take 20 minutes for one to come. There's now a traffic light too, could be 30 min right there. Can't say I've noticed cabs always waiting for a fare when we walk out to rental car during our visits. You could use uber.

get our bags from the bell stand depends how busy they are & if a bellman is available to wheel the cart out to portico. You could lug them yourselves to save time.

travel to MCO Weekday or weekend? Weekday has more traffic. We always allow close to 3 hours, but that factors in stopping to fill up rental car tank.

Security lines can be daunting @ MCO and the checking line for SWA there can also be lengthy. If flying international, even longer.

Most times they start boarding the. Plane a solid half hour before the stated departure.

 

[cbsnyber1]

For our upcoming trip our return flight is 1:45 PM on a Wednesday. Our limo driver told us he would pick us up at RP at 10:30 AM for that flight, 3 hours and 15 minutes before departure, to account for traffic and congestion at the airport, security, etc. So we are following his advice.

 

[macraven]

I use car service and am picked up 2 hours in advance

Using Tony Hinds car service

He always checks how the traffic and airport lines are running hours before he picks me up

If there are delays, he will text me and suggest I have an earlier pick up to return to mco

 

[EdgeOfGlory]

For our upcoming trip our return flight is 1:45 PM on a Wednesday. Our limo driver told us he would pick us up at RP at 10:30 AM for that flight, 3 hours and 15 minutes before departure, to account for traffic and congestion at the airport, security, etc. So we are following his advice.

Wow, is that beyond overkill. Traffic might be "bad" to someone that is a local down there but it is nowhere near as bad as some of the much bigger cities on the east coast. Even with traffic, it shouldn't take more than 50 minutes or so to get to the airport (why would there be traffic in the middle of the week at lunch time, doesn't make much sense).

You're going to be sitting around and not doing much at all. We just came back Sunday and there was a massive backup at TSA checkpoints. We left right outside of Universal at 4:35 AM for a 6:00 AM flight and had no issues, that was even with having to check bags.

 

[macraven]

some peeps like to wait their time out inside the airport in order to know they will not miss their flight.
you can never know in advance when an accident will be shutting down the highway.
guess that is why some do arrive at the airport early so if they are stuck on the road, they can still make it to MCO on time.


i usually go with pick up time for returning to the airport based on my transportation company.
for the time period i am returning to MCO, it's usually about a 2 hour prior pick up.



this trip i did in October was different than past ones.


on the way to the airport and traffic was slowing down due to an accident.
driver took an exit and we missed the tie up thankfully.

(over head signs listed the accident ahead and posted a 45 minute delay to get to where we would exit.)

 

[schumigirl]

Yep, we leave in plenty of time, although we have to be there 3 to 4 hours before for international flights and return hire car. We got delayed 3 year ago with an accident on the road........we were seriously worried.

So yes I can understand people wanting to be sure they'll make it in time. Traffic can happen anytime.

We get luggage checked in then go eat somewhere and relax till it's time to go through to the gate.........quite pleasant actually.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Wow, is that beyond overkill. Traffic might be "bad" to someone that is a local down there but it is nowhere near as bad as some of the much bigger cities on the east coast. Even with traffic, it shouldn't take more than 50 minutes or so to get to the airport (why would there be traffic in the middle of the week at lunch time, doesn't make much sense).

You're going to be sitting around and not doing much at all. We just came back Sunday and there was a massive backup at TSA checkpoints. We left right outside of Universal at 4:35 AM for a 6:00 AM flight and had no issues, that was even with having to check bags.

I thought too that it seemed excessively cautious, but that's what our limo driver recommended and he's done this a million times. The voice of experience usually is a good one to listen to.

Still, I think I’ll check with him when he picks us up on the return time. I did book the trip back when they were having all those TSA issues, so maybe he’ll make it a bit later in the AM.