Will MCO be crazy on 12/23?

[soccer mom]

We've never flown home from MCO that close to Christmas. Will traffic/airport be crazy on December 23? We have a 3:10pm flight out to Detroit and wonder if car will want to pick us up earlier than the typical two hours. Would like to plan to do something that morning for a couple of hours. What do you think?

 

[safetymom]

I would allow extra time. It will be very busy.

 

[kirbsam]

crazy, yes.

 

[debden]

Soccer Mom,I would definitely get the airport very early! If your flight leaves out at 3:10pm you need to leave lots of time to first get thru the line at Check-in,which will be horrendous (to say the least),and then time to go thru Security....which will also take QUITE a bit of time!!
Personally I would be AT the airport by noon.
JMHO...
Good luck and happy travels!
Debbie

 

[ajfargo]

I've always done a character breakfast on the last day. Get checked out of the motel, go to the breakfast, and then have a leisurely drive to the airport.

Allen

 

[MinnieM21]

Every airport will be crazy.


We left home from MCO during early December (slow season) on a weekday and it took us forever to go through the ticket counter line and security. The airport was super busy. Then our flight was delayed because security let two people past the checkpoint without being screened!

Make sure you get there very early since it's the holidays. I would allow much more time than 2 hours.

 

[Kimmielee]

We've never flown home from MCO that close to Christmas. Will traffic/airport be crazy on December 23? We have a 3:10pm flight out to Detroit and wonder if car will want to pick us up earlier than the typical two hours. Would like to plan to do something that morning for a couple of hours. What do you think?

Soccer Mom, I realize your question was how is it out of MCO... but do you remember the horror stories of last years Christmas travels out of DTW?? I flew out TEN hours after our scheduled time... this was when all of the lost luggage was piled up on the tarmack because they ran out of room INSIDE of the airport to keep it inside!

I spent $100 in the terminal that day, trying to keep DS (5) occupied because most of the toys were packed on the plane (along with some of his medicine...) I felt ok since we were only going to KY - short flight...

I was flying in on Christmas Eve to surprise my 79 year old Dad... and I almost missed my own surprise!

Well, needless to say... it was a zoo and I swore I'd never travel the holidays again. Our flight... had over 100 people on it... when it FINALLY took off... only 5 pieces of luggage actually made it to KY. FIVE!! The big man upstairs was watching over me because 2 of the 5 were mine!

That was the flight down there... the flight back... 2 delays, waited 3 hours for luggage at Metro... finally was close to home... (within 10 miles) and there was an accident on I-75 between Sq. Lake and M-59.. you know.. where there are NO exits??? Yeah, sat there for almost 90 minutes... Grrrrrr!!!!

Go early, expect delays, be patient, take as much as you can in your carry on and bring snacks! Good luck!!!

 

[localdriver]

MCO is very busy. Cars, taxis, busses, everywhere. Level 1 looks like a NASCAR pitstop and then some. So plan on some extra time. (there are times when we have to wait in line to drop off because of the limited spaces allowing drop-offs.

This gets more interesting during the Holidays.

If you are planning on leaving via ME , be on time and take your recommended departure. If you choose other means, plan on arrival at the airport 2 hrs prior to your flight time during the holiday season and schedule your pick accordingly allowing 30 min to MCO.

Do it early during the Holidays.

My humble opinion

 

[dznyacct]

In December 2003 my son and I took a pre-Christmas trip to WDW. We flew home on Christmas Eve and the airport was very deserted. We walked through the loooong (empty) security line and commented at how dead the airport was to the security inspector. She told us that the airport was a total zoo the day before (Dec. 23rd). Some woman parked her car at the drop off area and when she was told she could not leave her car there she got VERY upset. Police became involved and she proceeded to run over one officer!! Needless to say she was taken away in hand cuffs. I guess the holiday season really brings out the best/worst in people!!

 

[Martha7]

Soccer Mom~ I can't find any reasonable fares for coming back from MCO to DTW on the 23rd. There was one on Airtran, I believe, but it left at 9:55 AM! Did you get your tickets a while ago?

 

[soccer mom]

Martha7 - I bought our tickets on August 14. I was going to wait until September, but a friend thought with the possibility of a NWA strike and gas prices I shouldn't wait. It was good advice!! We are on Spirit (for the first time) out of Metro. The tickets were $236.90 each round trip. The flight down was about $50 and the return flight was about $150. I never see really good prices like people talk about from other parts of the country.

Everyone - thanks for the advice. We will have a towncar picking us up at AKL. I hope the conceirge desk can print my boarding passes. I will definitely leave early! Wish me luck! I am having 40 people to dinner on the 24th and am leaving a 20 year old young man alone in my house with our dog for nine days! The house will be clean when we leave.....I must be nuts!!!!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

be calm and patient

good luck !!