What return flight time???

[ghost1000]

I know I have a bit of time before this occurs, since my cruise isn't until early November 2007, but...


We'll be doing a land portion, then the cruise portion, then returning home. What's the earliest time I should consider booking the return flight home from MCO? I think I read that Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach is about a one hour drive from MCO. I know you have to debark by about 7:30 am so they can clean up for the next guests. But how long does it normally take to get onto the bus to MCO (at this point we're planning on using Disney transportation).

I'm guessing the earliest flight I should book for home is about 10:00 am, but you guys probably know better than me.

[dvcconvert]

I'm guessing the earliest flight I should book for home is about 10:00 am, but you guys probably know better than me.

Personally I'd be concerned that 10AM might be "iffy" - It is about 1 hour from port to MCO but you never know what security level things might be at before you travel (ie. time to get thru security at MCO). Just me, but I'd look more towards noon.

HTH

[ghost1000]

Good point. I forgot that you're supposed to be at the airport about 1-1/2 hours before the flight.

Right now Southwest has a 10:30 am flight and a 2:00 pm flight to Philly from MCO. If they don't change their flight times I guess we're looking at the 2:00 flight.

[CRSNDSNY]

You never know what weather or security holdups you'll have. I suggest (as does DCL) not booking a flight earlier than noon. I've made 11:15 flights before, but I was a nervous wreck in doing so. There have been times where we haven't gotten back to PC in time the morning of debarkation because of weather and therefore didn't get cleared to disembark until later.

If you're taking a DCL bus, they'll be sure to get you on one of the first departing ones if you have a flight early/close to noon. If you drive yourself you can get to MCO in about an hour barring no traffic problems. Those are touch and go, as well.

All in all, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[bmalonef45]

I would say noon or later also. The last time we cruised we got to the airport early enough that they let us on an earlier flight so you always have that option.

[carolina_yankee]

Definitely noon or later. You probably won't be off the ship at 7:30, but a bit later. There can also be immigration backups if a person calls in sick, as they did on our cruise, so they had one fewer people processing the masses.

The time stamp on my photos says we debarked around 8:30 and we were in our room at the Boardwalk by 10:15. I don't think we left Port Canaveral before 9 am. The one hour drive is about right. It might be as little as 45 minutes to the airport, but it's safe to allow an hour.

The actual procedure is to assign people early or late breakfast in the dining room they ate the night before, or to go to the Deck 9 Buffet. Early dining gets early breakfast, late dining gets late breakfast. I think lat breakfast is 7:30 or so - which means they want you out of your staterooms by 7:30 and off the ship by 9.

Dirk