safe departure time Port Canveral

[hlb76]

What would be a safe time to plan an outgoing flight? I see some great prices leaving MCO @ 1215pm. Think we can make it?

[terryinal]

I would think that would be fine. You never can tell what would happen. A friend of mine booked a 10 am after I told him not to and didn't make it. The next flight was full so he had to wait till 530pm. I think he has learned

[bruisin4cruisin]

Good rule....if you have to ask, it probably is risky. I would think that that time would be fine, assuming all goes well with debark and nothing keeps you from coming in late.

Good luck, but I would look closer to 1 or 2 if you can.

[valancy1]

What would be a safe time to plan an outgoing flight? I see some great prices leaving MCO @ 1215pm. Think we can make it?

 

FWIW, it takes an hour to get there. If you get off the ship at 8:00 you should have no problem getting there. If you have the financial ability, do the luggage express and that will even further guarantee no problems!

[RuthlessBoss]

What would be a safe time to plan an outgoing flight? I see some great prices leaving MCO @ 1215pm. Think we can make it?

How are you getting back to the airport?

 

Getting there is at least an hour. A shuttle waits to fill up. MCO is a great airport, but can back up at security and be a hell hole. (Sometimes not). I don't know the next flight out, or if a later flight would be more expensive, but I'd book the next flight. The extra wait time is painful, but why get stressed out trying to get there after you've just had a fun filled cruise.

[valancy1]

How are you getting back to the airport?

 

Getting there is at least an hour. A shuttle waits to fill up. MCO is a great airport, but can back up at security and be a hell hole. (Sometimes not). I don't know the next flight out, or if a later flight would be more expensive, but I'd book the next flight. The extra wait time is painful, but why get stressed out trying to get there after you've just had a fun filled cruise.

 

When we left the Port, we had a limo pick us up so we didn't have to wait for anyone... Or maybe we rented a car. I don't remember, but we did NOT do a transfer for the reason above--they load up those buses and all the people on them wait until they are full.

 

Just consider that. I don't think you should have a problem... just be smart about how you're going to get back to MCO.

[Rasvar]

It would depend on transportation and time of year. You need to plan on the possibility of a 30 minute security line at MCO to play it safe. I'd say 45 or more if this is a holiday period. I'd plan on 45 minutes for drive time. Add your luggage check time if you are checking luggage. That really varies. If you can be off the ship by 9:30, you will have time. Hopefully no fuel trucks blow up under a bridge on the Beachline. I had that one happen in January 2011. Took me an extra 30 minutes to get past that mess the day after it happened. So random Central Florida weirdness can affect things.

 

 

This causes a bit of a traffic delay.

[sweetcurves]

This is why I'm flying home the day AFTER I debark. I hate not knowing.

[hlb76]

I have to start looking into all the transportation stuff now. We did book the flights I found a great non-stop for $144 (which I thought was a steal) departing @ 155pm. This gives us some extra time and I dont have to stress as much. Plus I love the idea of non-stop!

 

Now to figure out hotel and transportation. Guess I have lots of research to do. I have only sailed from Miami and NOLA. I'm open to suggestions if you have any :D

 

 

OMG that picture of the fire is crazy! Goes to show ANYTHING can and will happen!

[valancy1]

I have to start looking into all the transportation stuff now. We did book the flights I found a great non-stop for $144 (which I thought was a steal) departing @ 155pm. This gives us some extra time and I dont have to stress as much. Plus I love the idea of non-stop!

 

Now to figure out hotel and transportation. Guess I have lots of research to do. I have only sailed from Miami and NOLA. I'm open to suggestions if you have any :D

 

You got a GREAT rate! Personally, though it's not very fancy, when we came to the Port Canaveral, we just spent the night at a hotel by the airport. I travel for a living, so I had Marriott points and we stayed at a Fairfield Inn & Suites. It wasn't fancy, but it was a bed & a shower (and clean and quiet).

 

If you are interested in a limo service, I can look through my stuff and tell you who I used. THEY WERE AWESOME. We asked them to stop at Walmart on the way over and they did and didn't charge us extra. We tipped him nicely for doing it for us, though. We got a huge stretch limo--stretch enough that my 6'10" husband could lay on the seats with room to spare!

 

 

 

 

Here is who we used:

 

Your total is $192 all inclusive of 20% service fee. Please make you payment to the driver upon arrival with cash or please present your card for payment. If you have any changes or special request please call us at 407-477-7724 and we will be happy to assist you. Thank you for choosing Limo Orlando, we are pleased to provide this service for you.

 

 

 

Leah Hayes

Orlando Limousine Service.net

Reservation specialist

Office: 407-374-3420

Toll Free: 1-800-711-6219

Fax: 1-888-563-3086

 

I hope this helps... We liked this over transfers for sure. Such a fun way to begin your cruise vacation.

[maitlandmom]

It would depend on transportation and time of year. You need to plan on the possibility of a 30 minute security line at MCO to play it safe. I'd say 45 or more if this is a holiday period. I'd plan on 45 minutes for drive time. Add your luggage check time if you are checking luggage. That really varies. If you can be off the ship by 9:30, you will have time. Hopefully no fuel trucks blow up under a bridge on the Beachline. I had that one happen in January 2011. Took me an extra 30 minutes to get past that mess the day after it happened. So random Central Florida weirdness can affect things.

 

 

This causes a bit of a traffic delay.

Random Central Florida weirdness...I love it and so true!

[hlb76]

We are not fancy either... We just need a bed and a shower as well.

Normally we get in late pre-cruise but this time we get in by 5pm I think. so we will have the evening to explore if we choose to or just relax at the hotel.

 

I have not been to the Orlando since I was a kid. So other than Disney not sure what there is to see or do in an evening?

[valancy1]

We are not fancy either... We just need a bed and a shower as well.

Normally we get in late pre-cruise but this time we get in by 5pm I think. so we will have the evening to explore if we choose to or just relax at the hotel.

 

I have not been to the Orlando since I was a kid. So other than Disney not sure what there is to see or do in an evening?

 

Ok, this is what I would do. But it may not be your thing... you can go to any resort on WDW property and park for free. Tell them you want to look around. If you go to Wilderness Lodge, you can have dinner there and take a boat over to another area in the park--all for free. The restaurant has the name "Canyon" something or other in it: It's a hoot. In typical Disney style, they make chicken nuggets and burgers fun: Ask for Ketchup and see what happens... or if you're bringing kids, have them ask for a red crayon. Hubster and I went there without knowing anything about it on the 2nd night of our married life and had a ball. Port Orleans has a boat ride and lots of places to meander. I have spent days at WDW and never have set foot inside the "Parks".

 

Oh, I just remembered something else: If you go to the Polynesian, you can go to OHANA's for dinner. It is akin to a Brazilian steakhouse--your fault if you leave hungry. They prefer reservations, but we have never made one and have been seated. The thing that is so cool is that OHANA's faces Cindy's (Cinderella's) castle and at night when they do fireworks, you get a bird's eye view without having to be in the park. They also play these adorable kids games while a Hawaiian plays the ukelele. The food is better than the Canyon place, but if you've never seen Wilderness Lodge, you owe it to yourself to at least see the lobby. Stunning.

 

The Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary are all on the monorail's main path. Jump on and off as you wish. If you're over by the Grand Floridian, you may see Cindy's pumpkin coach with a wedding party in it. The wedding chapel is beautiful. A friend of mine had a vow renewal there--my husband was the officiant--and it's lovely to see.

 

They have a miniature golf course there (signage there is wonderful) that is fantabulously fun (at least it was for us, but we like mini golf)--again, we paid for the golf, but nothing to get in or anything.

 

Downtown Disney is fun to ramble around in, but I wouldn't recommend eating there--it's just overly priced.

 

We spend the afternoon once riding the monorail and hanging out at the arcade in the Contemporary. You see, I have an affinity for Skeeball and I couldn't stop. LOL. Again, just the price of skeeball... no cost for monorail or wandering around.

 

 

You could head the opposite direction and head over to the Space Coast. We love National Wildlife Refuges, and Merritt Island NWR is there on the Space Coast as well as all things NASA.

 

I hope this helps some. There is not a lot to do out by the airport itself. You do have to venture out if you want to do something other than hang out at the hotel's pool.