Is 10:10am too early for a departure flight?

[EliteQueen]

Found a great price on flights - have the option to fly home at 10:10am. Is this even possible or should I wait for the 8:30pm option. Family of 5, kids ages 7,5 and 14months....

[Illyria]

That's way too early.

[trnsfrguy]

I've made 10 am flights from Port Canaveral to Orlando International on my last 2 cruises. But, we are a family of 3 with no infants.

We did self disembarkation and had a car parked near the port.

[moki'smommy]

It is possible IF everything goes perfectly....and you shouldn't count on that.

 

Examples--you'd need to be off the ship as soon as the big doors open, preferably toting your own luggage so you don't need to claim it in the terminal. IF everything goes at the best possible time, that would put you off the ship at 7:30 or a few minutes before. You would, of course, be using private transportation so you wouldn't have to wait for a bus to depart, and that could have you at the airport before 9:00 and if you had a totally smooth check in process with no lines, you MIGHT make a 10:10 flight.

 

OR (and these are real examples that have happened to ME)...US Customs could have some sort of problem and the "big doors" on the ship could not open until 9:10. At this point, you are trying to get thu Customs with 2500 of your nearest and dearest friends and you will miss the plane. An accident could close or delay traffic on the highway. You could encounter two hour security lines at MCO (been there, done that.)

 

Don't try a flight before 11. Just don't. Book the evening flight an a day room at the Hyatt. For $100, ($89 + tax) you'll have a pool, a place for the kids to nap, a shower.....and just your own space to hang out.

[Loonbeam]

From my Princes FAQ but it applies equally here:

 

Can I Make my XX:XX Flight?

 

This question comes up a lot and the safe answer is:

If you have to ask? No.

Most disembarkation ports have a suggested earliest flight time for a reason (and most lines will not provide transfers for departures prior to that). Those times are suggested for a reason, to allow for not only the expected challenges of arrival and disembarkation but also to provide a safety cushion.

Unfortunately, the airlines know this and price flights from those port cities accordingly. So sometimes you do have to consider an earlier flight (note – later flights might be cheaper as well, always consider that option if it fits your plans. There is no such thing as too much time to get to the airport.

If you do want to take a flight before the suggested times, there are a number of things to consider:

 

• How much luggage do you have? Princess offers a self-debarkation option. These passengers are often first off the ship giving you the best shot at an early flight. Passengers choosing this option MUST be able to handle ALL of their own luggage WITHOUT assistance and possibly with limited access to elevators. This option can greatly increase flight flexibility.
  
• How many ships will be arriving the same day as yours? How big? – The number of ships in port will affect the time it takes to clear customs, availability of taxis, congestion at port gates, etc. As an example, if the Island Princess is the only ship in port, I would be much more comfortable about an early flight than say if the Royal was porting at the same time as the Allure of the Seas and perhaps the Ruby as well. The more ships, the more possibility of issues arising.
  
• What port? – Some ports are noted for customs delays, traffic issues, etc. Identify where the airline is in relation to the port and how you get there. Ft. Lauderdale is relatively close to the airport and on a fairly fast-travel route. San Francisco is in another city along one of the worst highways in the country for congestion.
  
• What day/time are you arriving? Rush hour on a Tuesday or before dawn on a Saturday?
  
• Transport? Planning on a taxi or car service? Car services provide the advantage of a guaranteed waiting vehicle, at a higher cost.
  
• Finally, what is Plan B? Are there later flights you can hope to get on (at possibly some expense) if you miss yours? Remember, flights are closer to full than ever, there may not be any seats the rest of the day.
  

So, should you book that early flight? Thinking on all the factors above, look at the time your ship is scheduled to arrive. Remember, the ship itself has to clear customs itself before disembarkation can begin. Think about all of the factors above and make your best guess when you could get off the ship and clear customs. Estimate travel time to the airport and time to check in and clear security. Then, add an hour at least to allow for any issues/delays. If your flight is after that, MAYBE you can make it.

Or, as I noted above, book the later flight. It’s vacation, do you really want to spend the last day stressing about air travel?

[OSUZorba]

I have made it to MCO by 8:30 using Disney and RCL transfers, but I have self disembarked, and gotten on the first bus out. I've done this as a standby passenger, so the only way to get out was to beat all my fellow cruisers, but I also wasn't out any money if I missed the early flights.

 

When flying standby, the priority (for my airline) is done by check in time and if I missed the flight I'd loose my check in time. So I would "book" a 11:30ish flight, generally the first flight before the earliest flight allowed by the cruise. If I got to the airport early, I would ask to be put on the next flight out.

 

With how far MCO is from the port, how bad their security lines can be, the fact that you will more than likely have to check bags, traveling with kids it may be hard to move fast and that you could be out a lot of money if you missed you flights, I would personally book a later flight. Even with all of our successes getting to the airport early, if I am actually buying tickets I buy them for after noon, just in case. It does make for a much more relaxing morning and I actually get to eat breakfast on the ship.

[moki'smommy]

As above, I've been at the airport before 9 and been able to move up to a 9:30 flight..but I'd never count on that. I'd book the later flight and try to move up if all went smoothly. Or just chill out and take the later flight without the morning rush.

 

Bottom line--I've been at MCO before 9,but I've also been on the Magic at 9 with the big doors still closed.

[Illyria]

I've made 10 am flights from Port Canaveral to Orlando International on my last 2 cruises. But, we are a family of 3 with no infants.

We did self disembarkation and had a car parked near the port.

You were also catching a domestic flight...OP would have to be at the airport earlier for an international flight.

[megansdad1]

 

Don't try a flight before 11. Just don't. Book the evening flight an a day room at the Hyatt. For $100' date=' ($89 + tax) you'll have a pool, a place for the kids to nap, a shower.....and just your own space to hang out.[/quote']

 

This is what I would do. Book the later flight and hang out at the Hyatt

[longboard55]

yikes, 10:10 is not 10:10 in airline time, more like 9:30 or they will give your seat away.

 

So for the otherside. We are on the disney bus and we do not leave MCO until 3, how long can we sleep in.

[moki'smommy]

yikes, 10:10 is not 10:10 in airline time, more like 9:30 or they will give your seat away.

 

So for the otherside. We are on the disney bus and we do not leave MCO until 3, how long can we sleep in.

 

Everyone is asked to be off the ship by 9. About 9:15, they start politely but firmly escorting any stragglers toward the big doors. Breakfast serving ends at 8:30. They close the buffet line. So if you want breakfast, be there by 8:15. You are also to be out of your cabin by 8, taking all your carry on stuff with you (room empty). While your host may tell you that it's OK to leave your stuff in there till after breakfast, this is NOT DCL's policy and will mean that he can't start on your room. On this day, they will prop all the doors open, not use keys, etc. and they can't do that till your stuff is out of your room.

 

And if you are smart, you will NOT take the last bus. I can tell you horror tales of the last bus to the airport AND to WDW. You do not want to be on this one. First, you will sit on the bus and wait till they have verified that everyone is out of the terminal. Then the bus will not be full and they will decide to combine the 2 airport buses. So your friend who was sent to the other bus (for the other terminal) will come over to the bus you are on but there will be no seats near you. Meanwhile the bus drivers will move all the luggage to the one bus. And just in case, you'll sit some more till they know everyone is off the ship and out of the terminal. The bus will finally depart about 9:50. Don't do this!

 

The last bus to WDW went to 6 resorts. The driver used no common sense in which resorts were near each other. We rode around on WDW property for 2+ hours. AWFUL. And the idiots at the podium do not know what they are doing. One tried to tell me that ALK was near Wilderness Lodge! WRONG....unless you count being on property as "near" each other.

Edited September 4, 2014 by moki'smommy

[PhillyRomantic]

We usually do a10am flight as well.

 

 

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[EliteQueen]

Thanks everyone! After reading the comments and suggestions, we opted against the morning flight.

[Ex techie]

I think that you chose the right option!

 

That stress of making it to the airport would have ruined the end of your cruise!

 

Hope you have a great one!

 

ex techie

[LissyTx]

Good to know about the day room option!

 

 

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[FireEater]

Thanks everyone! After reading the comments and suggestions, we opted against the morning flight.

 

Good move.

 

There are 3 things around the port or close to the airport that you can do to keep you busy.

 

1. Kennedy Space Center (by port)

2. Cocoa Beach (you can go to Ron Jons Surf Shop too) (by port)

2 - Florida Mall (by airport)

[DoomsdayFAN]

You guys think a 1:00 pm fight would be safe?

 

 

1. Kennedy Space Center (by port)

 

This would be interesting. But how would I get transportation to and from Kennedy to the Airport?

[FireEater]

You guys think a 1:00 pm fight would be safe?

 

 

 

This would be interesting. But how would I get transportation to and from Kennedy to the Airport?

 

1 pm is very doable.

 

1 way car rental from port. Take it to space center. Enjoy the day, then drive to airport and drop it off.

 

Do a search on it. I have seen the subject come up often on here.

[megansdad1]

You guys think a 1:00 pm fight would be safe?

 

 

 

This would be interesting. But how would I get transportation to and from Kennedy to the Airport?

 

I would be comfortable with a 1PM flight