Little bit concerned about flight time after cruise

[Katgoesonholiday]

We are cruising on the Disney Magic, returning to Port Canaveral at 7:30am on the 21st of December. We plan to get a taxi from the port to the airport for our flight to New York.

 

I was working on the assumption that I shouldn't book a flight before 11:30am so I booked a Delta flight from MCO to LGA at 12 noon. I've just done my online check in and found that the recommendation is now not to book before 12:30pm!!!

 

YIKES!!! :eek:

 

Please reassure me that I haven't totally screwed things up?

[Katgoesonholiday]

Also, for a family of five, is taxi the best option for getting to MCO?

[Ex techie]

I think you will be fine with a 12 noon.

Even if the ship is an hour late clearing customs, you should be off the ship by 9am and at MCO by 10/10:30am.

I would however book transport to get you to MCO so you know they are there waiting for you and not having to find a taxi.

5 ppl plus luggage seems too much for a regular taxi, so I would book a mini van.

 

Others on here should be able to provide the names of transfer specialists they have used and recommend.

 

ex techie

Edited October 12, 2014 by Ex techie

[ducklite]

A taxi will be a VERY expensive option. There are plenty of car services you could book.

 

It's an hour from the port to MCO, it takes about two hours to check bags and get through security, then take the monorail to the airsides and walk to your gate. You need to be at the gate at least 20 minutes before your flight time. Working backwards, that means the latest you can leave Port Canaveral is 9:00 am--gives you plenty of time.

 

I'd say to be off the ship by 8:00 am--that would even give you time to take Disney transportation. Other options are Beachline Transportation and Happy Limo.

[Katgoesonholiday]

Great advice! Thank you very much!

[moki'smommy]

12:00 is FINE. No worries.

 

However, a taxi? Not the best option IMHO. There are lots of limo companies that you can book in advance. Happy Limo, FL Tours, Southern Elegance, and many others give great service. You decide what time you plan to depart the ship. Allow 15 minutes to clear Customs. Your driver will meet you at the appointed time, help load your luggage, and you'll be on your way.

 

My other consideration though would be to do DCL transportation with on board check in (Delta IS a participating airline). With this system, you get your boarding passes and luggage tags in your cabin the day before departure. You pack your bags, tag them, and place them outside your room on the last night. You don't see them till your HOME airport.

 

When you arrive at MCO, you can go thru security and directly to the gate. No need to stop at luggage check in, just check in with the agent at the gate. It costs a bit more, but the convenience is WELL worth it. For 5 people, the extr cost would be about $35-50 depending on your limo company cost. DCL transportation is $35 per guest each way...so for 5, $175.

 

The easiest airline for me is Southwest. BUT the on board check in process makes Delta a really attractive alternative. Yes, I've paid the higher Delta costs for the benefit of the check in deal. And I'm usually quite cheap! (note--Southwest is not a participating airline)

Edited October 13, 2014 by moki'smommy

[Katgoesonholiday]

Hi Moki'smommy, that is FABULOUS advice! I am happy to pay a bit more to keep things simple and as stress free as possible (noting that travel with three kids and a stressy husband in a foreign country is never a breeze).

 

I have phoned Disney to confirm that our already booked flights are suitable and that we can book the transfers and I have emailed our travel agent to get these added to our reservation. That ticks off another job in the 'Kat & Family go on holiday' task list! Its all coming together nicely!

 

Thank you! :D:D:D

[moki'smommy]

Hi Moki'smommy, that is FABULOUS advice! I am happy to pay a bit more to keep things simple and as stress free as possible (noting that travel with three kids and a stressy husband in a foreign country is never a breeze).

 

I have phoned Disney to confirm that our already booked flights are suitable and that we can book the transfers and I have emailed our travel agent to get these added to our reservation. That ticks off another job in the 'Kat & Family go on holiday' task list! Its all coming together nicely!

 

Thank you! :D:D:D

 

Tell your travel agent to notify DCL that you want on board check in. While not everything is done "by the book" you supposedly can't add this feature after boarding. They DID confirm with us at the terminal that we planned to use the service. And you are welcome.

 

Note--on board check in is for the airlines

On LINE check in is what we all do to make checking in at the terminal easier. Sometimes people get them mixed up.

Edited October 13, 2014 by moki'smommy

[Katgoesonholiday]

Tell your travel agent to notify DCL that you want on board check in. While not everything is done "by the book" you supposedly can't add this feature after boarding. They DID confirm with us at the terminal that we planned to use the service. And you are welcome.

 

Note--on board check in is for the airlines

On LINE check in is what we all do to make checking in at the terminal easier. Sometimes people get them mixed up.

 

Thank you again! I have sent her another email stating we want to do on BOARD check in and to mention that when she books the transfers. And I have also mentioned that we have already completed on LINE check in.

[mizzoufinal4]

Am I mistaken? I thought I had read the onbaord airline check in was only available for flights within the US and not international flights? Am I correct or mistaken?

[Shmoo here]

Am I mistaken? I thought I had read the onbaord airline check in was only available for flights within the US and not international flights? Am I correct or mistaken?

 

You are correct. This is from our cruise documents for our recent DCL cruise (bolding mine):

 

• You must have purchased DCL Air and/or DCL Ground Transfers

• Your flight has to leave from Orlando International Airport after 11:30 am on the same day your cruise vacation ends.

• Your flight must be on a participating airline:

AirTran Airways

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

JetBlue Airways

United Airlines

US Airways

• Your final destination must be within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

• Each luggage piece can weigh no more than fifty (50) pounds.

• Airline specific baggage fees may apply and can vary by airline. Please check with your specific carrier for more details.

• Applicable airline baggage fees will be posted directly to your shipboard account.

• Some Guests may be select4ed to check in at the airport and may not be able to use this service.

[Katgoesonholiday]

We are cruising on the Disney Magic, returning to Port Canaveral at 7:30am on the 21st of December. We plan to get a taxi from the port to the airport for our flight to New York.

 

Am I mistaken? I thought I had read the onbaord airline check in was only available for flights within the US and not international flights? Am I correct or mistaken?

 

I'm really hoping that MCO-NY counts as a domestic flight! :P

Edited October 17, 2014 by Katgoesonholiday

[Shmoo here]

I'm really hoping that MCO-NY counts as a domestic flight! :P

 

As long as that's the final destination of your trip, you'll be fine. If NY is just a connection to an ongoing (out of the US) flight, it may not qualify.

[Katgoesonholiday]

We are spending five nights in NY then two nights in San Francisco before returning to New Zealand.

[Shmoo here]

We are spending five nights in NY then two nights in San Francisco before returning to New Zealand.

 

Then I'd say you're good to go.

 

Have a great cruise/trip.

 

 

Hmmmm......New Zealand......:rolleyes: Gotta check that out.

[Katgoesonholiday]

We are looking forward to the trip very much - kids first cruise and (fingers crossed) first time seeing snow. It should be very different from our usual mid summer Christmas'!

 

Now if you guys wouldn't mind getting all this Ebola stuff under control before we arrive, I'd be very grateful!

[moki'smommy]

MCO to NY with a 5 day stop in NY is fine. And as noted, on board check in is not available for international flights.

 

Enjoy your trip!

[msar1076]

I just returned on the Fantasy on Saturday and I also had a noon time flight. I was a little concerned about the time. We didn't go to our scheduled breakfast at 8:15. The buffet opens at 6:30 so we went there and then headed to the airport. We arrived in plenty of time to catch our flight.

[Katgoesonholiday]

That's good to know! Did you use the Disney Transfers? Any idea what time they started?

[Shmoo here]

That's good to know! Did you use the Disney Transfers? Any idea what time they started?

 

DCL transfers to MCO start as soon as the ship is cleared for debarkation. Once the busses fill up they leave.

[moki'smommy]

As above, they start filling each bus (based on destination) as soon as the first guest with transfers leaves the terminal and walks to the podium. CM verifies where they are headed (which WDW resort or which airline at MCO) and directs them to the correct bus. As soon as a bus is reasonably close to full, it will depart and another bus will fill in the slot and start loading guests. How quickly a bus will fill depends on timing. As soon as disembarkation starts, they fill very quickly (15-20 minutes). At the end, it may be as much as 45 minutes.

 

No, they don't send a bus to EACH resort or EACH airline. Normally a bus will go to 3 resorts. MCO buses will sometimes go to "just" terminal A or "just" terminal B. Other times, they will stop at both terminals. NO logic to this that I've figured out; I've seen them do it both ways.