Embarkment-Flight Help About This Page:

[disneyfanatic60]

We are doing the 4-day cruise leaving on September 2. I cannot decide on flight times for the return flight home. We generally fly Southwest because we like the direct flights. However, the first flight is at 3:25 which would leave us in MCO waiting for quite some time. We'd arrive home at 6:00.

There is a flight through Delta with a layover in Atlanta. It leaves at 12:00 and has a 55 minute layover in Atlanta and gets us in Buffalo by 4:30. Pros: Not a long wait at MCO, 1-1/2 hrs. earlier arrival in Buffalo, assigned seats. Cons: Rushing to leave ship that morning to catch a Noon flight, very concerned about only a 55 minute layover in Atlanta and missing connecting flight.

The Delta flight would cost us an addl. $30 in total. I have been struggling back and forth with this and I really need to book our flights. What do you think? Please anyone---I'm opened to any suggestions or comments! Thanks.

[Dave Marx]

I don't recommend a flight that departs before 12:30 pm. It just doesn't leave enough margin for error/delay.

Given a choice between a tight arrival at MCO plus a tight turnaround in ATL just to save 1.5 hours, and sitting in MCO for a longer time, I'd probably take the direct flight. Why add stress to the end of your vacation by rushing off the ship to catch one plane, then rushing around Atlanta to catch the next, all for the sake of an hour and a half? Relax over breakfast, relax about your arrival time at MCO. That summer novel you bring on the cruise will probably not be read on the cruise anyway, so just pretend the terminal at MCO is a deck chair on the Wonder, and catch up on your reading.

[SuzyMouse]

I agree - I would take the direct flight. Having a little buffer of safety time goes a long way to keep the stress level down and the "rush" level even. Plus, these days, you just don't know what could cause delays at the airport.

Plus, there is a ton of shopping that one can do at MCO (not to mention coffee, lunch at a restaurant, etc.). I almost always enjoy being at the airport a little longer than taking the chance of cutting it too close.

[ripkensnana]

Just trying to get through security at MCO will take a considerable amount of time, plus you don't know what you'll run into on the road between the DCL terminal and the airport. I agree, the later non-stop is the way to go.

[songbird]

I agree with Carol. We took a later flight on our return. We had time to visit Downtown Disney and look at a couple of the resorts, since they still had their Christmas Decorations. We kept busy, but felt more relaxed about the later flight.

[tigger22]

Originally Posted by disneyfanatic60

We are doing the 4-day cruise leaving on September 2.

We will be on the September 2nd cruise also! I will probably have my Passporter Pouch on most of the time. My pouch has a Passporter Name Badge and an Indiana Mickey Mouse Pin. Say hello if you see my DH and I.

I would suggest the direct later flight. Less stress.

[dmpyron]

I'd like to add a belated comment or two. First, ATL is huge and Delta uses either two or three terminals. If you have a terminal change, you WILL be running.

Second, Delta has become notorious of late for changing flights. Your noon flight could easily become an 11 am flight. Or your 55 minute layover could become 45 minutes. I'm actually surprised. In the "good old days", airlines wouldn't let you schedule anything with a plane change with less than an hour.