Hi Everyone.
How much time should I give myself from Epcot to the airport for a 7:30 PM flight? I'll have no checked baggage (the carry-on will be in my trunk while I'm at the park) and will return a rental car. I'll be there in mid-December which, I hear, is a fairly slow time at WDW (Dec 11-17).
Thanks in advance!
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Hi Everyone.
How much time should I give myself from Epcot to the airport for a 7:30 PM flight? I'll have no checked baggage (the carry-on will be in my trunk while I'm at the park) and will return a rental car. I'll be there in mid-December which, I hear, is a fairly slow time at WDW (Dec 11-17).
Thanks in advance!
It takes 15-25 minutes to get from Epcot to MCO. So depending on how far in advanced you want to be at the airport, add that time.
Note that MCO can some time be packed when you least expect it, especially the security lines. I would budget at least half hour to get through security from the time you drop off your rental car. If it were me, I would leave Epcot (as in drive off the parking lot) by 5:15 PM the latest. But then again, I normally have luggage to check in.
Zz.
No longer an active member.
I agree with Zz about both travel time and at least 30 min. to get through security. They usually have a sign at the start of the lines stating how long a wait from that point. Of course that is the point from which you have to put up with the egotistical, self centered, conceited, arrogant, TSA agents that have the "Rent-A-Cop" badge on their puffy chests who shout out meaningless orders just to hear themselves talk! FOR EXAMPLE when travelling by plane I ALWAYS wear 'no buzz' supenders and a 'no buzz leather belt that has no metal at all (think Velcro) I have these both for air travel and to wear at the many car shows that I attend so that they will not scratch when I have to get close to judge the cars. I had absolutely no problems on the trip out from logan and many other airports. So this female "TSA AGENT" looks at me and sarcastically tells me that I have to remove both my belt and suspenders, I nicely at this point tell her that they are 'no buzz" and I do not have to remove them to go through the walk through metal detectors. She then advised me (sarcastically) that she runs the line and to take them off. Needless to say a little tete-a-tete ensued with me about 3 inches from her face with me telling her that she would NOT win. I then turned around still wearing the belt & suspenders walked through the metal detector which I might add DID NOT go off and just kept walking away from the @&*#% and never looked back. I was waiying for the order to stop and come back but it never came. Wife thought for sure I was gone but when I'm right I'm right and the motto "don't tread on me" comes to mind
Sorry for the rant but I have been boiling since my trip Tuesday and it finaly boiled over.
Rants are always welcome, we all need one now and then!
Sorry, but Thanks I needed that. 
You should also allow yourself time to check in for your flight and get your boarding pass if you aren't able to do so before you leave for Epcot.
Thanks for the help everyone.
Zapper, thanks for the time guideline. I heard that it takes pretty long to get through security.
JoAnn, I always check in when I get to the airport. Are you saying there is a way of checking in (online???) if I don't have bags to check? I usually just use a kiosk, but I do have to wait in line even for that.
Ohhh, Vette. I hate hearing that! Did that happen coming from Disney?? I was royally peaved on our way back home in September and it took me about an hour after the incident to settle down. Not the best way to end a trip. This time, I have to just have my blank face, not let them see me sweat, and move along the line like the Seinfeld epidsode with the Soup Nazi. If I get irritated with them barking out orders like I'm a criminal, then it just puts a small blotch on my Disney memory. I'm teflon this time! Glad you were able to vent.
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JoAnn, I always check in when I get to the airport. Are you saying there is a way of checking in (online???) if I don't have bags to check? I usually just use a kiosk, but I do have to wait in line even for that.
If you are staying at a Disney resort, you can check in at the resort and receive your boarding pass for certain airlines. You can check in on-line if you have a way of printing your boarding pass.
we had absolutely no issues at MCO coming home in early november. the line moved quickly, TSA was nice, we checked in at the resort. We gave ourselves extra time so we could get food at the airport since we had such a late flight and a really short layover in Atlanta.
We just came back yesterday and we had a 6:30 flight...the bus driver said it was one of the busier days for the airport especially with it being the beginning of a holiday week and that the lines would probably be long for security. It took us maybe 5 mins at the most to get through and that was more or less because of taking shoes on and off and pulling electronics out of bags so i'm thinking maybe for the evening flights its not as busy around there
That's good to hear. I'll still allow myself an extra bit of time so I'm not stressed. I'd really rather have that extra bit of time at Epcot though!
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taking shoes on and off and pulling electronics out of bags
I try to always wear slip off/on shoes when I fly so at least I can do that quickly. I always feel horrible for the people behind me in line though when I start unpacking the electronics bag. Oy vey, I haven't yet figured out how to get that one done fast. It's a nightmare and I always feel like I'm a turtle.
After all my travels in the past year, I refuse to fly home from MCO on a Sunday afternoon, it's just insane there at that time! And I have never encountered "nice" TSA agents there either. They're often harsh and overbearing, it annoys the heck out of me and always leaves my youngest daughter in tears. If I could do anything to ease her stress through the security line I would. On the Chicago end we pay for priority passes for security, but Orlando doesn't have that option.
Jess wrote:taking shoes on and off and pulling electronics out of bags
I try to always wear slip off/on shoes when I fly so at least I can do that quickly. I always feel horrible for the people behind me in line though when I start unpacking the electronics bag. Oy vey, I haven't yet figured out how to get that one done fast. It's a nightmare and I always feel like I'm a turtle.
After all my travels in the past year, I refuse to fly home from MCO on a Sunday afternoon, it's just insane there at that time! And I have never encountered "nice" TSA agents there either. They're often harsh and overbearing, it annoys the heck out of me and always leaves my youngest daughter in tears. If I could do anything to ease her stress through the security line I would. On the Chicago end we pay for priority passes for security, but Orlando doesn't have that option.
LOL... I had to pull out my MacBook, my iPad, iPhone, was happy I could leave my camera in the bag, my MyFi, wallet, change.... There was some other stuff too... but luckily all that was behind me was Jess! HA!
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Jess wrote:taking shoes on and off and pulling electronics out of bags
I try to always wear slip off/on shoes when I fly so at least I can do that quickly. I always feel horrible for the people behind me in line though when I start unpacking the electronics bag. Oy vey, I haven't yet figured out how to get that one done fast. It's a nightmare and I always feel like I'm a turtle.
After all my travels in the past year, I refuse to fly home from MCO on a Sunday afternoon, it's just insane there at that time! And I have never encountered "nice" TSA agents there either. They're often harsh and overbearing, it annoys the heck out of me and always leaves my youngest daughter in tears. If I could do anything to ease her stress through the security line I would. On the Chicago end we pay for priority passes for security, but Orlando doesn't have that option.
yeah luckily this year they changed it and kids no longer have to take off their shoes....and we didn't have to take off our hoodies either which saved a lot of time
You might want to add a little bit of a buffer for I-4 traffic. It can be pretty unpredictable, especially on the weekends, and we don't have many alternate routes in O Town 
Jess wrote:taking shoes on and off and pulling electronics out of bags
After all my travels in the past year, I refuse to fly home from MCO on a Sunday afternoon, it's just insane there at that time! And I have never encountered "nice" TSA agents there either. They're often harsh and overbearing, it annoys the heck out of me and always leaves my youngest daughter in tears. If I could do anything to ease her stress through the security line I would. On the Chicago end we pay for priority passes for security, but Orlando doesn't have that option.
We will be flying home on a Saturday in the early evening. Does anyone know how that typically is? It will be before the mad Christmas rush.
Kristen, isn't it jarring to go from the "Happiest Place on Earth" to that setting immediately after??
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Kristen K. wrote:Jess wrote:taking shoes on and off and pulling electronics out of bags
After all my travels in the past year, I refuse to fly home from MCO on a Sunday afternoon, it's just insane there at that time! And I have never encountered "nice" TSA agents there either. They're often harsh and overbearing, it annoys the heck out of me and always leaves my youngest daughter in tears. If I could do anything to ease her stress through the security line I would. On the Chicago end we pay for priority passes for security, but Orlando doesn't have that option.
We will be flying home on a Saturday in the early evening. Does anyone know how that typically is? It will be before the mad Christmas rush.
Kristen, isn't it jarring to go from the "Happiest Place on Earth" to that setting immediately after??
We did Saturday early evening....Our plane was leaving at 6:30 and I think we got there at 4:30 and like I said we didnt' have any issues
Thanks Jess!
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You might want to add a little bit of a buffer for I-4 traffic. It can be pretty unpredictable, especially on the weekends, and we don't have many alternate routes in O Town
I-4?
Isn't it way easier to take the 417 to MCO from WDW? That is seldom as busy as I4.
Zz.
No longer an active member.
Kristen, isn't it jarring to go from the "Happiest Place on Earth" to that setting immediately after??
I'm very.. um... intense when I travel, so I switch from Resort to MCO fairly easily. As soon as I bored that bus back to the airport I'm making a strategy for getting through and to the terminal. I'm not the funnest gal during that time. But, my family turns off their brains and just follows closely so we can usually get through fairly easily. Going home would be no fun even if I lived in Florida and was just driving back home. 
. Wife thought for sure I was gone but when I'm right I'm right and the motto "don't tread on me" comes to mind
Oh yes! Quite the same here- When I am right I am right! Don't tread on me!
Viva La Quinta Brigada - y Disney!
I've never been through MCO, so can't comment on that, but Sanford is usually a breeze to get through. On my last trip we were the only flight at the airport, the shops were opening just as we arrived andwere closing again as our flight was called. The queues at check-in, security, etc were never more than 5 or 6 people long. Yes it's further from Disney, but I reckon we saved the extra travel time at the airport and had a totally stress free experience.
I know you can't fly to Sandford from as many places as MCO, and you don't get the Magical Express, but it's worth a look if you can do it.
I can only please one person per day. Today isn't your day... tomorrow doesn't look good either.
Lizzy_B wrote:You might want to add a little bit of a buffer for I-4 traffic. It can be pretty unpredictable, especially on the weekends, and we don't have many alternate routes in O Town
I-4?
Isn't it way easier to take the 417 to MCO from WDW? That is seldom as busy as I4.
Zz.
I s'pose. I hadn't thought of it since we don't take 417 to the parks from our house; it loops way out of the way. It would be handy for the airport, though. Living in Orlando, I rarely fly from WDW to anywhere 
I've never been through MCO, so can't comment on that, but Sanford is usually a breeze to get through. On my last trip we were the only flight at the airport, the shops were opening just as we arrived andwere closing again as our flight was called. The queues at check-in, security, etc were never more than 5 or 6 people long. Yes it's further from Disney, but I reckon we saved the extra travel time at the airport and had a totally stress free experience.
I know you can't fly to Sandford from as many places as MCO, and you don't get the Magical Express, but it's worth a look if you can do it.
And this I can vouch for...my little hometown airport
So, 417 is the best way to get from the parks to MCO??
Lizzy, you actually live in Orlando? Must be nice!
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I'll have to defer on that question...in my ignorance, I would have taken I-4 to the Beachline (528) But yes, we live near Orlando, in Sanford. It's pretty sweet!
I know you can't fly to Sandford from as many places as MCO, and you don't get the Magical Express, but it's worth a look if you can do it.
I can fly into Sanford from my local airport, but I never have because of the magical express issue. Instead I spend an extra hour and a half on the road and drive to Chicago OHare. Always a zoo there.
How do you get from the airport to Disney? Taxi? Limo? Rental Car?
Rental car for me.
Kristen, where are you from? I'm from Milwaukee and it also takes me an hour and a half to get to OHare. Our airport here in Milwaukee is fairly good sized though and even has international flights.
Aaaanyway, again, I always rent a car.
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So, 417 is the best way to get from the parks to MCO??
From MCO, take the SOUTH exit. That will get you towards 417, which is a toll expressway. I think it is $1.25 at each tollbooth, and there will be 2 of them. After the 2nd toll booth, you will see sign towards various parts of WDW. Total travel time after you leave the airport is 15-20 mins. Very easy drive.
Do the reverse from WDW to MCO.
If you take I4, it will be a crapshoot.
Zz.
No longer an active member.
Rental car for me.
Kristen, where are you from? I'm from Milwaukee and it also takes me an hour and a half to get to OHare. Our airport here in Milwaukee is fairly good sized though and even has international flights.
Aaaanyway, again, I always rent a car.
I'm in Rockford, IL. Milwaukee and OHare are about the same distance from me, I often look at flights out of Milwaukee but I'm fairly particular about flights and nothing has ever matched my needs. That's also part of why I don't fly out of Rockford.
I'm getting a rental car for the first time in February because I'm staying off property. I'm a little nervous about it, I have a feeling I'm going to get lost a lot.
Thanks Zz for the tip...very important to know these things.
Kristen, my husband was born and raised in Rockford. His sister lives there to this day. We go fairly regularly to visit her.
Make sure to get a good map ahead of time and really study it knowing your itinerary. We couldn't find maps if our life depended on it when we arrived in Sept...not even in airport gift shops!
Do they have GPS systems with some of the rental cars, I wonder?
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Do they have GPS systems with some of the rental cars, I wonder?
Yes they do in fact most of the rental companies offer them BUT they are an extra cost option and are fairly pricey.