1st time PE to FLL - earliest reasonable flight time?

[ljmiii]

Our upcoming DCL cruise on the Magic will be our first out of PE (and we'll be flying out of FLL). All ashore is 8 AM, we will be carrying our own bags, could go either way on using DCL's transfer or Uber/Lyft, and are Global Entry.

What is the earliest reasonable flight time to book out of FLL? I fear our flight options are a bit too early or way too late.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Earliest recommended flight time is noon for all cruise lines.

While all ashore is 8AM there is no guarantee it will happen at that time.

 

[unrequited23]

Last year, we had the late breakfast and let DCl take our bags the night before. DH's phone kept dropping service in the pickup/drop off area, so it took about a half hour to get our Uber after a few cancelled. We were at our gate at least an hour before our 11:45 am flight started boarding.

If time is of the essence, I would suggest breakfast at Cabanas, express walk off and taking a taxi that is already at the port. Personally, I wouldn't book anything before 11 am at FLL, just because I've had flight times change after booking.

 

[Dug720]

Earliest reminded flight time is noon for all cruise lines.

While all ashore is 8AM there is no guarantee it will happen at that time.

On the DCL website it says 11am is the earliest from FLL.

But again, anything can happen. This past weekend the Celebrity Apex was 2 hours late arriving into Port Everglades because they had to divert for a medical emergency. So yes, anything can happen. I know people whine about "hours" in the airport, but honestly I'd rather have time where I can just sit and read than end a relaxing vacation stressed out trying to make a flight - or missing one.

 

[ljmiii]

Personally, I wouldn't book anything before 11 am at FLL, just because I've had flight times change after booking.

That is indeed the conundrum. My FLL choices are 11:00AM and 3:21PM or we can fly out of MIA at 12:32PM.

Goodness knows I'm familiar with MCO and MIA for DCL departures...but FLL is new to us. And 11:00AM feels a bit too early.

 

[RedHead0186]

Yes, DCL recommends no earlier than 11:00am. You could probably do earlier if all things go well, but that is a bit of a risk.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/ground-transportation/

 

[Dug720]

That is indeed the conundrum. My FLL choices are 11:00AM and 3:21PM or we can fly out of MIA at 12:32PM.

Goodness knows I'm familiar with MCO and MIA for DCL departures...but FLL is new to us. And 11:00AM feels a bit too early.

The port and the airport are literally right next to each other. This past summer I was on Celebrity out of Port Everglades. I opted to do self walk-off and easily made a flight at like 11:15 taking a cab (which has a pre-set rate to the airport). I could have made an earlier one, as I had plenty of time to sit and hang out even with the 11:15 flight. I would not have been comfortable with one before 11, but 11 or later I was fine.

 

[justafigment27]

We had an 11:50am flight out of FLL back in November. We were sitting at our gate twiddling our thumbs at 9:15am.

We ate at our early seating, collected our own luggage that we had sat out the night before and took Disney transportation. It took us 1 hr and 45 minutes from the time our luggage tags were called (7:30am) until we were at our gate (9:15am).

Checking our bag with Delta was the most time consuming aspect of the whole morning - it took 45 minutes or so. There was a huge line to use the machines to print luggage tags and then another big line to drop them off … they had Delta agents directing both lines. There were multiple ships in port that day and one of them was a large Princess ship that just got back from a transatlantic … practically our entire line was filled with elderly folks who had multiple pieces of luggage to check. Security was pretty quick though.

 

[KGmomoftwins]

We had a similar experience August 2024 express walk off (some of the first off), uber, and at our gate 9:05 for 11:10 flight.