What time do I need to be at MCO
 

Hi All, I have a 6 am flight. What time should I get to the terminal? Thanks, Paula

Are you being dropped off? Terminal A or B? Do you have Pre check or clear?

The lines can be long in the early hours with business people going out. I always plan 2 hours
before take off but I have CLEAR. That gives me time to get through CLEAR, take the trams, buy a water etc. There may only be one tram in service at that time. It can be a few minutes longer without CLEAR.

Now, Terminal C is a power walk to your gate! So plan for a Disney - rope drop walk.

Depending on where you live in the Villages, the drive TO the airport can be anywhere from 1-2 hours.

So leaving your house could be 3-4 hours before departure. In St Cats, I give it 3 hours.

Make sure your DL has that little star in the upper right corner.

Are you flying Domestic or International? If the latter, you should be there three hours before your flight.

Traffic on Florida turnpike can be stop at go at times during the day.

How important is the flight? Are you going on a cruise where if you miss the flight, you miss the cruise. Or are you going to visit friends where if you miss the flight, you can get on a later plane with no major problem.

Another question is what time should you leave from the Villages. I always plan for at least 90 minutes travel time from the Villages to MCO. On more than one occasion, I have been stuck in traffic jams for an hour or more on the Turnpike so I would leave home at 2 am. If you get there at 3 am, you are in great shape. If you get there are at 4, you should have time to make your flight. Are you checking luggage? Add at least 30 minutes for that. If you are pressed for time, the agents and TSA will usually move you to the front of the line. So if you get there at 4 and check your luggage, you should be able to make the flight.

My dad always told me that it is better to get to the gate 2 hours ahead of time rather than 2 minutes late.

If I had a 6 am flight from MCO, I would stay the night before at the Hyatt, which is right at MCO. Then I get to sleep for the time it would take to travel from the Villages to the airport. Get up, shower, get dressed, check in and go through security.

We have been stopped on the Turnpike for a hour getting to MCO early in the morning. The endless construction seems to never have a finish and cars won’t stay in their lane causing accident after accident. A few months ago we left The villages at 3:30 AM and barely made our 8:00 AM flight. Stop and go traffic on the Turnpike and very slow getting through security. It appears Turnpike construction could take another five years or so. Yikes!

LOL, many variables but I have walked into MCO in the very early hours and been surprised how busy it can be. You’re looking at a 3am departure from the Villages to account for the variable drive time and security wait times. Below can help but with an hour drive it could change significantly while in route. BTW, I recently saw the bag check line for Southwest nearly out the door so account for that variable to.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)

I always plan on walking through the door into the terminal two hours before flight departure. I have PrePass. Always end up at my gate with plenty of time before boarding begins.

Two hours before your flight, not counting the trip to the airport, the turnpike is always a crap shoot.

We usually get there 2 hours early but 99.9% of the time we get in fast. Curbside check our bags and we have TSA. Airline messed up once and I had to go thru regular lines at TSA. 45 minutes long. Most of the time takes us less than 30 minutes to get to the gate. Anyone traveling out of MCO needs TSA Pre or Clear

Airline desk might not be open 3 hours before a 6 am flight. If going that early I would check on this

even worse most of the road construction takes place when writer is going to the airport

Well, now you guys have all scared me. I was going to leave from a house near 470, but have lost that option. Can't check with Groome until tomorrow as their site is down. Thanks for all the info!