Welcome to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport’s Remote South lot at 3:55am. As I mentioned in my planning, I opted to forego the high hotel prices in the Orlando area and travel the day of the cruise. I don’t typically recommend doing it this way. This is only the second time I’ve done it in 21 cruises. If I am going to do it, I’m going to get the earliest flight possible. That’s why I’m here so early this morning.

 I paid $40 to park here for 9 days. After parking I headed into the waiting area. They have two shuttles that come through here. One goes to terminals A-C. The other goes to D-E. 

This is the waiting area. There are also bathrooms, snack machines, and a TV showing the arrivals and departures. Two other guys are in here waiting for the same shuttle.

It was only a 2-3 minute wait for our shuttle.

We left within 2 minutes of the shuttle’s arrival. During that time the  terminal A-C shuttle pulled in behind us. This is a look at the weather we’re leaving behind.

The shuttle dropped me off at Terminal E at 4:15am.

There is a long line for the self bag check. The security line right here has an estimated wait time of 38 minutes.

Everyone seems to be waiting on it even though the other two check points have less than a two minute wait.

I will most likely be walking to one of the other check points after I get my bag checked.

My bag came in at 35lbs. The line is moving fast. 

My self bag check is complete at 4:42am. This security line is down to a 28-minute wait. The security line I passed on the way here is up to 10 minutes. I’m going to the 3rd one which is closer to my gate anyway.

This looks more like it.

I am through security at 4:50 and I’ll be grabbing breakfast next.

Ever since that time at LAX when they changed my gate while I was eating and I returned to a Southwest plane at my gate, I always check to make sure my plane is here before I do anything else.

My plane is here. My flight is on time. I’m going to grab Wendy’s since it’s right next to my gate.

I’m not a big Wendy’s person. I don’t know if I’ve ever had Wendy’s breakfast. I’m going to try the #1 Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant.

It’s pretty good.

I’m in boarding zone 1. I’ve already worked my way through three groups of people who looked like they were in line to board but they aren’t and I’m still not through it.

All of these people look like they’re in the zone 1 line. Come to find out, none of them are. I don’t understand why they can’t stand back or sit down until their zone is called.

I made my way through all of the bystanders and I’m about to board.

I had to squeeze my bag into what appeared to be a full overhead again. I don’t have the option of putting my bag under a seat since I’m in the front row. I have to use an overhead. One of the flight attendants always takes up space in my overhead. Then I assume people behind me use my overhead as well because my bin always seems to be full or near full by the time I get to it.

I love the leg room and the middle armrest space of the front seats.

Is he wearing fleece pants?

There’s a kerfuffle in the jetway. They had to close the doors because this guy was denied boarding and still tried to board.

They let kerfuffle guy come talk to the aircrew. It seems like he tried to bring too big of a bag on. They said you have to pay for it. He said he already paid and tried to board. He pulled out a receipt to show he paid. The receipt was just for the plane ticket with no bag. Kerfuffle guy left the plane. 

I never knew how much drama there was until I started sitting in the front row. Kerfuffle guy never returned. We’re backing out at 5:57am. The captain said it will be a 2 hour and 9 minute flight. Adding in the time change gets me there around 9:10-9:15.

I’m hoping to make the 10am Carnival transfer shuttle. Otherwise I’ll have to wait until 11am.

It was a rough flight for a few minutes shortly after takeoff.

It’s 6:35 and we’re flying into the sunrise so I can’t get a good picture of it.

6:45. 90 minutes remaining according to the Spirit App.

“It’s not a purse, It’s European!”

This is the 7:15am view. We have one hour remaining.

7:45 (probably 8:45 with time change). We are beginning descent.

This is the UCF football stadium.

Downtown Orlando.

 

And we’re on the ground.

 

There was  a line for the bathroom because they only have two urinals. That’s one thing I hate about this airport. 

Another thing I hate about this airport is you have to take a train to baggage claim.

My luggage is supposed to be at B-21.

I’m trying to get on the Carnival transfer in 20 minutes so I’m keeping an eye out. I see Disney, NCL, and RCL. I asked the NCL rep. She said I have to go down one more level for Carnival.

Let’s check on my suitcase. We aren’t up on the screen here but everyone else is.

They finally added us to the list on 21. I hope the shuttle is running late otherwise I may be waiting on the next one.

That was quite a wait and quite a little walk down here. I had to go downstairs from baggage claim then left. I made the mistake of going outside where the busses were looking for a Carnival sign. Stay inside and walk down to this counter.

Next time we’ll cover the Carnival Transfer.

 

 

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