Thanks again everyone, this has been really helpful! Also, I didn't realize how many of you fly out of Newark. I know that fairly recently JetBlue added D.C. as a key city, which made me happy. I was also one of those people who sent a suggestion email a long while back about adding a direct route to MCO from IAD.
Guess it payed off!
I have heard a number of times, but cannot seem to confirm it, that outside of Florida, NJ is the largest drawing State for WDW.
A 6 PM flight out of Newark? Don't suprised if it's delayed. I have never flown OUT of EWR in the early evening, but I have been stranded or delayed in at least half a dozen different airports flying INTO EWR in the evening.
The traffic patterns around EWR / JFK / LGA are packed. As soon as one of those afternoon thunderstorms rolls in and causes a 15 minute delay, it just generate ATC delays across the system.
I am not talking huge delays, maybe 30 minutes or so.
EWR is a strange beast when it comes to time. I have breezed through security in under 5 minutes. I have also been stuck for 45 minutes, both at the same time of day. I have never found any rhyme or reason to it. 2 hours before your flight should be a safe bet.
I THINK (not 100% on this) that JetBlue has curbside luggage dropoff at EWR (I KNOW Continental does
). Check and see (Belle may know). If thats the case, then print your boarding pass at home, and drop your luggage at the kiosk. That can save boatloads of time as well.
Above all, have a good trip and have fun.
-dave