6:30am Flights BAD IDEA!

[mtmbyck]

Flew out of Pearson on Tuesday morning at 6:30am. I was told I had to be there at least 2 hours before. So I get there and noone is even working at the counters. Air Canada staff opened at around 4:45am and then we had to wait in a line for Customs to open at 5am. And that is nothing compared to how bagged I was by 1pm!! It completely wastes a day IMHO. Fly later in the morning when at all possible.

 

[dis_guy]

I feel your pain. We had an 0600 flight out of MCO last time. We checked out at 0230, caught ME at 0300, and flew out on schedule. Add in some delays and we weren't even human by the time we got home 12 hours later!

Never again!

 

[CanadianImagineer]

And NEVER fly out of orlando at an ungodly hour either. We spent our last magical day getting up at 3am only to have the magical express CM's who we were assured were going to pick us+our luggage up (we were in trinidad south at CBR) never showed up. Needless to say we were sure we were gonna miss our flight. Not to mention having to stand in those MCO customs lineups was not helping the situation at all. This time we're flying out to arrive around noon and leaving in the afternoon

 

[mkmommy]

The good thing about early flights is the plane is at the gate from the night before so chances on flight delays are minimal.

I have been changed from a 6:00 AM flight to 1:30 PM for spring break, so it is great I do not have to get up so early, but if there are any kind of delays I have a greater chance of the flight getting canceled.

 

[tribus121]

we have done the 6:30am thing from MCO before never again this time it was 11:50am much better we where home by 10:30pm ( 6 hr drive from airport )

 

[mcvixen]

Now I am really grateful that we chose the 8 pm flight (and the 9 pm flight return).... we were almost going to pick the early morning departure, but DH and I are NOT morning people. There's something about the sleep you get between 4:30 am and 6:30 am that is sooooo gooood......

We're a bit worried about the late night for our DD(5), but we figure it's better if she's the only one in the family who is tired & cranky. If we had to get up at 3:30 we would ALL be tired and cranky!

 

[grantclaire]

The 630 AM can be a real killer! The last time for us at that time my kids were 3 and 7 they were real troopers but Mom and Dad started running out of gas later in the day! It can be OK if your room is ready ours was not. Also the car rental places seem very busy at MCO in the AM. Last year we had a 1040 AM flight which was great. Flying that flight again this March.

 

[tgropp]

I must be in the minority but when we go on to WDW, I always try to get a 7 A.M. flight. We will stay at the Sheraton Gateway @ Toronto or the Westin @ Detroit. We wake up 2 hours before departure and within a half an hour, we are in line. It is nice to arrive in Florida by 10 and by the time your car is rented, stop for some refreshments and get to the hotel, we are either laying by the pool or at the parks by noon. Coming home we try to get a flight no earlier than 11 AM.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I did the 6:30 AM flight for my most recent trip. Didn't have any problems as we knew about when things opened so we weren't rushed to get to the airport. I'd also rather be in Orlando as soon as possible... but that's just me.

 

[sean-1966]

We always fly out early from Buffalo. Usually 6:30 -7:30. We can usually be in the parks by noon. The way I figure it if we get tired in the late afternoon we can head back to the hotel and chill. But coming home from MCO it's always early afternoon. We tried the early evening flight home and hated it. Leaving early morning from MCO is just a bad idea...

 

[dsneygirl]

We always fly out early from Buffalo. Usually 6:30 -7:30. We can usually be in the parks by noon. The way I figure it if we get tired in the late afternoon we can head back to the hotel and chill. But coming home from MCO it's always early afternoon. We tried the early evening flight home and hated it. Leaving early morning from MCO is just a bad idea...

We always pick the early morning flight from Buffalo too. For a 7am flight we try to arrive about 5:30-5:45. Usually heading for ME before 10 and in our room at 11.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Be thankful you are not on the west coast....here is what we go through to go to Orlando...

3 hour drive to Seattle
Overnight in Seattle
Get up at 330 am to be at airport for 4:30am
6am flight (PST)
Switch planes somewhere (was new orleans for us)
Arrive at MCO usually around 6-7pm (EST) depending on flights
Arrive Hotel around 1.5 hrs after that...

Makes for a full 14-16 hour day plus the 3 hours the day before....
I would love to fly from Toronto!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I'm glad to be reading this thread. I've been debating about what flight I want to book return from LA (if I go....another story). I wanted the 9am but the 6:25 will save me a ton of money. I'm so not a morning person but I thought that if I took that flight we would sleep. Now, after reading this it sounds like a really, really bad idea.

In general I disagree with the 'take the early AM flight and gain a day' theory.

 

[mtmbyck]

agreed. You gain a day of looking and feeling like crap........

Now I will mention that I am flying home from Orlando tonight on the 8pm direct to Toronto. It wasn't a bad day......checked out of hotel, left luggage with concierge, went to EPCOT, had lunch at EPCOT, back to hotel at 4pm, got luggage and changed into warm clothes, off to airport, no lines at checkin or security, now sitting at the gate playing on my computer (free wifi at this airport - WHO KNEW!!

Rumour has it the Toronto flight coming in was delayed half an hour so we will see if we are on time but I DID GAIN A DAY....feel great, will be home by 11:30pm.

 

[seashoreCM]

And NEVER fly out of orlando at an ungodly hour either. We spent our last magical day getting up at 3am only to have the magical express CM's who we were assured were going to pick us+our luggage up (we were in trinidad south at CBR) never showed up. )

Did the DME buses ever pick up at the satellite stops at Caribbean Beach any time during the day? I thought DME only dropped off and picked up att one place near the resort main lobby.

One thing you can do is book a hotel near the airport for the last night, and check out of the Disney resort and take DME that previous day.

 

[Debbs]

I must be minority too because i'd rather be on an early flight to Orlando and a lunchtime flight coming home. If anyone gets tired in the afternoon we just take a break. Last time we flew down from Ottawa to Orlando we were on the 1st flight and in the hotel by 11 am. We had lunch at the resort, had a swim and relaxed a bit then headed over to DTD for dinner and the evening.

 

[jakoky]

Hi there, we are going on our fourth trip in 4 1/2 years and we ALWAYS choose the early flight...our trip to WDW we left on a friday for seattle and were up at 4 am that day and then up at 2:30 am the next day for the flight to orlando...my kids were troopers and never complained...thankfully the florida time change worked in our favour

As for DL, both flights have been very early...our last trip, yep, we were up 2:30 am and enjoying the warm california sun at our motel by 11 am....

We are all way too excited to get where we are going, so a little less sleep is ok, we just catch up our first night there
sharon

 

[dis_guy]

Having said how much of an ordeal our 0600 flight from MCO was, I think next time we'll try an early departure from home and an afternoon departure from MCO. At least it maxes the time spent there a bit.

 

[Greenfield1984]

I've recently moved from montreal to ottawa and my dad was warning me not to bother showing up the usual 2-3 hours before the 6 am flight. Thats because in montreal they don't open that early! However we called to find out if thats the case and in ottawa they are open.

Personally I love the early morning flight. I end up sleeping little (if at all) the night before. This doesn't bother me because the excitement apparently gives me the adrenaline i need to be awake and happy during the day. I am also the type of person who does not like to just relax in the hotel room the first day. I need to dayt the parks. Not even to do the rides just to witness the atmosphere. I actually honeymooned in disney and due to the stress of the wedding (i hate being the center of attention) i didn't sleep the night before the wedding, slept very little the wedding night, and then skpped another night of sleep the next night because i was going to disney! Oh how its nice to be young .

 

[mtmbyck]

LOL-I have to update you on my experience flying home at 8:00pm.......NOT GREAT! The flight from Toronto to MCO was delayed an hour so they arrived an hour late so we actuallydid not leave until almost 9:30 whcih put us home at midnight. I WAS TIRED - thank goodness I didn't hve to drive!

The arents with children had a real tough time. Kids were all crashed and they had to manage carrying them and the carry-on luggage off the plane and then to the luggage area. They were struggling.

So in hindsight....here's my thought on the ideak times to fly 10:00am depart Toronto and 6pm depart Orlando. Good luck finding that schedule.