Airline flight what time to arrive?

[my2tinkerbells]

I am having a major crink in my plans here, lol. I just looked at Airtrans web site and they have changed the time of there non-stop flight on me! It used to be at 1:00 every day and now it is at 4:45 pm! We would not arrive in orlando until after 8 at night! I so wanted the non-stop flight because we have a 9 yr old, 5 yr old and 1 yr old. But, it that means not getting to Disney until at least 9 pm and not getting our luggage until maybe midnight! We are taking the magical express, so I assume that would probably take at least an hour to get to our resort (pop century) If we have to do a 1 stop flight we can leave here at 5:45 am and arrive in orlando at 10:40 a.m. Either way our 1 year old may be worse for wear, but at least we would have the option of napping once we got to the hotel and going to the parks for a while.

Will we survive switching plains with all our gear? DD 1 will have her own seat and car seat? Any opinions, non-stop late or 1 stop early? What do you all think?

 

[dsnymomof4]

Aren't there any other choices? If I absolutely had to choose between the 2, I think I would go for the direct flight. Although we have never done a connecting flight with our 4 children, I can imagine that it could be hard. Also, getting up that early is really going to make everyone so tired that you probably won't be able to do much anyway on that first day. When we went in 2004, we had a 7:00 flight, got up at 4:30, arrived at hotel at 11:00, and although we did spend the day at MGM, we were so tired that evening and actually the whole next day. I don't think it would be so bad to arrive in the evening. At least you'll be ready to go first thing the next morning. Good luck!

 

[scouthawkk]

If it were me, I would go 1 stop early. That would give you time to rest/nap once you get a room, and then maybe a nice dinner and a little park time or DTD in the evening, and still be able to turn in at a reasonable hour. Getting in and having to wait for luggage that late at night could mean for crabby people the next morning...at least it would for my family.

Since the 1yo will have her own seat, with a car seat, you can get a travel car seat cover, with wheels. Our cover still allows for additional stuff to be packed in with it, so ds's diaper bag or carry-on went in it also. The bigger kids could carry their own carry-on(s). Backpacks are great for this. Gate check a stroller at both airports. That way you don't have to carry the little one.

Pre-board the planes. If there are 2 adults, one does the pre-board to install the car seat (and with any of the other carry-ons they can muster). The other brings the remaining carry-ons and the kids. That way the seat should be installed before other people start boarding (difficult to install a seat with lots of other people on board). And with the second adult bringing the kids on at regular boarding time, they won't get to antsy waiting on the plane for everyone else to board.

It is totally doable, just takes a little planning, and cooperation from all involved. But still doable, especially if you are concerned about how late it will be by the time you get luggage from the direct flight.

 

[jodifla]

I'd go with the nonstop flight. Changing planes is a pretty big hassle with more than one kid, and it lengthens the travel time considerably, often triples it. You should be at your hotel about an hour after you land.

I'd pack one carryon bag with jammies, baby things and toiletries, so it doesn't matter when your luggage arrives.

Leaving at 5:45 a.m., you will literally be up all night. You have to be at the airport by 4 a.m., etc.

 

[jodifla]

If it were me, I would go 1 stop early. That would give you time to rest/nap once you get a room, and then maybe a nice dinner and a little park time or DTD in the evening, and still be able to turn in at a reasonable hour. Getting in and having to wait for luggage that late at night could mean for crabby people the next morning...at least it would for my family.

Since the 1yo will have her own seat, with a car seat, you can get a travel car seat cover, with wheels. Our cover still allows for additional stuff to be packed in with it, so ds's diaper bag or carry-on went in it also. The bigger kids could carry their own carry-on(s). Backpacks are great for this. Gate check a stroller at both airports. That way you don't have to carry the little one.

Pre-board the planes. If there are 2 adults, one does the pre-board to install the car seat (and with any of the other carry-ons they can muster). The other brings the remaining carry-ons and the kids. That way the seat should be installed before other people start boarding (difficult to install a seat with lots of other people on board). And with the second adult bringing the kids on at regular boarding time, they won't get to antsy waiting on the plane for everyone else to board.

It is totally doable, just takes a little planning, and cooperation from all involved. But still doable, especially if you are concerned about how late it will be by the time you get luggage from the direct flight.

But the flaw in this reasoning is you may not be able to check into your room right away. What if your room isn't ready until 4 p.m.? Then you've got three exhausted kids you've got to try to keep entertained.

 

[scouthawkk]

But the flaw in this reasoning is you may not be able to check into your room right away. What if your room isn't ready until 4 p.m.? Then you've got three exhausted kids you've got to try to keep entertained.

Hence my saying "once you get a room." They can still store their stuff with the front desk, tour the hotel, go some where for lunch or just relax in the lobby. It is still possible to check in before the technical check in time. Change into swim suits and hang out at the pool (that would mean packing suits in carry-ons, but not a big deal).

They asked for opinions/advice. And that is what I offered. People do this sort of thing all the time with 3+ kids. Only the OP knows their family well enough to say if it would work for them. I was simply stating that is what would, and does work best for my family (and many others that I know personally). If it doesn't work for them, and they would rather get in late, wait until (potentially) after midnight to get luggage, then that is up to them. But then you also run the chance of tired cranky kids late at night waking up when the luggage is delivered, and being tired and cranky in the morning. It all depends on where you want to make the trade off...

 

[CTillberg]

I see you are located in Central IL. Are you flying out of Moline, IL? If so ,have you checked Delta, they now have non-stops most days to Orlando. I am thinking about using them in Dec. Their flight currently leaves Moline at 7:45 am and arrives 10:50 am in Orlando.

 

[jodifla]

Hence my saying "once you get a room." They can still store their stuff with the front desk, tour the hotel, go some where for lunch or just relax in the lobby. It is still possible to check in before the technical check in time. Change into swim suits and hang out at the pool (that would mean packing suits in carry-ons, but not a big deal).

They asked for opinions/advice. And that is what I offered. People do this sort of thing all the time with 3+ kids. Only the OP knows their family well enough to say if it would work for them. I was simply stating that is what would, and does work best for my family (and many others that I know personally). If it doesn't work for them, and they would rather get in late, wait until (potentially) after midnight to get luggage, then that is up to them. But then you also run the chance of tired cranky kids late at night waking up when the luggage is delivered, and being tired and cranky in the morning. It all depends on where you want to make the trade off...

Why so defensive? I'm just pointing out that they may be stuck, and quite exhausted, without a room for several hours. That would kill the nap idea.

Also, whenever you connect, you increase the chance of missing a flight and/or losing your luggage.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would keep the evening, non-stop flight mostly because of the hassle of the connection. On the early am flight if you arrive at the resort late morning you can pre check-in but your room probably won't be available until after 4pm, making it one very LONG day!

As far as ME and your luggage, you can bring your luggage with you on the bus if you omit the tags and claim it yourself. I did this on our October trip, we arrived in MCO at 9pm and I didn't want a middle of the night luggage delivery. FWIW we were on the same bus as several other people from our flight who did use the delivery service so it didn't "cost" us any time!

Alternately you could pack what you needed for one night in a carry on and still have the rest of your luggage delivered via ME. I beleive you can have then hold off the delivery to the morning if you let the front desk know.

Have fun
TJ

 

[MKOATEYW]

For me the issues would be:
1. Sleep issues with the early flight.
My family have a hard time going to sleep the night before a disney trip. (I think we have all seen and can identify with the commerial "I am to excited to sleep!") You will then wake them up extra early and drag them through 3 airports (yes 3! your home's, the stop over, and orlando's) And in then there is real possiblity your room may not be ready till 4p.m. (or 3 depending on the hotel) for quiet or nap time if needed. With that little sleep in our crew, adults will be doing auditions for grumpy and kids will be in melt down mode buy lunch. How will your famliy respond?

2. The Plane change itself.
All the fun possiblitys of missed connections, delays in a strange airport, 2nd half of the trip being cancled for some unforsean reason till the next day, etc. (hopefully it will go off with out a hitch but it has happened). With a direct flight you don't have to worry as much. If the flight gets delayed you aren't going to miss a connection or get stuck in a strange airport, you just start you disney vaction a little later and if they completely cancel the flight you can go home and try again on the next flight. For my peice of mind with kids a direct flight is the way to go. How will your family respond if the plans go amuck?

3. Time is money.
Yes time is money, but how is it better spent? Would your time/money be better spent with more rest and a the piece of mind of a direct flight, or will you and the kids be able to "hit the ground running" with the earlier flights and hop right into a park/pool etc not need the room and luggage till dinner time?

4. Luggage
Sorry but this is a non issue for us. You should have 1 carry on with whatever you need for the whole family for 1 day. For the morning flight park stuff/swimies and towels, etc. what every you need till you get your luggage when your room is ready. For the evening flight nighties, tooth brushes, etc. If you are worried about them dropping the luggage late and waking up the kids ask them not to deliver it till the next morning at 7a.m. (when they open) That is what we do. If you are one of the early rising park commandos who have achieved the super duper before the park opens charater breakfasts for the first day pack the next days cloths in the carry on also.

Do what is best for you and your family! Only You know how they will react.

Remember to have fun no matter what, And have a Disney day!

 

[keishashadow]

AT strikes again...stinks IMO.

I'd go w/the early flight out, especially if you don't plan on touring the parks that day.

Could use the resort pool, take a ride on monorail - maybe a charactar dinner, then fall asleep early - ready to take on the world the next day for EE.

Good luck

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Personally, I would do ANYTHING I can to avoid changing planes with little ones!!!!!!!! So my vote goes for the non-stop later flight.

 

[my2tinkerbells]

I see you are located in Central IL. Are you flying out of Moline, IL? If so ,have you checked Delta, they now have non-stops most days to Orlando. I am thinking about using them in Dec. Their flight currently leaves Moline at 7:45 am and arrives 10:50 am in Orlando.

We live in Normal and will be flying out of the Bloomington airport. I did check the Delta web site and it doesn't look like they have any non-stop flights from here Maybe they will add some, I should go look at other dates on Delta, hmmmm. I don't know. At least with Airtran we will definatly take the non stop flight home. I think it was at 2:45. Our options are slim I guess 5:45 am, I think a 12:45 (but still would not get into Orlando until later) and then the non stop at 4:45. I am thinking I would rather get in earlier and have some time in the parks. The thought of our room not being ready never crossed my mind...duh... I was thinking the early flight would work out well if we could get to the hotel and nap for a bit and then go to the parks.

Has anyone checked in early and had there room ready? How likely would that be?

I would also love to not switch planes, but I just don't want to get into orlando that late. We are traveling with my mother also, so it is me, dh, grandma and our 3 girls. So one adult per child should make it a bit easier, right, lol!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I took a 7am flight last Aug with my DS and I would never do an early flight again with a child. We do live 1 1/2 hours from the airport so we left the house at 4:30 am. I didn't really sleep at all that night for worry I would over sleep. My DS wouldn't nap on the ride to the airport or on the plane. He did sleep on ME bus to ASMo. Even though we went at a very quiet time (last week of Aug-never waited in any lines except Soarin) our room was NOT ready at check in. That early flight really set us up for an exhausting trip the whole time.

I am flying with DD this May and we have a 10am flight. I think those 3 extra hours at home will really improve the quality of the whole trip.