Are we crazy to take a 10 pm flight home w/kids?

[Rustysmom]

I have an 11 year old and a dd who will be 4 when we go to Disney. I want to book the flight and get it over with, and I see that a 10 pm flight to go home is about $25 cheaper pp than other flights in the late afternoon/evening.

Do you think this is way too late to bring kids on the plane? Sometimes they're still up at 10 pm if there's no school the next day, but by the time the plane lands it will be almost 1 am if it's on time.

They can sleep as late as they want the next day, so do you think it's a bad idea? I could use the extra $100 to pay for the cab to come home from the airport.

 

[lsteadman]

I also have an 11 year old too! You know your children better than anyone so go with your gut feeling on booking that late flight. That late flight might be hard on the 4 year old; just be perpare to either carry or stroller the sleepy 4 year old through the airport.

However, if the $100.00 savings is needed then I say go for it. I always take the flight that leaves Orlando around 5:30 p.m. with gets us to MSP around 9:45 ish. By the time we get off the plane, retrieve our bags, make it through the airport to Supershuttle, and drive home it's around 11:30 p.m.

I makes for a long day but we had such a great time at Disney it doesn't matter. I know my 11 year old always sleeps on the plane on the way home because she is so sleep from all the fun we have had at Disney.

Good luck and have a fun trip!

 

[havencruiser]

I would do it. I always took an 8:40 PM flight from Disney to Philly. They are so tired from the fun, they sleep!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We also always stay as late as possible and book the lat or 2nd to last flight out. DD13 now has done fine since 7 or 8 years old. If it's that good of a savings then go ahead but also with late flights if delayed they sometimes get canceled all together .

 

[Neelloc]

If it was your flight into Florida, I'd say no way, but going home, late is fine. Especially of the kids can sleep late the next day!

 

[KimAshton]

Late night flights are great. Most people sleep. I usually fly red eye home from CA when I fly and everyone just sleeps.

 

[zulaya]

I'll be the possible lone dissenter.

Do you think your kids can handle it?

Waiting until 10pm to get on the plane, getting settled and actually sleeping on the plane?

Getting up again at 1am and riding home and trying to go asleep again?

I have DD10 and DS11. I know that they could not handle this real well, even at the age they are and as experienced travellers. They can't get comfortable on the plane enough to sleep. And they are kids that if they don't get their sleep, the next day, it's a crabby one. I personally choose not to deal with that myself.

I have seen those cheap fares for the late late flights. I grumble about it being only that flight and I let it go. I'll pay the extra money so that from start to finish, everyone has a good vacation.

Just my opinion...I'm not judging you or anyone else. I just know that for my kids, a late flight like that make more trouble than that money is going to save me.

 

[antmaril]

Personally, I think it's too late.

For us, when it's over, it's over - I want to go home and I don't want to wait all day and most of the evening to get there. I would think your children would be just exhausted. Heck, I'd be exhausted.

Just my two cents, of course.

 

[Rustysmom]

Thanks everyone. We're still discussing it. I'm just worried now that if we pick the last flight, they might cancel us. They wouldn't just leave us stranded in FLA, would they?

 

[garnet1240]

I would just make sure it's not the last flight out for the night, or if you have a connection, that it's not the last one as well. I had planned the same way on a flight Las Vegas to NY. Booked a 11pm flight home thinking we could all sleep on the flight. Had a lighting storm in Vegas, flight was delayed 2 1/2 hrs, missed our connecting flight. Another several hours delay. Made for a vey long trip home. In the future, I'm going to pass on the late flights, we needed two days to recoupe after we got home..

 

[magiroux]

I think it's perfect. I don't know your 4 YO, but they will be pooped from a day at the parks (or whatever you are doing) and by the time the flight gets in the air, I bet they will be ready to snooze for the ride home. I wouldn't give it a second thought with the 11 YO, but unless there is something about the 4YO in particular that concerns you, I think it is perfect. I have noticed that evening flights from MCO are much quieter than AM/early PM flights. Be sure to have a stroller as soon as you get off the plane so you would not have to carry a sleeping child.

BTW, the above applies (IMHO) only if this is a Non-Stop flight you are talking about

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks everyone. We're still discussing it. I'm just worried now that if we pick the last flight, they might cancel us. They wouldn't just leave us stranded in FLA, would they?

No, they will put you on a flight the next day (if one is available). If it's weather related, you would be responsible for finding a hotel for the night or stay at the airport. I personally would not do it.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Taking the last flight of the nite is always risky because of the chance of delays or cancellations. I wouldn't risk it for those reasons more then for the late time issue.

If your flight is delayed even an hour then look how much that pushes everything back. My kids would be cranky if we tried to fly that late.

 

[Ambassador]

The hard part will be at baggage claim after the flight. Unless you are putting the your 4 in a stroller, they'll be asleep in your arms.

We would consider an earlier flight.