Arrival day hotel dilemma

[Masonmj84]

We'll be flying in mid-week from the Western US (Mountain Time Zone) for our WDW vacation planned for next sping.

From a not missing as much school/work standpoint, our best (non-red eye) bet is a direct flight that arrives at MCO at 11:30 pm.

Option 1 would be to simply stay at the MCO Hyatt and then take DME to our resort the next morning (especially appealing if their bag claim retrevial service operates that late).

Option 2 would be to go to take DME to our resort after our flight lands (probably wouldn't get to the resort until after 1 am because we'd not only need to allow time for DME but also for baggage claim since we're arriving so late).

The advantage to the first option is that we'd get the kids to bed a lot earlier. The advantage to the second option is that we'd already be at WDW when we wake up the next morning (in either case, we'd probably sleep in).

A third option is a direct flight tht arrives earlier (around 4 pm). But this flight tends to be more exepensive than the later flight and would require us to miss an extra day of work/school for what is, essentially, a travel day.

 

[mickeynut1]

We'll be flying in mid-week from the Western US (Mountain Time Zone) for our WDW vacation planned for next sping.

From a not missing as much school/work standpoint, our best (non-red eye) bet is a direct flight that arrives at MCO at 11:30 pm.

Option 1 would be to simply stay at the MCO Hyatt and then take DME to our resort the next morning (especially appealing if their bag claim retrevial service operates that late).

Option 2 would be to go to take DME to our resort after our flight lands (probably wouldn't get to the resort until after 1 am because we'd not only need to allow time for DME but also for baggage claim since we're arriving so late).

The advantage to the first option is that we'd get the kids to bed a lot earlier. The advantage to the second option is that we'd already be at WDW when we wake up the next morning (in either case, we'd probably sleep in).

A third option is a direct flight tht arrives earlier (around 4 pm). But this flight tends to be more exepensive than the later flight and would require us to miss an extra day of work/school for what is, essentially, a travel day.

Option 3 would be my first choice, but if you wanted to avoid the higher airfare cost and missed school/work day, my second choice would be to book that extra night at Disney. We usually arrive late (after 10 pm) and while it does cost more for that extra night at our resort just to sleep, we find it totally worth it as we like waking up the next morning ready to start our day. For some, it works best to book the Hyatt and head right to their room after landing, but for us, it works better to get to our Disney resort and get settled and not have to worry about moving the next day. Good luck with your decision.

 

[gmboy95]

I am on team "Option 2".....it would suck getting up and then moving everything to Disney....wake up at Disney

 

[jhoannam]

That was us our last trip and our up coming trip. Both times we have decided to just sleep at DW. Our last trip I over did it and had a park day that first morning. This time we are going to take that first day off and be well rested for Epcot RD.

 

[AnnaGiselle]

I agree on Option 2. I think it's nice to go ahead and get there, so you'll be all set to go in the morning to go right to the parks. And maybe the excitement of actually being in Disney will help keep everyone's energy up at that late hour!

 

[ktlm]

For me it depends on what your Disney resort is and how much per night it is. If you are at one of the values or moderates, then the Hyatt may not be that much cheaper than the resort room for the night. In that case, I would definitely book the Disney room for that extra night. If that Disney room is a high priced deluxe which is definitely significantly higher than the Hyatt, then for us, the decision would be how early we wanted to be in the parks the next day. It is definitely nice to be at the resort; have your room; have your things in the room and to be able to be in the park. If you stay at the Hyatt, then you will have to get everyone up; get everything packed up; drag it to ME; check into the resort; likely get all your stuff stored at bell services since your room probably won't be ready yet-- and THEN hit a park. So you lose the cost/value of those extra park hours where you have paid for the park ticket but are not in the park. MIL and FIL have come in the night before and stayed at the Hyatt and taken ME the next morning (due to flight prices and options) and it worked great for them--- BUT we were not getting there until the next day and they did not plan to go to the park until we arrived.

Are there any flights where you could have everything packed up and then have them do at least a half day at school and then pick them up and go straight to the airport? That is what we did last year because we needed to get there on a Friday night (instead of Saturday) to be able to get a discount.

 

[ktlm]

For me it depends on what your Disney resort is and how much per night it is. If you are at one of the values or moderates, then the Hyatt may not be that much cheaper than the resort room for the night. In that case, I would definitely book the Disney room for that extra night. If that Disney room is a high priced deluxe which is definitely significantly higher than the Hyatt, then for us, the decision would be how early we wanted to be in the parks the next day. It is definitely nice to be at the resort; have your room; have your things in the room and to be able to be in the park. If you stay at the Hyatt, then you will have to get everyone up; get everything packed up; drag it to ME; check into the resort; likely get all your stuff stored at bell services since your room probably won't be ready yet-- and THEN hit a park. So you lose the cost/value of those extra park hours where you have paid for the park ticket but are not in the park. MIL and FIL have come in the night before and stayed at the Hyatt and taken ME the next morning (due to flight prices and options) and it worked great for them--- BUT we were not getting there until the next day and they did not plan to go to the park until we arrived.

Are there any flights where you could have everything packed up and then have them do at least a half day at school and then pick them up and go straight to the airport? That is what we did last year because we needed to get there on a Friday night (instead of Saturday) to be able to get a discount.

 

[Masonmj84]

For me it depends on what your Disney resort is and how much per night it is.

Are there any flights where you could have everything packed up and then have them do at least a half day at school and then pick them up and go straight to the airport? That is what we did last year because we needed to get there on a Friday night (instead of Saturday) to be able to get a discount.

As to your first point, right now, the plan is to stay at the Contemporary (to start out - we do split stays). The first day, the plan is to go into Epcot late morning/early afternoon and hit a couple of attractions with FP+. Then head back to the resort for a few hours of R&R. In the evening, we plan to go into MK and have dinner at the Plaza, follwed by Wishes (so if we can nap during R&R time, it might cancel out a very late arrival).

As to your second point, I would love for there to be a direct flight that leaves and arrives a few hours earlier. But, so far, there isn't one (there are some iteneraries requiring connections that arrive a few hours earlier, but these all leave in the morning, in which case we might as well just take the direct flight that arrives at 4 pm).

 

[AshleeH]

Option 2 - If I'm within an hour of getting there, I want to get there. A little sleep might be lost, but I'll sacrifice sleep to make the next day hassle-free.

 

[imthemamahere]

Generally, I'd say get to Disney right away... but arriving past midnight... I'm not sure I'd want to do that. How old are the kid(s) involved here? I know my little guy, who'll be 7 on our next trip, would be a wreck if we dragged him off a plane at 11pm and made him hang around waiting for luggage and a bus and then had to drag him off the bus, check in, do the (sometimes long) walk to the room... He'd be miserable. (And he wouldn't sleep in the next morning, making that day miserable, too.) So to protect as much of his sleep as possible, I'd stay at the Hyatt for that one night.

But if you've got a teenager who can handle a late night, sleep in, and roll with it the next day... that's a totally different story.

 

[jhoannam]

As to your first point, right now, the plan is to stay at the Contemporary (to start out - we do split stays). The first day, the plan is to go into Epcot late morning/early afternoon and hit a couple of attractions with FP+. Then head back to the resort for a few hours of R&R. In the evening, we plan to go into MK and have dinner at the Plaza, follwed by Wishes (so if we can nap during R&R time, it might cancel out a very late arrival).

As to your second point, I would love for there to be a direct flight that leaves and arrives a few hours earlier. But, so far, there isn't one (there are some iteneraries requiring connections that arrive a few hours earlier, but these all leave in the morning, in which case we might as well just take the direct flight that arrives at 4 pm).

I would stay at the Hyatt... No need to spend double that.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

We have done option 1 twice. We traveled in from the mountain time zone and landed around 10:45 which feels like 8:45 for us. We turn in Amex points for a Hyatt gift card and just stay there. Since we rent a car, it does save on one days rental. Luggage does come pretty quick at that hour which is nice. Anyway, our daughter loved staying at the Hyatt. It is nice that she can really be asleep within 45 minutes of landing. We then wake up, my husband get the rental car and off we go. We are DVC members so we didn't want to "waste" points for that night.

 

[cassie58]

I also vote for option 2. I like to know I am settled and don't have to move again, and am already there in the morning. To me it is a more relaxed start to your first day., and any day I wake up in Disney is a good day! Also, if you are getting the dining plan, you can use the meal for the first "night" that you aren't going to need for your departure day, or to make up a two credit meal another day. We have utilized this on most trips, as we like you mentioned try to leave after school if possible.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would do option 1. I once landed around 11:30 pm and took DME to POR. It took forever! At that time of night, you have to wait for the bus to fill and they stopped at 4 or 5 resorts before POR. It was awful. I would stay at MCO, DME in the morning and off to EP. Or, take a private car to your WDW resort.

 

[bumbershoot]

We have done option 1 twice. We traveled in from the mountain time zone and landed around 10:45 which feels like 8:45 for us. We turn in Amex points for a Hyatt gift card and just stay there. Since we rent a car, it does save on one days rental. Luggage does come pretty quick at that hour which is nice. Anyway, our daughter loved staying at the Hyatt. It is nice that she can really be asleep within 45 minutes of landing. We then wake up, my husband get the rental car and off we go. We are DVC members so we didn't want to "waste" points for that night.

Having cc points makes it easier!

I look at it as renting the room not just for that night's sleep but for the night and the day until 4pm when you would expect a room to be ready at the onsite resort. And it means you don't move again. Especially during a trip that already has more than one resort, not having to do that extra move after one sleep is good.

I would do option 1. I once landed around 11:30 pm and took DME to POR. It took forever! At that time of night, you have to wait for the bus to fill and they stopped at 4 or 5 resorts before POR. It was awful. I would stay at MCO, DME in the morning and off to EP. Or, take a private car to your WDW resort.

Fwiw it's not always that bad. We were stop 3 of 4 for POR once after midnight, but the wait wasn't bad and it was basically relaxing on the bus.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I love staying at the MCO Hyatt! There is something magical about getting off a late night flight, and knowing you don't even have to stumble your way out of the building. And if you get a balcony overlooking the terminal, it is really neat to look down on it so empty. I really enjoy our "arrival" at Disney, and wouldn't want to waste it late at night when I'm tired and grumpy. Stay at the airport, and you can sleep in, get breakfast, and arrive at WDW fresh and ready to enjoy the day.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I either fly from CT on JetBlue on their 6pm flight that gets me to MCO sometime on or before 9pm or their early morning flight that gets me to MCO around 10am - I/we find that the evening flight gets us truly settled into our room sometime around midnight by the time our bags arrive, however, we are ready for the magic of Disney first thing the next morning. When we take the morning flight, even though we get to MCO by 10-11am, it seems we don't get to a park before lunch at earliest. Therefore, we almost always opt to go on the evening flight, take the DME and be on property, even if we aren't in bed by midnight.

In your case, I think I would save the dollars and stay at the Hyatt as there is no benefit, park wise, for you to get on property that late. Get to bed, get up early and take the first DME you can get on. You could keep all your essentials and change of clothes in your carry-ons and be on property, well rested, and saved $300 before rope drop.

Tom

 

[midge3426]

One thing to consider arriving late is the Magic Express service. We arrived at 11:30 one evening and after navigating the airport, we boarded the Disney Express. We ended up sitting in the bus for an hour until the bus left for DW. We arrived at the WL and there was no one out front to help us with our luggage. My husband finally went inside to check-in and there was only one hotel clerk and he was new so it took some time to get checked-in. We got upstairs to our room and the key did not work and then my husband went back down again. We finally arrived in our room at 2:00 AM and everyone was starving---there was no place to get a snack. I will never, ever again go through that experience.

 

[disny_luvr]

My vote is for option #1. We really like the MCO Hyatt and have stayed there before our cruises. My kids would be a wreck if we landed at 11:30pm, had to get our luggage, take a bus to the resort, check in, etc. If staying at the Hyatt, you can send DH to get the luggage and you and the kids can check in and head to bed. Pack a night bag with everything you need for the night and next morning; repacking in the morning will take a few minutes. You can get on a ME bus early in the morning and be refreshed and ready to start your vacation.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would do option 2. I just want to get there and get settled.