Arrive Earlier or Nonstop Flight?

[Fionasmommy]

Are you aiming to arrive earlier in order to get your resort room requests? If so, I'd shop around for a earlier non-stop flight.

We took a really early Delta flight last time - 6am on out of Denver, with an hour and a half stop over in Atlanta before arriving around 1.30 in Orlando.

Something always has to go wrong, right? It did. The flight was delayed. They assured us on the plane that everyone would have "plenty of time" to make their connecting flights in ATL, so we trusted them. We got off the plane and checked the time - 15 minutes until our flight to Orlando was due to leave!

We didn't know where we were or how to get to where we needed to be. Luckily we had checked in all the way through, so we just had to trust the departure gate on our boarding passes and start running in the general direction that everyone else was moving.

It was horrible! We made it right as they were about to close the door to the plane. I don't know how we did it - especially with a 4 year old who was running on 2 hours of sleep. But after that, never again! As much as I don't want to check in after 4pm, I'd rather do so after a late non-stop flight than after little sleep, an early flight, missed connection and several hours sitting around Atlanta waiting to get on another flight and wondering where my bags went!

We're going back in October and this time I'm going to happily pay extra for a non-stop flight on any airline that has resort check-in.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Thanks for that! The layover in Atlanta is 45 minutes . . . and I have been through Atlanta and know it is CRAZY. However, unless my memory is really bad, it seems like all the Delta flight (domestic) seem to leave out of the same concourse. So, hopefully, we wouldn't be terribly far from the connecting flight.

No, we arrived in A and had to get to B. Or maybe it was the other way around. We had to get the train to the other terminal. No easy task in 15 minutes - but it would've been fine in the 90 minutes we should've had.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I would take the later flight because of the 18mo (and layovers).... who needs that.

However, is there a price difference - since you are 5 people?

 

[lynninpa]

If you are stopping without a plane change, I would take the earlier flight.

However, if you have to change planes, I would take the later non-stop flight. Less chance of flight delays, lost luggage, etc.

I agree with antmaril!

 

[MomofCKJ]

I'd do the non stop for sure. Especially since you do have 9 days there, getting in late the first day is not going to be a big deal. Maybe book a character dinner or something for that night.

Allyson

 

[firkat]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the fabulous advice. There are truly Disney travel experts on this board. I took the majority of the advice and booked the nonstop . . . less stress . . . less hassle.

Now I just have to get an ADR for that first night!

 

[ilovepooh]

I would take the Non-stop even though I prefer earlier flights to later ones.

You'll be there for 9 days anyway, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the parks, etc.



Enjoy!

 

[the Fidge]

I am not one to be sitting in delays or stops JUST GET ME THERE!!!!! So I suggest a non stop. I have had my luggage misplaced and I ended up waiting a long time for it to be located! Not a good way to start a vacation. So for this enthustiastic traveler just get me there without stopping and unforseen problems! Give me the straight line to the MAGIC!!!!!

Good luck happy planning and have a great trip! Just think you can go over your checklist another 5x before leaving LOL! Watch your favorite disney movie too!

 

[ms.ojo]

Usually we take the nonstop which is a 2hr+ flight from CT. This trip, I had to book a 1stop (no plane change) that will take 3hrs. The other 1stop flights from here have layovers and take 5 hrs. I would never consider them. Our children are 4 and 7. The one plus w/ the 1 stop...it gets us in at noon! The nonstops would have had us landing around 2 or 3pm. We'll see how this goes w/ the 1 stop. Coming home I was able to secure our normal direct flight!

in your case, I think I would opt for the later direct flight.