Arriving the day before check-in

[BDL]

Hi all. We are in the VERY preliminary stages of planning our next trip to WDW. Our last trip was 12/10. I tried something a little unorthox. When I made our flight reservations, I discovered that the later flights were cheaper than early or mid-day flights.

When I realized this, I came up with a plan. I didn't want to waste money and prescious Disney time with a mid-day flight. And to go from airport to a full day at Disney could be rather exhausting (and maybe less enjoyable). So I arranged to book a cheap night time flight to Orlando for the day before my check-in. I parlayed the savings that I had to book a night at an Orlando Comfort Inn.

Once we landed, got our bags and checked in, it was about 11:30-12midnight. We got a good night's sleep, enjoyed the complimentary coffee and continental breakfast and took a cab over to Port Orleans Riverside. We checked in and as luck would have it, our room was ready. We got our key cards/park tix. Our bags were in our room (we were prepared to leave them with storage if the room wasn't ready) and we were through the turnstiles at EPCOT by 10:30.

We are thinking about doing this again. Has anyone else tried this? Do you think this is a good idea? Or is it a wasted effort and we should just soldier through and do the airport, check-in and park all in the same day?

 

[OKW Lover]

This is a good plan, except for the taxi to WDW part. I'm assuming that the Comfort Inn you refer to was near the airport and offered complimentary (or inexpensive) transportation to/from the airport. In that case, just take their shuttle back to the airport in the morning and use ME to get you to WDW for free.

 

[kaffinito]

I'm doing something similar. I got a got rate at the Hyatt in the airport so I'm flying in the night before, staying at the airport, then meeting my kids plane the next morning and taking ME to the resort for check in.

I agree with the pp about not taking the cab but taking ME from the airport instead.

 

[dudspizza]

We just just this, but as OKW Lover suggests, we took the airport shuttle back to MCO and took ME to the POR. That said, we had no plans to do anything that day WDW related. If time is money, renting a car at MCO or taking a cab will get you there faster and to a park faster.

Duds

 

[BDL]

If time is money, renting a car at MCO or taking a cab will get you there faster and to a park faster.

Duds

This is what I was thinking. The Comfort Inn that I booked was only a couple miles away from DTD (I got to see my first Golden Corral Restaurant) . The cab ride from the airport was way longer than from the motel to POR. And like you said, to me, the time was worth the money. Between the 2 cab rides, it only cost me $55 (including tips).

 

[blitzkrieg048]

sometimes u just hafta pay for convenience

 

[goofy4tink]

This is what I was thinking. The Comfort Inn that I booked was only a couple miles away from DTD (I got to see my first Golden Corral Restaurant) . The cab ride from the airport was way longer than from the motel to POR. And like you said, to me, the time was worth the money. Between the 2 cab rides, it only cost me $55 (including tips).

I would book a cheap hotel close to the airport for arrival night...there are many that have free shuttles back and forth to MCO. THen, up very early the next morning, get the shuttle back, and then take DME to your resort. You can take DME as early as you wish. You could actually arrive at your resort fairly early.
Or, just stay at the nearby hotel and book a car service or cab to your WDW resort. No way would I pay for a ride to a resort close to DTD and then another cab ride to my WDW resort. Just pay once, and save some time.