Connecting Flights

[gaz.s]

Just booked a holiday for Easter 08 for 2 weeks YEEHAA!! This is our 3rd time to WDW but this time we have booked through OCEAN-FLORIDA and are using indirect flights (eeek!) Heathrow to Washington, then on to Orlando. Daft question maybe? but are these connecting flights a breeze or are they a head scratching panic 'where do we go now' thing! I have 4 kids in tow and all I can think about is the movie "Home Alone"! Any comments welcome, and Thanks!

 

[AlanUK]

We've done this in the past and never found it to be a problem, although admittedly it's just been DW and I and we haven't had to keep any kids under contol.

I've always found it easy enough, I've been through Washington Dullas twice and I can't remember anything that caused any major problems. The only thing to bear in mind is that you need to pass through immigration and customs at your first point of entry to the US so you will need to do all of that at Washington and then re-load your bags onto another belt for onward transfer once you have done it. From memory this was a pretty simple process as well.

 

[T16GEM]

We did this last time, Birmingham to Newark then Newark to Orlando. We thought it was better, took a while longer but we relaxed more as we could get off the plane stretch our legs and get some food. We are doing the same this year.

Getting through immigration was ok too, then at least you don't have to do it when you get to Orlando.
The only thing that I would say is make sure that you get a decent time between flights, ours is 2 hours and it's a push but you can do it!

HTH
Gems

 

[wayneg]

We have done indirect as many times as direct, no problems, just the odd delay down to Orlando, You really need 2 hours from landing to go thru Immigration, recheck your bags and find your gate for next flight, can be done with less time but its a rush.
I like getting Immigration done in another airport then when you land at Orlando you go straight to pick up your car/transfer, Orlando gets too busy if 2 UK planes land at once, just 1 plane took us almost 1 hour at Easter. Always been quieter elswhere.
If you are renting a car the rental desks are usually quiter also.
I have a £100 rule. If Direct are £100/seat more than Indirect I wont pay it.
Only done it with 1 child and 1 mother in law(would rather have 4 kids )

 

[gaz.s]

Thanks everyone. We only have one and a half hours between flights so its going to be a rush! Hopefully both flights are with United Airlines so hopefully they will fast track us through Immigration etc. Will get the kids on roller skates and the mother in law a turbo charged Zimmer frame! Hope she don't read this!

 

[wicket2005]

Does anyone know what happens if you miss the flight? My son is taking himself off to Minneapolis and has to change at Detroit. He booked it without showing us the details and I thought a hour and a half between flights was a bit too tight when I saw it.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Does anyone know what happens if you miss the flight? My son is taking himself off to Minneapolis and has to change at Detroit. He booked it without showing us the details and I thought a hour and a half between flights was a bit too tight when I saw it.

They should put you on the next available flight, but it depends on who you fly in with and who you fly down to Orlando with.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thanks everyone. We only have one and a half hours between flights so its going to be a rush! Hopefully both flights are with United Airlines so hopefully they will fast track us through Immigration etc. Will get the kids on roller skates and the mother in law a turbo charged Zimmer frame! Hope she don't read this!

You will be fine, there are lots of flights from IAD to MCO with United:

08:55
10:10
12:25
14:35
17:05
21:45

 

[wicket2005]

They should put you on the next available flight, but it depends on who you fly in with and who you fly down to Orlando with.

Thanks for that. It is the first time he has taken himself off and is going to meet some friends he made when they were over here studying at York University with him. I would have felt happier him booking a direct flight to Minnieapolis but they all involve a change. He will be 19 when he goes but still doesn't stop me worrying about him, it is an awfully long way to go by yourself.

I cannot remember which airline he is flying to Detroit with but it is an American one going from Gatwick.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thanks for that. It is the first time he has taken himself off and is going to meet some friends he made when they were over here studying at York University with him. I would have felt happier him booking a direct flight to Minnieapolis but they all involve a change. He will be 19 when he goes but still doesn't stop me worrying about him, it is an awfully long way to go by yourself.

I cannot remember which airline he is flying to Detroit with but it is an American one going from Gatwick.

Northworst, errrrr Northwest??

 

[richard_andmel]

One thing that might make you feel better is to have a look at the airports website and get a feel for the layout.

 

[Kaslee]

We used Northwest last year, Gatwick, Detroit, then on to Orlando. It was excellent. Our flight back from Orlando to Detroit was delayed by nearly 2 hours but they held back the onward connection for us ( not by 2 hours but it was still late). We were the last to board and worried that our luggage wouldn't have made it but it was fine. Detroit is a big hub airport and we found it to be very efficient.
We would do it again but now Continental is going out of Bristol (via Newark) we are thinking of trying them next year.

 

[wicket2005]

Thanks Kaslee and Richard. Good idea about the layout, I will run a map off for my son or get him to have a look at the layout.