Departure Day - Tips - Please add yours

[LovesTimone]

I have found lots of info on arrival day and the trip itself, but not a lot of good info on departure day. Everyone has different travel arrangements, rental cars, flights early or late, driving one's own car. Please include your travel mode so this will help others with the same travel arrangements'.

So what do you do on departure day to get the most out of it?

Here's some of mine, Please add your tips

We drive are own car so we can leave when we want to. We do set a rough time to hit the road.

Breakfast ADR's are a must, we love to have one last character breakfast, Chef Mickeys is the ticket for us.

If we go into the parks - Crystal Palace for character Breakfast, then we hit our favorite rides, POTC, Thunder mountain, and Buzz light-year are must.

Our last stop is DTD, for some shopping and little more magic, usually a late lunch, Raglan Road or Earl of Sandwich are our favorite's. We have gotten sandwiches to go for later on while on the road.

I keep up with our stuff in the room daily, extra baggies, and a laundry bag really help. This way on our last day we are not scrambling around to get everything together.

I plan on what to wear on departure day. If we are going into the parks and wearing shorts, and I know its going to be cold at home, I leave out a pair of jeans and jackets for a quick change. This save time later on, and less stress for the car ride home.

 

[disneymom443]

On our trip coming up we are driving our car, so on departure day we are going to Chef Mickey's. This will be the first time we have gone there, I thought it was going to be a good way to end our vacation.

In the past we have gone to one of the parks and went on an attraction that we missed. I like TSM, and just walked around before heading back to the resort to get on the ME bus.

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

The last few time we packed up the night before, checked out first thing in the morning and left bags with the hotel guest services/bell services and head out to a park. A huge last day hit was going to Epcot and using up our remaining snack credits on pastries from the Paris bakery, heading to Japan for some Japanese orange candy,and perfume for me in Norway. Somehow sitting on the plane heading home that evening was a little bit easier while we were eating our Epcot treats. We've done the same thing at DTD and MK but my family prefers to end the trip at Epcot now.

 

[nkereina]

We fly, so we have to abide by what time DME tells us they are picking us up. I try to book a later flight, and I know that DME generally picks you up about 3 hours before your scheduled flight.

We just got back on Friday night - our flight was scheduled for 8:10pm and the day before we were informed DME would pick us up at 5:15pm. We slept in a little, showered and packed up and had our bags down to resort airline check-in by 9:30am. This was my first time using this service and I highly recommend it if your airline is participating. By checking our bags here and having Disney print our boarding passes, we were able to bypass the airline desk all together at the airport. We then gave our carry ons to the bellmen to store and we left for a breakfast ADR at Kona. After Kona, we checked out the GF and then went to TTC and transferred to the Epcot monorail. We ended the trip walking around the WS. We then went back to the resort (CSR) around 3:30 and killed the last hour having a drink by the lake. The DME bus was on time.

We love ending the trip with a good breakfast and doing one of our favorite things before we leave. So sad to leave!

 

[msp2mco]

We have always flown, and usually we rent a car. On departure day, I try to remember to put out the "Do Not Disturb" sign the night before so Mousekeeping doesn't try to get into our room early for cleaning. As DVC members, we usually stay in a 1- or 2-bedroom, so we have to clean out the refrigerator and pack up to go. If we have time, we go to a park. Otherwise, we go to DTD for some last shopping and Disney magic. Sometimes we have to leave really early in the morning, so then it means setting the alarm early and leaving in the dark.

 

[hops&dreams]

We fly, and rely on Disney Transportation for our whole trip (since we stay onsite). I book a later flight in the evening, so we have a good chunk of the day still at WDW. We've gotten picked up by DME between 3:30-5.

We pack the night before, with minimal essentials left out, to be put in after getting ready, and chargers put away, etc. It's always hectic that morning though... I don't know why it always happens, but it does for us.

We get out and check our bags at concierge to hold until DME, or we check them if our airline is participating in that. Then we have a nice breakfast at our hotel, or at Main Street Bakery. We inventory how many DDP credits are left and try to sneak them in if we can. Last trip, we had 13 snack credits left on the last day. We still had 8 at the end of the day, so I rang out bags of craisins to take home that I later baked with while DH rode ToT one last time.

We park hop, visiting favorites for the last time, as time allows. We generally ride a couple of things, take a quick last walk around WS, eating CS through countries to use up our CS meals, save one for each of us. We always end at MK, and walk around the Emporium one last time, picking up last minute post cards. It's always worked out that there's one last parade for DD to watch while I am paying. Then we take one last boat ride back to our hotel, grab a last CS meal at Roaring Forks to-go. We claim our luggage, pack in our purchases for the day, and get on ME. We eat our meal (that we got to-go, remember?) at the airport, because we're generally there in plenty of time before boarding our flight.

Aw... going home always makes me melancholy, but so glad for the memories we made as a family.

ETA- we always use our very last snack credit for a popcorn near the entrance/exit of MK. We share it on the boat ride back to the hotel. I don't know why that has become so special for us... maybe because we do it so often on the trip, we have to do it the last day?

 

[Jenny Sanders]

We like to sleep in as late as possible, check out, load up car or store bags at resort, head to a park, eat lunch, ride some rides, collect luggage if it's at resort, and head to airport.
Spending the day in DTD is always nice, except then we always end up having to buy another suitcase or bag for our extra treasures.

 

[Luv0fDisney]

When we go on our trips, it is my mom and me. My dad doesn't like the florida heat or the lines. So we pack and get everything ready the day before and we usually try to get the earliest flight as possible. So we get up at 4 or 5am, get breakfast at the airport and when we get into Disney World/Pop Century we might get a snack to hold us over till dinner. Sometimes my dad packs us a lunch so that takes care of that.

Our mornings at the parks we get up around 7am get out the door at 8am, and get breakfast at the food court. We never have ADR's for breakfast since we don't do character meals. We get our usual, french toast and coffee. We split the breakfast and lunch. Then get on a bus to a park.

For the day of departing disney world we would get up bring our bags to the conceirge and then get breakfast and hit the parks. We usually try to get late flights so we can get a whole day at the parks the last day. We try not to buy any stuff the last day because our bags are packed but I might get a keychain or something small.

 

[aubriee]

We always pack up the night before, so just have to drop last minute stuff into the bags in the morning. We then drop our bags at bell services to hold until that evening. Then we always try to end each trip at AK for some reason. The last rides we ride are always pretty much EE and Dinosaur. We then go to DTD to grab something from Goofy's and an Earl of Sandwich s/w to eat at the airport. We then go back to our resort to drop off my mom's ECV at bell services and put our luggage in the trunk of the rental car, then it's off to the airport.

However, once on a solo trip, I just wanted to see if I could get in all my favorite rides in one day. I was using DME that trip, so did not have a car. I got to DS for early morning EMHs and made a bee line to TSM, which I rode twice standby, then rode Star Tours. I then left the park and was lucky enough to catch the boat to Epcot just as it arrived at the dock. I was again lucky enough to make it to the International Gateway right at park opening, so barely slowed down as I rushed to Soarin, which I again rode twice standby, before rushing out the front gate to catch the monorail to MK. At MK I rode each of the mountains (Space, Splash, and Big Thunder), then grabbed a Dole Whip float on my way out of that park. (By the way DW floats are not made for eating on the run). I then walked over to the Contemporary where I caught a bus to AK. At AK I rode EE twice, using the single rider line and rode Dinosaur on my way out. I then walked out toward the buses and rushed to jump the first bus I saw. Which was a mistake. It took me to Old Key West, where I waited forever for a bus to DTD. At DTD I quickly used up the rest of my snack credits at Goofy's, then went into the Disney store to pick up a tshirt I had seen earlier in the week. I then caught the boat back to POFQ, where I got my carry ons from bell services and grabbed a muffaletto sandwich. I then went out and relaxed and waited about an hour for the DME bus. I was tired but pleased I had done all my favorites.

 

[lorenni]

For one of our upcoming trips we have a pool cabana reserved for the last day. That way we can have a pool day and have a home base with shade, comfy chairs/lounges, a TV and mini fridge.

 

[YellowM4]

We're doing our last ADR at Ohana, Stitch is one of my daughter's favorites. We'll stroll around the Poly before heading back to POR. After spending so much time in the parks, we want to enjoy the resort before heading home.

 

[Poppins2010]

We hit the French Bakery in Epcot and load up on yummy things for the plane. Lots of envious looks from fellow passengers!

 

[supergoofy]

Staying offsite at WBC and flying to Oregon

Booking the last flight out MCO 6pm ish

Will clean up every day. Day before check out will be a long day for mom and dad.

All bags will be packed and ready.

Check out and head to the park for the day.

Either CP or Ohana for a final breakfast.

Do a CS lunch about 2 as we will head out about 3.

Probably hit up a sweet store for some treats for the flight home.

 

[andipanda]

Have not yet done this, but our last day of an 8 day stay, will be to pack up the night before, then in the morning take luggage downstairs and check the luggage, have resort hold carryon bags, then take transportation to Saratoga Senses Spa for a mother/daughter (50 something and 21 year old dd) side by side 80 minute massage and pedicures before we head home !!! We have 5:30pm flight, and 9:00am massages and Pedi's. We should be done by 11:30am. Will have enough time then to do any last moment shopping, and head back to get transportation to MCO.

I wanted a dramatic and relaxing end to a vacation we have been planning for a couple years !!

 

[AustralianJetsetter]

Have not yet done this, but our last day of an 8 day stay, will be to pack up the night before, then in the morning take luggage downstairs and check the luggage, have resort hold carryon bags, then take transportation to Saratoga Senses Spa for a mother/daughter (50 something and 21 year old dd) side by side 80 minute massage and pedicures before we head home !!! We have 5:30pm flight, and 9:00am massages and Pedi's. We should be done by 11:30am. Will have enough time then to do any last moment shopping, and head back to get transportation to MCO.

I wanted a dramatic and relaxing end to a vacation we have been planning for a couple years !!

This sounds like a lovely end to a girls trip

We haven't decided whatbto do for our last day yet. We have 5 weeks in Orlando and will be staying in a private villa. Our trip home is such a long one (23hrs to Australia) and flight leaves at 6pm. Any suggestions?

 

[dawnhaze]

I fly and use Disney transportation, so no car.

I pack the night before my departure day, take my checked bag to RAC first thing in the morning, and then leave my backpack (which is my carry-on bag) with baggage services. Then I hit rope drop at a park, and have an early lunch ADR around 11:30am. I always choose late departure flights, between 6 and 8 PM is what I prefer, so my DME time is usually between 3 and 5 PM. It leaves me time to get back to the resort after lunch, get my backpack, and get a last snack at the food court.

If I have a jacket or cold weather stuff I'll need upon arrival at home, I put it in my backpack. I do wear slip-on shoes on my departure day for ease of security screening at the airport.

 

[wendybeth75]

We usually fly out on an early morning flight so our departure from the parks is the evening before. We end our night doing "one last thing " each person wants to do. It varies from trip to trip. We are usually so tired that the last day is more laid back and easy going. We focus more on shopping and picking up souvenirs.

 

[Andyman33]

For one of our upcoming trips we have a pool cabana reserved for the last day. That way we can have a pool day and have a home base with shade, comfy chairs/lounges, a TV and mini fridge.

Do they have any courtesy changing rooms and showers? I agree this could be an awesome idea. We are staying at akl kidani dvc room if that changes anything

 

[Andyman33]

For one of our upcoming trips we have a pool cabana reserved for the last day. That way we can have a pool day and have a home base with shade, comfy chairs/lounges, a TV and mini fridge.

Do they have changing rooms and showers for the trip home?
I'm at akl if that makes any difference.

 

[LovesTimone]

This sounds like a lovely end to a girls trip

We haven't decided whatbto do for our last day yet. We have 5 weeks in Orlando and will be staying in a private villa. Our trip home is such a long one (23hrs to Australia) and flight leaves at 6pm. Any suggestions?

I would possible get in a early morning swim, then a long nap, before making that flight. Don't forget to grab some goodies from one of the bakeries at MK or Epcot, for the long flight home, or some packaged Disney treats to snack on along the way.