Do you like to fly early in the am...

[Tozzie]

I have to laugh at the people who think the first flight of the day means they get to their destination on time, I used to think that too and used to take the first flight however the last three times I have taken the 7 am flight we didn't leave on time. Once the co pilot went to the wrong airport, he looked at the wrong schedule, so we left late, once the flight the night before was canceled and we had to wait for a plane and once we had to wait in line to be de iced. So don't count on the first flight of the day equating to leaving on time or even close to on time. I now am flying on a mid morning flight for my next trip, I would rather sleep than wait for a plane or co pilot.

 

[rflorek]

I have to laugh at the people who think the first flight of the day means they get to their destination on time, I used to think that too and used to take the first flight however the last three times I have taken the 7 am flight we didn't leave on time. Once the co pilot went to the wrong airport, he looked at the wrong schedule, so we left late, once the flight the night before was canceled and we had to wait for a plane and once we had to wait in line to be de iced. So don't count on the first flight of the day equating to leaving on time or even close to on time. I now am flying on a mid morning flight for my next trip, I would rather sleep than wait for a plane or co pilot.

Sorry you've had som many problems with the first flights. I've switched to the first flight of the day because 5 out of the last 6 flights at that time (before 7am) left on time. Prior to that, I would go for a later morning flight and never left within 1 hour of the scheduled departure (I always fly from JFK, by the way)

 

[Tara]

I like to fly early in the morning because I want to get there and get settled in without feeling rushed (including getting groceries), but also because when you are on a morning flight, you have more options if your flight is delayed or canceled.

Also, whenever possible I like to vacation Sun-Sat. This way I can finish up things at work on Friday and still have Saturday to run last minute errands, finish up packing, get a pedicure, etc. We used to leave on Sat to maximize our time, but it made Fridays so crazy that I realized it wasn't worth it. We've also started coming home mid to late afternoon on Saturday. This way we have all day Sunday to "recover" and unpack before going back to work on Monday.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I always intend to book the early flight, but end up booking the night before. If my trip is originally scheduled to start on Thursday, I somehow always work it out to fly in the night before on Wednesday. That way we can get settled in and be ready to go first thing the next morning and it doesn't involve an extra day of vacation for me.

 

[Minnesota!]

I always look for the earliest flight possible! I think we flew out on Delta at 530am one time.

THis time, however, we are leaving on a Thursday night (getting to MCO around 8) and then will just be at Pop raring to go the next morning

 

[Dewy]

Count us in for the first flight out & last flight back. We're only 1/2 an hour from the airport so the drive isn't bad, especially when we fly out of PVD. We pack the car the night before except for the carry-ons and that makes the morning easier. We're also early risers and like to get to the airport early and have a light breakfast at the airport. We're usually checked in and one of the parks by noon. The only drag, from our area, the number of early directs going to MCO have decreased...no more 6:30 am directs and all the carriers have eliminated non stops after 5pm on the return so we are now taking connecting flights coming home.

On our last trip, I shipped most of our stuff to the WL by UPS and then back home(probably a good topic for another thread) since the airlines started charging for bagagge. It worked so well and made the airport experience so much easier...I don't think I ever want to deal with luggage again!!

 

[SnackyStacky]

We like to fly out as early as possible. I like to enjoy that first day.

Coming home, I like to fly late morning or early afternoon. I don't like getting back home really late. THe vacation itself tires me out - I don't like being exhausted from another long day of theme parks and then traveling.

To each their own!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Before having children, we always liked the 1st flight of the day, usually 6 am. We tried that with a 4 yo and a 1.5 yo. We had to be at the airport by 4 am, leave the house by 3. Just ridiculous. We all needed a nap that day.

Now we take a noon flight Sat or preferably a Fri night flight after work/school. We crash at the Hyatt MCO and wake up well-rested and raring to go in FL!

Too bad SWA has cut back # of flights including our beloved 8 pm Fri night flight. Now the latest is 6 something. Too early.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

We like to fly out before 10:00 am and leave in the afternoon. We always plan on two extra days added to the trip if we fly so we can get there and just relax and not go to a park for the day. The last day is also planned so we do not have to rush. We may or may not do a park that day.

 

[pilferk]

First flight out...then a late afternoon/early evening flight back. And once the kids get older, I'll push for even later on the flight back.

Upcoming trip has us out at 6:50 AM (landing in Orlando at about 9:40..though experience tells me we could shave as much as 20-30 min off that) and back at 5:30 PM.

It works GREAT for us. We don't plan park time on day 1....but it's nice to get on the ground, find lunch at WDW, and maybe do a shopping trip to DTD while waiting for our room to get ready.

Dinner, and then back to the room early (6 PM-ish) so we can get well rested for the next day's excitement.

 

[pooch]

First flight out...then a late afternoon/early evening flight back. And once the kids get older, I'll push for even later on the flight back.

Upcoming trip has us out at 6:50 AM (landing in Orlando at about 9:40..though experience tells me we could shave as much as 20-30 min off that) and back at 5:30 PM.

It works GREAT for us. We don't plan park time on day 1....but it's nice to get on the ground, find lunch at WDW, and maybe do a shopping trip to DTD while waiting for our room to get ready.

Dinner, and then back to the room early (6 PM-ish) so we can get well rested for the next day's excitement.

You know I'm booked on the 6:50AM flight on Sat (for $69 no less!!!)! Expect to be on Spaceship Earth by 1PM!!! Then its a 5:15PM on SWA back on Wed. This is a very short trip for us as we usually go Friday to Friday so I need every minute I can get.

 

[Snow Shoe]

In years past, we've always left DFW on the first Orlando flight of the day, at the crack of dawn. Now that we're flying with DGC, we have started to fly in the night before usuallay around 6-7pm, stay at the MCO Hyatt, and then have a towncar service pick us up and off to BWV by 8:30-9am. The grandkids are still young, 6, 2 & 1yo, they get a good night sleep before hitting the parks the next day.

 

[Resseda]

I have flown the 6 am flight on JetBlue from Rochester to Florida twice. Most of the JB flights go through NYC, so last December, my direct flight down was on time and all-good, my mom's flight in the pm through NYC was delayed out of Rochester well past the time she would have been supposed to leave NYC. But then, the vacation gods smiled upon us, and JB moved her and my niece to the driect flight to Orlando.

This trip in September, we have direct flights both ways, 6:30 down and 6:00 coming back. Sweet...it's like two extra days of vacation

Ress

 

[beccasmom]

We used to try to book the earliest flight out, but haven't had much luck the last couple of years. We are booked on a 10:00 a.m. flight this year, but we have to connect through Charlotte, so we will not actually arrive until after 3:00. So we will have an easy night with a nice dinner and time to rest up for our big b-day celebration at the MK the next day.

We like to return home early, but since the advent of ME, not too early. I try to plan for the return flight to be no earlier than 10:00 a.m. or so. Then we are home by noon and can get started on our transition back to Real Life.