Do you prefer getting a earlier flight on the last day of your trip?

[MinnieLee]

First flight out, last flight in (direct flights).

SW changed their schedule this year. Where our first flight out from Islip was ususally around 7:00 am, this year it's 6:15 and we land at 9:05 BUT we will be in the parks by 10:30 so it's really a full day.

Last one out is 7:00 pm so we have a good portion of the day before ME picks up at 4.

 

[aubriee]

As an AP holder, I go to WDW several times a year. Every single trip I always take the earliest flight down there and then the latest flight back. I want all the time I can get down there.

 

[PSUGuy]

We fly down early to capture that first day, 6:15 out of Newark in a few days, and we give ourselves a good sleep before the flight home. It's all about the last full day at WDW. We found that having an early flight home spoiled the last evening for us, too much thought about having a 4 am alarm hanging over our heads.


Bill From PA

 

[LBIJim]

We try to catch the second-from-the-last nonstop flight home. Have to be at work by 6am so I don't want to get home too late. Late afternoon works well. We don't go to a park on the last day; rather we relax at the hotel after checking out, visit another resort, or drive offsite and do something before heading to the airport.

Jim

 

[LisaS]

We usually take the last non-stop flight home. On a trip last May, the last flight was supposed to leave MCO at 8:20pm and arrive at MHT at 11:10pm. Unfortunately it was delayed about 4-1/2 hours. We left MCO around 1:00 am. By the time we got home and crawled into bed it was 5:00am, Monday morning.

On a previous trip to that one we again took the last flight home. The flight was delayed due to weather for an hour or so. Got into the parking lot at MHT around 12:30 am and discovered we had a flat tire.

So, for our next trip we're staying an extra day and taking a mid-afternoon flight home. Even with a 5-hour delay we'll still get in before midnight!

ETA: We've had several late flights that departed and arrived on time so it works most of the time, but flat tires at 1am and long delays at that time of night were enough to make us change our strategy.

 

[Moparlar]

We usually go for the flights around 6 PM. My DW likes to go to DD and shop before we head home.

Larry

 

[dvcterry]

we try for the mid-day non-stop, but it is always the most expensive. i can't get us packed and out of the room for the early morning flight & i don't want to pack the night before, nor live out of a suitcase just to save some money. the cost difference is about $50 per ticket, not worth the stress of trying to get on the first flight out.

 

[Nancy F]

We always book the earliest non-stop coming in and the latest non-stop leaving. This way we have more time to spend there.
Nancy

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The flight I was looking at leaves Orlando at 10:35. Guessing that you have to be at the airport by two hours before your flight. I would have to leave the resort by 8 or a little before. I believe from Pop's to the airport would be what 30-40 minutes? Will Magical Express come that early to get me?

For a 10:35 flight plan on ME picking you up at about 7:30ish.
In my book that's early but doable. Much before that and I'd pay all kinds of extra so I didn't have to crawl out of bed so early.

I would return to MCO the night before and spend the night at the Hyatt. It's a 5 min walk to the terminal and would give you an extra hour sleep.
Depending what WDW resort you stay at, the Hyatt may even be cheaper.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We like an early flight because I can never really relax and enjoy myself on the last day - always watching the clock to make sure we don't miss our transportation. I find the last day of any vaca to be depressing so I figure we'll "rip the Band-Aid off" first thing and head home.

 

[summerlady]

I like a later flight going home so that we can spend most of our last day at the MK, this year I got a 7 p.m. flight, so the ME will pick us up around 4. I booked the airfare back in April for our October trip so was able to get a decent non-stop price on United for the 3 of us. One year DH insisted on an early flight, 7:30 a.m., the ME picked us up at 4:30 a.m. Never, ever will we do that again.

 

[Disbabe]

We get the earliest flights possible (but then flying International from UK still gets us to Orlando around Teatime!), but then prefer evening flights back (around 5-6pm) which gives us an extra half day at the parks

 

[SaraJayne]

Our first and last day of vacation to Disney are strictly travel days. We live 2 hours from the airport, so we have to factor in an extra 3 and a half hours on the way down and 2 and a half on the way back.

We usually leave mid-afternoon on the way down and early (10am or so) on the way home.

 

[chicharitta]

I am fortunate in that SWA always has a non-stop from MCO to BDL (Hartford CT) leaving between 7 & 8PM arriving at 10ish. I also live 10 min from the airport. Even using ME, I can spend a good deal of time at a park on departure day!!

Hi neighbor! Aren't we lucky southwest is so kind to us! It takes us longer to get off the plane and collect our luggage in BDL than it does to drive home. Now if only we could get reverse DME for the trip home...

 

[MissManda]

For flights home, we usually try and get one between 10am and 2pm. This way, we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport. We can take our times and not rush. This also gets us back home at a decent hour so we can start unpacking, etc.

 

[pooch]

Hi neighbor! Aren't we lucky southwest is so kind to us! It takes us longer to get off the plane and collect our luggage in BDL than it does to drive home. Now if only we could get reverse DME for the trip home...

and BDL is always empty when we get in, no crowds, baggage claim is usually just our flight, grab the bag, jump in the car & home before you can click your heels 3 times!

 

[goofy4tink]

For me, it depends on the length of my stay. If I'm there for 5 nights, or less, I like a flight home to be around 4pm. I don't like to get to Logan much later than 9pm since my dh usually comes in to get me.
If the stay is longer than 5 nights?? I usually take a flight that leaves between 9 and noon. I don't want to get up and leave prior to 6am...and I like to use RAC.

But all that can change depending on time of year, who I'm traveling with, etc.

 

[cluvsdisney]

It depends if we have work the next day. Normally we fly home on Sundays and shoot for a 3:00-4:00 flight. This trip we are leaving on a Saturday so are flight is at 9:00ish since we are off in Sunday. I wouldn't tusk delays or getting in super late on a work night.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

I am fortunate in that SWA always has a non-stop from MCO to BDL (Hartford CT) leaving between 7 & 8PM arriving at 10ish. I also live 10 min from the airport. Even using ME, I can spend a good deal of time at a park on departure day!!

Ditto Howdy neighbor, We live in Enfield too. It's A Small World After All.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Early flight down, late flight home. This maximizes your time at Disney.