Do you take morning or night flights with toddlers

[puffkin]

We normally travel Sat-Sat and used to take an early flight. We would be at WDW by noon, but miserable and tired all day. Now we take the last flight out on Friday and stay offsite the first night. It makes for a long/stressful Friday as we usually have school/work for at least part of the day. But it's so nice to wake up refreshed and in Disney. We usually sleep in, do a waterpark until our Disney room is ready, hit the grocery store and then have a nice dinner (like O'Hanas) on Saturday. It has made the start of our vacations so much nicer. I have a DS7 and DS1 and they do just fine with this schedule.

 

[Apsychmommy]

My kids have flown a lot and it seems like they do best on early morning flights. Those flights tend to leave on time and because they wake up so early (we woke them up at 3:30 for a 7 am flight) they sleep most of the flight cross country to Florida. We have taken a couple of evening flights and those were tough since one was delayed and the other they were so amped to be on a plane that they wouldn't sleep so we had lots of meltdowns. By the time we collect our bags, rent a car, check-in to our hotel, we are beat.

Good luck with your decision as travel can be stressful.

 

[travelgirl06]

We do a lot of night flights with our 2-year-old (frequently flying somewhere after work on Friday for a long weekend), and these used to be fine, but lately its been trouble. As she gets older we struggle more with the combination of missed bedtime and being on the airplane. Late bedtime when we are doing something fun she is okay with, but over tired and stuck on a plane can be a recipe for disaster! (Most of the "bad" flights have been a combination of long week, evening flight and flight delays, so not entirely the flight time's fault).

If you can take it easy the day you are leaving and make sure the kiddos get a good nap that would probably help.

 

[maplevale]

I really like early morning flights. You get up in the middle of the night, run them around the airport and they sleep on the plane! Unfortunately it usually means no daytime nap (but early bedtime!)

Our flights in February are 4pm down (arrive around 7) and I worry a little that she will sleep on the plane or sleep on the drive to the airport and be awake the entire flight! We are taking DD's car seat for the plane though so she will be strapped in and can see out the window and reach the tray - I hope it is enough!

(I know my kids can handle being up late - we frequently mess with their schedule so getting to bed late after we arrive will be okay for them)

 

[runsandjumps]

I prefer early morning. Night flights haven't worked for us in the past. The kids fall asleep and have to be woken up, which them leads to utter shock and despair.

I will only flight daytime now with my kids.

Ana

 

[Paigesmom2013]

We are doing a 6:45am flight with a toddler and 4 month old. It wasn't ideal, but that was a trade off for leaving from our regional airport instead of a bigger one further away. (20 minute drive to regional airport, 1 hour 20 minutes to bigger airport for the same price.)

I think the kids will actually do fine. It's my night owl husband I'm worried about.

We're using our first day to just check in, swim and relax. Then our second day is a character breakfast, more swimming and a dinner ADR. It could seem like we're "wasting" a park day, but I thought this would work out for our little ones. Plus, our second day is supposed to be kinda crowded (Labor Day Sunday).

 

[WildReekies]

We arrive a day early and stay at a cheaper onsite location for one night.

 

[ellone]

Morning flights with my small ones. Much easier to get them dressed while sleepy than deal with their past bedtime meltdowns.

 

[DESKRoberts]

We always go for the early flights. My kids aren't likely to sleep, but they are happy enough in the morning that there shouldn't be any tantrums. That is more important to me.

 

[DSNY4ever]

For a two hour flight? Just get up in the morning fly down and get in the parks!

We are taking DS (2) and we are flying out at the crack of dawn, but it's 7 1/2 hours of flying. We have to wake him up at 3am, no other choice. I didn't want to risk a red eye if he didn't sleep then he'd drive everyone around us crazy on a VERY long flight. I know he'll sleep on the 40 min drive to the airports and then hopefully he naps on the plane...fingers crossed.

 

[brockash]

Lol...def. the early morning flight. I guess I don't really understand what there would be to be so concerned about...I mean what do you think the 2 year old is going to do in the morning that they wouldn't do at night? It's a 2 hr flight, pack some stuff to entertain, snacks and honestly there's a good chance they'll sleep as they'll be tired from getting up so early. I have 2 kids and have traveled with them frequently by myself since they were infants...I've never booked a flight around their schedule/routine ...only price and the schedule of other issues, it'll be fine and really not that big of a deal. Go have fun.

 

[mamabear0222]

We are doing a 6:45am flight with a toddler and 4 month old. It wasn't ideal, but that was a trade off for leaving from our regional airport instead of a bigger one further away. (20 minute drive to regional airport, 1 hour 20 minutes to bigger airport for the same price.)

I think the kids will actually do fine. It's my night owl husband I'm worried about.

We're using our first day to just check in, swim and relax. Then our second day is a character breakfast, more swimming and a dinner ADR. It could seem like we're "wasting" a park day, but I thought this would work out for our little ones. Plus, our second day is supposed to be kinda crowded (Labor Day Sunday).

This is our exact plan too! Good luck!

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[Runnergal]

4 kids here and early flight for sure. Like 6am. First of all, it seems there are more families on those flights since most sane adults don't want to get up at 4am. Second, on the day we leave, I just want to be there already. I am sure i would not be productive that day at all. And leaving for a 630 flight would mean dealing with rush hour traffic. Finally, my older kids just love getting up early to go on vacation. They sleep in their clothes, have their backpacks ready to go-it is the cutest thing and adds to the excitement for them.

 

[KalamityJane]

Another vote for the early flight. If you were headed on a long flight (cross country), I would say night, but for a 2 hour flight, DEFINITELY the early one. Especially because how torturous would it be to wait ALL day with the kids knowing you were leaving for Disney that evening?

 

[christygobar]

Definitely early! Every time we've taken DD on a late afternoon/early evening flight, we end up way delayed (this has happened multiple times) and with a cranky kid who can't go to bed until 11pm. It's not pretty. I think they would adjust more to a 4am wakeup (and maybe take an earlier nap!) than a potential late night