Does it make sense to fly in and go to park on same day?

[Staciebobacie]

I'm planning a trip for my daughters 4th birthday. I can get really cheap airfare if we fly in on Monday, May 11th. That is her actual birthday and I was planning to get her in for free. The flight is scheduled to arrive in Orange County (SNA) at 9:00am.

Do you think we will loose too much of the day traveling? I would hope to be in the park before lunch. I've never flown in to Orange County so I have no frame of reference. I don't want to be over rushed on her birthday and take away from the fun.

Thanks in advance for any words of advice or experience.

Stacie

 

[Dis-Ted]

Unless you're coming from right up the street you'll probably be a bit tired but beyond that I don't see any reason to worry. Sure your day will be a few hours shorter than it would be if you entered at 8am sharp but lets be honest, you didn't want to do that anyways.

Orange County Airport (SNA) is 20-30 minutes from the park depending on traffic and it's a small airport so unless you have to wait for bags you can be on the ground and into your rental/taxi/shuttle in a few minutes. No reason why you can't drop off your stuff at the hotel, have a snack and be in the park by 11.

 

[wannagoback]

I'm planning a trip for my daughters 4th birthday. I can get really cheap airfare if we fly in on Monday, May 11th. That is her actual birthday and I was planning to get her in for free. The flight is scheduled to arrive in Orange County (SNA) at 9:00am.

Stacie

If you're landing at 9am, I'm guessing that you'll be up pretty early that morning? My DD was almost 3 1/2 when we went last year. We took a 7 am flight out of SeaTac and our Travel Agent suggested to get to the airport 3 hours early (I have no idea why so early), so we were up around 3am that morning. She slept a bit on the plane. I had intended to do naptime once we arrived at the hotel, but with the park so close, we just had to go! She fell asleep in her stroller for a bit, but the poor thing was pretty much exhausted all day.

I know that it's tempting to try and get as much out of that travel day, but if you can take a flight later that morning, I would really recommend it. Even if you land around 1 or 2, there is still plenty of time to go to the park. Especially since it is a monday in the middle of May.

I think that poor DD just never really got caught up on her sleep, and when I look back at some of the pictures and see her eyes, I feel bad. It's not like we were rushing around the park either, most of the time it was just me and her and we spent a lot of time just sitting on benches and looking at stuff.

That was a year ago and she's just over 4 now, and I think she would handle it better, but an early morning flight was tough on all of us. If you are going to do that, then you might want to schedule in nap time before the park... I'm sure that she'll be tired and maybe you can get her to rest for a bit, then go to the park later in the afternoon.

 

[Mom of three]

I'm planning a trip for my daughters 4th birthday. I can get really cheap airfare if we fly in on Monday, May 11th. That is her actual birthday and I was planning to get her in for free. The flight is scheduled to arrive in Orange County (SNA) at 9:00am.

Do you think we will loose too much of the day traveling? I would hope to be in the park before lunch. I've never flown in to Orange County so I have no frame of reference. I don't want to be over rushed on her birthday and take away from the fun.

Thanks in advance for any words of advice or experience.

Stacie

Heck yes you can do it! Both our last trip and our upcoming trip we arrived/are arriving at about 10am. After getting car rental, checking into hotel, making our way to the park sometime in the early afternoon. Theres always plenty to do, no matter how much time you have.

 

[ylatan]

do it! that's what we're doing when we go in april. once check-in @ the hotel is available, i'm going to let dp go back and nap w any kids that feel like it.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you haven't bought your tickets yet, you might consider just adding an extra day to your tickets, and getting the giftcard instead (in the value of a one day one park ticket for her). If you're going for multiple days anyway, there's really NO reason to use the free ticket, since adding a day onto a multiple day ticket is nowhere near the value of that funcard.



But to answer your question, YES it's worth it, if no one is absolutely wiped out. And if they are? Have a rest then go over!

 

[swimrsal]

Our first day we won't fly in until around 2pm but we're still going to go to the parks. We'll just do low key stuff, see parades, ride the train, etc. A no pressure kind of day to introduce the boys to Disneyland. The park is open until 11 or 12 that first day so we figure we'll get our moneys worth.

 

[clairabell29]

We always go to the park the day we fly (DS3, DS7mo). Judge your kiddos to see if they need a rest or not. If they do, take a nap then go. DL can be very overwhelming, especially if this is their first time. Don't be suprised if at first she just wants to watch things around her. This is a good time to take in some shows, maybe a few rides and the parade. Oh and don't forget to get her birthday button!

 

[Staciebobacie]

Thanks everyone for responding.

We took her for her first visit in Feb. 2008 and it was too totally overwhelming. I've prepared myself for that aspect of the trip. We will be flying out of tucson at 6 am, so I don't think it will be too early but I know she will be tired. I am thinking a nap would be perfect around 3 pm when we can finally check in to our hotel. She is a night owl and will probably do better with some rest and going back to the parks in the evening.

Thanks again, I feel better knowing that it isn't ridiculous not to be at the gate when it opens. As a die-hard Disney dork I've never thought of not being there, in line, waiting.

Stacie

 

[pixiewings71]

We drive for 6 hrs to get to DL and unless it's closed we are in the day we get there.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

We've driven straight through from Seattle (18-22 hour drive) twice and have and planned it so that we arrive around 7-9am so we can quickly have the hotel hold our bags and head straight to the park. You most absolutely can head to the park the day you arrive.

We also did a redeye from Seattle to Orlando that arrived at 7:20 am. Took the magical express to our hotel, checked in (room was not ready though), and took the bus to Epcot and were there 5 minutes after they opened for the morning.

We do plan for a break in the middle of that first day to recoup and take a nap at the hotel though. Since your daughter is 4yo, she can nap in the stroller or you can head back to your hotel for a midday break.

Mornings times are valuable, lines are short, and fastpass return times are early. We like to maximize our days by being at the turnstiles no later than 20 minutes before opening times.

 

[Teki]

I did it one year, if you take a break during the day its not so bad, but otherwise you'll get to tired I think.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We always go to the parks on our arrival day ~ we take an early morning flight usually 7am for us (6am CA time) we're able to be in the parks by about 10am, if the park is only open till 8pm we don't take a mid day break, last April our 1st day DL was open till midnight (1am for us) ~ we took a mid day break that day

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

I flew in and didn't end up going to DL until around 7pm that night, AND I LOVED IT! Go the day you get there, it makes the trip SOO magical!

 

[Vala]

I did it last year, after an overseas flight. But that was me, when I am overexcited I can't sleep.

My friends were all like: "You've been up for 24 hours, you got to go to bed." but I still insisted "I'll go to the park." We had been to DSF before so we only get there in the evening. But it was just the right thing to cool down my excitement a bit.

 

[kerickson]

Our flight gets in at 9:45am and I plan on heading to the park after lunch. We are going to hit DCA that first day so it won't be as crowded, won't feel as much pressure to do so many rides, etc. We'll do Playhouse Disney, Tough to Be a bug and some of the kiddie rides. Depending on how everyone feels, we'll probably catch the fireworks from the Grand's viewing room, go to bed, then be up early, ready for a full day at DL the next day!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We did this last year, and heck ya it was worth it! We were walking in the gates to DL at 10 am. Well rested since we didn't drive all that way. It was awesome!