Earlier flight or extra 5 hours in WDW?

[Coconuts]

I have a decision to make and need some input and I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right forum so I apologize if I'm wrong.

On the day we want to leave WDW, flying back into PHL is the easiest airport to get home from and the cheapest flight is at 7:50pm. This means we get an extra 5 hours in WDW and can actually do something or go to a park on our departure day, having to be on ME by @4:30pm.

There is another flight which leaves at 2:30pm and flies into Trenton, NJ, which is an additional 30-45 minute ride home, and we would have to be on ME by 11:30am. This means we wake up and eat breakfast on our departure day before leaving and no touring WDW.

The second option is $250 cheaper and could maybe pay for our meal tips or an addition of the water parks option to our MYW tickets. Our kids have never done a WDW water park or Disney Quest and I didn't know if it was worth it.

So what would you do? Another, but not full, day in WDW and more convenient commute home for an extra $250? Or an earlier departure to a less convenient airport with an extra $250 to use on our trip?

Thanks for the input!

 

[Pooh2]

I would go with the option that gave me 5 extra hours in WDW!

 

[tinkermommyof3]

I don't consider an 11:30AM p/u time from ME early. You have time to sleep, get breakfast, take your time in the morning and not rush. Check out is 11:00AM. Works perfectly. For us, we are pretty tired by our last day and ready to go home. We stay 10 nights. I would take the earlier flight and get home at a decent hour. Even though the airport is 30 minutes farther from your home, you are not gaining that much time with an extra 5 hours in WDW. Part of that time could be in travel to and from parks. I would put the $250.00 toward the trip as you mentioned in option two. FYI: We go to the Water Parks and Disney Quest. I don't like Disney Quest but the kids love it. The whole family love the Water Parks. It is fun to try if you haven't done so yet.

 

[shame711]

I have a decision to make and need some input and I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right forum so I apologize if I'm wrong.

On the day we want to leave WDW, flying back into PHL is the easiest airport to get home from and the cheapest flight is at 7:50pm. This means we get an extra 5 hours in WDW and can actually do something or go to a park on our departure day, having to be on ME by @4:30pm.

There is another flight which leaves at 2:30pm and flies into Trenton, NJ, which is an additional 30-45 minute ride home, and we would have to be on ME by 11:30am. This means we wake up and eat breakfast on our departure day before leaving and no touring WDW.

The second option is $250 cheaper and could maybe pay for our meal tips or an addition of the water parks option to our MYW tickets. Our kids have never done a WDW water park or Disney Quest and I didn't know if it was worth it.

So what would you do? Another, but not full, day in WDW and more convenient commute home for an extra $250? Or an earlier departure to a less convenient airport with an extra $250 to use on our trip?

Thanks for the input!

If you are flying into Trenton then I'm guessing you are looking at Frontier Airlines which is not part of the magic express, so you will have to get your bags at the baggage claim and check them in at the airport on the way home. With that said I would check the bags and spend the extra 5 hours in Disney. Note that Frontier also flys out of Wilmington, De which is only 20 minutes south if the Philly airport.

 

[seashoreCM]

I have always taken the latest flight I can on the way home, provided that the cost was not outrageously more.

Oh, lest we forget, Magical Express buses work with all airlines both ways (all hours) and Magical Express baggage transfer works with all airlines Disney-bound (some hours limitations).

 

[pearlieq]

I'd personally take the earlier, cheaper flight. By the time the last day of vacation rolls around, the trip is over. I'd rather just get to the airport and get on with it.

When we have the later flight I can never totally relax knowing we have to get back at a particular time to get the luggage and catch the bus. I'm always paranoid and then wind up sitting around waiting because I didn't want to take a chance on not getting back from the parks early enough. Plus I don't like the feeling of being "homeless" all day--having to stay out because we don't have a space to come back to.

Airports are a bit trying as well. I'd rather deal with the minor hassles of travel earlier in the day when I'm fresh rather than after a day of touring where I may be tired and less patient.

But, of course, that's just me...

 

[shame711]

I have always taken the latest flight I can on the way home, provided that the cost was not outrageously more.

Oh, lest we forget, Magical Express buses work with all airlines both ways (all hours) and Magical Express baggage transfer works with all airlines Disney-bound (some hours limitations).

Magical express is available for every airline but resort check in is not.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I normally would say take the later flight but you mentioned using the extra money for waterparks or DQ. I would definitely pick the earlier flight and use some of the money to do a waterpark! We do 2 (and once 3) per trip. It is really one of our fav. things to do. Now we do go in Sept/Oct so TL and BB aren't too crowded.

As far as DQ, what are your kid's ages? I think teenagers would enjoy it more than the really young. If I had to choose one or the other, I would go with a waterpark. I like TL the best but BB is great if you think your kids will do body slides.

 

[lizabean]

i booked an extra day because we would have to leave at11:30 am i'm also 66 and am out of my mind. for you young people it doesn"t go away......

 

[Coconuts]

If you are flying into Trenton then I'm guessing you are looking at Frontier Airlines which is not part of the magic express, so you will have to get your bags at the baggage claim and check them in at the airport on the way home. With that said I would check the bags and spend the extra 5 hours in Disney. Note that Frontier also flys out of Wilmington, De which is only 20 minutes south if the Philly airport.

We would only be flying home on Frontier, meaning we would have to lug our suitcases through the airport. That is a bummer. But we are taking Southwest on the way down.

 

[Coconuts]

I normally would say take the later flight but you mentioned using the extra money for waterparks or DQ. I would definitely pick the earlier flight and use some of the money to do a waterpark! We do 2 (and once 3) per trip. It is really one of our fav. things to do. Now we do go in Sept/Oct so TL and BB aren't too crowded.

As far as DQ, what are your kid's ages? I think teenagers would enjoy it more than the really young. If I had to choose one or the other, I would go with a waterpark. I like TL the best but BB is great if you think your kids will do body slides.

We will be there the first week of November so BB is the only water park open. DS is 12, DD is 10, and DD is 5. I have never been in DQ so I didn't know what to expect. We would get the water park option on the tickets.

 

[luvmy3]

When I booked our flights I picked the latest one because it gave me an extra day. We won't go to a park but I'll go to DTD and hang out by the pool before ME takes us away

 

[LadyBeBop]

Tough call.

Would flying into Trenton offset some of the cost savings? I'm assuming you're flying out of Philadelphia. Are you leaving a car at the airport? Are you taking a car service/taxi to and from the airport? Or are friends taking you to and from the airport?

Normally, I'd say take the earlier flight for the savings and peace of mind. The later in the day you fly, the more chances of flight cancellations. But you have to consider the convieience factor of flying into Philadelphia rather than Trenton. Plus the extra five hours in the parks.

 

[Coconuts]

Tough call.

Would flying into Trenton offset some of the cost savings? I'm assuming you're flying out of Philadelphia. Are you leaving a car at the airport? Are you taking a car service/taxi to and from the airport? Or are friends taking you to and from the airport?

Normally, I'd say take the earlier flight for the savings and peace of mind. The later in the day you fly, the more chances of flight cancellations. But you have to consider the convieience factor of flying into Philadelphia rather than Trenton. Plus the extra five hours in the parks.

We have family that said they would drive us to PHL and pick us up in Trenton if needed. Originally we didn't so the savings of going to Trenton would have been offset by a car service taking us home.

 

[HeatherC]

Do you have to be back at work the next morning? If yes, I would want the earlier flight to get home and settled a bit. If no work the next day, I may do the late flight.

For me, our day of departure we are mentally coming out of vacation mode anyway, so I would probably spend all day thinking of getting to the airport and what time it was instead of really enjoying the last day.

I guess I am leaning towards the earlier flight.

Have anawesome trip!

 

[monorailsilver]

We just took a 7:40 pm flight home Monday night.

Originally it was for around 5:30 but jet blue kept changing it.

So we (I) packed most of our stuff the day before. On departure day, I was up bright and early as usual, I took my shower, packed what I could. Dh finally woke up at about 7 or so and he sent me out to the poly pool for 8 to get a table and he packed the few things that were left and sent the kids out one by one.

We took advantage of the pool vs park because I don't parks on arrival or departure days.

We got dressed at about 3:45-4 and headed out to the bus at around 4:20 for the 4:40 pick up.

The bus was a little late and then the driver had to load the ECV. I really don't think the driver was good at that like the park bus drivers are and we were off.

I was so thankful we purchased the even more space seats because the line for security at around 6:30 on a Monday at MCO was long!

We didn't land until about 10 or so and didn't get home/into bed until 11:30. My dh had to go to work the next day. Last night which was Wednesday night (we got home Monday night), my dh passed out at 9pm. He is still tired.

 

[zy144622]

We had a late flight home our last trip in Feb. I think 7:50pm departure time. We do not plan to do this again or not at least until our kids are older. They were DD4 and DS1 at that time. Flight was great and they slept the whole way home. We just didn't really like being limited as to what we did that day. As others said we too don't do parks on departure days. We hung by the pool and went to DTD. We did make the most of the day but we were all tired. Everyone could have used a nap and well the double stroller didn't have room for everyone to nap.

 

[cluvsdisney]

Since you would have a ride from Trenton, I would take the earlier, less expensive flight. You can have a leisurely morning at the resort and get home at a nice time in the evening, especially if anyone has work or school the next day.

 

[Darcy03231]

We always take the late flight home and spend the morning hanging by the pool and/or shopping at DTD.

 

[secretpantssam]

I always do the late flight and try to get in more magic before I leave, but we don't have kids so that may make a difference.