Early flight into MCO

[JD698]

We are heading to WDW at the end of January with our 6 year old twins. DH wants to take the earliest flight out (leaving at 6AM arriving @ 9AM). Has anyone taken such an early flight? Will it be a pain since our rooms will more likely than not be ready?

Thanks!!!

 

[Brer Chump]

When we arrive that early we check-in then go to a park. You will likely be able to get into the park by 11am and then not go to the room until that evening after completing that days activities.

 

[bumbershoot]

With a 6 am flight you want to be IN the airport at 4am (at least I do). To get there by 4am, what time do you have to be in the car? To get in the car by that time, what time do you have to be loading the car with kids, adults, and baggage? To load it all up, what time do you have to wake up?

Does it really still sound like fun to your husband?

We've done enough of those flights to Disneyland (same time, around the same landing time)...it's a PAIN. Especially with little kids, no one really sleeps, everyone's excited...and then you're at the park with no room...and you might not enjoy the day as much as you would have enjoyed it, if you came in a bit later.

 

[magsmom]

I like taking early flights - in the past we have booked 7:00 flights, or 6:30, and then go to the parks. My DD is pretty relaxed and sleeps on the plane, so we are all ready to go. But bumbershoot is right - you have to be up and ready to go 2, 3:00 in the morning.

And, last year we almost missed our 6:00 flight from over sleeping.

We had AKL concierge booked (thank god), so after that very stressful experience, we crashed in the lounge and waited for the room, whach was not available until early afternoon.

Also, while there are times that the room will be ready early, those times for us have been few and far between. If you get there early, especially with little kids that get cranky after a long flight, the worst thing you may want to do is go to a park.

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

We used to book the first morning flight, but found that we need to leave our home by 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning. That is early. Sometimes, a room is available at early check in time, other times they hold our luggage and we head to the park. We do know not to plan any evening activities that day, as we are tired and prefer to hang out by the pool.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Flying from the NE in January, you're smart to book the first flight of the day. That lessens the chances of weather-related delays. Your plane isn't coming in from a potentially snowbound city; it's already there.

Just wondering, would you be flying in from Newark, LaGuardia or JFK?

 

[DebbieB]

Flying from the NE in January, you're smart to book the first flight of the day. That lessens the chances of weather-related delays. Your plane isn't coming in from a potentially snowbound city; it's already there.

Just wondering, would you be flying in from Newark, LaGuardia or JFK?

The problem sometimes you run into with the first flight if you are not at a hub is the crew could have arrived late the night before and that first morning flight is delayed so they get their required rest. Happened to me a few times on business trips where I take the first flight.

 

[njmom47]

Could you rent a hotel room near the airport for the night before your flight?
http://newark.parksleepfly.com/ This is for Newark but possibly they have deals such as this at NY airports.

 

[lisareneeo]

We have taken the early morning flight many times. If the room is not ready we just head to a park but we do not plan anything for the evening.

Now, we take an evening flight the night before. A 6 or 7 pm flight. I know we pay for an extra night but we like being well rested and up and out early on our first day.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[LadyBeBop]

The problem sometimes you run into with the first flight if you are not at a hub is the crew could have arrived late the night before and that first morning flight is delayed so they get their required rest. Happened to me a few times on business trips where I take the first flight.

Flight might be delayed, but would it be cancelled?

Worst that could happen is that they're in the airport a few extra hours.

Besides, they're probably flying out of NYC or Newark, so they'd probably be at a hub.

 

[DebbieB]

Flight might be delayed, but would it be cancelled?

Worst that could happen is that they're in the airport a few extra hours.

Besides, they're probably flying out of NYC or Newark, so they'd probably be at a hub.

Hard to say. At a hub, they sometimes cancel flights and use the plane for another route, depending on which has more people. That could be good or bad depending on which flight you are on. At a non-hub, they usually delay because the crew that brought in the plane the night before is the one to take it back out in the morning.

 

[a1tinkfans]

With a 6 am flight you want to be IN the airport at 4am (at least I do). To get there by 4am, what time do you have to be in the car? To get in the car by that time, what time do you have to be loading the car with kids, adults, and baggage? To load it all up, what time do you have to wake up?

Does it really still sound like fun to your husband?

We've done enough of those flights to Disneyland (same time, around the same landing time)...it's a PAIN. Especially with little kids, no one really sleeps, everyone's excited...and then you're at the park with no room...and you might not enjoy the day as much as you would have enjoyed it, if you came in a bit later.

I totally agree!
UGH, with little ones, who will be exhausted, thats no start to a vacation,,,\
BUT
how about flying in the night before, when kids can sleep on the plane, stay at HYATT mco and when you get up next morning, you walk straight to the ME and are rested relaxed and then upon arrival can use the hotel pool or go to a park...but at least you are ALL well rested!
Have a great trip...
We love doing this...such a great leisurely way to arrive at Disney for some FUN!!!
added: Hyatt has a nice pool for that night too...great way to get some energy out and get them to sleep!

 

[JD698]

We are flying in from JFK. My kids are being surprised with this trip at the airport (a surprise 7th birthday present - they will turn 7 while on the trip) so they'll only know where we are going when we get to the airport (will try to keep it from them until we get to disney or MCO if we can).

We are @ 20 minutes from the airport. We will probably just put them to sleep in their travel clothes so it shouldn't be too bad. We've done driving trips where we've left very early in the morning (the boys were in their pjs) and we haven't had problems.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Remember some airline check in desk do not open till 5:00 a.m so you may have to wait an hour to check in. Best to check with airline before heading to the airport earlier than you need to.

 

[HuskerFaninIL]

We considered that (we'd be flying out of Chicago O'hare) and we would have had to have been in the car to the bus station at 2:45 AM. In order to catch a 6 AM Chicago flight. EEEK.

What we did (and could work for you) is to book a flight the evening before our Disney trip, we booked a Hampton Inn room right outside the main gate of WDW for about $60 for one night. We will get to Orlando at 9:45 and just get up and moving the next AM and check in and get room keys.

We figure this way that everyone will be a little more well rested and less cranky.