Early Morning Flights - how early

[KJF]

I was originally thinking an early morning flight would be too hard on the kids, but now I'm wondering if it might be ok. I am looking at an 8am flight & have 2 kids - DD8 & DS5. They normally get up every day around 7, but would have to get up about 5:15 to hop in the car by 5:30 for the ride to the airport. We are planning on going to MK that day after checking in & would like to stay for fireworks. I hate to see them crash too early. I have a feeling they wouldn't sleep on the plane, due to all of the excitement.

How has it been for anyone who woke their kids up extra early? Did they crash too early then?

 

[la79al]

When we went in December, we woke DD up at 3. She slept in the car til 4 but then stayed up through the airport, plane ride, checkin and finally napped in her stroller when we got to Epcot. Next month our flight leaves at 6:30 and I anticipate no problems with any of the kids making it through the day. If necessary, we will head back to the resort for a nap before dinner, but I doubt it will be necessary.

 

[bas71873]

IMO, the earlier the flight, the less likely you get stuck in a delay situation if you have a layover. Plus, you get to WDW earlier and can catch a nap if you need too

 

[Mommy2JulietJocelyn]

we have done a 7am flight with the girls and the first time it was bad - up at 330, fell asleep 5 minutes before the plane landed. Couldn't take a nap because our room wasn't ready til after 4pm. Then tried and they wouldn't sleep.

then second trip was fine -

this trip our plane leaves at 1055am becasue we are suprising them that morning.

 

[NotUrsula]

We've been taking a lot of early flights lately because the prices tend to be better. Normally we have to leave the house by 4 am to catch a 6:30 am flight.

We have the kids sleep in their travelling clothes and keep their toothbrushes handy. Then we just carry (if they are small enough) the kids out to the car and into the airport; they always wake up going through security because of the noise, then droop again after we get on the plane. We pack breakfast for them, because they never end up being hungry until we are about halfway through the flight. The older ones roll out groggy and just brush their teeth and then snooze more in the car.

We have them travel in a t-shirt and sweat pants or cotton shorts; things that are comfy to sleep in yet decent enough to be seen on the street.

One note if you are going from a cold climate to a warmer one: The first flight of the day often means that the plane has been sitting at the gate all night with the power turned off until just before you board, and the heating tends not to really be effective until that power has been turned on for at least about 45 minutes. As it is a metal structure, it can be REALLY cold on board until that heat gets going, so don't ditch your coats in your checked baggage.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I don't like to arrive much after lunch, because I like to get some park time and have a dinner ADR on my arrival day. BUT we live over an hour from the airport (and like to leave closer to 2 because you never know what traffic will be like), so we can't go toooooo early.

This year, we're flying out of Baltimore instead of Philly (slightly further to BWI) but going down the evening before and staying at a hotel. We can take an earlier flight in the morning because we'll be *right there* AND the hotel has weekly parking privileges, so we won't have to deal with a separate airport lot.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Our big airport is 4 hour drive away and very early morning just isn't worth what it does to us adults. At times we have spent the night before at hotel near the airport.

However if you airport is close I would say that the early flight has many advantages, getting a day in or just relaxing at your resort pool.

Airplanes seem cold and I read on the dis to pack your beach towel in the carry on and use it as a blanket. This has worked so well on our last two flights. IT is big enough to cover DS and myself. We also pack a change of clothes, shorts, dresses, etc and change in the bathroom once we land at MCO.

Early flight makes sense if you feel up to it.

 

[Ennazus8810]

We are leaving at 6AM (leave house at 3) with a 15 month and a 4 month old in September. My experiences in the past flying with godsons and such (at least 10 times before they were 4) was the earlier the better. Plus it gives us time to get to WDW and get checked in, rest, and go to a park for a bit.

 

[sandy0904]

We normally take late morning flights because DS (2) usually naps at that time. In May he slept just about the entire flight both ways but this past November not as much. We will see this time around and may start taking earlier flights to take advantage of a fuller day at Disney.

 

[RMulieri]

We got up at 430 am this past Decmber to catch our flight.Our 6 yr old was out cold by 8pm that night..Had we pushed her any longer we would have been dealing with a meltdown, cranky, overtired child.

 

[monorailsilver]

Our last flight, I woke my kids up at 5:50 so we could leave by 6 & get to the airport no later then 7 (we were there by 6:45) plus it was a small airport in White Plains, NY so we didn't have to deal with all that traffic.

But I have never taken them (or me) to a park on arrival day because I usually don't sleep well the night before because of all the excitement & I am extra tired. We do a relaxing arrival day-go to Chef Mickeys for dinner & swim when we get there & usually after dinner as well.

 

[cogero]

We try to get the first flight at of LaGuardia every trip. My dd 8 goes to sleep on the flight and my ds 2 falls asleep once the flight takes off

 

[brockash]

When we go to WDW, we always take the first flight out (usually around 6am.) My kids have been doing this since they were babies, and my oldest is now 8. We've never had a problem.

ETA: We never do a park on our arrival day. We always head to DTD on our arrival day, to look around have dinner and ice cream.

 

[brergnat]

Your first day plan sounds a bit ambitious for having woken up at 5:30am...even for an adult! The fireworks are late, aren't they? I can't imagine a 5 year old being able to hang that long without a nap, and the 8 year old will be cranky. Little known fact: kids ages 5 and 8 need approx. 11 hours of sleep per night, every night. Significantly less than that and you will have loads of crankiness and the kids will end up wired and overtired.

I'd say go for the early flight, but adjust your arrival day plans to turn in early and be ready for an early start the NEXT morning.

For me, to be honest, I see no use in arriving prior to 3 or 4pm, when the rooms are ready. I HATE doing parks on arrival days myself, because traveling is tiring and stressful, and I like to just unwind on arrival day. I'd never attempt what you are going for with such young kids...

 

[design_mom]

I agree that the plan sounds ambitious, especially if the fireworks are late. When we have gone (non-peak times) the fireworks are at 8pm and that *might* be doable, but if they're at 10pm or later I don't think you'd make it. I must say that our last trip was our best one and I think one of the things we did was make sure that the kids got a good night's sleep every night. It made a huge difference, even though we didn't get to see every evening event.

If you skip the fireworks on your first day, are you going to have another opportunity later in the week? If so, I would skip the fireworks on your arrival day in favor of getting a good night's sleep. You'd hate to be working from a "sleep deficit" the whole week! At least for my kids (which are almost the same age as yours) that would mean cranky kids all week.

 

[3happydancers]

I was originally thinking an early morning flight would be too hard on the kids, but now I'm wondering if it might be ok. I am looking at an 8am flight & have 2 kids - DD8 & DS5. They normally get up every day around 7, but would have to get up about 5:15 to hop in the car by 5:30 for the ride to the airport. We are planning on going to MK that day after checking in & would like to stay for fireworks. I hate to see them crash too early. I have a feeling they wouldn't sleep on the plane, due to all of the excitement.

How has it been for anyone who woke their kids up extra early? Did they crash too early then?

If you think your children can handle a full day as described, then go for it.

For us, I remember when my daughter was 6, we took a 6:30 AM flight and to be honest, all three of us were pooped by dinner time. My daughter never went back to sleep, not on the plane nor on the Magical Express Bus. This year DD is 12 and WE are a bit OLDER. She could probably out do us but we booked a 10.25 flight and should arrive at our hotel by 2ish. I am going to do online check in. I did this last year and it worked out great. So, we will still have plenty of day and evening time to enjoy whatever we decide. But again, that is what works best for us.

Whatever you decide, have fun!

 

[badblackpug]

With your kids ages it will be fine. Before my 2 little ones, with the older kids I would do the same, but now my 2 year old is NOT a morning person and she would be a miserable little thing on the plane. We try to fly around her nap time so she sleeps and arrives at WDW fresh and pleasant.

 

[puffkin]

We went many, many times on the first flight out from PHL. Sometimes we stayed over at the airport, other times not. We always were so excited to be in Disney and ended up overdoing it that first day. Then we were exhausted (usually by dinner) and crabby with each other. And since we always come in on a Saturday, the parks were usually crowded as well. The exhaustion would usually carry into Sunday or Monday of our trip. Plus, DS never really slept anyways on the plane.

Now we always leave on the last flight out of PHL on a Friday. It is FANTASTIC (only con is the traffic getting to the airport). We usually work/daycare almost a full day and then head down to the airport mid-late afternoon, grabbing fast food on the way. Yes, we get into Orlando really late, but we get to Disney, check in, unpack and get settled all that first night and get all the inconveniences of travelling out of the way then. Usually DS is tired from the whole day and is fairly calm on the plane. He usually conks out on the way to Disney (either on ME or the rental car). We usually sleep in, have a relaxing breakfast at the resort and then head over to the parks late morning. It just is so much more relaxing and works for us much better than the AM flights

 

[Dowellfam]

Our flight leaves at 6:00 AM from Seattle- and I prefer the earlier flights. We will be up getting ready by 3 AM. We've done this the last two times we flew to Orlando- and I love it because the kids sleep for half the 7 hour flight! It all works out perfect! Have a safe trip!

 

[belahboodog]

Hi I am new to the disney boards, but I've traveled to the World 5 times. We took our kids on early flights and it was exhausting to them. I suggest getting an afternoon flight (earliest as possible) and when you get to WDW that day relax at the pool or get dinner at your resort and get acclamated to the resort you are staying at. Put the kiddos to bed their normal time, and they'll be refreshed and ready for a fun day at WDW. Also, I read that a good money saver would be to NOT go to the park the day you arrive with little ones, because kids tend to get very sleepy and cranky -- thus you paid for a day at the parks that wasn't enjoyable. Ours did and we learned it best to wait the next day to go to the parks. It saves you a day in paying for a pass. Hope this helps!!