First time flying any suggestions

[lbarellano]

Hi
We are a family of four. This is our first flight ever . We leave Los Angeles 10:45 pm Arrive MCO around 6 am. Any suggestions for a first time flyer. Girls are 17,12. Also what is there to do when we arrive. We can't check into our hotel room at pop centuy and Epcot doesn't open till 9 am. So please help
Thanks in advance

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

By the time you get to Pop Century it will be about 7:15-7:30ish. You can check in even though your room most likely will not be ready. You will then be given a number to call to see if your room is ready as you go through the day.

You can grab breakfast at Pop then head out to a park, or if there is an EMH park that morning it will open at 8.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[The Hendies]

Keep it low key the first day. Even though you think you'll sleep on the plane, it may not be a restful sleep. We have done the same flight arrangement from the east coast to Europe, and by about 2:00pm we have to crash for a few hours. Have a great time!!!

 

[ndfi78]

Keep it low key the first day. Even though you think you'll sleep on the plane, it may not be a restful sleep. We have done the same flight arrangement from the east coast to Europe, and by about 2:00pm we have to crash for a few hours. Have a great time!!!

Definitely, you will be pretty tired the first day. I would plan on heading back to the room and napping, probably right after lunch.

 

[Bob P]

While I think the two posters above have good ideas, remember there is no guarantee that your room will be ready until 3PM!!

 

[Marquis de Disney]

You could always request early check-in...whether they can guarantee it is a different story. Otherwise, I would just make your first day as relaxing as possible just to acclamate yourself to the time difference...it will definitely help with the remaining days of your trip.

 

[mecllap]

Is anyone subject to motion sickness -- if so, take dramamine or bonine before the flight. Take some snacks, and buy some bottled water for the plane after you go through security. Chew gum and yawn a lot when going up and down in the plane. An inflatable neck pillow can be helpful to have (the little pillows they have on the plane aren't great. Some airlines are charging for all sorts of things on the plane now, so be sure you know what's likely to be provided.

Are you using ME to get to the hotel? You can leave your luggage with bell services if you can't get into a room. If you're renting a car, have some change handy to use for toll roads. It may take enough time just to get to the hotel that you would be late for opening at a park the first day. You will need to have breakfast (perhaps at the Pop's food court) and then get to a park. When are you going? You could put swimsuits in your carry-on and hang out and rest by the pool. Just exploring Pop can take a while--it's fun to walk around and take pics of all the icons.

Flying overnight and then spending a day at a park will be exhausting, but if you're on limited time, you will probably want to go to one as early in the day as you can, and then come back to get checked in and settled in your room and rest up the first day.

Have fun!

 

[Wigit12]

Since it's your first time flying, definitely take gum or jelly beans and a bottle of water/soda just in case the pressure effects someone's ears. I ALWAYS have a problem/DH NEVER has a problem
I use Earplanes--some people swear by them. I'm not sure but I always do it anyway! Better safe than sorry.

 

[lbarellano]

Thanks Everyone. So much advice is appreciated. I hope everything you guys tell me to do works. As far as motion sickness non of us. Thanks again its a great help and I feel more at ease. Also If I can pry my kids away from Epcot we will be napping in the afternoon.Thanks for the group help

 

[Surr]

You may be better off not taking a nap in the afternoon, or if you do a very brief one (like 20 minutes). It may make it harder for you to get over the jet lag. Are you planning to sleep in most days, or get to the parks at opening? If you plan to be there at opening you will want to do your best to stay awake after you arrive at MCO. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to get to sleep your first night. If you plan to be out late, and sleep in then, you may just keep your internal clock on West coast time.

 

[Decembermom]

When I flew with my 4 year old daughter I bought a product called Earplanes and she didn't complain at all about the pressure bothering her ears. They are just earplugs and you can buy them at any drugstore, Walmart etc.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Since it sounds like you're flying out of LAX, I'd get to the airport several hours ahead of time. I've flown out of a few airports, and LAX had the longest lines through security.

 

[cmiller2]

rooms might not be ready till 3 o'clock?? that seems a little inconvenient

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

There's an arcade at Pop and a decent size food court and a gift shop so you'll find things to keep you busy until Epcot is open.

After checking in, if you can't get in a room right away, take your suitcases to Bell Services and they will hold them for you until you return from the park.

Then enjoy the resort and get a nice breakfast to get you going. Have fun!

 

[lbarellano]

Thanks all. My girls probably wont want to leave Epcot. So I think we'll Take it slow. As it is tht park has evening EMH. Oh boy. My sister said to make the girls get up early then make them take a late nap waking up right before we leave for the airport. What do ya'll think?
Thanks for the info it's really easing my mind.

 

[fall08CP]

rooms might not be ready till 3 o'clock?? that seems a little inconvenient

Well the guests from the night before don't have to be out until 11am. That gives enough time for housekeeping to get to all of the 2,880 rooms. Unless they are going to kick guests out at 8am, how else would they guarantee them earlier? That's a pretty standard time in the hotel industry... at most regular hotels the guests don't get there until dinner time or later.

If they want the room ready at 7am when they arrive, they should book a room for the night before.

 

[ToddyLu]

You didn't say when you are going?? If it is warm, carry a small change of clothes and swimsuit. There are nice restrooms in the hotel lobbies where you could do a quick change if your room isn't ready. Have fun.

My husband did Ativan for our last flight to WDW--he doesn't mind flying it is more of a confinement issue--he likes to walk around and pace back and forth--he says he didn't think it worked--I think he thought it would put him to sleep. It worked like a charm for me--he just kept his hands folded and didn't move a muscle---yaaaayyyyy!!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

We are on a similar flight in June to WDW. Last year we did take the redeye and loved it... We were able to get about 4 hours sleep - the flight attendants don't do much in terms of service, no movie that I can remember. Just lights out and hopefully sweet dreams too.... It was nice to arrive early. We got our rental car, headed to OKW and 'checked in' but of course our room was not ready. We planned for that to be the case. We actually went to Sea World for a few hours but this year we are packing our swimsuits in the carry ons and heading to the pool for a day of just relaxing on check in day. The resort did call us when the room was ready to occupy so if you are in the parks they will do that for you too...

As for the first time flying.. no worries.. hopefully you will all just sleep

Have a great trip

When are you traveling?

 

[lbarellano]

Thanks all We are going May 8-17th. I didn't think of the pools. My DH and I are thinking we will do as much as we can and see how the girls do. Hopefully we will sleep on the plane but you know how it is first time flying sooooo excited. Thanks for the help.

 

[lcasa]

My then 10-year old son took that redeye last year to meet me in Orlando ( I was there on a business trip ). He did great - he was so excited we made it till 11pm that night on adrenline! We were able to make the rope drop at AK, which was great - headed straight for Everest - grabbed a fast pass and got in line so rode it 2x right away. That'll wake anyone up!

Bring a pillow for each flyer - those little plush neck ones they have at Target are fine and don't take up much room. Every inflatable I've tried leaks - so I wouldn't bother with those ( even though they pack flat). The airline pillows are pathetic - but if they offer them, take that as well. I've never been hassled about having a pillow at the top of my "personal item" bag. The earlier you board ( since you have smaller children, you may be able to take advantage of that ) the better the chance of getting a pillow and blanket - they don't have 1 for everybody!

It's much easier to sleep against a window - but I'm sure you want to sit together. Raise the arm between the seats so you can snuggle ( seems obvious, but I sure didn't know it the first time I flew).

Wear SUPER comfy clothes - don't worry about what you look like! But bring clothes to change into at the airport or the hotel restrooms ( the really nice hotels like the Grand Floridian have beautiful public restrooms with roomy stalls). And of course a toothbrush and other personal grooming items. And the swimsuit idea is a good one.

There were relatively inexpensive smoothies with energy shots at the airport - I got my son one of those to give him a good start.

Make sure you take full advantage of your carry-on luggage. Make sure your carry-on fits the size requirements, and keep your weight under the max - I've seen many people charged $50 for being overweight on their checked bags. Don't forget to leave room for what you'll be buying. Check out the long thread on packing -- it's a good one. But: watch that weight!

I pack my normal purse inside a BIG purse as my personal item. Then it can fit lots of important stuff. Always allow for the fact that a checked bag may be lost - so valuables like cameras, prescriptions, etc should be in the carryons. I count the bags everytime I get on/off a plane to make sure I've got everything - including the backpacks, etc.

And then base the pace on your kids. There's always the Carousel of Progress for a good 20 minute nap! ( kidding - I LOVE that and always go on it -- miss having it at Disneyland )
Have a great time! I'm going in June with my kids and granddaughter- couldn't get the redeye out because my daughter-in-law was too timid to try it with her 5 year old, so burning up a whole day travelling. I'm jealous!