Flight arrives at 9 p.m.--okay with young kids

[RWF]

Our boys are 2 and 5. We will stay on site and by the time our flight lands and we get to the resort it will be pretty late. I would like to take an earlier flight, but my parents are going with us and can't take that day off work. Anyway, curious if those who have done it find the kids are cranky and tired the next day. If we wait to take a flight the next morning, we lose so much time. This trip will be only four days, including arrival and departure.

Also, we could arrive, around the same time, at either MCO or Sandford. Thought the size of Sandford Airport would be easier if they are asleep and the drive would help them sleep as well. Any opinions on which airport might be better. Thanks.

 

[stage manager]

I am in the same boat as you with a 4 day trip in October. kids are 4 and 6. If you are flying out of IND remember that there is a time difference between here and there, so landing at 9 in MCO is 8 in IND. My kids tend to do well.

The big issue is which airport. With DME from MCO, you can have sleepy children and get on the bus. No getting/waiting for car and luggage is taken care of. Unless of course you are doing all carry on for such a short trip. With more adults than kids, I think you will be fine. We chose MCO as the cost savings of DME was very attractive.

As for tiredness, all my kids have to do is think of the mouse ears and they are ready to go. What you may find is that they are ready for bed at the end of the first day in the parks and conk out in the middle of dinner.

 

[dougsmom98]

My kids were 2, 2 and 4 on our first trip and we arrived at MCO at 10 pm and they were fine. We were up at 6:30 the next morning because it was the week between Christmas and New Years and the parks opened at 8 am. The good news is that they will be tired and they will most likely sleep the first night despite the excitement and the new surroundings. I would definately do MCO and not Sanford if the prices were comparable. MCO is closer and there is nothing worse than adding time onto an already long trip.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Last year my son was 4, and we arrived in Orlando at 2AM, (due to a flight delay from a snowstorm...). He did not sleep at all on the plane, and when we got to the hotel he was raring to go!!! Needless to say, it was quite a night!! The next day he woke up at normal time and was ready to go to the parks....
We were tired and cranky, but DS was fine due to all the excitement of being at Disney.
Hope that doesn't happen to us again this year......