Flight times and young children....

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

After making the drive to Disney 2x so far, we opted to fly this time around. This will be our kids first time ever on a plane. DH had enough points for all of us to fly SW , but I had to book the times that were low in points. We leave here on a Sat @ 5:55 am, arrive MCO 9:10. The leave the following Sat @ 9:35 pm, arrive back home at 11:05 pm. I was thinking since the kids have never flown before maybe it would be better if they were kind of sleepy still on the way down and getting tired on the way back. Am I crazy to think this was a good idea? I just looked on SW and we can't change our departure time as now all the points required went up, but we can fly back earlier (depart 10:25 am, arrive 11:55). But then I feel like we will miss out on an entire day of our vacation

 

[mommyof2beauties]

I would like to know this as well. So I can know more when I book my flights. My kids are 6 and 8 and have never flown before either.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I always book the early morning arrival and late night departure... its the best way to maximize vacation time without having to spend money for extra night stays. The kids will be fine, kids are resilient... just pack pillows and quiet activities and if you are lucky they will sleep on the flight. If not, they will have quiet time.

 

[kangamangus]

Our last trip we booked 10 days in advance...yes 10 days...due to hubby's work schedule...and we took whatever was available. That meant we left on a 510pm flight that arrived at 1020pm and then flew home on a 7am flight that arrived at 10am. With 5 kids, three under the age of 5 I was a little nervous. The best part was on departure day my 3 year old was in urgent care (dx: ear infection) and then during TSA screening my 1 year old vomited over everyone and everything (including TSA agents). I just sat on the edge of a bench and thought we are crazy for even attempting this. Once we boarded the plane the baby continued to vomit approximately every hour or so and I continued to chew my nails down to the bone wondering if we would arrive alive. But in the end it all worked out. My kids were champs (even the ear infection one who I worried about landing and takeoffs slept thru it) Coming home we were exhausted from waking up so early and then we had a THREE hour drive home. Everyone survived and we still talk about how it was the best thing we have done as a family. My point is that even when things seem to be going really really bad (All OVER the TSA agent and other fliers luggage there was vomit) everyone pulled through okay and we can't wait to go back. Next year we will be flying with 6 kids with 4 of them being 6 and under.

 

[msmama]

I'd keep what you have, personally.

My son and I flew across the country earlier this year and ended up getting to our destination at what was about 1 am our time. He was tired, I was tired, but it all worked out in the end.

It might mean going slow your first day if you have tired kids, but you do what you have to. And going home, at least you're at home if they are super cranky!!

 

[bethy]

You should be fine since your kids aren't super young. I've found that with flying with very young children (3 and under) that it is critical to fly early in the day but not so early as to interfere with a normal night's sleep - like around 9 a.m. at the earliest. That way they are reasonably well rested and in a good mood.

But my kids - especially my youngest are very high maintenance children who aren't very easy going and who get pretty cranky when tired.

Just try this out and then you'll have a better idea next time what their limits are.

 

[flutterby3744]

To me, those are optimal flight times, and it's what we always choose! The first day we are pretty tired by the end of the night, but we just take it easy that day. Usually planning that day to explore our resort or peruse Downtown Disney. Then we call it an early night to rest up for our park days. On our last day, we always take a late flight out so we can have one more day in the parks!

I've found that little kids are really up for anything. I never worry about their schedules or change in routine. Of course it's a change in routine - you're at DISNEY!! Take it as it comes, and have a great time

 

[crauen]

My DS is a little younger then your kids (just turned 1) but we have flown three times and the early morning departures seem to work really well for us. We have done a couple of evening flights as well and one went great. The other he was pretty overtired, could not sleep, and was fussy but that flight was only an hour. With kids your age I would not really worry about the times too much.

 

[ktlm]

The late flight on the way back should be fine. The kids will probably be so tired from the week at WDW that they will sleep all the way back. DD usually does. I wouldn't fly back earlier. ME won't leave the resort until around 6:30 p.m., so you will get a good part of the day at WDW that day. We usually try to book late flights back to get park time that last day.


I would be a little concerned about the early flight going out there, but you do what you have to and it can be done. It might be hard to get the kids up and to the airport by or before 5:00 a.m. I would not count on them being sleepy on the flight because they will probably have an adrenaline rush about being on the way to Disney. Everytime I book an earlier flight an expect DD to sleep on the plane on the way there, she is all wound up and bouncing the whole way. They might be cranky, but they might be so wound up and happy to be at WDW that they fine in the parks that day. I will say definitely don't plan any late night activities. They may crash in the evening and you may be leaving the parks early the first day.

It will all work out. Try not to stress about it!

 

[FireflyTrance]

On my last flight I attempted to go when DD1 would be taking a nap. Usually she takes a nap for about 2 hours, but on the flight it was only 45 minutes and then she was cranky after that. So I agree with above, go at whatever time they are likely to be awake and in a good mood. Maybe get them a brand new coloring book/tablet game/travel friendly toy that they get to first use on the flight.

However, we also collect SW points. If I am booking with points, I will also factor in what is a good deal points wise. SW points have a direct dollar value (something like 1 point = 1.6 cents?) so the less desirable flight times are likely to use less points. I would rather book a flight I have enough points for, than one that is at a better time but I would have to pay cash.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

also the early departure time usually means plane is already at airport, so no one already on plane from first stop

 

[MandiC]

There are positives and negatives to all times. It could go wonderfully and your kids could sleep all the way down there and all the way back home. Or they could be overtired and cranky. You will need to be at the airport early obviously, the airports are usually a lot less crowded on early morning flights (we've flown out at 5:30am and 9am in the last two years).
The negative I see to the late flight back...is just how late it is...9:30pm with a 4 year old with no nap after a long vacation and full day in the parks? Check-out is pretty early, I believe it was 10am? So while you can do the bag check at your resort and stay at the parks all day, that would be pretty exhausting with such a young child. You know your child best though. We flew out at 3:30pm...you have to be on ME 3 hours in advance, so we left the resort at 12:30, I do wish we could have stayed a few more hours and I guess if I had the choice between 10am or 9pm I'd probably take my chances with the later flight too. But I would start really thinking of ways you can get the kids some rest during that final day without having a room to go to.

 

[pixiemama91]

I always book the early morning flight on the way there. It can be tough being up so early, but I like to feel like I have the whole day there once we check in. I also don't like sitting around at home just waiting to go on vacation. We have never flown that early. Usually we book a 7:00am flight arriving around 10ish. Coming home I usually try to book a late afternoon flight home. I am not opposed to a late night flight. As long as you don't have to go back to work the next day.

 

[capeseal]

I would keep the flights as you have them unless the kids have to go to school the day after you return, in which case, I think I'd book the earlier flight back since they won't get a good night of rest or any downtime to acclimate to being back at home before jumping back into their regular schedule. So, with a down day or, at least a down morning, following travel home, I think you will enjoy the return flight with a full final day of vacation fun and two sleepy kiddos on the plane.

As for your flight into MCO, the only advice I would give is not to make any firm plans for arrival day and to expect a very early night to bed that evening. I would maybe even plan to have dinner in the room with a quiet movie that night. I say this because my kiddos won't go back to sleep after we wake them, even for extra early flights, so they end up exhausted on arrival day. Even if they do doze a tiny bit, it isn't really rejuvenating sleep, and emotions tend to run high by the afternoon. The only time, in 6 trips where we have seen the kids have a vacation meltdown, was arrival day evening when we pushed to go out and watch a movie by the pool and eat smores. My poor daughter was absolutely beside herself with being travel-weary and we realized there is no reason to push anything after 4pm on arrival day ever again. Now, we check in, swim, explore the resort, and spend our first evening quietly in our room and everyone is rested and ready to enjoy our vacation on day 2.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My kids don't sleep on planes, so regardless of when we're flying, we know that we have to deal with kids that are awake.

My kids do well with early morning flights, no matter how early we have to get them up. I think it's the excitement of going to Disney and just being on a plane. We do plan for early nights, though. On our trip that starts Wednesday, we have an 8:10 a.m. flight. Unlike what a previous posted said our airport (MSP) is slammed in the early morning so we're planning on being out the door no later than 5:45 a.m. so we're to the airport two hours early. I just flew on the same airline this Wednesday and the lines that early in the morning are horrible. You should probably either call the airport (not the airline, the actual airport) or check out the flyertalk.com forums to see how early people recommend being to your airport. If our flight was leaving mid-morning or later, I'd stroll into the airport about an hour before our flight, but the early morning period is horrible.

 

[3princes+1princess]

I think you are going to be just fine. Those are the flights we chose, and always choose for our Disney flights because we max the time we are there. I have flown countless times with my four kids at every age, and trying to get a 'good' time for them is not even possible. Some kids will fall asleep on planes, some won't. Some get so excited that they are wild. It is a new experience and there is no way to figure out how they will behave, especially before or after a Disney vacation

Your children are not that young and as long as you bring a little entertainment and food/drink....they will be fine.

The only thing I am worried about for our flights is we get into the airport about 10pm, and have a 3 hour drive home (adding getting our car from the parking lot), and they will be going to school the next day!. I sure hope they sleep in the car at least .