Flight to Disney World Question

[roses25]

So the flight I planned on purchasing is sold out. Myself, my 7 year old, and my 4 year old will be flying to Disney World this fall. We have a 2 1/2 hour drive to the airport.

So the most budget friendly option available departs at 11:55 PM and arrives at 5:30 AM (3 1/2 hour flight, but 2 hour time change). Do you think my kids would sleep once they arrive at the hotel since it would only be 4:30 AM our time or would they be so excited they'd want to get up and go? I personally don't think I can do Disney with 3 hours of sleep. haha Doing this option would save about $250 all together.

The next cheapest option (adding $250 to the cheapest option) would be to leave at 3 PM and get there at 10 PM.

We are 11 weeks out from vacation. I'm a bit afraid to wait much longer to purchase flights incase they continue to get more expensive. I'd like it to be as budget friendly as possible.

What do you think?

Thank You,
Roses25

 

[DisneyNewbieDad]

That's a bummer. If you take MDE from the airport, you may check their operating hours to see if they're operating at 5:30 am. It may also depend on how many days you have there.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Where are you staying? Remember most hotels will not let you get into the room until after 3pm. So if you arrive so early you will have no room to check into. I still think that you have time to book a flight. Try a Tuesday morning - that is what we did. The day before the tickets were about $80 higher each.

 

[roses25]

That's a bummer. If you take MDE from the airport, you may check their operating hours to see if they're operating at 5:30 am. It may also depend on how many days you have there.

It says that for arrivals between 5 AM and 10 PM that they'll collect our luggage, so I'm assuming the DME is running at 5:30 AM.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

My kids are younger (4 and 1), and we just woke up very early, but they both slept on the bus to the hotel. Once we got there though, they were so excited we couldn't get anyone to take a nap or rest until it was definitely very much bedtime. I think it depends on your kids, but also - are you sure the room would be available that early in the morning? Or would you eat up some of the flight savings by needing to buy the room for the night before too just to be sure you have a place to crash when you get there?

 

[roses25]

Where are you staying? Remember most hotels will not let you get into the room until after 3pm. So if you arrive so early you will have no room to check into. I still think that you have time to book a flight. Try a Tuesday morning - that is what we did. The day before the tickets were about $80 higher each.

We are staying at the All Star Movies resort. I have the room booked to arrive the day before the 5:30 AM flight gets in because I had hoped to get in by about 2 PM, so I'm guessing since we have it reserved they'd still let us check in early the next morning since we've paid for it, but that kind of seems like a waste of money to pay for a room that we won't arrive into until early the next morning.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Because you already have the room booked for that night, I think you should do the flight that arrives at 5:30 am, but plan that day to be low-key, maybe not even touring that day, or only touring at night. We've arrived late in the morning due to flight delays (2am maybe) and the kids needed to sleep in the next morning.

If you do the flight that arrives at 10, you're paying extra for the flight, and paying for the room, so that doesn't seem to be the best use of your dollars.

I do know others opt to stay at the Hilton at the airport when they arrive. Not sure it would help in your situation though.

 

[henry72]

I would do the 3 p.m. flight. At least you will get some sleep that night (which you have already paid for the room) and be better prepared for the next day. There is no way I would want to tackle the parks (with kids) on such little sleep (by taking the all night flight) but that is just me.

 

[blackpearl77]

I would do the 3 pm flight. I have a 5 year old and flying overnight - there's no way he would not be a cranky turd. He would be way too excited and not sleep on the plane or bus or go to sleep once arrived. But he is a horrible sleeper anyway but paying the $250 more would so worth it to have some sleep and not start off on a bad note. (I think I would be a mess too since I would be too excited to sleep).

 

[ChasingLeslie]

A Disney vacation is expensive...take the 3pm flight and get some sleep! No way would I fly overnight with children if I could avoid it.

 

[duckygirl]

My vote is for the 3 p.m. as well. You need to to enjoy your vacation! It is well worth the $250 if you can swing it.

 

[Jhondy210]

How long is your vacation? I think that may impact the choice. Is possibly losing a day of vacation by getting in at 5:30 am (and probably not getting to resort till 6:30am) okay because you have many other days or would that put a huge damper on what you all do while on vacation? My choice would be to arrive at 10pm. Then you can get some sleep

 

[jennygirlmt]

I would pay $250 for a night of sleep in a heartbeat. But I know my kids wouldn't sleep in the car, the flight or once in the room. So we'd be running on two days awake. Heck no. If money is an issue ditch something else, a big meal, or whatever. Or get a super cheap hotel room for 10pm just to sleep in before checking in the next day.

 

[HopperFan]

I would pay the extra. I think you risk more than $250 worth of your vacation to start out exhausted or the kids out of whack.

Also, hopefully someone will chime in experienced in hotel check ins but I know at some resorts if you don't arrive by a certain time you room could go back in the pool.

 

[magic458]

Get some sleep.....few can recover from missed sleep with just one night of recovery.

 

[disneymom0104]

We were in a similar boat- my husband has to work in the morning the day we leave. We originally were going to leave the next day on a 6:30am flight- but getting up at 2am to get there in time was not very sleep friendly, either. Then he thought the best would be the 11pm flight, arriving at 5:30am- he almost had me convinced, but we had not extended the trip so wouldn't have a hotel until our room was ready. So we would have to arrive, go to the resort, drop off luggage and then go to Disney Springs or something until we could get in the room. But even that arrival would be so early we would likely have to wait for DS to open. Anyway- in the end we were able to add the extra night at the beginning and we will be taking a 3pm flight, arriving there at 9pm. We lose 2 hours so should be able to get a decent night sleep and then go to a park the next day, not at rope drop. I think that was the best solution for everyone getting enough sleep and starting off on the right foot with the vacation! Good luck!

 

[Westcoastwild]

I got in at the same time. I chose to do the water park hopper specifically for that reason- went to Typhoon Lagoon that day, and it turned out to be a really smart choice.

My case may be a little different though- I don't know where you live but I'm out on the west coast and the time change is significant enough that even if I paid the extra, my day would have been pretty much gone.

 

[magic458]

If you go past 3 days, you are basically paying the same whether you do 3 or 7 days. (As long as you don't eat anything )

We got a morning 10:00 that gets us there by noon. That is an entire extra 1/2 day for "free". Then leaving later on the last we can run into one park and fast pass three things and then leave to get our mid afternoon flight.
Not everyone has 4 major airports within 2 hours like me but I would not start a vacation off short on sleep....I would at the end but not the front end.