going to the park after a red eye flight (yes, I am crazy)

[BlueberryPi]

We're loosely planning right now for a trip in November 2016. It is me, DH and my wonderful 17 year old twins. We're planning to land around 8 am on Saturday and leave the following Saturday from MCO at 9am. Our plan is to do Saturday-Wednesday at WDW (staying at AoA) and Wednesday night to Saturday at Universal (RPH). This leaves us 4 days plus the bleary-eyed red-eye Saturday at WDW.

I don't want to waste a day sleeping or hanging around the hotel, so I thought that we could do AK or HS. I was thinking AK because DH was angling towards skipping it (until I showed him the menu's), but most of the things we're excited for at HS are the shows, but I'm also worried that we'll all pass out watching shows.

Am I crazy for thinking of going to park after a red-eye or is this totally doable?

 

[brittbrat63]

We're doing the same thing in October. We leave Seattle at midnight and will be at MCO at10:30 AM. Hopefully we can catch some zzzs on the plane but otherwise, we aren't messing up a 2 week vacation schedule on the first day

 

[Robo]

This would be easier to understand and discuss if you said what time was the take-off of your flight and from where you were flying.

 

[BlueberryPi]

This would be easier to understand and discuss if you said what time was the take-off of your flight and from where you were flying.

We leave Vancouver at 11:30pm and arrive at MCO around 8:30 am (planning to take ME to AoA).

 

[kappyfamily]

We are in Portland and always do red eyes and land around 7am. We always check in then go straight to the park, usually ready for a break around 3pm when our room is ready then head back out around 5:30 to the parks again. So not crazy at all!

 

[Etherflyer]

DW and I do this every time but normally arrive around 6am at MCO leaving OR around 7 - 9pm. Most of the time with our arrival we start wherever the extra magic hour morning is and then take a nap after noon and head back out for dinner and fireworks at one of the parks. This has us using fast passes set later in the day and riding in the standby lines in the morning. We always park hop. With your timing your animal kingdom plan should work well.

 

[PirateD]

We have done it a couple of times coming from Seattle with mixed results. It's definitely not ideal, but unfortunately there aren't many great choices in coming from the NW to Orlando. You either lose a day traveling or a day feeling off balanced (or worse). I guess it depends on how well you can sleep on a plane. No one in my family really does so we now opt for losing a day traveling and going to bed early once we arrive and we are usually ready to go the next day.

When we do red-eyes though, we usually just head to the parks. At least that way my adrenaline gets me going a little and I don't feel quite as lousy as I do just lounging. A couple of times we have been lucky and have been able to sleep better on the plane, been able to take a brief nap, and then head out for a pretty enjoyable day. We usually make it an early night and then feel fine the next day.

Shows may not the best idea. We tried the HofP once after a red-eye and I don't remember anything. We also avoid ADRs. We had one at CP for an early dinner after one red-eye flight and my sister ended up with a horrible migraine which cut our dining experience short.

 

[bumbershoot]

For my particular family this would be utter misery. Maybe by the time DS is 17, but I don't know.

Also, I don't really sleep on planes, especially when DS is with me (especially when he isn't sleeping...the kid kept us awake for all but maybe half hour Vancouver to Heathrow, leading to a horrible awful "my body thinks it's 2am and we have to traverse this airport without doing bodily harm to my son" hour or so).

But...that said, I'm doing it for a solo journey in February. So...we'll see how that goes. Maybe I'll sleep then.

 

[BlueberryPi]

It is so comforting to hear that others do this and it's positive (for the most part). It sounds like AK may be the best bet.

We aren't good plane sleepers, but we all handle sleep deprivation fairly well.

I am thinking of planning fast passes, but nothing else. This way if we need to just head to the hotel we can.

 

[azdisneymom]

This is our plan next week. We arrive from Phoenix at 6:45am and my plan is to head straight to AK, stay through lunch and then go pass out. We usually arrive in the evening and I hate the feeling of loosing a whole day traveling. It's me, DH, and 8 and 4 year old sons. I am crossing my fingers they sleep for most of the 4 hour flight!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We have done this after a 20 hour drive, so managing it after being able to sleep on a long flight seems pretty easy to me. Just be aware that the first day can be really tough if it is hotter at WDW than you are used to at home that time of year.

 

[disnut8]

It is so comforting to hear that others do this and it's positive (for the most part). It sounds like AK may be the best bet.

We aren't good plane sleepers, but we all handle sleep deprivation fairly well.

I am thinking of planning fast passes, but nothing else. This way if we need to just head to the hotel we can.

In my opinion, Animal Kingdom is the best park for just walking around and seeing things without needing FastPasses for everything. You can FastPass the Safari and Expedition Everest. We normally would also get one for Kali River Rapids but that might be a good bet for November for you. After the FastPasses are used, there's still plenty of time for just walking around and seeing the animals. You can take the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. You can see Flights of Wonder. It's Tough to be a Bug. Walk the two longer trails or just walk around the trails at the Tree of Life. You can fill up almost a full day just doing those things and then head back to your resort for down time.

 

[subtchr]

When I bring marching bands, more often than not it's an overnight bus trip from the school (I've done it from OH, IN, PA, LA, and several other states), then breakfast before a park all day.

So many groups do this that a smart entrepreneur has created the Hub Kissimmee to accommodate them. Buffet breakfast, changing rooms, even showers. Before that we would use one of the turnpike service areas for freshening up, then breakfast at an area Golden Corral or Rainforest Cafe.

The kids survive, and let's just say it's not a problem getting them to bed that night in the hotel!

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I have left at 10am and drove 20 straight hours with no relief and still went to the parks when we arrived early the next morning. Stayed at the parks until our room was ready and went back to unpack then back to the park again. Didnt go to sleep until late that night. I have done this several times. It just depends on how your body reacts. I would rather my family be well rested.

 

[V2000]

I also booked a red eye flight for this October. Tried in twice in the past and we were able to get through okay. I think our energy was running off of pure excitement. We have trouble sleeping solid on the plane. Our flight is from 10pm California to 6am MCO. With the time change it's only 5 1/2 hour flight.

Once we check in we eat breakfast and head to the parks. Hoping to be in the hotel and asleep by 10pm that night and get some good rest before the next park day. If all your party members agree on the red eye then you should be fine. Coffee is good and if you need a nap in the late afternoon you can always go to the hotel and head back into the parks in the PM.

 

[MrInfinity]

It'll be tiring, but it's not like you're going to throw away a whole day. We would either do a half day then go sleep then go have a dinner, or sleep for a few hours right away and go to a park in the afternoon. I'd be more inclined to make this MK, since you'll have a 2nd day at the MK. Then you have one full day at each park, plus your arrival day MK.

 

[PFopma]

It's best to try to get some sleep on the plane. But don't go to bed when you get to the hotel. Just hit the ground running and stay outdoors if possible. The fresh air helps. Even if you are tired try not to go to bed too early. This will help you adjust to the new time zone much quicker. I've taken several trips to Hawaii and Europe and always follow these rules. Last year we went to Disneyland Paris right from the airport on our first day in France. I was fine but my nephew (18) who was with me and thought it was cool to stay up all night on the trip over crashed late afternoon. We had to move our dinner plans at Chez Remy up and then went back to the hotel where he slept for the next 12 hours.

 

[BobC]

Here's my experience 2 weeks ago:

Woke up at 3am....drove to Midway airport in chicago (45 min drive)
Waited 2 hrs for plane....flight departed at 7:30 and arrived 10:30 Disney time...arrived in room at 11:45 using DME

I unpacked and took in the feel of the room for an hour and then went to MK

After MK I came back to the room around 5 to just relax...I met a friend from Orlando who picked me up at WL at 8 and we hung out till 11. I then blacked out after that and slept like a baby lol

It's doable....depends on the kids though, theyre the boss!

 

[Andtototoo]

We ended up doing that inadvertently last year when our flights got delayed, delayed, delayed. We were supposed to get in at 9pm and got in the following morning at 5am. At that point, by the time we got our car, we had enough time to get to the hotel, check in, shower, change, grab COFFEE (did I mention, COFFEEE?), and get to MK to meet our group from England. I was fine until 10pm that night. My dh crashed at 8pm. So it's doable.

 

[Bullseye]

Wow I never realized between the flight time and time zones how long it takes to go from the NW to WDW . I feel for you.
I always feel like I get a shot of adrenaline once I arrive at WDW. I think AK would be a good idea. We can usually get everything we want to do there done by mid-late afternoon. Then you could head back to resort, relax and catch up on Zzz's to be ready for the next day.