Help me choose a flight

[abinormal]

I'm about to buy our airline tickets for our trip in April. I've never flown with little kids before.

Long story short, our options boil down to: a direct flight each way but at really off hours for my kids (arriving at 10:30 pm), and essentially making arrival and departure day useless for anything fun.

Or

Flying down at more opportune hours but having to change planes.

What would you do?

 

[lisski76]

I would due the earlier flight for 2 reasons. First, flying late disrupts bed time and makes for unhappy children which leads to unhappy parents. Second a layover will give them time to stretch their legs and get rid of some energy which will then hopefully make them nap on the second part of trip.

 

[bethy]

CHANGE PLANES. No question!!!

 

[abinormal]

Would it change anything if the direct trip is 2.5 hours, and any schedule that involves changing planes bumps it to six?

 

[Saimaeve]

I would change planes, my daughter has always done well in connections. It gives her a chance to stretch her legs, use a rest room not 2 ft by 2 ft and burn off some energy.

We've also done red-eye with her. (Which we will be doing this trip) It works well for us, but it is definitely not for everyone

 

[abinormal]

I think I'm going to take my chances with the layover. If we do the direct, it means both arrival and departure day are useless. I can't do a grocery stop and the kids will be wrecked for our first park the next day.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I would take the night flight if, you choose a day earlier and stay near the airport or at the airport. This allows for a bright early start the next full day at Disney. By that time the kids may nod off and fall right back to sleep.