I just lost 2 hrs of Disney Magic

[cdntowdw]

I just got off the phone - the dreaded call from the airline has totally taken me by surprise. I've been reading the posts from DISers who have had their flights changed, but never thought it would happen to me. The plane was fully sold out. But they changed it anyway. I had a USAir non-stop from BUF to MCO at 11:00 - no need to get up in the middle of the night to make this one, arriving at 1:30 - lots of time to swim and make PS for dinner at 5:30.
Our departure is approx. the same (thank goodness) but we now stop for 1 1/2 hours in CLT with two kids and we arrive at 3:30 - two hours later than we had hoped. I'm bummed, but have no other alternatives. Will just have to make the best of it. I will try to get out PS changed to a little later and still catch the fireworks at 8:00. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

 

[ducklite]

In all honesty, 1 1/2 hours for a layover isn't that much time. By the time youa ctually get off the plane, find and use the rest rooms, grab a quick snack or drink, find the next gate, and check in, they'll be getting ready to load your plane.

Anne

 

[hercamore]

Exactly right, ducklite.

 

[Darla and Alfalfa]

Know how you feel. I called Continential yesterday to confirm our flights for late Nov. into Dec. and they told me the flight down was canceled. On their on, they rescheduled us on a flight for later that night. I told them I didn't want to arrive in Orlando at 11:30pm with two children. After trying to figure out what to do, we are now leaving at 8:30am on that day. I really didn't want to have to wake up my daughters so early, but I guess we are still lucky to be going. I will still keep my fingers crossed that this one does not get canceled.

 

[DW mouser]

I am not looking forward to these early hours either with children! We leave at 8am and when I made these ressies months ago we thought that would be about right for getting 3 kids up and around at 6:30. Now, we have to be at the airport at 5 am!! My daughter-in-law said she's putting the kids to bed in their clothes!!!

 

[m.edmonds]

Don't let flight change's impact your vacation. Be creative you'll find lots of ways to make up some of that lost time. If you have to leave real early with children, go ahead and put them to bed the night before in their clothes. I've done this for early flights. Have them wear sweatsuits and they'll be comfortable while sleeping and on route to Disney. I've also taken the kids in their pajama's. You'll be amazed how much they can sleep on the ride to the airport if they haven't been forced to wake up. If you have a stop over, use this time to grab some lunch or a snack so you won't have to eat as soon as you arrive at the hotel. Change your clothes at the stop over to something better suited to the Florida climate. Kids will be glad to put the bathing suit on under the sweat suit they wore to bed. They'll be ready to hit the pool as soon as you get to the resort. If your worried about making a dinner reservation; spring for some cab fare from the Hotel to the restuarant. There are always cabs waitng outside the hotel and for about $10-$15 you should be able to quickly travel to your dinner reservation. Remember once you actually get to your hotel you have just safely arrive at the "Happiest Place on Earth" during the most difficult period in resent US history .

 

[DW mouser]

What a nice post edmonds! Thanks for all the great ideas and welcome to the dis-boards!

 

[TimNDansMom]

Great post m.edmonds!

We have had to get up in the early hours to catch a flight, experienced delays or stopovers when our kids were babies and always managed. Any upsets we had at the time, we laugh about now..."remember when...."

It's amazing the strength you find when you are going on vacation!

 

[ducklite]

Actually, arriving in Orlando at 11:30 with the kids isn't so bad. You'll board the aircraft just about their normal bdtime, and they'll sleep on the way. That way you don't need to worry about keeping them entertained. Dress them in sweats that they can sleep in, have them bring their own pillows, and they'l sleep well! Once you alnd they can call for a cart to take you from the gate to the shuttle if the kids are too loopy to walk all that way. Once they get off the shuttle and see the Disney Store right there, it'll perk them up enough to stay awake until you get into your car or shuttle. and that late at night there won't be a line to check in.

Anne

Anne

 

[u4ik]

We just travelled with our 2.5 year old and his older 7 yr old sister. Our flight was early and we had just over an hour drive to get to the airport. We let our little one sleep in his footie pjs and just put him in the car like that in the morning, when we got to the airport parking lot, my wife changed him to some sweatpants and shirt. My dgtr wore sweats to bed and kept that same thing for the travel day.

It really was not bad for them since we tried to disturb them as little as possible.

For us we made sure to be totally packed the night before and we just woke up and drove the next morning. Also, we all wore our patience hats since you NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE in all parts of the vacation. My son and dgtr LOVE flying and no terrorist will take that away!

Have fun.

Tom.