If you had to choose...

[lola4795]

Which of these 2 scenarios would you choose?:

Arrive at WDW late in the afternoon with only the evening left for activities, parks, and/or dinner. Leave WDW 1 week later on an afternoon flight that would leave your last morning and early afternoon free to do activities, parks, and/or a meal.

Arrive at WDW early afternoon and have some of the afternoon and all of the evening for activities, parks, and/or dinner. Leave WDW 1 week later on an early morning flight that wouldn't allow you to do anything but wake up and head to the airport.

We're looking at these 2 options for flights right now. My first choice would be 2 have an early arrival and a late departure, but it's not looking like that will happen!

Thanks!

 

[Cmbar]

I would always choose to go with the earlier arrival and early departure. When we are ready to leave, I want to get up and go home. I don't want to hang around the parks before I go because then I feel rushed and mostly I feel sad. I love ending my Disney trip with a fireworks show or whatever closing show is on the last night of our trip. Just my opinion! Happy planning

 

[coasterj]

As far as flights are concerned, i have found that the later in the day u fly the more of a possibility for a delay. I would always fly early, and then even if your flight is delayed u have the rest of the day to get on a different one and you dont have to spend the nite at the airport.

 

[HalfDozen]

I don't think the first scenario is very realistic, particularly if you're using ME. You have to be there to get the bus LONG before your flight time and an afternoon flight won't allow much time to get in and out of the parks - keep in mind the amount of transportation it takes just to get INTO a park and back out again. Then you're supposed to arrive anywhere from 1-2 hours before your flight time. So, I wouldn't deal with trying to do things on a departing day.

 

[Minnie824]

I vote for scenario #2...early arrival, early departure. On our departure day, we don't normally do too much anyway.

 

[ToTLaugher]

I guess I am in the minority. I would choose scenario #1.

I like to have breakfast and park time before my flight out. I really love getting to have a character meal for lunch before going, but that makes for a late flight. I guess I am never ready to leave!

 

[frannn]

I believe that if you are paying that much $ to fly somewhere, you should make the most out of the days you will be at WDW. My DH doesn't agree, but that's a different story. He isn't as obsessed as I am!

 

[CleveRocks]

I believe that if you are paying that much $ to fly somewhere, you should make the most out of the days you will be at WDW. My DH doesn't agree, but that's a different story. He isn't as obsessed as I am!

The OP addressed this:

My first choice would be 2 have an early arrival and a late departure, but it's not looking like that will happen!

 

[savs]

I would pick choice #2......I always seem to have more energy on the 1st day then the last, so the time will be well spent

 

[remfam5]

We actually HAD your scenario #1 (arrive late, leave early pm) and we thought it worked out perfectly!

We flew in and kicked off the vacation with a character meal and then on our last day we went to Epcot, did the princess breakfast, one last time on test track and soarin', and a bit of last minute shopping and off to the resort at noon.

I guess IMO-- I would hate to leave early in the morning without a little "magic"!!

So, my vote is for #1 !!!

 

[suswa]

We are actually doing #1 arrive late (5:45) leave late (4:40) and although I hadn't considered how tired we might already be it is still giving us an extra "opportunity" to see some of the parks or DTD if we choose. We could also just choose to hang out at the pool and relax. I vote for #1.

 

[bopper]

I used to think that a later departure was better, you know, you would have time to do stuff. But if you are leaving in the summer, you get those daily afternoon thundershowers that delay flights. So now we leave earlier to go home.

 

[myprinceandprincess]

My first choice too would always be early arrival and late departure. Get the most time you possibly could there. But if you have to pick one I guess it would be early arrival and early departure. I'm always anxious on the day we are leaving to get to the park. And on the departure day no matter how late a flight you have, there really isn't too much you could do.

 

[helenm29]

We have done it both ways. We have taken the Red Eye and gotten there around 7 or 8 am but I've found that we are usually exhausted from the flight and layovers, not to mention grumpy! not that we don't have a good time in the parks but it's not my favorite. I prefer getting there mid afternoon, enjoying some time in the parks etc., getting a good nights sleep and roaring to go the next day. Although if you have a park hopper for a specific number of days you may not want to use it if you get in late. Leaving for me is hard at best but I'd rather leave in the mid-morning because you are usually getting packed and ready to go anyway so there's no time to do anything else.

 

[kaysmommie]

We have done both of these trip plans before. Last time we stayed in the parks most of the day on Departure day but it felt too rushed to me even though our flight was 7 PM. I would choose to arrive early and leave early if you have to pick one. Of course arriving earl and leaving late is the best though! This trip we arriving in the afternoon and leaving early . good luck with your decision.

 

[blestmom]

I think it depends somewhat on your personal situation. For example, we come from so far and travel so long, we are wiped out, so we prefer to get in later and just get to bed. And for us, traveling with kids, I hate having to rush early in the morning to leave. It is easier for us to have a later departure, and we go bum around Downtown Disney for awhile. But...a shorter flight, no young kids...we may do things differently. I think either way would be okay!

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

I would rather come in early and leave early. I think that if we had the opportunity to take in parks on our departure day, it would only make it that much harder to leave.

I would rather get going full blast on the first day.