Is closing down MK and then heading to MCO crazy???

[2DisPrincesses]

I am considering booking a flight home from MCO @ 5am on a Saturday. It's soooo much cheaper than flying anytime Friday- because who wants to fly at 5am lol. We would check out on Friday and MK closes at 11pm. So assuming we get back to pick up our luggage from bell services around midnight/12:30am. we should have 1.5ish hours until our Mears shuttle (I'm assuming this would be scheduled for 2am). Does that sound about right? Trying to decide if this is a totally crazy idea before I ask my daughter if she wants to do it....she will say yes. Has anyone done this???

 

[BrianL]

Man, I wouldn't, but if you think you can swing it....

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are you guys used to being up all night and sleeping on planes? I'm not but you may be different and it wouldn't be the most miserable way possible to end a vacation to you that it would be to me. To close MK, stay up for a couple hours in a lobby hotel, bus to airport, stay up for a couple hours at the airport (without coffee, maybe without food and snacks available- last time I did a 6am MCO united flight coffee didn't even open until 5am) and board a plane as my body finally resigns to the fact I shall get no sleep so I get to be awake on the plane too? And then I'm expected to function for work, family, etc over the next few days when I get home?! Sounds miserable.

I get cheap flights are important but I'd peace out of MK by 8-9pm and pay for that night at the hotel- which you originally planned to do anyway. No, you're not gonna get a lot of sleep but you'll get some. Ditch Mears and you can leave Disney at 3am for a 5am flight because there is no traffic then (for 2 people the Mears math is very hard to justify over rideshares anyway). Check when your airline open counters, I arrived around 4am for that 6am flight with united to a terminal so packed I could barely get in because they don't even open their check-in counters until 4:30am.

 

[beccasmom]

We once stayed at the MK pretty late (1:30 am-ish) several years back and had an early flight (probably 7:00 am). We didn’t get much, if any, sleep that night….although I never sleep well the night before a flight anyway. Memory fails me a bit here, but I’m fairly sure it worked out okay since our flight home is just over two hours and non-stop. I can’t say I’d recommend it though. It wasn’t exactly planned to stay late at the park either; time just got away from us.

I think it is doable although I can’t imagine doing it again, planned or not. As noted by a PP the check-in desks may not be open, although it might be possible to do curbside check-in depending on the airline. TSA security lines can be long even at that early hour; you can check that beforehand on-line. And hopefully we’re talking about a non-stop flight; connections would make the day really seem endless IMO.

 

[lilmc]

It sounds exhausting, but if you have a day or two before you’d need to back to work/school to catch up on sleep, I’d do it.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

There would definitely be no work or school until Monday so we have that going for us and sleeping on planes is not a problem! Thanks for the reminder about ticket and TSA opening times- it looks like American usually opens at 2:30am and TSA at 4am.
My 20-year-old wants to do it, just have to decide if I can make it

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think it's a nice money saving idea. No hotel for the night, maximize time at the park during the slowest time of the day. You will be very tired at the airport. Assuming you don't have to be functional on Saturday, go for it!

 

[DisneyMom93]

Personally, it's not a plan I would make, (we usually use the Saturday as a relaxing day and check out midday Sunday), but if the situation came up I would do it. My only issue would be making the time to pack everything and have it all ready. Having a great vacation and then ended it with a stressful situation negates the "vacation" somewhat for me. But if it's well planned and it won't be stressful I say go for it. Have fun!

 

[cheryl.UK]

I'd be tempted to pay for lounge access at the airport or even better, checking into one of the cheaper airport hotels. There are a cluster of them just outside the airport at around $100 per night, some with airport shuttles.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Personally, it's not a plan I would make, (we usually use the Saturday as a relaxing day and check out midday Sunday), but if the situation came up I would do it. My only issue would be making the time to pack everything and have it all ready. Having a great vacation and then ended it with a stressful situation negates the "vacation" somewhat for me. But if it's well planned and it won't be stressful I say go for it. Have

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Thanks! There is no relaxing at Disney with my 20 year old lol. She is a rope drop to latest Park close kind of girl so I guess we’re going to try it! The worst that’s going to happen is I will never do it again!! Her AP was her second “adult” purchase so she’s all about Park time

 

[elvispursley]

I’d do it. We take red eyes flights from the west coast all the time to MCO with flights leaving late and arriving at 5:45 am. This. Is almost the same but in reverse. I’d stay in MK until it really clears out, then head back to collect your bags, catch transportation to MCO. It’ll make for a really long day(s) but if it saves a bunch of $$, why?!

 

[hardcorestitch]

I am considering booking a flight home from MCO @ 5am on a Saturday. It's soooo much cheaper than flying anytime Friday- because who wants to fly at 5am lol. We would check out on Friday and MK closes at 11pm. So assuming we get back to pick up our luggage from bell services around midnight/12:30am. we should have 1.5ish hours until our Mears shuttle (I'm assuming this would be scheduled for 2am). Does that sound about right? Trying to decide if this is a totally crazy idea before I ask my daughter if she wants to do it....she will say yes. Has anyone done this???

Can you go a few hours later than 5am Saturday if logistics permit?

 

[2DisPrincesses]

I’d do it. We take red eyes flights from the west coast all the time to MCO with flights leaving late and arriving at 5:45 am. This. Is almost the same but in reverse. I’d stay in MK until it really clears out, then head back to collect your bags, catch transportation to MCO. It’ll make for a really long day(s) but if it saves a bunch of $$, why?!

Thanks! I think I will skip Mears Connect and take a Lyft so we’re only waiting around in at the airport rather than waiting at the resort and the airport.

 

[Micca]

It does kinda sound like a fun adventure, and the idea of arriving home before Noon on your return day has quite a lot of appeal. But it will be exhausting, I'd only do that if the savings is big $$$ (i.e. in the several hundred dollar range.)

 

[sam_gordon]

What's the drive time from the airport to home? One time I took a red eye back from Vegas, didn't sleep well on the plane, and had a 90 minute drive home. That was rough. Of course, I was by myself, and a passenger might have helped keep me awake, but something to think about.

 

[_19disnA]

Probably depends on how long a flight you have to get back home and if it is non-stop or not (not sure where you are from). Being up all day/night and then trying to sleep on the airplane wouldn't be my first choice. Some people like those 'red eye' flights when traveling in the US from west to east. We have done that in the past and once you get home, with the jet lag you aren't sure if you should go to bed or eat breakfast and continue your day. Park of the reason red eye flights are cheaper is they are less desirable and the airlines want to avoid flying planes with few passengers.

You likely will need all of Sunday to recover before going back to work/school.

 

[Mle8308]

I'd do it! At least once, especially since you'll have the weekend to recover! Let us know how it goes!

 

[Mkraus]

We did a day trip. Flew in the night before, picked up a rental car and stayed off-site that night. Woke up and rope dropped Epcot. Left Epcot around 2 for MK and that nights MVMCP. Left MK about 4 5minutes after close and took the rental car to McDonalds on property and had a snack. We took a quick nap in the rental car. Returned the rental around 5 and headedto our gate for our 7am flight home.

So yes it can be done. I would make a habit of it but now it's a core memory for us and a fun story to tell.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'd be tempted to pay for lounge access at the airport...

But not without checking their hours first! This is a bit early for most lounges to be open.