Leave Friday or Saturday

[vivianmarie244]

Options are:
1. Go EARLY Saturday morning, arrive around 1, go straight to MK after checking into hotel - probably around 2ish. Flights would cost about $1200

2. Go Friday right after school, have dinner at DTD, wake up Saturday morning to get to the parks ASAP. Flights would cost about $965. No addt'l cost for hotel as we have enough points to stay at our timeshare w/o it "costing" anything extra.

My only issue with #2 option is that we are trying to surprise the kids and I'm not sure how they will deal with going to WDW for the first time but having to wait until the next morning to actually go into the parks. We really wouldn't have any time to explore that night because we wouldn't arrive until 10pm. And, I'm not sure if they will be able to sleep that night knowing what they have ahead of them.

Your thoughts.

 

[bjscheel]

For the money savings, I would go Friday. It saves you money AND you get a full day in the parks Saturday instead of 1/2. To me that is win-win. Our first couple trips didn't involve a park on arrival day and the kids managed.

 

[bjscheel]

Also, do you mean you will arrive at 10pm and THEN want to have dinner at DTD or ?? If that's the case I would eat at the airport and just get settled in at your timeshare.

Or do you mean that after you have dinner at DTD and get to your timeshare it will be 10pm?

 

[Missy13d69]

I would go Friday. I think it would be better to have to wait, and get a full park day instead of getting there and only having half a day. Couldn't you keep the Disney surprise until the morning? Can't they just think the vacation is going to Orlando, staying at the timeshare, then in the am surprise them that you are going to Disney?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm not sure why you are having trouble deciding this. It makes the most sense and saves money to go Friday night.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Defintely Friday. Considering what time you will get there, it shouldn't be hard for them to understand they have to wait until morning for the parks.

I did a surprise similar for my dd only it was Sea World. Her fall break included Thursday and Friday, and of course the weekend, but when the Thursday morning flight went up in price, it was the same price to add a night to our hotel and fly out Wednesday after school, then I figured if we flew out Wednesday, we would have all of Thursday to do the park instead of arriving midday. You will actually come out cheaper.

I picked her up at school and when she got in the van and closed her sliding door there was a sign facing her on the window that said, "You are going to Sea World."

We got into Orlando just before 7 and arrived at the hotel in time to have a late dinner and go to bed. She had no issue with not going to the park until the next day and settled in fine.

After doing the early morning flight for our Disney trip this past June, I'm thinking for our next trip I will go back to the afternoon flight.

 

[vivianmarie244]

Also, do you mean you will arrive at 10pm and THEN want to have dinner at DTD or ?? If that's the case I would eat at the airport and just get settled in at your timeshare.

Or do you mean that after you have dinner at DTD and get to your timeshare it will be 10pm?

Sorry I didn't make that clear at all. We will arrive around 10pm. You are absolutely correct in that we should eat at the airport if that's the case. The other variable is if I can convince my DH that it would be okay to pull the kids from school a little earlier in the day. THEN, we would be able to get there early enough to eat at DTD.

 

[vivianmarie244]

I'm not sure why you are having trouble deciding this. It makes the most sense and saves money to go Friday night.

The main reason for the indecision is the surprise element for the kids. I have been thinking for a while now that we would surprise them at the airport with "You're going to Disney this afternoon!!!!" Not "You're going to Disney...but you'll have to wait until the morning!" Seems silly but it's the grand reveal that I have in my head that will probably not get the reaction that I have been dreaming about anyway. But, I have to try!

 

[My3Princez]

The main reason for the indecision is the surprise element for the kids. I have been thinking for a while now that we would surprise them at the airport with "You're going to Disney this afternoon!!!!" Not "You're going to Disney...but you'll have to wait until the morning!" Seems silly but it's the grand reveal that I have in my head that will probably not get the reaction that I have been dreaming about anyway. But, I have to try!

Go Friday. Say "We're going to Disney!" getting there and settling into your timeshare and pulling out all the fun Disney stuff you have secretly packed will be a fun way to start. Watch a Disney DVD and get psyched up for a rope-drop morning!

 

[WillowBelle]

Are you on property or off property?

How old are your kids?

Being that they've never been before, they don't know what they're missing checking in at night and having to wait until the morning.

Will you have a car?

If so, you could drive to the Boardwalk and wander around. There is SO MUCH to see and it is SO PRETTY there. You could stop at B&C for some ice cream and take in some of the Disney atmosphere that way.

 

[littlebit0863]

Go Friday! Your kids may be too excited to sleep, but once you club them over the heads they will be fine. Kidding! No, I'm sure that they will go to sleep at some point so you will be good.

 

[cheshireqt]

I am with the Friday option (cheaper and get to start the day Saturday at the parks).
Not sure of the ages of your kids but assuming grade school age? I like the pull them out of school early option. It adds to the mystery and excitement. Not sure what time that would put you in Orlando and if that makes it possible to go to a park, ride a few rides, and have supper there?
Or if you arrive too late for that to be worthwhile then you could do what you said but have more time than the later flight affords at DTD, maybe get a souvenir or two to wear to the parks (hat, jewelry, sunglasses, or shirt). Plenty of souvenir $ are ready to be spent just from the flight savings. Then watch a Disney movie to get them ready for sleep at your accommodations. The excitement will build all afternoon and evening for a super great day in the parks the next day!
have a great vacation!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Options are:
1. Go EARLY Saturday morning, arrive around 1, go straight to MK after checking into hotel - probably around 2ish. Flights would cost about $1200

2. Go Friday right after school, have dinner at DTD, wake up Saturday morning to get to the parks ASAP. Flights would cost about $965. No addt'l cost for hotel as we have enough points to stay at our timeshare w/o it "costing" anything extra.

My only issue with #2 option is that we are trying to surprise the kids and I'm not sure how they will deal with going to WDW for the first time but having to wait until the next morning to actually go into the parks. We really wouldn't have any time to explore that night because we wouldn't arrive until 10pm. And, I'm not sure if they will be able to sleep that night knowing what they have ahead of them.

Your thoughts.

I say go Friday and don't mention anything about Disney until you get them up Saturday morning if you aren't staying on property. If you are staying on property, tell them when you pick them up from school. It will be so much more special to see rope drop versus going into the park in the afternoon.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Keep in mind that many food places at airports close at 9 or 10, so if your flight arrives at 10 pm, you will probably not be eating at the airport. I don't know for sure when places at MCO close.

I guess I just don't understand the difference between a surprise Friday afternoon and a surprise Saturday morning.

 

[2Tiggers]

Friday for sure!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Friday for sure....Would be crazy not to save money and have many extra hours in the park on Saturday. Now granted I'm not a fan of surprise trips, and really against any that people have to lie to carry out but you could just keep saying we have lots of surprises and they start with a trip to the airport. Arriving at 10:00 after a day in school should leave you with tired kids that will be fine to hit the bed and be ready for more surprises (MK) in the morning!If they figure it out.....no problem. They should be able to delay the gratification till morning.