lots of questions about PVD, ME and food for late arrivals

[poppinspal]

Most of these questions are transportation related and so I'm going to try to get them all out here in hopes of some answers.

DBF & myself are going to be flying out of Providence for the first time. We leave Sept. 29 and our flight is around 8:20pm(might be 8:25 or something) so my first worry is if I want to be there are 6pm am I going to have to give myself alot of time to get there due to Friday rush-hour traffic? (We're getting a ride from DBF's parents who seem to think we should be leaving our town just north of Boston at 2, that sounds way to early to me!!!)

My second question is about food, what are the food options like at PVD? My bf can get cranky when he's hungry so I'm trying to figure out our food options. (Okay maybe instead of my bf you could say I get cranky.) We can eat before we leave for the airport but then I'll probably be looking for something to eat when we arrive at WDW. Due to the lateness of our flight I'm not sure if the food court will be open. (I saw it said till midnight but not sure if that changes during value season) Are there any decent places to grab a bite to eat in the airport? (PVD that is.) Or should I pack food for the plane?

Last question and one that I know has been debated and talked about but I guess I just need to hear some opinions again. We're taking ME and I know that with our late flight there's a risk that our bags won't come till much later. Has anyone taken a late flight and still had their bags delivered to their room? How did it work out for you? I'd rather have my bags that night and not have to worry about them on our first park day then wait for them in the AM. I'd also really like to avoid getting them myself because I've heard you should check in for ME right away on late night flights.

Help! I swear I'm a wreck about the flying aspect of my trip.

 

[debster812]

OK--breathe! It will be FINE. Deep breath in......annnnndddd out. Ahh, feel better?

OK--coming from North of the City down to PVD. You don't say how far North, but I would work it backwards....

Your flight is at 8:30-ish, so you want to be there 2 hours before, so put your arrival at 6:30 to PVD. The GREAT news is that PVD is RIGHT off 95, and once you're at the airport, you are AT the airport.

Figure 3 hours to get there on a Friday afternoon. So, leave your house between 2:45 and 3pm and you'll be OK.

There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat both before and after security. Just go to www.pvdairport.com and check out the Airport Services tab.

I can't help you with the luggage question, because I'm struggling with the same issue myself when I fly SWA out of PVD in November.

It will be FINE. Really. Just keep breathing, OK?

 

[bavaria]

Here's my thoughts on food...

I often have late flights for work/vacation and always try and plan ahead. I wouldnt' count on the food court at the resort as you may be delayed. (As was I on a flight to WDW earlier this year, and ended up in my room finally at 3am - after 10 hours of travel and delays I was glad that I planned ahead and actually had something with me to eat as 'dinner')

I always buy a RiteBite box aboard United - hummus, pita chips, organic crackers, cheese, tin of tuna, Toblerone bar. I put it in my laptop bag, and often it doesn't get eaten until days later as snacks during the work day, but it's my safety net.

If your flight gets delayed, there may not be much available when you land or at the hotel ie they may have closed. I never count on getting food on arrival unless I am going to be staying at a hotel with 24 hour room service if I am on a late flight.

 

[Lewisc]

The deli stand in the food court at MCO is open 24 hours.

 

[Desnik]

When we go in Nov we will also be arriving late. We are only taking carryons. We will have control of our luggage and have it with us. We will be there for 6 days and will have a washer in our villa so we can pack light. I will also ship our toiletries down. We did this in May and it worked out fine. The DME driver helped put or bags and stroller under the bus and we tipped him. You could also not use the yellow tags for your luggage and just get your bags yourself. You don't have to use the luggage service they provide and just use them for the ride to your resort.

I was a wreck in May about flying too. It was all of our first time flying, using DME, I was beside myself but it all worked out great!

 

[twoeeyy]

to avoid the rush hour traffic in Providence. It is about 12 miles longer than staying on 95 but remember when you get back onto 95 you are about 1 exit SOUTH of the airport so you have to go NORTH on 95 to get to airport.

I am sure most people will dis- agree with me but I never get to airport more than about an hour and half before flight usually less, of - course I am not refering to any holiday travel time. so far I have never had a problem but certainly do what you are comfortable doing.

I actually live in Mansfield about 35 mile south of Boston and we make it to PVD in 45 minutes or less ( traveling at about 70ish )

As others have said you should be ok with the food choices.

Have a great trip we leave a few days behind you.

 

[Muushka]

I agree about taking 295 and going a little out of the way.

Oh, and I can't help it, the airport is in Warwick! My old home town!

 

[ImprovGal]

to avoid the rush hour traffic in Providence. It is about 12 miles longer than staying on 95 but remember when you get back onto 95 you are about 1 exit SOUTH of the airport so you have to go NORTH on 95 to get to airport.

295 would definitely be a good alternate route! Rather than follow it to the end where it merges back into I-95, though, I would take the exit for rt 37 East. It's a very short stretch of "highway". Take the exit for Rt 1 (Post Rd) South. The airport will be on your left and there are a number of offsite airport parking lots on that road, or there's also an entrance for Garage C right on that road, too.

 

[msdis]

Not sure where you are staying but Picabu at the Dolphin is open 24 hours a day. They have good food and not too badly priced. It's cafeteria style. You just pick out what you want and if they cook something for you they bring it to your table but you pick up everything else. It's a good place. We eat there almost every trip. They have good pizza and it cooks real fast.

 

[Jynohn]

I actually live in Mansfield about 35 mile south of Boston and we make it to PVD in 45 minutes or less ( traveling at about 70ish )

Just wanted to say hi, neighbor! (I live in Easton)

We've also gotten to PVD in under 45 minutes on a Friday night. Traffic isn't nearly as bad as getting into Logan.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[poppinspal]

OK--breathe! It will be FINE. Deep breath in......annnnndddd out. Ahh, feel better?

I should have started my thread by saying I'm a professional worrier when it comes to new things. Now flying and ME aren't new to me but being in charge of the trip is new to me, thus my worring. But the reminders to breath help!

I have figured out what time to leave now. (I live about 30 minutes north of Boston. Well 30 minutes at the time of day.)

We're flying SW so they don't offer meals. I'm still trying to figure out if I'll want to eat at PVD or bring my own food. And I'm really up in the air about my bags. I'll have to think more about it.