No More Red-Eye, a New Plan

[Entropy]

The last time that we visited Saratoga Springs, we took the red-eye from the West Coast thinking that we could get a head-start on our vacation. It turned out to be a bad idea because SSR didn't have a requested room ready for us in the morning and we had to wait until the normal check-in time. (my fault, not theirs) We didn't sleep much on the plane so we were exhausted all day and this was very double-plus un-fun.
So, looking for a nice, easy minimum trouble vacation I've come up with the following plan:
Our DVC vacation starts on Sunday so we're taking a day flight in on Saturday, arriving about 6 PM. We'll stay at the Airport Hyatt where they will apparently pick up our bags at the carousel and bring them up to our room. AAA discount applies to this hotel. I could stay nearby for less but that will add two shuttle rides to our easy, already-on-vacation plan. At the hotel, a nice dinner, a dip into the pool and bedtime.
In the morning, we can get breakfast, take the Magical Express to SSR and check-in early hopefully getting a requested room because we're there early. If one's not available, check the bags and hit the parks well-rested and not repeating the zombie tour that we did last time.
Do you think it will work? Anyone got an improvement?

 

[Hopefully]

It sounds like the perfect plan to me. It also gives you one day extra to try to adjust to the time change. Be sure to give Magical Express an flight that actually arrives on the day you want to take the shuttle, not the day before when you arrive. You will need to bring your luggage to the bus yourselves.
Enjoy

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We did this a little over a year ago and it was great! We didn't use ME - decided to use a towncar, but it'll work out the same.

 

[tjkraz]

That's a good plan.

Another thing worth considering is renting a car and spending the first night just outside of WDW. I don't know how great of a discount you're getting at the Hyatt. I've priced it before and the cost was around $300.

I've gotten something decent in the Downtown Disney area (Royal Plaza, I believe) for under $100. So the difference between the Hyatt and another hotel may pay for your rental. (You can go further toward making up the difference if you pick up a few groceries at Publix or Winn Dixie using the rental. Even if it's just bottled water, soda and beer/alcohol you'll save quite a bit vs. Disney prices.)

Staying in the DTD area gives you easy access to DTD for the evening, assuming that it's not worth burning a day on your park tickets or activating APs early. You know better than anyone how you'll respond to the jet lag, but that 6pm Orlando arrival time is only 3pm to your internal clock. You may not be ready to retire as quickly as you're anticipating. Wandering around DTD for a couple hours may prove to be a fun diversion.

 

[allison k]

We did this a few years ago and stayed at a CHEAP hotel near the airport who had an airport shuttle. Then we booked Mears for p/u at the hotel (pre-ME). It worked pretty well. Although, I think you're making a wise decision staying at the Hyatt. When we stayed at this $39/night hotel, we got stuck in the elevator and had to call the front desk to have someone get us out. I've never been the same since.

Last year, I stayed at POP the first night. Looking back, I wish I had booked the Hyatt. It would have been much more convenient...

It's funny, since we had a disastrous red-eye to New York 6 years ago, we've been flying in the day. This year, we're doing a red-eye on July 4th. We weighed our decision heavily. The fact is, DS2 can be quite a handful (and very loud!) and I think we've got a better shot of him sleeping through the flight if we take the red-eye. Since we've gone to WDW and NY without having a room ready until later in the day, we're planning on this being the case. No plans for parks, etc. And, we know we'll be toally zonked!

 

[lizanne]

Years ago (we joined in '92) you could arrive in the middle of the night and get into a room even though you ressies didn't start until the next day. Not so for quite some time now.

We too had similar bad experiences for quite a few years. But last trip we arrived about 5:00 am, we were willing to pay for the extra night but there were no rooms available. We went to hotel road (around downtown disney) and we were able to get a room. I fell asleep right away (after driving from PA) but my DH went over to OKW and checked-in as soon as he was able, then came back to the hotel. We never did get our room at OKW until 6:30 PM, but at least we were able to get that nap at the hotel until we had to check-out of there. It made a big difference.

I think my DH finally realizes the good ol' days are gone

 

[Disneypirate85]

We have been going early as well. Usually fly in the afternoon before our "vacation" starts, stay at a value resort and just lounge around and get a good meal. With our AP rate we have been pretty lucky for a cheap room. If we want to go to a park we go since we already have the AP's so no added expense. Bell service's moves our bags over to our DVC so theres no issues there. Beside we get an extra day in the world for less the $60.00....Shawn

 

[La2kw]

We also come from the west coast and have never taken a red-eye. I need my sleep, and can't do that on a plane. However, we head right to our DVC resort after arrival. We are usually at WDW by 8pm, having dinner and enjoying the resort. Your room is always available at that time, so there's no waiting around for it. You check in and then head straight to your room. We have also been known to hit the EMH evening park since we usually have PAP's. The last thing I want to do after my 6 hour flight is spend the night in the airport. There's way more to keep you busy at WDW and since we are on pacific time, our 8 pm arrival feels like 5 pm.

 

[ccigliano]

What about one of the Value Resorts like Pop Century - I would think you'd get the hotel room for the same price if not cheaper than the Hyatt and not have to waste valuable time getting to Disney on day 2. Then Disney can take your luggage over on Sunday while you enjoy the parks. I think this would work out better for about the same if not less $$.

 

[bigsmooth]

I also vote for the rental car and a hotel right next to disney. I like doing that so we can easily get our groceries and then return the car at the Buena Vista Palace across the street from SSR (Alamo). We've stayed at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista which usually is less than or around $150 and provides a separate sleeping area for the kids.

We've done the redeye in the past, and it is a pain. However, our airline eliminated the redeye and replaced it with a 1pm departure, 9:30pm arrival. So we are doing that on the next trip, just checking in late to the Embassy suites.

But if you want to start out with Magical Express, your plan is good. I've thought about that, but like having the 1 day car rental for groceries.

 

[Entropy]

Great ideas everyone. Thanks. I'm going to look into a value resort room and renting a car for a couple of days and see if they will make my vacation even better.

 

[Entropy]

I also vote for the rental car and a hotel right next to disney. I like doing that so we can easily get our groceries and then return the car at the Buena Vista Palace across the street from SSR (Alamo). We've stayed at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista which usually is less than or around $150 and provides a separate sleeping area for the kids.

We've done the redeye in the past, and it is a pain. However, our airline eliminated the redeye and replaced it with a 1pm departure, 9:30pm arrival. So we are doing that on the next trip, just checking in late to the Embassy suites.

But if you want to start out with Magical Express, your plan is good. I've thought about that, but like having the 1 day car rental for groceries.

I like the car rental idea. We were planning on renting one the following weekend to go to Kennedy Space Center, get some groceries and see some nearby relatives. I'm going to try to work the car into the schedule at the beginning and see if it works out better.
I do however hate the idea of renting a car or leaving Disney property while there. On my first visit to WDW some 21 years ago, I discovered what I called "Disney Mode". It's a state of mind that you get from being on Disney property full time where the place is clean, the CMs pleasant and helpful and life is good. Leaving Disney property for "Realityland" ruins this and I hate doing it but this time I'll have to. This is why I love the Grand Californian. While staying there, I don't even have to come close to Realityland.

 

[paulh]

we have done the disney value hotel plenty of times rooms come in less that $50.then taxi over to SSR $10-$15
Paulh

 

[jbrowna]

We always take the red eye when available, and are disappointed that they have fewer options out of PDX now (both American and United dropped their night flights east). What bothers us more than lack of sleep is burning a whole vacation day from work just to travel. With a night flight we can work the day, and fly overnight, instead of having to take a day off of work just to travel -- ugh! That costs way too much for us! We'd rather start our vacation on our first vacation day instead of our second.

Also we find that if we are tired when we arrive, but stay up and swim or go to a park, and don't go to bed until a normal, east coast time, then the next day there is no hint of jet lag. If we were to get off the plane and then go right to sleep, or take a nap, then we'd never get off of west coast time. We've found this to be true even for longer flights -- like to London or Paris. If we gut the first day out, instead of heading straight to bed, we overcome jet lag much more quickly. YMMV.

 

[tjkraz]

My issue with the value resorts is that there is so much more....overhead....that comes along with arriving at a Disney resort that I hate going thru it twice in two days. As large as those Value resorts are, you could spend 30-45 minutes just waiting to check in. Then it's a long haul up to the room (with no bell services, IIRC) to plop down for the night.

By comparison, every stay we've had at nearby off-site hotels has the typical 5 min checkin and a quick elevator trip up to the room. We pack one bag specifically for that first overnight stay (toiletries, change of clothes) and the other bags stay in the rental until we're ready to settle-in at our DVC for the week.

Plus it's a given that a $100 off-site hotel room is going to be MUCH better quality than a $100 room at a Disney Value. You're paying for the privilege of being on-site.

That said, if you book a Value you could still use DME and avoid the rental/cab/towncar charges altogether. You also get access to Extra Magic Hours that additional night.

We're already certified car people. Renting or driving our own is practically a must. With that decision made, I'll take the $100 off-site room over a Disney Value resort any day.

 

[wildernessDad]

That's a good plan.

Another thing worth considering is renting a car and spending the first night just outside of WDW. I don't know how great of a discount you're getting at the Hyatt. I've priced it before and the cost was around $300.

I've gotten something decent in the Downtown Disney area (Royal Plaza, I believe) for under $100. So the difference between the Hyatt and another hotel may pay for your rental. (You can go further toward making up the difference if you pick up a few groceries at Publix or Winn Dixie using the rental. Even if it's just bottled water, soda and beer/alcohol you'll save quite a bit vs. Disney prices.)

Staying in the DTD area gives you easy access to DTD for the evening, assuming that it's not worth burning a day on your park tickets or activating APs early. You know better than anyone how you'll respond to the jet lag, but that 6pm Orlando arrival time is only 3pm to your internal clock. You may not be ready to retire as quickly as you're anticipating. Wandering around DTD for a couple hours may prove to be a fun diversion.

I like this plan.

 

[PinkTink63]

We come from the West Coast too and love the red-eye! Sometimes the room is ready and other times not, but I would rather wait for the room we want! I always check in early and tell them there is no hurry and we'll wait to get the view we want! To each their own!

I don't get a ton of sleep on the plane, but I have managed to make it easier to get some sleep over the years! I bring a blow-up neck pillow and ear plugs now and I find that really does help to catch a few winks! After all, we are all in vacation mode and don't want to waste a whole day traveling!

 

[PinkTink63]

We always take the red eye when available, and are disappointed that they have fewer options out of PDX now (both American and United dropped their night flights east). What bothers us more than lack of sleep is burning a whole vacation day from work just to travel. With a night flight we can work the day, and fly overnight, instead of having to take a day off of work just to travel -- ugh! That costs way too much for us! We'd rather start our vacation on our first vacation day instead of our second.

Also we find that if we are tired when we arrive, but stay up and swim or go to a park, and don't go to bed until a normal, east coast time, then the next day there is no hint of jet lag. If we were to get off the plane and then go right to sleep, or take a nap, then we'd never get off of west coast time. We've found this to be true even for longer flights -- like to London or Paris. If we gut the first day out, instead of heading straight to bed, we overcome jet lag much more quickly. YMMV.

I'M WITH YOU! I find this to be true also!
We usually fly Alaska and that is who we have our mileage plan through. Continental has a pretty good red-eye flight also. Sometimes it works out cheaper to fly two different airlines.

 

[DisneyDreamers2007]

Don't forget to check out Priceline and Biddingfortravel.com

You can get a night at the airport Sheraton for $35 or outside WDW for $41 a night.

 

[bigsmooth]

I like the car rental idea. We were planning on renting one the following weekend to go to Kennedy Space Center, get some groceries and see some nearby relatives. I'm going to try to work the car into the schedule at the beginning and see if it works out better.
I do however hate the idea of renting a car or leaving Disney property while there. On my first visit to WDW some 21 years ago, I discovered what I called "Disney Mode". It's a state of mind that you get from being on Disney property full time where the place is clean, the CMs pleasant and helpful and life is good. Leaving Disney property for "Realityland" ruins this and I hate doing it but this time I'll have to. This is why I love the Grand Californian. While staying there, I don't even have to come close to Realityland.

I hear that. We usually rent the car for 1 day. Simply to get us from the airport late to the offsite hotel for night 1, get up- get the groceries and check into DVC early. Store the bags and groceries with bell services- return the car and from that point on be in Disney mode. Nice thing is that there are several options for returning rental cars that are close to the DVC properties. For us it is the Buena Vista Palace accross the street from SSR. Once I return the car and cross the street- I am 100% in Disney mode.