Park on the last day?

[Cinderella822]

I usually don't plan anything for the day I'm scheduled to leave Disney, but this time, we don't have to leave for the airport until 2:30 in the afternoon. I'm considering taking a day "off" as a down day during my stay and using my last ticket day for the day we leave. For anyone else who does this, do you feel rushed when its time to leave for the airport? Do you feel you get enough park time in before you go?

 

[kirbsam]

We always leave in the morning, so I have never had the opportunity to go to the parks on our last day. Hope it works out great for you.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We went to the Studios on our last day, June 23. Our car was to pick us up at 2pm so we got to the Studios at opening. Had a great time but were sad on our last trip on TOT. As the door closed we realized we had to head back after that ride. Kind of emotional, but it was a great last 1/2 day. We headed back to the Boardwalk for lunch, got our luggage, and headed back to the airport. Only thing I don't understand is why 8 nights at Disney go so FAST!!!!!!

 

[chrismiss56]

Our last day is always a scramble. There are four of us and our flight is usually in the evening. We are all allowed to pick the one thing we want to go back to do. Usually ends up being at MK or Epcot.

Usually have a rental car making it easy for us to get around!!

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

 

[disneyfam]

The only time we went to a park on our last day was our honeymoon. We didn't leave orlando until 6:30 so we stayed in the parks until 4. I didn't enjoy it so much. I think it was because it was in July and it was soooo hot. Couldnt go back to the hotel and swim or even change. Every other trip we have left by noon.

Cynde

 

[tubachick]

We usually pack up our car and check out of the resort, and drive to whichever park we want to visit for our last day. In Feb our last park was AK, we had lunch rode a few rides, watched its a bugs life, and got in our car and waved all the way to the gate. It makes the trip seem just that much longer, since it seems to fly by anyway

 

[powellrj]

we usually have an afternoon flight out, but we never go to the parks. Usually we will go to DTD and have lunch, shop and see a movie. I am not sure how this tradition got started, but thats the plan!

 

[Michael623]

I always take an afternoon/evening flight home. I figure if I'm taking the day off from work why not spend most of it at my favorite place? That being said we usually head to MK early and then swing by DTD for any last minute shopping and pin trading and then make the sad pilgrimage to the airport.

 

[lillygator]

don't have to worry about catching a flight, but usually when we check out we head home... I think we have gone to the MK once after checking out because DD wanted so desperately to see the castle again.

 

[suevee]

We usually leave for the airport in the late afternoons or evenings. But the parks are to much for us on our last day. We ask for a late check out, sleep in or take a morning swim, check out, then go to a resort for a nice brunch or lunch (sometimes with Characters at Chef Mickey's but most often at Kona in the Poly), then do some shopping in DD before going to the airport. Makes coming back very relaxing.

 

[mom2rb]

We always take a late flight out. On the last day we have to go to MK, no matter what the Unofficial Guide says. It's DH's only rule, first and last day must be at MK. We get up in the morning to pack and make a list. Everyone gets to pick two rides, a must do and a bonus. We have to do the must do, even if the line is forever. We try to hit the bonus rides. Anything we pass that is a walk-on we also do. I write down every ride we do. This way on the plane when my boys are telling me we didn't get to do anything, I pull out the list and we start talking about what a great day we had.

Everyone has there Disney family traditions.

 

[crow11ad]

We go to a park for a few hours and then make sure we hit DTD and eat at Earl of Sandwich and shop. We right before we leave get 4 more sandwiches from Earl. 2 to either eat on the plane home or that night and the other 2 for the next day....

 

[Cinderella822]

We always take a late flight out. On the last day we have to go to MK, no matter what the Unofficial Guide says. It's DH's only rule, first and last day must be at MK. We get up in the morning to pack and make a list. Everyone gets to pick two rides, a must do and a bonus. We have to do the must do, even if the line is forever. We try to hit the bonus rides. Anything we pass that is a walk-on we also do. I write down every ride we do. This way on the plane when my boys are telling me we didn't get to do anything, I pull out the list and we start talking about what a great day we had.

Everyone has there Disney, family traditions.

Thanks for all the advice. I think we may try doing a park on the last day. Mom2rb, I love your idea about doing the MK and letting everyone do one must do and then seeing what else you can fit in. I may just start that tradition also!

 

[mking624]

My DH and I have always had a tradition of going to MK on the very last day, going on our favorite things (namely HM, POTC, BTMRR), and grrabbing a meal at El Pirata y El Perico (if it's open). We've always made sure that we took the latest flight out of Orlando. This year will be the only exception to that tradition...and that's only because we're flying back into a city that's a couple of hours away from us (and in an earlier time zone), so we want to make sure that we have enough time to drive and rest before we're both back at work the next morning. Normally we request the day after off work as well, but with both of us working retail, it was difficult to get our managers to agree. So this year our flight leaves at 2pm and no park for us.

 

[Katmat75]

We always leave around 2PM. We get up and do breakfast at the Kona. Then we go get last minute "goodies" at DTD with any leftover money. Then we make that sad depressing trip back to normal living.

The one time when our flight left later in the evening, I let each DS pick two rides that they wanted to do. Of course, they chose different parks. My DH and I each took one to the park of their choice.

You are so right wdwgoofeeee, those 8 days do go sooooo fast!!!

 

[pamouselover]

I always try to get the latest flight so we have more time.
On our last trip we want to AK and MGM our last day. Our flight was leaving at 830pm.You did not have to be at the airport two hours before you flight back then, so I was on rockin roller coater about a hour beofre our flight!
Almost missed the plane home!

 

[YesI'mObsessed]

We save the last day for the ONE thing you want to do again at one park. Ususally everyone can find one thing at MK. However, we ususally leave on a Friday, so everything takes longer and yes, I do feel a bit rushed. But what a nice way to end the trip!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Although we haven't done it, we would certainly hit a park if we didn't have to leave for the airport until 2:00. Living where we do, it's tough to make it home at a decent hour unless we get a morning or midday flight, so we'll likely never do it. But staying in the park until 2:00 gives you lots of time, if you arrive early -- lots of people leave by then to take a midday break, anyway.

Even if you don't do a "down" day mid-trip, the extra cost is likely minimal. For us, the difference between 6-day and 7-day parkhoppers for 3 people was only $3.

We aren't that much into shopping. We generally don't like to go to the pool on the last day of any vacation, because of the whole showering/getting changed/wet swimsuit thing. (I know some don't find it a big deal, but we'd rather not deal with it.)

Unless there's something else you'd rather do, like shopping, swimming or Disney Quest, go for it!

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

We always hit MK on our last day for a few "favorite " rides , a quick shopping trip for family souveniers at the Emporium, then a complete circuit on the monorail to say good bye to WDW

 

[bubba73]

I usually use my leaving day to get last minute shopping done so I will go to DTD and spend a lot of my time there. But I always drive down so I don't have to worry about catching a plane. But to answer the other part of your question, I would feel very rushed if I tried to go to the park and had to catch a plane or be somewhere at a certain time.