Personal Preferences on Flight Arrival / Departure Times

[3Aumillers]

We have our reservations set for October 1 -8. Reading another post today about late afternoon flight arrivals / departures has me curious ... what is your personal preference as far as time to arrive and time to depart from MCO. We are currently scheduled to arrive at 3:55 p.m. on Sat (10/1) and depart at 5:17 p.m. on Sat (10/8). Our return flight gives us just 52 minutes in which to change planes in Dallas / Ft Worth. I'm now wondering if we shouldn't choose to take the early (6 a.m.) flight to MCO to arrive around NOON and do a similar early morning return flight home.

Any personal preferences you can provide would be greatly appreciated. We live just 45 minutes from the airport so travel time isn't going to be much of a factor.

Thanks

 

[Sirius]

I like to arrive early and leave later simply because it gives us more time in the parks. The early arrivals are really never a problem. Sometimes, the afternoon and early evening departures see delays due to volume and weather. Just my thoughts.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[dudspizza]

We have our reservations set for October 1 -8. Reading another post today about late afternoon flight arrivals / departures has me curious ... what is your personal preference as far as time to arrive and time to depart from MCO. We are currently scheduled to arrive at 3:55 p.m. on Sat (10/1) and depart at 5:17 p.m. on Sat (10/8). Our return flight gives us just 52 minutes in which to change planes in Dallas / Ft Worth. I'm now wondering if we shouldn't choose to take the early (6 a.m.) flight to MCO to arrive around NOON and do a similar early morning return flight home.

Any personal preferences you can provide would be greatly appreciated. We live just 45 minutes from the airport so travel time isn't going to be much of a factor.

Thanks

We prefer to fly early in the am to MCO. Our flight on Tuesday departs MSP and 615am and arrives at MCO at 1020am. Perfect. The return home leaves at 1110am.... which gets us home around130pm. WE still have the rest of the day, yet we didn't have to be up at the crack of dawn either. We really like these times.

Duds

 

[Tinkerchele]

We usually use our arrival day as a 'resort' day. Get unpacked, use the pool, have a nice dinner, get rested for the fun week! For our next trip, we're arriving in the afternoon - around 2 pm. We won't be leaving until 7 pm on our last day. We'll get a full day at the park that day.

 

[safetymom]

I like to leave earlier rather than later. Delays start to build up as the day goes on so you may be late leaving.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We have done both. Last trip we flew in late (after school), and had time to check in, eat, and swim a few minutes. We were late leaving Ind. but still got to the resort, not long after dark. It was very nice to get up the next morning, refreshed, and have a full park day. On trips when we arrive early, we are often too tired to enjoy a full day.

We always leave as late as possible. Usually on a Sat. MCO is very empty on Sat eve. Never had long lines, etc.

 

[Keebles]

We prefer to get there early and leave late...get more bang for our buck if you will...but honestly, I just want as much magic as I can squeeze in during a week!! This time, we're arriving at 1:00 pm on 9-30 (an hour later than I would have wanted, but Disney couldn't book the earlier flight because it was 2 minutes less than an hour from our first flight - yeah, go figure). We'll be leaving at 7:00 pm. on 10-7.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I like to arrive early AM after a red-eye. It's a Left Coast thing. Can't stand the thought of flying early morning to early evening, West to East. We've always found it very easy to adjust on Day 1 with little or no sleep (with kids).

It just a little weird when I tried to do the LYNX thing and make a transfer at a relative 5AM as a virgin to public transit.

 

[bytheblood]

We always come in on the earliest flight and come home around noon, leaving us to land around 5 or so.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

We usually try to get the same flights PVD to MCO and back. Leave PVD at 7:30am, arrive MCO at about 10:30, then on the return flight we leave MCO at about 6, and get into PVD at about 8:30.(Still havent figured out why there is a 1/2 hour difference) This particular trip we are returning on 7/1, so we will have the rest of the long weekend to relax and get ready to go back to school and work (yuck)

 

[kareneast]

We always try to come in on the earliest flight and leave on the latest.

On October 2 we leave Philly at 7am and arrive in Orlando at 9:22am. We don't leave Orlando on October 7 until 8:10pm

Try to get every minute possible with the "Mouse"

 

[Brian Noble]

My ordinary preference is to get the second flight down. The first is usually between 6 and 7; the second usually between 9 and 11. That way, we aren't getting up that much earlier than "normal", and still have the bulk of the day to get adjusted and pop in to maybe Epcot for dinner and a few FW attractions. If pressed, I would take the earlier flight, but only if I can stay in the airport hotel the night before (usually a good deal on Friday and Saturday nights). My third choice is to take the last flight out the night before, but only if I'm on a short trip.

For return, my preference is between 11 and 2. That gives us time to pack, have a relaxed breakfast, and make it back to the airport with plenty of time.