Realistically, what can we do on departure day?

[Dave_uk]

tickets are valid 14 days from first use so if you dont use them on arrival day you should be ok to use them on departure day

So you have a choice really go to the parks on your first day or last

 

[orangetiggs]

we have done the cinema on our last day as well! means its nice and cool so you dont have to worry about changing before the flight, this was before we had our twins, who knows what we will do this year with them

 

[disneyholic family]

we have done the cinema on our last day as well! means its nice and cool so you dont have to worry about changing before the flight, this was before we had our twins, who knows what we will do this year with them

if you do a character breakfast with them (when they're a bit older and can enjoy it), you'll be in a nice cool hotel......
my kids liked the character breakfasts from about 2 years old...

since we fly indirect, our flight out of orlando is always pretty early....so no time to do anything on departure day...

 

[fairytale]

we have done the cinema on our last day as well! means its nice and cool so you dont have to worry about changing before the flight, this was before we had our twins, who knows what we will do this year with them

Love the updated photograph of the girls, I cant believe they are nearly 2, seems like yesterday

 

[higgy66]

We do luggage drop at DTD and then go to DisneyQuest, have lunch at Earl of Sandwich and have a wander round the shops.

That's exactly what we do. We love spending the morning in Disney Quest and as we save it for the last day it's always something to look forward to and helps lift the spirits of last day blues!

 

[jns]

yes we would do a park in the morning too or shopping
holiday never ends until we are back home , try to stop for a nice meal on the way home from the airport too ,

 

[MrsSparrow..]

We've done this every year, with my DSS aged 7 and below, and also years ago when I was young too. We've done it without baggage drop, left the cases in the car. It is certainly doable and I love Orlando too much to not get my last fix!

One year however, we left slightly late due to a thunderstorm and so it meant we were prevented for leaving the park. No time or desire to get fuel on the way to airport = breakdown.. at the toll booth to the airport. The moral of the story is keep an eye on the weather, make sure you don't get caught in those thunderstorms! .. and fill up with gas on the way!

 

[Carebare609]

Thank you everyone for you input, lots of things that I wouldn't have thought about or considered!

I spoke to H last night and we decided we'd sort out a plan A,plan B and plan C and make our decision based on how the holiday goes and how everyone is feeling by the last day.

So plan A is early breakfast at Cape May and then on to MK for a small snippet of magic before we leave.

Plan B a more relaxing morning with a 10:30 breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace, just in MK for the breakfast rather than to get any attractions done

Plan C -enjoy the pool at the villa and possibly a stop at DTD for lunch before heading to airport.

Hopefully thats covering all our bases

 

[Carebare609]

Thank you everyone for you input, lots of things that I wouldn't have thought about or considered!

I spoke to H last night and we decided we'd sort out a plan A,plan B and plan C and make our decision based on how the holiday goes and how everyone is feeling by the last day.

So plan A is early breakfast at Cape May and then on to MK for a small snippet of magic before we leave.

Plan B a more relaxing morning with a 10:30 breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace, just in MK for the breakfast rather than to get any attractions done

Plan C -enjoy the pool at the villa and possibly a stop at DTD for lunch before heading to airport.

Hopefully thats covering all our bases

 

[disneyholic family]

Thank you everyone for you input, lots of things that I wouldn't have thought about or considered!

I spoke to H last night and we decided we'd sort out a plan A,plan B and plan C and make our decision based on how the holiday goes and how everyone is feeling by the last day.

So plan A is early breakfast at Cape May and then on to MK for a small snippet of magic before we leave.

Plan B a more relaxing morning with a 10:30 breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace, just in MK for the breakfast rather than to get any attractions done

Plan C -enjoy the pool at the villa and possibly a stop at DTD for lunch before heading to airport.

Hopefully thats covering all our bases

i like plan B!!!!

 

[janiebubble]

we went to the park on Monday before we flew home

packed the night before, at breakfast in the hotel at about 7.45am, checked luggage in at downtown disney and got to the Magic Kingdom parking lot by about 9am.

Met some friends who had just arrived at about 9.30am - rode Big Thunder Mountain, Flying Carpets, Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain, lunch at Tony's, last look round the shops, left the Magic Kingdom just after 2 and was in the airport by 3 ... flight was 7pm!

Previously we've been to Epcot on the last day - often less crowded and the parking lot is easier!

 

[fairytale]

i like plan B!!!!

Me too

Were doing AK for our last day this year. Its DS's favourite park and is fairly easy to move around imo.

Sorry to hijack slightly but, if we have a 7pm flight from MCO what time would you leave the park?

 

[VailaTigger]

Interesting thread!!

For a 7pm flight, the international check in is usually 3 hours before, so I'd say aim to check in around 4pm... You don't say how you are getting to the airport, so I don't know how long to say to you to allow for travel.

And apologies to the OP, but I'm going to hijack it too...

We plan to use DME, but since our flight doesn't leave MCO till 9pm, our check in isn't till 6pm, although DME will probably pick us up around 4pm (as they like to have you at the airport WAY early...) As we won't have a rental car, we weren't sure about lugging the cases on the Disney buses to DTD to use the VH check-in early in the morning... Can you leave your cases at the resort (AKL) with porters etc? That would give us time to do a park, then get back to resort to collect cases and catch DME...

Thanks in advance for help, and apologies again for hijacking the thread!

 

[disneyholic family]

Interesting thread!!

For a 7pm flight, the international check in is usually 3 hours before, so I'd say aim to check in around 4pm... You don't say how you are getting to the airport, so I don't know how long to say to you to allow for travel.

And apologies to the OP, but I'm going to hijack it too...

We plan to use DME, but since our flight doesn't leave MCO till 9pm, our check in isn't till 6pm, although DME will probably pick us up around 4pm (as they like to have you at the airport WAY early...) As we won't have a rental car, we weren't sure about lugging the cases on the Disney buses to DTD to use the VH check-in early in the morning... Can you leave your cases at the resort (AKL) with porters etc? That would give us time to do a park, then get back to resort to collect cases and catch DME...

Thanks in advance for help, and apologies again for hijacking the thread!

when we've checked in we've been able to leave our luggage in the luggage room until our room was ready - so i imagine you should also be able to do that when you check out....but i'm not sure...
someone on this board should know, but you could post a question on the resort board....

 

[orangetiggs]

if your flying virgin atlantic and checked in at DTD then you need to get there in enough time to get through security and not miss your flight

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Just wanted to add - I like your plan B too - might 'borrow' that idea myself next year!!

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Interesting thread!!
And apologies to the OP, but I'm going to hijack it too...

We plan to use DME, but since our flight doesn't leave MCO till 9pm, our check in isn't till 6pm, although DME will probably pick us up around 4pm (as they like to have you at the airport WAY early...) As we won't have a rental car, we weren't sure about lugging the cases on the Disney buses to DTD to use the VH check-in early in the morning... Can you leave your cases at the resort (AKL) with porters etc? That would give us time to do a park, then get back to resort to collect cases and catch DME...

Thanks in advance for help, and apologies again for hijacking the thread!

You can leave your luggage with bell services at AKL, they will count your cases, give you a ticket and store it in the luggage room. When you return to the resort give your ticket to Bell Services and they will get your luggage for you and make sure it goes on the right DME.

Its so easy this is what we always do

 

[VailaTigger]

MAGIC! Thank you!

 

[Goofyish]

You can leave your luggage with bell services at AKL, they will count your cases, give you a ticket and store it in the luggage room. When you return to the resort give your ticket to Bell Services and they will get your luggage for you and make sure it goes on the right DME.

Its so easy this is what we always do

I'm also using DME and plan to get a cab to DTD to get rid of my luggage at the Virgin check in.
Then I will be free to get back to the resort, have some breakfast and go to a park.
My flight is at 7:30pm so I assume DME will leave resort about 3:30pm.

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

DME is usually about 3-4 hours before your departure time so yes probably around 3.30-4.30. If I was you I wouldn't bother wasting the time to take your cases to DTD why not just leave them in the resort luggage room for free and get into the parks earlier and enjoy more time