Red Eye vs Day Flight

[dizneedoll]

I have a choice between two flights coming from the west coast. I can either take a red eye flight departing at 10:30pm and arrives MCO at 6am the following morning or wait till the next day and take a flight that departs at 11:15am and arrives MCO at 7pm. Both are non-stop. Which would you choose and why?

 

[georgina]

Personally, I am not good at sleeping on red eye flights, so prefer daytime ones. We flew to the UK last year and I picked a day flight for that reason, worked out well for us. Our DD went to college in CA and we always chose day time flights back to the eastern US.

 

[Stratman50th]

My daughter lived in Tacoma and always took the red eye. She loved it. Me, not so much since I had to pick her up at MCO!

 

[EACarlson]

I would do the overnight if you can sleep well on a plane and the daytime if you can't. Last thing I want to do is start my vacation sleep deprived. I also generally don't plan anything on arrival day.

 

[fly girl]

All depends on personal preference.

I do not like red eyes. The next day I am always dragging because of lack of sleep. And then you can get caught in a game of "catch up" to get a good nights rest. But that is just me. Some can go, go, go on minimal sleep. But when you are walking 10+ miles a day at the parks in the heat, that may help make your decision.

 

[dizneedoll]

Ive never done a red eye that I can remember. I suspect I might not do well with that. Im thinking I may stick to the day flight.

 

[DLgal]

I hate red eyes for 2 reasons:

1. I am incapable of sleeping on a plane

2. Check in time isn't until 3pm. That's a LONG day without a hotel room. You'd have to book the night before to have a room ready when you arrive.

 

[Donald Duck Family]

I have hard time sleeping while sitting upright in an airplane, and even when I do doze off, I don't feel rested at all. A red-eye would have me dragging on my vacation. Not very relaxing. I personally would not do a red eye to start my vacation.

 

[SteveH]

I save red eye flights for the flight home. While I can "sleep" on a flight, I don't get a good rest, thus my next day I find myself recovering. For Disney maybe if it was a non-park day, otherwise I'd skip it. I'd also check with other air lines, should be able to get in before 7PM.

 

[StageTek]

I have a choice between two flights coming from the west coast. I can either take a red eye flight departing at 10:30pm and arrives MCO at 6am the following morning or wait till the next day and take a flight that departs at 11:15am and arrives MCO at 7pm. Both are non-stop. Which would you choose and why?

I always choose the redeye from the west coast.

I love arriving to an empty MCO - easy to get transportation (and a cup of coffee at Dunkin').
I love getting to the resort early - often the room is ready (depending on time of year). Even if the room isn't ready I check my luggage and hit the first park! It's like getting an extra park day on my vacation.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hate red eyes. I barely sleep on planes and what little sleep I get inevitably leaves my neck and back a total mess which is a miserable way to start a trip.

 

[KPeterso]

I have done both from the west coast to MCO. I will not do the red eye again. I barely sleep and if you think of the time change, it is really only about 4-4.5 hours of sleep that you will get total. And then not being able to get a room until 4 PM (dvc here), it is utter misery for me. The one time I was seriously considering laying down on a couch in the lobby for a nap. I now only take the day flight and get in between 3 and 6 most of the time. Not sure where you are flying from, but Delta from LAX has a flight at 7 AM or so and gets in about 3 which is great. The early wake up call on the flight out means I am ready for bed early and get my time adjusted more quickly eastern time.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I cannot sleep on planes more than 30ish min or so; so I chose the day flight.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

I mean, I would choose a day flight THE DAY BEFORE your date of arrival to WDW, and then book a cheap hotel somewhere for the night. I don't sleep well on red eye flights, and I would also hate to have day 1 be a throwaway day (especially if flying from somewhere that would require a red-eye).

 

[dizneedoll]

I have done both from the west coast to MCO. I will not do the red eye again. I barely sleep and if you think of the time change, it is really only about 4-4.5 hours of sleep that you will get total. And then not being able to get a room until 4 PM (dvc here), it is utter misery for me. The one time I was seriously considering laying down on a couch in the lobby for a nap. I now only take the day flight and get in between 3 and 6 most of the time. Not sure where you are flying from, but Delta from LAX has a flight at 7 AM or so and gets in about 3 which is great. The early wake up call on the flight out means I am ready for bed early and get my time adjusted more quickly eastern time.

I’m in Riverside so was looking at both SAN and LAX including that 7am DL flight. I’d have to leave my house around 3:30am and that felt like being up all night anyways. The flights I was considering are on Alaska out of SAN because I have miles and a credit with them.

 

[jimmymc]

I can't really sleep on a plane, so the day I land is kind of ruined anyway. I usually do daytime flights coming home from the west coast.

 

[Newbie500]

I mean, I would choose a day flight THE DAY BEFORE your date of arrival to WDW, and then book a cheap hotel somewhere for the night. I don't sleep well on red eye flights, and I would also hate to have day 1 be a throwaway day (especially if flying from somewhere that would require a red-eye).

I do the same thing. Fly into Orlando late at night, stay at low cost airport area hotel that night and uber to WDW next morning after a good night's sleep because I know I will probably be all day in the park my first day. Getting in at 6am after a red eye is not for me.

 

[KPeterso]

I’m in Riverside so was looking at both SAN and LAX including that 7am DL flight. I’d have to leave my house around 3:30am and that felt like being up all night anyways. The flights I was considering are on Alaska out of SAN because I have miles and a credit with them.

I am in Irvine (seriously only about 5 minutes from SNA), but I like the nonstop from LAX much better. I think in March I did leave about 4:30 AM to get to the parking I booked and ten shuttle into the airport. Even if I am not getting a full night sleep the night before, it is at home in my bed and not an uncomfortable plane seat, so a better quality seat. And as I said, then I am really ready for the first day. How early would you need to leave for the SAN flight on Alaska?

 

[dizneedoll]

I cannot sleep on planes more than 30ish min or so; so I chose the day flight.

I don’t sleep during day flights so not sure I’d sleep well on the night o

I am in Irvine (seriously only about 5 minutes from SNA), but I like the nonstop from LAX much better. I think in March I did leave about 4:30 AM to get to the parking I booked and ten shuttle into the airport. Even if I am not getting a full night sleep the night before, it is at home in my bed and not an uncomfortable plane seat, so a better quality seat. And as I said, then I am really ready for the first day. How early would you need to leave for the SAN flight on Alaska?

The SAN flight leaves at 11am so probably about 7am. I’m leaning more towards that DL flight to get in around 3pm. How is parking at LAX? I’d have to drive myself there and leave my car. I paid $165 in January to park at SAN for 7 days. I’m more worried about how crowded LAX is and the infamous long waits or is that overinflated?

 

[KPeterso]

I don’t sleep during day flights so not sure I’d sleep well on the night o

The SAN flight leaves at 11am so probably about 7am. I’m leaning more towards that DL flight to get in around 3pm. How is parking at LAX? I’d have to drive myself there and leave my car. I paid $165 in January to park at SAN for 7 days. I’m more worried about how crowded LAX is and the infamous long waits or is that overinflated?

There are actually a lot of parking options around LAX. I have used the parking at the Marriott hotel several times. But in march, I tried the new LAX Economy parking. It is a huge structure a couple miles from the airport with shuttles running constantly. The link is:

https://parking.flylax.com/economy/

I paid $99 for the week (actually all told closer to 8 days - in before 5 AM on Friday 3/3 and out a little after midnight on 3/11 (due massive luggage delays)). It is normally like $30 a day, but if you prebook, it is less than half the price (like around 12-14 per day). I was travelling as a solo female, and felt totally comfortable in the garage at very early and late hours. It is extremely well lit.

My only complaint is the driver going to the airport was pretty mean and yelled at people. But, it would not stop me from using them again. They are on my list for September, but I will have my Mom then with a wheelchair, and I am not sure how that would be handled. I plan to call and ask a few questions. If I decide I am not comfortable with the answers for handicap, I will go back to the Marriott for that trip, but will still consider LAX for next March.