Red Eye vs Day Flight

[_19disnA]

Don't care for red eye flights when traveling eastbound. You arrive at your destination early the next morning and am never sure if I should go to bed or eat breakfast like starting a normal day. There is also the jetlag issue that is a bigger deal for some then others. If you arrive exhausted, it really won't matter that it is 6 am local time. Your room likely won't be ready, so if you want to nap or take a shower/change clothes, you won't be able to do that upon arrival.

Never lived in CA, but all major airports tend to have those 'park & fly' places that are always open and have shuttle buses to take you directly to your departure area. Generally they are also cheaper then airport parking. Those are also great if you are departing or returning late at night so you don't have to drag your luggage through some dark/desserted on-site parking garage. Many on-site parking areas involve long walks to the terminal departure areas.

 

[DLgal]

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?

LAX also has 2 The Parking Spot locations nearby. I park at those when I use LAX. I like the Sepulveda location best.

 

[brockash]

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 really enjoy red eyes. Seem to have less delays/issues and I generally sleep on the plane and if it's getting you there earlier you can take a nap by the pool or something if you're that tired.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Day flight, especially if you are doing it with your whole family. Absolutely everyone in your group has to be 100% committed to getting as much sleep as possible on the plane or day 1 is an absolute nightmare - and I HATE sleeping on planes. The last time we did the red-eye We went to DAK after dropping off our bags at the concierge. I have a picture of my entire family fast asleep at the Lion King show. DS ended up feeling very sick and slept in the burger place in Dinoland for a couple of hours. The day was a complete waste. Even of you have to stay somewhere else that first night, arrive a day early and get some real sleep in a real bed.

 

[PDXmouse]

We are facing this question as well. We are actually hoping to take a direct day flight via standby on Monday. But if we can't make that flight we have guaranteed seats on a red eye going out Monday night. We also had the option of flying out Tuesday morning, but we would have lost an entire park day that way.

Ideally I prefer a day flight, but (in our case) the red eye is worth gaining an extra park day. Or at least a partial park day.

If we do the red eye on Monday night, yes, we will be tired when we arrive Tuesday morning. But we will also have the energy and excitement that comes at the beginning of the trip. We will go to the hotel to check our bags, then head to the parks. As soon as we get a text that our room is ready, we can decide if we want to head back for a nap. (Highly likely! Lol.)

 

[disney-inspired]

I tend to pick red-eye (also coming from CA) because I don't like wasting a day with travel. Normally, when I travel solo I will arrive early in the morning, drop my bags at the resort and then head to a park.

I usually only stay half or 3/4 a day and go to bed early so I can adjust.

 

[DLgal]

I don't understand the idea of "wasting a day" when taking a day flight. If you want more days at your destination, just don't count the travel days at all. I never do. If we want a week somewhere, we actually stay 8 nights. We have always done that. We never plan anything for the travel day other than travel.

 

[dizneedoll]

I don't understand the idea of "wasting a day" when taking a day flight. If you want more days at your destination, just don't count the travel days at all. I never do. If we want a week somewhere, we actually stay 8 nights. We have always done that. We never plan anything for the travel day other than travel.

That's how I plan too. I don't count the travel days and generally don't plan anything for those days other than travel. This trip will be 9 days altogether, 7 days for parks, etc and 2 travel days.

 

[DLgal]

That's how I plan too. I don't count the travel days and generally don't plan anything for those days other than travel. This trip will be 9 days altogether, 7 days for parks, etc and 2 travel days.

Yeah, our next trip is 10 days total. 2 travel days, 8 full days for parks and visiting relatives, and 9 nights.

 

[disney-inspired]

I don't understand the idea of "wasting a day" when taking a day flight. If you want more days at your destination, just don't count the travel days at all. I never do. If we want a week somewhere, we actually stay 8 nights. We have always done that. We never plan anything for the travel day other than travel.

I don't like wasting time in general so for me coming from the West coast, I lose the travel time plus the 3 hours in the time change. So I might as well use the hours at night when nothing is open.

 

[DLgal]

I don't like wasting time in general so for me coming from the West coast, I lose the travel time plus the 3 hours in the time change. So I might as well use the hours at night when nothing is open.

I come from the west coast too. I don't consider it wasting time. I guess it's just a different perspective.

The travel day is always a throwaway when I'm planning. It doesn't "count" for the trip planning.

But we also don't have "vacation days" that we have to work around. I am a SAHM and my husband has a very flexible job and can take off as much time as he wants when we travel. I guess if you are limited, you would want to do a red eye, assuming you can sleep well on a plane and get by on under 5 hours.

 

[RunDisney Matriarch]

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.

I'll add another vote to arriving the night before. We almost always book a flight that lands in the evening and stay at the Hyatt inside the MCO airport. It's very convenient -- you can walk from baggage claim to the hotel in just a few minutes. Then we'll get a good night's sleep, head to Disney in the morning, drop off our bags with bell services, and head into the parks until we get a text that our room is ready. This way everyone is rested, fed, showered, and changed into park clothes before we start a Disney day and we can make the most of our time at Disney. Whichever you choose, have a great time!

 

[sam_gordon]

I guess if you are limited, you would want to do a red eye, assuming you can sleep well on a plane and get by on under 5 hours.

You can be limited by available time and/or available budget. It doesn't matter whether you can afford (time or money) 5 days, 7 days, or 10 days. Travel can wipe out anywhere from a day to two days (round trip) out of the total.

 

[miksicnarf]

I’ve done redeyes, and while I’m not a fan I’d prefer that over a day wasted on travel. Upon arrival in the morning I’d have a nice relaxing breakfast then hit the parks. I seem to get a second wind and manage pretty well. If I did the day flight with the times you posted, I‘d do as others have suggested and book an off-site hotel, but remember to factor that expense in when you’re comparing flights.
I fly out of LAX all the time. The best parking/transportation option is the LAX Flyaway bus, which has routes out of Union Station and Van Nuys. In Van Nuys parking is $5/day and the bus is $20 RT. Google tells me parking is $8/day at Union Station, which would be closer for you.
For my next trip I plan on taking the Delta flight that was previously mentioned, with a return flight that departs at 7:something PM. That way I get 2 solid half-days in the parks on my travel days.

 

[dizneedoll]

I come from the west coast too. I don't consider it wasting time. I guess it's just a different perspective.

The travel day is always a throwaway when I'm planning. It doesn't "count" for the trip planning.

But we also don't have "vacation days" that we have to work around. I am a SAHM and my husband has a very flexible job and can take off as much time as he wants when we travel. I guess if you are limited, you would want to do a red eye, assuming you can sleep well on a plane and get by on under 5 hours.

I’m at SAHM and we homeschool so we are flexible too. But my DS is 17 and he doesn‘t care for Disney anymore so I’ve become a solo traveler now. Which is awesome btw!

 

[DLgal]

You can be limited by available time and/or available budget. It doesn't matter whether you can afford (time or money) 5 days, 7 days, or 10 days. Travel can wipe out anywhere from a day to two days (round trip) out of the total.

I guess. I just plan the trip I want to take and then I travel the day before and after the actual trip. Like, if I decide I want to take a 7 day cruise, I fly in the day before. Or if I want to be in WDW for a week beginning on a Saturday, I fly in Friday and back home the following Sunday.

This time, it was so much cheaper to fly in on a Tuesday and out the following Thursday that a 7 day trip quickly became a 9 day one. The difference in airfare paid for the extra hotel nights.

 

[DLgal]

I’m at SAHM and we homeschool so we are flexible too. But my DS is 17 and he doesn‘t care for Disney anymore so I’ve become a solo traveler now. Which is awesome btw!

They are the best! I've been taking them regularly since my oldest was a baby. My husband has always supported my need for a vacation as a SAHM.

 

[sam_gordon]

I guess. I just plan the trip I want to take and then I travel the day before and after the actual trip. Like, if I decide I want to take a 7 day cruise, I fly in the day before. Or if I want to be in WDW for a week beginning on a Saturday, I fly in Friday and back home the following Sunday.

This time, it was so much cheaper to fly in on a Tuesday and out the following Thursday that a 7 day trip quickly became a 9 day one. The difference in airfare paid for the extra hotel nights.

Thats great that you're able to do that. I recently changed jobs and my vacation time went from 28(?) days down to 10. I have to be very judicious in what I take.

I used to enjoy departing on Friday, then returning the following Friday or Saturday. That uses 6 vacation days. That would leave me 4 for the rest of the year. Depending on whats going on with family, that may not be enough. So while I'd like to plan the trip I WANT to take, there are limitations that prevent it.

Granted, I can wrap a holiday in, but that can add its own issues (higher cost, more travellers, etc).

 

[DLgal]

Thats great that you're able to do that. I recently changed jobs and my vacation time went from 28(?) days down to 10. I have to be very judicious in what I take.

I used to enjoy departing on Friday, then returning the following Friday or Saturday. That uses 6 vacation days. That would leave me 4 for the rest of the year. Depending on whats going on with family, that may not be enough. So while I'd like to plan the trip I WANT to take, there are limitations that prevent it.

Granted, I can wrap a holiday in, but that can add its own issues (higher cost, more travellers, etc).

Ugh, that sucks. Sorry. There was no way to negotiate more vacation days at your new job?

 

[sam_gordon]

Ugh, that sucks. Sorry. There was no way to negotiate more vacation days at your new job?

Tried. Was non-negotiable. As was the drop in pay. If I didn't HAVE to have a job, I probably would have turned it down.