traveling with kids, would you chose a early flight or a late flight?

[dawnmommy]

we are traveling with our two young kids, and have the following flight options:

1. leave our house at 4am, get to the Poly at around 1pm

2. leave our house at 1pm, get to the Poly around 9:30 pm

I honestly can't decide which is worse. Both of my kids love their sleep. unfortunately there are no middle of the day options that are affordable

any advice is appreciated!

 

[Bunnyfeather]

Depends on the kid. Have they flown before? I would get my DD up ideally early for the wee hours flight. She would cheerfully cooperate to get on the plane and then fall asleep as we taxi and be well rested upon arrival. If we did the later option she would still nap, but checking in so late would throw her off her sleep schedule for the next day.

My son hates to be awakened early AND will not sleep on a plane. He would be a wreck with the early option. For him I would choose the later option just because we could at least have a pleasant first half of the day and put his grumpy butt directly to bed upon arrival.

We'd take option B because it would cause the least overall trauma and unhappiness for us. But if you have a kid who will nap on the plane, the early flight A is probably easiest because option B just really chews up an entire day with no down time or rest for anyone. Option A gives you half a day to relax at the resort and recover from the flight so you are nice and refreshed for the next day.

 

[hsembrick]

I'd go with earlier. Less likely to have delays in your flight and if the kids don't nap on the flight then head to bed early that night and get to the park the next day for rope drop well rested!!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I would go with the earlier, b/c the kids can always rest in the hotel room later. Our last two trips we have gotten there late after taking an evening flight, and it has made the first day tough b/c nobody can fall asleep after just arriving at WDW! Especially me! Also, they could nap on the plane.