What do You do with an early or late flight?

[Gummie Bears]

Hi! We are still searching for flights but it looks like we might have to book a flight that has a departure time of 8:00pm.
What would we do the rest of the day if hotel check out is 1:00pm & we each have a carry-on bag too?
Another question is an early arrival. What if we arrive at 11:00am to the hotel?
Has anyone had to catch an early flight with children?
Tips or suggestions? This is our first WDW trip
Thanks!

 

[Jestocost]

Are you staying at a WDW resort or somewhere off property?

 

[Gummie Bears]

We will be staying on property. So we'll be using the Magical Express for transportation.

 

[Jestocost]

We will be staying on property. So we'll be using the Magical Express for transportation.

Then for an 8:00 p.m. flight you will get picked up at around 5:00 p.m. You can check your bags at the resort with RAC as early as 8:00 a.m. (the desk opens at 5:00 a.m., but you can't check bags earlier than 12 hours before your flight) and as late as 1:00 p.m. Any carry-on bags can be stored with bell/luggage services for the day. If you want to leave before 8:00 a.m. you can store all of your bags and just check them at the airport.

That way you can head to a park, visit DTD, tour resorts or whatever you want! Just be sure to be back at your resort about 45 minutes before your schedule pick up to give you time to get any bags out of storage, use the restroom, freshen up, etc. You should be at the DME pick-up point about 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled bus.

If you arrive before the official check-in time and a room is available, they will get you all set up and you will be able to get in right away. We've had good luck in that regard. If there's no room availalble they still will give you your park tickets, dining credits (if you are on DDP), etc. and you can head to a park or do whatever.

 

[Missytara]

I always take a 7:00 am flight that lands at 9:10 am and I am usually at the resort by 10:30 am or so.

I take a 6:40 pm flight out, so my ME pick-up time is about 3:30 pm.

I don't take the first room available, since I arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I usually wait to get a room later in the day, since so many people are just starting to check out that day. I always change into shorts at the airport, so when I land I am in the pool mode. I hang out around the pool until they call me about my room - which is usually around 1:00 pm or so.

Check-out time is at 11:00 am at the latest, but I like to get out early and do some last minute park or shopping time. I take my bags to the RAC about 7:30 am, and then leave my day bag at baggage services.

I do what I want to do and return to the resort around 3:00 pm to retrieve my day bag and I am ready to go.

 

[Disneyof3]

When we have a late flight. We leave the hotel room at the check out time and we also give our luggage to Magical Express and then our carryons are given to the resort to hold. Usually the building is right outside the front doors. At least this is where POR is!! We then headed to DTD for shopping and eating. When we were done, we headed back and got our carry-ons (when you hand them in they give you a card board reciepts with a number on it) then headed for Magical Express. Really easy to do and very convienent.

 

[Sandi]

On your departure day, you can still use the resort amenities. If your kids love swimming at the resort pool, let them swim before you board ME back to the airport. We put swim gear in a carry on bag so we can use them after check out. Put a few gallon sized zip lock bags in your carry on and stuff the wet swim wear in the zip locks. You can still use the pool area changing room and towels.

 

[maxiesmom]

A lot of great advice in the previous posts.

What we have done before when having a late flight home is rent a surrey bike and ride around the resort. It was great fun! Or you could go shopping at DTD, or go to a park.