What is the better flight time?

[Hawkeyegirls]

We have 2 options for our stay in July which is a shorter trip at only 5-6 nights.

1. Fly in Late Wednesday night - a 9pm flight, arriving at 12:30am! The negative is not getting much sleep, positive is a full park day on Thursday. With this option we will leave bright and early on Tuesday morning. So 6 nights, 5 Full park days and 6 nights of the dining plan.

2. Fly in early Thursday- a 8am flight, arriving around 11:30am, so about a half park day and leaving later in the day on Tuesday so getting some park time in that day. Also not getting much sleep on the first day since we will have to be up to get to airport early. So 5 nights, 4 full park days and 2 partial days. Saving about $160 cheaper than option 1.

Which one would you choose??

 

[sam_gordon]

We have 2 options for our stay in July which is a shorter trip at only 5-6 nights.

1. Fly in Late Wednesday night - a 9pm flight, arriving at 12:30am! The negative is not getting much sleep, positive is a full park day on Thursday. With this option we will leave bright and early on Tuesday morning. So 6 nights, 5 Full park days and 6 nights of the dining plan.

2. Fly in early Thursday- a 8am flight, arriving around 11:30am, so about a half park day and leaving later in the day on Tuesday so getting some park time in that day. Also not getting much sleep on the first day since we will have to be up to get to airport early. So 5 nights, 4 full park days and 2 partial days. Saving about $160 cheaper than option 1.

Which one would you choose??

How often do you go? With kids? How often do they go? Is the $160 savings for option 2 total or per person?

Personally, I would not assume a full park day on Thursday with Option 1. If you arrive at MCO at 12:30am, you're not to your room until 2am or later. I would guess getting to a park around noon (trying to get my family up and going just doesn't happen easily). So part of a day Thursday, all day Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon.

Option 2 is part of a park day Thursday, all day Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, part of a park day Tuesday. And it's cheaper. I'd normally say fly in the night before, but I think I'd go with Option 2.

 

[jec6613]

I'd go with option #1, but I plan WDW like Eisenhower planned Normandy, and can easily get up at 6 AM after going to bed at 2 AM to go to a park. Well, coffee helps. Also, $160 in the grand scheme of a vacation to Disney that isn't much.

Not that I can do 4 hours of sleep any other time, but...

 

[shoreward]

Keep in mind that the later in the day your flight is scheduled to depart, the greater the chance that the flight will be delayed. Your flight could very well arrive later than 12:30 a.m. and at the resort well in the middle of the night.

Early morning departures are more likely to depart on time, unless, of course, weather or mechanical or crew issues cause delays.

 

[AngiTN]

I never, ever pick an early departure flight from Disney.
I will almost always pick an early departure flight to Disney, unless schedules for what we are doing indicates that we need to leave after work that day
But still, no matter what, we leave Disney late in the day. I am not getting up and leaving the resort at ohdarkthirty to head home. Heading home is sad enough as it is.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would do option 2. With an early flight out of Disney, you will probably not enjoy your last day there much.

 

[nkereina]

Option 1 also means one more night at the resort, which is a waste because you are paying for really only a few hours to sleep when you arrive. I'm not sure whether its just the flights that save you $160 with Option 2, but once you factor in the extra hotel night, the savings may be greater with option 2. Also, with Option 1, you'll need to retrieve your own luggage from baggage claim that time of night.

That said, we prefer to fly in at night because we can usually work the full day or a half day and have time to make sure we've done everything at home before leaving. We can drop off the dog at boarding the same day (rather than the night before, which costs us an extra night), be on time to the airport without rushing, and if someone is dropping us off at the airport they don't need to get up at the crack of dawn to do it.

For the way home, we have left early and late and find pros and cons to both. Leaving early allows us to get home early and get unpacked and settled back in before returning to work the next day. We also don't feel like we need to watch the clock constantly or worry about killing time before leaving. But you do lose several hours in the park by leaving early. Sometimes its nice to have a last breakfast and park stroll before heading home.

Why not maximize your time by flying in Wednesday night and then taking the late flight home on Tuesday?

 

[DSLRuser]

option 1...i always prefer to travel at night and leave the day hours for fun

 

[Hawkeyegirls]

Thanks everyone. I don't know why I cant just make a decision and stick too it. We have 2 packages booked right now, the one for 5 nights and the one for 6 with free dining and its only $160 total difference, so we are getting a whole day worth a food and the value resort night in that, so its defiantly not bad priced to stay the extra night.
I like the idea of maximizing my days there by doing the early arrival and leaving late but going the night before has benefits in case its we are delayed and that ruins are first day there!

 

[holden]

To me both options mean Thursday is a half day. You’ll be exhausted if you fly in Wednesday night.

I’d choose option 2.

 

[jdisnut]

I'd go with the first option. I always prefer to wake up in my destination.

 

[sam_gordon]

going the night before has benefits in case its we are delayed and that ruins are first day there!

If your flight is scheduled to arrive at 12:30am and IT'S delayed, your first day is still ruined.

 

[lampshadehead]

Voting for Option 1, with the disclaimer that the "bright and early departure" on Tuesday, can include a range of times. So, I am basing this opinion on a 7am DME pickup for the airport (so an 11am-ish flight). Any earlier and I would not go for Option 1.
If your flight to Orlando lands at 1230am, and you get into the room and to sleep by maybe 230am, you can still get around 6 or 7 hours of sleep and wake up while its still AM. Even if you take some time to get ready and eat breakfast, that day is still pretty young.

 

[Disneypro1]

We leave early headed to Disney Around 0800--1000hrs...much less likely for delays ETC. Headed home, we leave Early afternoon if possible.
We also also go from Sat-Sat.

 

[Mainemama]

Option 2 would be my choice.

 

[nkereina]

I like the idea of maximizing my days there by doing the early arrival and leaving late but going the night before has benefits in case its we are delayed and that ruins are first day there!

Why can't you fly in the night before and then take the later flight home on your last day?

 

[pixiedustedme]

We have 2 options for our stay in July which is a shorter trip at only 5-6 nights.

1. Fly in Late Wednesday night - a 9pm flight, arriving at 12:30am! The negative is not getting much sleep, positive is a full park day on Thursday. With this option we will leave bright and early on Tuesday morning. So 6 nights, 5 Full park days and 6 nights of the dining plan.

2. Fly in early Thursday- a 8am flight, arriving around 11:30am, so about a half park day and leaving later in the day on Tuesday so getting some park time in that day. Also not getting much sleep on the first day since we will have to be up to get to airport early. So 5 nights, 4 full park days and 2 partial days. Saving about $160 cheaper than option 1.

Which one would you choose??

Option 2. There is no way I'd consider arriving in the middle of the night, then trying to begin a full day at the parks the next morning. With option 1 you won't be at your resort until around 2am even if your flight is on time. Since evening flights run late more often than morning flights, realize there is a good chance that you could be hours later than even that. It would be a miserable way to start a vacation.

 

[chaoskids]

Option 1! More days/nights and free dining for $160 more....even if you get a10am park start the next day.

 

[MrKnight]

IMO option 2 is the safer and more efficient option, as stated by pp the probability of an evening flight being delayed is significantly higher than a morning flight.

Also keep in mind the expense of an additional room night on the day that you arrive, flying in the morning saves you one full night of hotel expense.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Option 1, I hate having to get up at like 4 am to go to the airport.