What time to arrive at WDW? Leaving from TO

[brighteyes]

Ok so we are planning a trip to WDW to arrive Fri Aug 17th. I am trying to figure out what is a good time to arrive at WDW? We don't want to get there too late as this counts as one of our days.

However, I will be working an 11 hour shift the day before, and have at least an hour drive to the TO airport, and have to arrive there 2 hours before flight, so do not want to be leaving the house at 6 am?? what is a reasonable flight departure to arrive at a decent hour at WDW????

If we have a noon flight is that too late to arrive at WDW? or should we get there earlier? If you arrive earlier, are you too tired to go walking around the parks if your room is not ready?

Thanks

Steph

 

[IcePrincess467]

I am probably not going to be much help but DH & I arrive at 9am and we are going to the parks around 2pm. We (well I) want to do some shopping first and I know the rest of our trip is going to be disney and universal!

But if you and your DH have to work late shifts the night before I would take a little rest...no point on getting to the parks and being too tried to enjoy it all!!!

Good Luck!

 

[Debbie]

If you have a noon flight, that would put you into Orlando at @ 2:30. Add another 60-90 minutes for ME, then another 30 to check in, you are at 4:30/5:00. Check out your room, and you can still be in the parks by 6:00. That's too late to check out Animal Kingdom, but gives you 2½ hours at MGM (Rock 'n Roller coaster and Fantasmic!), OR 3 hours at EPCOT (probably not your best 1st park for your son's first taste of Disney) OR head to Magic Kingdom....it's open until 10:00, and then you have 3 Extra Magic Hours. It will be busy, but an initial taste would be terrific. Even if it is just to see WISHES at 10:00.

Both you and your son will be tired, but your excitement will overcome any of that. A few years ago, I had an morning flight out of TO, and I left home at 2:30 a.m. The flight was delayed, and I checked into my resort (and met my DSisters/Mom) at 5:00 p.m. THEN we went to the parks AND extra magic hours. It was close to 24 hours, that I was up. Had a great time, but I learned that Mission Space on no sleep is not a good thing!

 

[deb123453]

me and my dd are arriving early around 9:30 a.m. but are planning on packing are bathing suit in our carry-on and then relaxing by the pool till we can get in our room,and then when we can get into our room hopefully it won't take to long for our luggage to arrive in our room. when we have checked in before at around 5 p.m. we didn't get our luggage till around 9. that way we can get a change of clothes and some rest before we head out for dinner and then go to campfire at the wilderness, that way we save a hopper at one of the parks for when we our well rested and can get a full days in with out being too tired. didn't seem worthwhile to use one if we are too tired.

 

[mtmbyck]

I think with kids, the 9:30am flights make more sense. Without kids, you can do the 6:30am flights and somehow just keep going on the adrenaline but the little ones need some sleep.

Not sure the age of your son but I would take into consideration how late you want to have him out that first night since I am assuming you will want to be at a park before opening the next day?? I always try to do the late nights near the end of our trip so the kids aren't too grumpy.

Don't worry about the idea of "wasting or losing" a day of your passes. If you are on a multi-day pass (5+ days), those extra days are only worth $6 anyways! It's mor eimportant to be well rested and in good spirits for the days you are there!

 

[brighteyes]

THEN we went to the parks AND extra magic hours. It was close to 24 hours, that I was up. Had a great time, but I learned that Mission Space on no sleep is not a good thing! [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/QUOTE]

Debbie.
Well I am thinking that regardless of how much I work that day or the week before, I really can't see myself or my son sleeping the night before much at all. Maybe if we can get a flight at 930 or 1000 am, that would mean we would still have to leave our house by about 6 am. Is it still 2 hours before the flight that we have to be there?

Soo maybe we will get head to Toronto the night before and spend it in a hotel to avoid the early drive? My neighbour and her DD are going with us, so I would like to cab it there as it is only 50.00 flat rate, and if I have been up all night do not want to be driving to TO. Did I mention how much I hate driving to the airport. I always get lost... Plus the cost of me parking the car there for 10 days.

Question though, if we spend the night before in a hotel how do we get to the airport with all our luggage...

On the way home, my Dad will pick us up I think so he can hear first thing about the trip.

Our travel agent suggested driving to BUffalo, and fly out from there

She doesn't know me very well lol

Steph

 

[Debbie]

Actually, Steph, driving to the States makes the flight a lot cheaper. I'm doing Syracuse in August, since my DD lives in Kingston. Googlemaps, here I come!

can't see myself or my son sleeping the night before much at all

No, you really won't sleep much the night before. Disney excitement is exactly like that commercial that used to be on. "I'm too excited to sleep"

Is it still 2 hours before the flight that we have to be there?

At least 2 hours before, I think, since it is an international flight. Check the airline website to be sure.

if we spend the night before in a hotel how do we get to the airport with all our luggage

If you stay at a hotel the night before, most have a shuttle that will take you and your luggage to the airport. Be sure to check that out before you book. Maybe someone here has a suggestion??

Hope that helps!

 

[dsneygirl]

Our travel agent suggested driving to BUffalo, and fly out from there

She doesn't know me very well lol

Steph

That's a very good suggestion. You can easily save 50% on your airfare that way. It might be worth looking into. You said you have an hour drive to the airport in Toronto if you are west of Toronto you're only looking at about 90min to the Buffalo airport. But if you are north or east it would be longer.

 

[cammie1229]

Have you considered flying in the night before (the Thursday)? Depending on what time you work until, it might be doable. There's usually a Westjet flight around 7:50 p.m. You'd get to the resort around midnight probably and then could get up the next day in Disney and enjoy the whole day!

If you're planning on paying for a room overnight in Toronto, why not do it in Orlando instead? And we found the evening flights to be cheaper.

 

[tmli]

A good TA will suggest what is the best deal for you--even if there is more money to be made by booking you something different.

There is no disputing flying out of Buffalo is cheaper and those of us that are fans feel it is actually easier and less stressful than flying out of Toronto.

People will choose whatever is best for their personal situation.

 

[garytam]

I had been flying out from Buffalo for the past couple years. The cost of flight is about 60% or more comparing to Pearson. If you do the early morning flight, you can spend the previous night in a hotel by the airport, that includes parking for 7-14 days and the shuttle to/from the airport.