What Time to Fly

[Terk-1]

I'm scheduled to leave for my upcoming trip to WDW the day after Thanksgiving. The prices I list is one-way fares and this is a solo trip.

1. The first flight out is at 7:30am arriving at MCO @ 10:30am, which would mean getting up at 4am, to leave my house at 4:30am to get to the airport by 5:30am. Also, the cheapest fare on Southwest for this flight is $223 (plus tax). The plus side for this flight is getting to WDW by around noon and getting a bit longer time at WDW. The down sides are getting up very early and the cost of the flight.

2. The 2nd non-stop is at 11:30am, getting into MCO @ 2:30pm. The lowest fare for this flight is $157 (plus tax). The plus side to this flight is not having to get up so early and a cheaper ticket. The downside is not getting to WDW until about 3:30-4pm, which would mean losing 1/2 a day.

Which would you choose & why?

 

[tmt martins]

I always take the early flights down now $60 or so for 4 hours seem good to me as I'm an early riser so getting up at 4:00 is no big deal ( I don't sleep that well before we leave anyhow.
Now our last trip and the 5:00 am wake up and 2:00am MK EMH that day was a very long day for sure.But DD & I were right back up for our next days EMH in the morning.All while the others slept until about 12:00noon

 

[twinklebug]

I'd go with the later flight - it really doesn't arrive that late, chances are your room would be ready when you arrive, you still have the evening to enjoy & why stress out over "making" the early flight? It's YOUR vacation.

Just re-read your post... one more item to add... since it's BLACK FRIDAY you're departing on, if you take the later flight you can use those early hours to make a stop off at Circuit city, walmart, TRU or whereever to get in some great Holiday gifts!!!

 

[DebbieB]

How many days are you staying? If it's a short trip, I would leave early. If it's a week, I would leave later.

 

[mytwotinks]

We can never sleep the night before anyway so I would take the early flight. We like to get there and do a few things and have a little snack and then have a nice dinner and go to bed fairly early to get the week started!

 

[rhiannonwales]

I always take the early one. This year were out at 6:45, meaning a 3 AM wake up call. But i look at it like this: if for whatever reason, my flight is delayed, the earlier my flight was the sooner i will eventually get to WDW. If my flight wasnt until 2:00 and it got delayed, i might not see the inside of my room until 9 PM!!

 

[Terk-1]

How many days are you staying? If it's a short trip, I would leave early. If it's a week, I would leave later

Am heading down for 10 days.

 

[kathi29]

If you are taking kids, how will it be getting them up and ready for the earlier flight? I would opt for the later flight myself, IF there were other flights beyond that.

I've been in Buffalo (trying to get back to Jacksonville) more than once and had flights delayed or canceled. I have learned my lesson to opt for an earlier flight as that time of year conditions tend to deteriorate as the day goes on. (I also try to connect in Charlotte for the same reason)

 

[rhiannonwales]

I do the 3 AM wake up with 2 kids. Honestly, the night before we put them to be in loose comfy clothes but no PJ's. Them when we go, they are usually asleep about 5 minutes after we get in the car. It's never been an issue.

 

[TAKitty]

I used to to the early wake up at 4 am flights, not anymore! Everyone, including myself, is just so much happier leaving around 11:30. You get to your resort around check in so your room is almost always ready. You loose only a half day, but as a solo traveler, I traveled three parks and saw a parade in half a day and still made it back to the room early.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you want to avoid flight delays/changes, it's ALWAYS better to take the earliest flight of the day possible.

 

[Terk-1]

Right now I have the first flight on hold (as it's a full fare rate, they can hold it until day of departure) at $232.80 (one way fare). If I do the first flight, I would book a car service to take me to the airport, rather than bothering family at that hour of the morning. I'm hoping the fare comes down within reason. I do understand with weather and that it would be better to go with an earlier flight, it's just that that's alot more than I was planning on paying for the airfare. Also, it would be another $85 for a car service to the airport. Although I could maybe convince my sisters to drop me off at the airport early, then they can head to the stores in NH for tax free shopping.

 

[kathi29]

I do the 3 AM wake up with 2 kids. Honestly, the night before we put them to be in loose comfy clothes but no PJ's. Them when we go, they are usually asleep about 5 minutes after we get in the car. It's never been an issue.

My DD would sleep in her clothes half the time anyway.
But once her eyes pop open she talks a blue streak and doesn't believe in sleeping again until she is forced into bed for the night.

 

[Donald - my hero]

We are taking a flight that leaves Buffalo at 7:10 that would mean a VERY early waking for us since we need to cross the border 1st. Since we are getting such cheap airfare 59 one way each, we are doing the Park & fly bit at a airport hotel! Got a rate of 89 for a great room so I feel we can't beat this whole thing. We don't loose a day outta a 4 day weekend

 

[antmaril]

I would definitely choose to later flight. To me, that is the perfect option. Those early morning flights are brutal. The older I get, the less often I choose the early morning flight.

The price is better and it is an obvious choice for me. I wouldn't worry about the 1/2 day. Once you get there and get going, you will forget all about it.

 

[Bam99]

We are 2 hours from the airport. We have to be there at 7:00 a.m. so we are going to drive down the day before and stay overnight near the airport. That will give us 2 hours extra sleep time. We got the earliest flight available just because we haven't been to Disney in a really long time so....we are in a hurry to get there!

 

[pooksma]

Last trip we had a 3 hr delay at Logan waiting for parts to come in from Atlanta. We were glad we had taken the earlier flight then!

 

[Terk-1]

Thanks everyone for your input. Happened to go on to Southwest's website this morning and the same flight that showed only the full fare rate, was now available at the "fun" rate of $157 ($165 w/tax). Went ahead and booked the first flight out for that rate. Maybe I'll get lucky and it will come down more, but if not, then that's ok.

Where I'm close to the New Hampshire border, it's alot easier for us to fly in and out of Manchester, NH than to Logan in Boston. Less congestion, detours, etc.

So now my flights are booked and all I have left is to book my tour & Candlelight Processional dinner package.

 

[Terk-1]

Glad I booked that flight when I did, as now it is showing only the fully refundable fare for the outbound. How fast things change!

Thanks again everyone. I'm just too excited now!!

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with the later flight........as another poster says above "The older I get those early flights are brutal". I truly don't see much difference in the amount of time for security, etc. Actually, sometimes the airport seems busier early in the morning (especially around that 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. timeframe) Our last few trips we've gone with a late morning/noon flight and been much happier when we get there. Our accomodations are ready and we can check right in, freshen up a little and rest for an hour or so before going out for the evening. And, our evening isn't spent being really tired from our extremely long day.