What would you do??

[melanie1877]

Hello All! We are heading to Disney May 4 to May 11, flying out of BWI. We live about 50 miles north of Harrisburg, PA, so it will take us about 3 hours to get to BWI, in moderate traffic. Our flight is scheduled for 7:30am take-off, which means that we need to be at the airport by 5:30am. We are tossing around the options of either going to bed very early, getting up at 1:00am, to leave the house for 2 - 2:30, OR, getting a park and fly hotel at the airport, leaving the house Friday night, checking in to the hotel by 9pm, then getting up in the morning at 4 to head to the airport. The park and fly packages for BWI run about $119, and if I remember correctly it costs about $80 to park for the week, so the cost difference isn't really an issue. We're just trying to figure out which way we will get more rest (esp. my 6yo!)

So which option would you choose?? Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[MaggieBags]

I think its a great idea to get the room. You'll start your vacation much fresher that way. If there's an indoor pool you could have fun with that and start your vacation a night earlier than expected.

 

[scrapquitler]

Hello All! We are heading to Disney May 4 to May 11, flying out of BWI. We live about 50 miles north of Harrisburg, PA, so it will take us about 3 hours to get to BWI, in moderate traffic. Our flight is scheduled for 7:30am take-off, which means that we need to be at the airport by 5:30am. We are tossing around the options of either going to bed very early, getting up at 1:00am, to leave the house for 2 - 2:30, OR, getting a park and fly hotel at the airport, leaving the house Friday night, checking in to the hotel by 9pm, then getting up in the morning at 4 to head to the airport. The park and fly packages for BWI run about $119, and if I remember correctly it costs about $80 to park for the week, so the cost difference isn't really an issue. We're just trying to figure out which way we will get more rest (esp. my 6yo!)

So which option would you choose?? Thanks in advance for your opinions!

I would get the hotel room for Friday night. You'll save the $80 parking, so the room will cost only $40 plus tax, it's a small price to pay for starting out your trip more rested.

 

[scrappinginontario]

It really depends on how you sleep. I'll be facing much the same decision this summer but am leaning towards sleeping at home and getting up very early. We've done the Park 'n Fly a number of times but I find that I don't sleep very well (concerned about getting up, strange bed, etc.) the first night I'm away so end up being more refreshed by sleeping at home for a few hours and driving the 3+ to the airport early in the morning.

 

[melanie1877]

Thanks, everyone. I was leaning towards the park and fly....was just worried about DS and myself being too excited to fall asleep in a strange place, but I doubt I would get much sleep either way! We will just have to make our first night in Disney a relatively early night so that we are not crabby and tired for the rest of the trip! Thanks again!!

 

[Darcy03231]

I'd do the Park n' Fly. I'd hate to have to travel that far the day of the trip to get to the airport. What if you had car trouble, ran into traffic, etc. I wouldn't want to chance it.

I'm also the type that flys in a day early for a cruise, just in case.

 

[Marionnette]

There's no doubt in my mind that if I were in your shoes, I would do the hotel with park & fly. Just think about the alternative:

• You're no going to get any rest on the car ride down.
• You won't get any rest in the airport terminal.
• You're not going to get adequate rest on the plane.
• You will arrive in Disney exhausted and miserable the first day.

I've done early flights out of PHL. It's great to arrive in MCO around 9:00 AM and have the whole day ahead of you in Disney. It wouldn't be so great to arrive at 9:00 AM after only getting a few hours of sporadic sleep in the past 24 hours.

 

[Fab4@disney]

Definately the Park and Fly! Been there, done that and glad we did

 

[Aliceacc]

If there's no significant price difference, start your vacation a day earlier and arrive at Disney well rested.

 

[melanie1877]

Thanks, everyone! I am definitely going to do the park and fly. Hopefully, I'll be able to get DS settled down at a decent hour so that we can all get some sleep!

Thanks for all of your advice, you have been very helpful!!