What would YOU do?

[Minnesota!]

Two scenarios present themselves - both with pros/cons. I hate making decisions as I always feel like if something goes wrong, I am to blame as I made the call.

So, what would YOU do?

We are flying to MCO on December 1. We have two flight options with SW.

1) leave MSP at 520p. A 75 minute layover in STL. Arrive MCO at 1135pm.

Pros - DH and kids can each get a half day in at work/school. STL is a pretty easy airport, and I assume they can handle any winter-ish weather pretty handily.
Cons - getting in SO late. It's a short vacation. So, by the time we take our cab to the hotel, we are already pushing 1230. Checking in, settling down, going to sleep - looking at 2am or so. With a short trip to somewhere we have never been, we are either going to be dragging the next morning, or we are going to sleep in and miss out on precious time.

2) Leave MSP at 230. A 75 minute layover in ATL. Arrive MCO at 830.

Pros - in 3 hours earlier. We can theoretically be in bed by 11, which will afford us getting up early the next day for park open.
Cons - ATLANTA. We have NEVER flown through there without some kind of delay - ranging from 2 hours to 12 hours. Atlanta in "winter"...ugh. I shudder. My kids will have to be sprung from school earlier, DH will take 1 more vacation hour.

I told DH to make the call, by tomorrow. Urgh.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I would go with the second Atlanta option. We have passed through without problems. I would always go for more time at resort! You pay for that day enjoy it! I hope there are no delays now I said that...

 

[LadyBeBop]

I also picked Atlanta. There's a better chance of winter weather in St. Louis. It's that much farther north.

 

[cranbiz]

I vote for Atlanta, getting in earlier is always a plus. Chances are you won't be changing terminals and 75 minutes should be plenty.

I have had a good history thru Atlanta.

 

[loves to dive]

Another vote for Atlanta, we live in Georgia so it is our home airport. That early in December there won't be any winter weather here so unless you have delays getting out of your home airport you should be fine. 75 min. layover in Atlanta is just about right, if you are one the same airlines for both flights you shouldn't have to change terminals so it's a good amount of time to go potty and grab something to eat.

 

[Spunky946]

Another vote for the atlanta flight.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'd pick Atlanta too. You're unlikely to run into real winter weather either place that early, but chances would be less. I've been through Atlanta twice and my husband has been through 4 times with no problems. I wouldn't automatically assume you'll have an issue. Getting in at a reasonable hour would be key for me on a short trip.

 

[sam_gordon]

Atlanta. I wouldn't expect true winter weather on December 1. Even if there is a delay, you're scheduled in earlier so it will be easier to handle. What if the St. Louis connection is delayed because of weather?

 

[seashoreCM]

Nowadays I am not that comfortable with a half day of school and then your vacation. Schools seem to be common targets for incidents leading to shelter-in-place or lockdown and the your kids can't be sprung from school to hustle off to the airport.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I voted for the Atlanta option for two reasons.

1 - You'll hopefully arrive at your destination earlier and be able to take better advantage of your first full day.

2 - The Atlanta airport is huge, but I've made tight connections in spite of that. Also, if there is some kind of weather delay a larger airport may have more options for scheduling if necessary.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I changed planes in Atlanta last week. the only "problem" was killing time, even after a leisurely breakfast. For once the gates were within easy walking distance.

 

[gymnasticsrocks]

Another vote for Atlanta.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Atlanta.

If you have any problems you wind up stuck in St. Louis since that's the last flight of the day. SW has several more flights to Orlando after your flight out of Atlanta.

 

[Minnesota!]

Thank you, all! Waiting for DH to decide, still. It's his work schedule we have to work around...so he gets to make the call on this one...

@souperman128 ...what say you?

 

[souperman128]

Thank you, all! Waiting for DH to decide, still. It's his work schedule we have to work around...so he gets to make the call on this one...

@souperman128 ...what say you?

Let's go through ATL

 

[Minnesota!]

Let's go through ATL

Alright, but if we get stranded again, we are picking up a rental car and hitting the road

 

[Minnesota!]

Thanks, all! We have rebooked through ATL. Keeping my fingers crossed

 

[KrazeeK120]

Nowadays I am not that comfortable with a half day of school and then your vacation. Schools seem to be common targets for incidents leading to shelter-in-place or lockdown and the your kids can't be sprung from school to hustle off to the airport.

Huh?

 

[sam_gordon]

Huh?

I think he's saying schools are going into lock downs more often, and if that happens in the morning, you won't be able to pick up your child. Seems a strange thing to base planning on to me, but to each their own.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I think he's saying schools are going into lock downs more often, and if that happens in the morning, you won't be able to pick up your child. Seems a strange thing to base planning on to me, but to each their own.

I kind of thought that's what he meant, but yeah, that would be a really weird thing to base planning around. It's still a very uncommon event.