When to leave after cruise

[Sleepyluke]

In theory, I know longer is always better, but we are in a little different situation than previous cruises. Normally when we get off the ship we had back to WDW for a resort day and fly out the next morning. We have to be at work/school Monday and have 2 flight options. Either we fly out at 4:30 Saturday after getting off the ship and arrive home 10PM ish with Sunday to recover, or we spend Saturday at the resort, fly out Sunday mid morning arriving home 2PM.

I know both have a little more rush/tired factor, but those who have flown out the day of departure, do you appreciate the "rest" day before going back to work, or would an afternoon with enough time for a trip to the grocery store and laundry on Sunday want you to spend one more day with the Mouse?

Any advice appreciated

 

[ahain]

We almost always fly out the day of departure and definitely DO appreciate the day to recover, unpack and get back into the flow of "real life" before going back to work.

 

[ntbubbles]

We head home the day of debarkation. I like having a day to do laundry, grocery shop, etc before going to work on Monday. If I can’t stay on the ship, I’m ready to go home.

 

[spiders]

Well, I think getting home a day early is nice as well but 4:30 is late. Personally, that sounds like a terrible day with only two options...you either go to the airport and even if you wait until they throw you off the ship, you'll probably still be there by 11 or you can go to Disney Springs or something but there's not really enough time to do anything other than just walk around and wait. I'd personally lean towards just making a day out of Saturday and fly out Sunday.

 

[lorimay]

If we come back to Florida, then we just head home, since it's a car ride.
If we land someplace else we spend a day or 2 there to see the sights.
I like very early morning flights home, that's hard with a cruise vacation on debarkation day.

 

[lklgoodman]

We always fly home on debarkation also. Usually we aren't able to get a flight that leaves until 3pm or later. It makes getting home late, but I also like having an extra day to catch up with stuff. Plus, we have a pet cat that we leave at a kitty "resort", so I'm always ready to see her.

 

[mcd2745]

Well, I think getting home a day early is nice as well but 4:30 is late. Personally, that sounds like a terrible day with only two options...you either go to the airport and even if you wait until they throw you off the ship, you'll probably still be there by 11 or you can go to Disney Springs or something but there's not really enough time to do anything other than just walk around and wait. I'd personally lean towards just making a day out of Saturday and fly out Sunday.

Agreed that 4:30 is a tough time. Late enough where you would have an uncomfortable amount of time to kill if you went straight to the airport, yet not late enough to have enough time to really do "something" of note or to make it worth getting a day room at the Hyatt MCO. IMO, the ideal flight times on debarkation day are between 12 and 1pm to simply go straight to the airport, or a late evening flight that gives you time to really be able to do something worthwhile. If 4:30 was the only option on Saturday, take the Sunday flight and enjoy Saturday.

 

[GPaLarry]

Perhaps you could look at returning home the day of debarkation with a day of rest like most people do going to the cruise...allow some time for delayed/missed flights, flat tires, etc. We try to get home with a day to relax and we are retired....those volunteer hours at three schools where g-kids go are demanding. We used to have a dog, which was another consideration along with more credit card charges. However, I/we love the mouse in his water or park forms and hate to see the fun end. Take a vote amongst your travel party and go with the results.

 

[Sleepyluke]

Travel party is 2 adults chasing a 7 and 3 year old so that is why I was asking. Day early is nice but all day in airport or anywhere else with bags sounds awful too. There is an earlier departure but the connection is the same so no sense in a long layover at least to me so I lean toward staying. Thanks for the thoughts so far and more to come.

 

[Donna M]

I would head to WDW since you have the kids and they would enjoy the pools. It's another day of vacation!
I always need a vacation after vacation anyway, so might as well enjoy one more day.

I think everyone, especially the kids will be bears on Sunday after spending hours in the airport, and then not getting to sleep till after 10pm. Staying at the resort gives everyone a relaxing day and normal bedtime.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We also fly home on debarkation day. Even though we also get in late, the next day we sleep in a little and get back to normal routine. Besides we want to get home to our dog.
In your case, with a departure of 4:30, going to WDW and relaxing at the pool is a great idea, then fly home the next day. Definitely would NOT do a day at the park.

 

[KVH]

I would head to WDW since you have the kids and they would enjoy the pools. It's another day of vacation!
I always need a vacation after vacation anyway, so might as well enjoy one more day.

I think everyone, especially the kids will be bears on Sunday after spending hours in the airport, and then not getting to sleep till after 10pm. Staying at the resort gives everyone a relaxing day and normal bedtime.

I agree with this. But only after I read that the OPs inventory includes a 3-yr old. If the kids were older, everyone could probably tough it out and travel same day. Then again, can you imagine a couple of moody pre-teens in the same situation?<shudder>

You don't have to spring money for the parks - you could even stay on Hotel Plaza Blvd and do downtown in the evening after a day at the pool (Wyndham Lake has a good one).

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Travel party is 2 adults chasing a 7 and 3 year old so that is why I was asking. Day early is nice but all day in airport or anywhere else with bags sounds awful too. There is an earlier departure but the connection is the same so no sense in a long layover at least to me so I lean toward staying. Thanks for the thoughts so far and more to come.

I would fly out that day and get a day room at the Hyatt MCO. I think they have a guest laundry room so you could probably get laundry done while the kids are resting in the room or hanging at the pool. That would then be one less thing to do on Sunday.

We always fly home the day of the cruise but there’s a great non-stop from MCO to PHX that leaves around 12:00, so it’s a no-brainer. With kids your age, I think the benefit of being able to rest in a Hyatt room could be really nice for you. That’s an early morning day to get off the ship, getting to rest a little could be perfect for all of you.