Where Do You Go When You Get Into MCO Late?

[famsen]

Has anyone taken the latest flight into MCO the night before your reservations at a Disney resort to save a chunk of change?
The last flight Friday night into MCO will save us a total of at least $210 for the 3 of us. The thing is, we will probably be out of the airport with our bags, rental car, etc. around midnight if everything is on time.
Is there something we can do until we can check in to our resort or should I book a cheap room for the 9 hours or so?
Just trying to figure out if the savings is worth it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would book a cheap hotel. Remember your room at Disney may not be ready till 4:00 p.m the next day.

Plus where would you go to spend all night if you don't have a hotel room - Walmart???

 

[famsen]

I would book a cheap hotel. Remember your room at Disney may not be ready till 4:00 p.m the next day.

Plus where would you go to spend all night if you don't have a hotel room - Walmart???

Well the thought of stopping to pick up toiletries and groceries we will need during our stay did cross my mind.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Plus where would you go to spend all night if you don't have a hotel room - Walmart???

I recently read an article about RVing and apparently many RVers park their vehicles in WalMarts for the night. So people do spend the night in their parking lots!

 

[robinb]

Since you are driving, I would pick up a cheap hotel somewhere near WDW. Use Priceline or Hotwire to get the best price. You may also want to consider staying overnight at an airport hotel and then waiting to pick up your car the next day if it will save you some money.

I recently read an article about RVing and apparently many RVers park their vehicles in WalMarts for the night. So people do spend the night in their parking lots!

Wal*Mart doesn't allow that in many states any longer.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

A bit OT, but if anyone is interested:

http://www.walmartatlas.com/rv-parking-at-walmart

http://www.walmartatlas.com/no-park-walmarts

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Book a room! Do you really think you will enjoy at day at Disney if you haven't slept in 24 hours.. .It's crowded and crazy.

There are LOTS of options near the airport. Most of them offer free transport so you could take thier shuttle to the hotel, crash for several hours and get up the next day ready to go. If you take DME you can just have the shuttle take all of you back to the airport. If you rent a car you can go pick up the car and go back to the hotel to load.

I have used the LaQuinta and Fairfield. both were fine and had free breakfast too.

 

[Lewisc]

Either book a Disney value resort or a hotel near MCO. You can usually get a good deal on PL. I'd only bid on a 3.5 *or 3* property. Some of the lower rated properties only offer a complimentary shuttle until 11p. PL only guarantees a room for double occupancy almost all hotels in Orlando will give PL customers a room with 2 beds.

You don't need a room for 9 hours, you need a room for your first night.

A couple of times I booked a flight which arrived in MCO after 10p and stayed at an airport area hotel. I wouldn't have even considered where to hang out instead of sleeping.

 

[disneychic2]

Plus where would you go to spend all night if you don't have a hotel room - Walmart???

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Or Super Target would be the other place to spend time.

 

[ToddyLu]

Landed at 10p.m. stayed at Pop, bell services collected the luggage and moved us to AKL the next day--plus we woke up IN DISNEY WORLD!! I would do this all over again however, instead of Bell services moving the luggage if I didn't have a car I would get a taxi and move it myself and store it with the check in hotel. Bell services could not find my DH's very expensive camera equipment for an hour--if we had placed it in the hands of Bell services at AKL ourselves--no problem. DH is very funny and protective of his camera stuff

 

[DebbieB]

One time 2 friends & I got a great airfare leaving after work the day before our WDW reservation. We stayed at a Sheraton Four Points by the airport for like $70. We already had a car reserved for the next morning and it would cost more if we changed it so we rode the hotel shuttle back to the airport in the morning and got our car then. We were checked in at CSR by 8:30am! And a room was ready!

 

[piglet33]

Why don't you stay at the MCO Hyatt when you arrive and pick up your car rental the next day? That way you will save on the car rental price too. I bought a Hyatt Stay Certificate for $145 (Make sure you by the Choice level), because our flight arrives at midnight. Then the next day we can head to the Port for our Disney Cruise. Just a thought, because then you won't have to carry your luggage to the car and get to someplace even later.

 

[Lewisc]

Why don't you stay at the MCO Hyatt when you arrive and pick up your car rental the next day? That way you will save on the car rental price too. I bought a Hyatt Stay Certificate for $145 (Make sure you by the Choice level), because our flight arrives at midnight. Then the next day we can head to the Port for our Disney Cruise. Just a thought, because then you won't have to carry your luggage to the car and get to someplace even later.

You can get an airport area hotel on PL for $50-$60. OP is going to WDW. I'd stay at a value resort for my arrival night rather then spend $145 for the Hyatt.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can get an airport area hotel on PL for $50-$60. OP is going to WDW. I'd stay at a value resort for my arrival night rather then spend $145 for the Hyatt.

While I would rather stay at the Hyatt. Though when we have done it, we had a free night through hotels.com, so it was far less than 145 or rack rate. That said....


OP, having done the "cheap night before" thing a few times, I'm starting to see that it's not as worth it as you want it to be. It can end up feeling better to just put out the money and stay at your resort from arrival on. Unpack, relax, don't start the day by moving. (of course, we already have split stay trips, so adding One More Move can be a bother)

 

[Lewisc]

While I would rather stay at the Hyatt. Though when we have done it, we had a free night through hotels.com, so it was far less than 145 or rack rate. That said....


OP, having done the "cheap night before" thing a few times, I'm starting to see that it's not as worth it as you want it to be. It can end up feeling better to just put out the money and stay at your resort from arrival on. Unpack, relax, don't start the day by moving. (of course, we already have split stay trips, so adding One More Move can be a bother)

That's my point. If you're willing to pay $145 you're probably willing to at least pay for a Disney Value Resort or whatever resort you're staying at. OK staying at your own resort might not work if you're a DVC member staying on your points.

 

[siouxi31]

I like flying in the evening before my WDW vacation. We're usually more well-rested for vacation when doing this.

We get an airport location hotel through Priceline then take the free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. If we are renting a car, we take the free shuttle back to the airport for the car.

We have also done this when using ME. We take the shuttle back to the airport to catch ME. It's been a couple of years since I flew in so I don't remember exactly how this worked out---I think I gave ME flight details for the earliest arriving flight since they set you up for pick up on the day of your flight arrival.

 

[DonnaL]

We've done the opposite......stayed at Disney until 10 p.m. or so .......go to the MCO Hyatt and get an early a.m. flight home. I've used Last Minute Travel to book the Hyatt.....I think the last time (October 2011) I paid about $139 including taxes. It was great.......simply took the elevator down and walked thru security for our 7:30 a.m. flight home.