Which airport in late November?

[MrsHull]

It seems like we have two options to get to MCO from Charlotte, NC-- to fly through Baltimore or through Chicago. Our flights will be on November 28 and December 5. Am I right to assume that BWI will be the better choice, in case of bad weather? It seems like Chicago would be more likely to have snow, right?

We are planning on booking with Southwest, if that makes a difference.

 

[rwdavis2]

The last time we flew from BWI with a stop it was in Charlotte, NC and then direct to MCO. There are still non-stops from Charlotte to Orlando so why do you think you have to fly in the wrong direction to Chicago or Baltimore?

Southwest does not have those dates open for booking yet.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The last time we flew from BWI with a stop it was in Charlotte, NC and then direct to MCO. There are still non-stops from Charlotte to Orlando so why do you think you have to fly in the wrong direction to Chicago or Baltimore?

Southwest does not have those dates open for booking yet.

I searched for CLT-MCO flights for late October, the latest flights have been released on Southwest, and there are no non-stop options. The flights stop in MDW, BWI or HOU.

OP, I'm not sure where you are getting these flight options, since, as already pointed out, Southwest hasn't released these flight dates yet. If they had, I'd chose BWI.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

You picked a really good time to go to Disney - I will be there at that time as well. Any thought to driving down to Atlanta and then jumping on a direct Southwest flight

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You picked a really good time to go to Disney - I will be there at that time as well. Any thought to driving down to Atlanta and then jumping on a direct Southwest flight

You mean a non-stop flight, not direct.

I really don't understand how driving 250-300 miles to an airport (each way) is preferable to making a flight connection! Not in my universe.

 

[rwdavis2]

I looked as well and was surprised there are not any non-stops to Orlando. The Southwest web site still has that route non-stop: https://www.southwest.com/travel_center/routemap_dyn.html

By the way, I was mistaken about flying through Charlotte. It was Raleigh-Durham.

Keep checking as it may change with the new schedule. Otherwise go through BWI. Any other airlines a possibility? Somebody has to have non-stops to MCO.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

You mean a non-stop flight, not direct.

I really don't understand how driving 250-300 miles to an airport (each way) is preferable to making a flight connection! Not in my universe.

Yes, I meant non-stop, not direct.

cyberspace - I am not suggesting you do anything in your universe. I was merely suggesting to the OP that if you factor in the total travel time of flying though Midway or BWI, it would be in the same ballpark as driving to Atlanta and taking a non-stop to MCO.

 

[rwdavis2]

Yes, I meant non-stop, not direct.

cyberspace - I am not suggesting you do anything in your universe. I was merely suggesting to the OP that if you factor in the total travel time of flying though Midway or BWI, it would be in the same ballpark as driving to Atlanta and taking a non-stop to MCO.

That's a definite possibility about travel time. According to Google Maps it's less than an 8 hour drive from Charlotte to Orlando. For us, that's driving distance. Considering the time it takes to get through an airport, let alone making connections that are very far out of the way, plus the layover time. BWI to MCO is 2.5 hours and much ,longer from Chicago. I would think flying would be longer than driving.

Plus you end up with a car at WDW which is useful.

 

[MrsHull]

Charlotte is the closest airport to us, so we would be flying out of there or Greensboro. But, Charlotte has the cheapest options, currently.

I have no firm information. I am going by what I can find for similar flights that can be booked now. That way, when the flights are released, I can book without too much fumbling around.

We can fly on a different airline, but we don't want to spend too much more on airfare than we would on a rental car and gas/ travel expenses. I am hoping to book the wanna get away fare through SW when they open up on May 14, assuming it is the cheapest option.

 

[MrsHull]

The last time we flew from BWI with a stop it was in Charlotte, NC and then direct to MCO. There are still non-stops from Charlotte to Orlando so why do you think you have to fly in the wrong direction to Chicago or Baltimore?

Southwest does not have those dates open for booking yet.

I know it makes no sense to go north, then south, but that is what I'm seeing for similar Saturdays around Labor Day and into October. I'm just trying to get a sense of what the flights might look like, since I've never flown to MCO before. As for non-stops, we aren't able to bust our budget for that, I don't think.

 

[MrsHull]

That's a definite possibility about travel time. According to Google Maps it's less than an 8 hour drive from Charlotte to Orlando. For us, that's driving distance. Considering the time it takes to get through an airport, let alone making connections that are very far out of the way, plus the layover time. BWI to MCO is 2.5 hours and much ,longer from Chicago. I would think flying would be longer than driving.

Plus you end up with a car at WDW which is useful.

We are actually 3 hours from Charlotte. However, that is only slightly further than Greensboro, and we have the added benefit of my inlaws keeping the dog if we go on to Charlotte, as they live nearby. Orlando is actually an 11 or 12 hour drive from my home. We drove it last time. This trip, we would like to fly if at all possible.

 

[MrsHull]

Anyway, my gut said BWI, so thank you for your input. Now, I hope the options don't change the morning of, or else I'll have to make a spontaneous decision.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes, I meant non-stop, not direct.

cyberspace - I am not suggesting you do anything in your universe. I was merely suggesting to the OP that if you factor in the total travel time of flying though Midway or BWI, it would be in the same ballpark as driving to Atlanta and taking a non-stop to MCO.

It still doesn't make sense. Would you rather fly the same amount of time, or drive hundreds of miles to avoid a connection? You aren't saving any money, you'll put wear and tear on your car (and nerves), and flying is safer.

 

[MrsHull]

It still doesn't make sense. Would you rather fly the same amount of time, or drive hundreds of miles to avoid a connection? You aren't saving any money, you'll put wear and tear on your car (and nerves), and flying is safer.

Not to mention, the total time behind the wheel would be the same, but that isn't taking into account potty and lunch breaks, stopping halfway at a hotel so we aren't exhausted when we arrive, bickering between children who are stuck together for longer intervals than the relatively-short hops between airports, and having to arrive later and leave sooner because of when the rental car places are open in our area. If we have to drive, we will. But, we'd like to fly. My main concern is flight delays due to weather.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

It still doesn't make sense. Would you rather fly the same amount of time, or drive hundreds of miles to avoid a connection? You aren't saving any money, you'll put wear and tear on your car (and nerves), and flying is safer.

Definitely agree with you about flying being safer!

I hope you have a great trip MrsHull - however you end up getting there!

 

[MrsHull]

Definitely agree with you about flying being safer!

I hope you have a great trip MrsHull - however you end up getting there!

Thank you! The same to you.