which flight dilemma - help please

[DLPdaft]

Help please folks, I need your opinions.

I usually get a flight from my local airport (20 minutes drive away), the Sunday flights out to Paris get me to CDG at around 6.30pm. Unfortunately, the flights I need for next month are not reduced in the current sale, and so they are way more expensive than I want to pay.

But - Easyjet have a sale on, with very competitive prices, and my dates are included. I can either -

a/ book a flight from Luton, which is about 90 minutes drive from home, and which gets me into CDG at around 6pm.

b/ book a flight from Liverpool, which is about 2 hours drive from home, and which will get me into CDG at around 10am.

The difference in price is only a few pounds between both these flights, so is not a factor in my decision.
The obvious advantage to the Liverpool flight is that it will give me almost a whole extra day in the parks on the Sunday - however it will mean me having to start my drive at around 3.30am, (and I'll probably not sleep much at all the night before, because I'll be panicking that I'll sleep through my alarm ). I could just have a lazy day on the Saturday before though, and try to catnap as much as possible that day.

How do you guys who drive for hours in the middle of the night to get to DLRP manage it?

And would you go for the Liverpool flight over the Luton one? I've never been to either airport, but both wouldn't be a problem to get to - one is straight up the M6, the other is straight down the M1 .

 

[Ware Bears]

Well, if it were me I would pick the Luton one as I hate being rushed and wouldn't function very well if I had to get up at silly o'clock, I'd probably end up with a migraine over the worry of not waking up. Would it even be worth going to bed the night before?

I'd much rather get up at a decent hour and take my time driving down to Luton and catch the evening flight.

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks Elaine, and I know what you mean.

I guess another factor would be, how much would I actually like a Sunday in Christmas season at DLRP (bearing in mind I don't do queues or huge crowds) .
When we arrived at DLRP at 7.30pm on Sunday last time in May, it was great, as we had an hour and a half of an almost completely empty park, all to ourselves . But I understand that was a Francillien pass blackout day.

If I got the Luton flight, and arrived at DLRP say at 7pm, would I be in time to see Fantillusion that night? The park is open until 9pm, but I would need to buy my Fantasy pass at Guest Services before I could get in.

 

[FiFi Rose]

Having done a silly o'clock flight from Edinburgh for the last few years (6.15 am so 4.15 am check in and an hours drive), I would also opt for the later Luton flight. This time were doing an evening flight and ok we're missing that first day in the park, but when you've literally been up all night to get an early flight the first day is wasted as you're there in body but not in mind IYSWIM

We've always ended up fast asleep in the room as soon as we can get our room keys anyway.

 

[Cyrano]

I can see advantages with both. Think it would be easier to drive to Liverpool
However our DS does not cope well with an early start and is normally sick so the Luton flight would suit him better.

If a cheap Travel Lodge was available I think I would swing going to Liverpool the night before. Otherwise Luton

 

[mommy2ash]

i can see where you are stuck. on the one hand its an extra day in the park woohoo but on the other you could be exhausted and get off to a bad start. hmmm if i had ash with me i would go for the later flight. i love the times of our flight as it leaves at 11am so ash can wake as usual as 7, have breakfast and be set to go. i would not be happy about getting her up in the middle of the night. if i was on my own i would take the earlier flight as i dont sleep much the night before disney anyways lol

 

[BRobson]

I would do what Reid suggested - try and get a cheap room at Travelodge and travel down the night before

I am useless with early starts as well

 

[wedreamofdisney]

We flew from Liverpool to CDG a couple of weeks ago on the 9.20am flight. We got there Mega early ( our holiday starts at the airport ) and they let us check in about 30 mins before 'official' checking in time. I was VERY impressed with the service

Also we have drove through the night to get to Disney too, and it just didn't seem to matter how tired we were ( or the 2 kids ) we didn't feel it until we actually got back to our room that night. I think you leave your tiredness at the park gates.

Go on.....have another (almost) full day at the parks.....you know you want too

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

I live near to Liverpool, and have used the airport several times. It is great, as it isn't too busy, especially on early morning flights. There are plenty of cheap hotels around (holiday inn express which you could walk to the airport from), so I would say get an extra day!

 

[Dianetigger]

I think I'd go for travelling to Liverpool the day before and then taking the early flight - I'm a sucker for extra time in the parks which is why we always book the 6:35am flight from Manchester when we go. Means we are normally in the parks for around half 10 - 11am.

 

[manxtatt2]

we are flying from liverpool and have to travel the day beofre our flight to paris

as flights conenctions etc from the isle of man dont work lol

so we have booked express by holiday inn and it cost £53 for the night , and its within walking distance of the airport

 

[jillrobinson]

Whenever we've had a morning flight we've always been tired and lethargic on the first day, so I tend to try and arrive in the evening.
We ended up on an 8.55am flight last time and despite being put up in the nearby holiday inn overnight it still meant a 5.00am start for breakfast etc.

 

[karenmoloney]

I think that the Sunday would be so busy that arriving early &tired to a packed park would not be the best start to the holiday. I would go for the later flight from Luton.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

I think if it was me... i would cap nap if i could the day before... and do the early flight....

because if it was me... if i did it the other waya round I would be thinking... mm... if i had done that we would be there now!! haha and an extra day in the park..even if its a more relaxed day is better then not! xx

 

[poppie123]

Definately the early flight.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I think i would get the earlier flight, i've been up at 4am before to go DLRP and yeah you do feel tired but you deffo leave that all behind once you pass through the park gates.

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I'm used to getting out of the house for 4.30am for my usual flight to CDG, but this would be an extra hour earlier, plus an extra 90 minutes drive to get to the airport at that time of the morning.

I think that really, the only thing I'm dithering about, is if me being that extra bit tired, on top of a no doubt very busy Sunday in the park, would make me a right old Disney Grump. If it would, then it would make more sense to get the later Luton flight, and still get some park time in on Sunday evening (as I had originally planned with my local flights anyway).

Sunday 29th November will be busy, won't it?

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I get the impression all Sundays in DLRP is busy?

 

[hildasmuriel]

Sunday 29th November will be busy, won't it?

No, it is going to be nearly empty, apart from me, Dtr and my 2 sisters (oh, I wish!)

I would also go for the early flight, as I would hate to travel later in the day - it would feel like a wasted day to me and the time would draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag.

 

[poppyolivia]

I would get a travelodge and get the earlier flight......we are doing that ...inverness to glasgow....or inverness to edinburgh the day before then up at silly o clock in the morning to get early flight...I mean in January I was beboing my friends at the airport at 4am!!!......I felt wide awake!!!!!! Missing a day in the parks is NOT an option for us if there is an earlier flight! Plenty time to rest when you get back home!!!