Which flight to take?

[bcinohio]

We are going to WDW Sat July 5-Sat July12. We signed up for the SW credit cards so we could get the free miles. SW just opened up their July flights and we are trying to decide which one to take. There are 5 of us (Myself, DH, DS(20), DS(17), DGM(71)). We are staying at the POP in 2 rooms.

There is a 6:40am flight that lands at 8:55 and should put us at the hotel about 10-10:30 but we couldn't check in until about 3.

The other flight is at 11:05am and lands at 1:20 and should put us at the hotel about 2:30-3 so we could check in right away.

My question is if we took the early flight and wanted to say go to DTD once we arrived at the resort what do you do with your carry on bags? Would you have to take them with you? We wouldn't do a park day that day just DTD and swimming.

We have only flown 1 other time with the whole family. What do you guys think? Which one should we take. Would it be less trouble to come in later or are there somewhere to store the carry on bags?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Aliceacc]

You can check your bags with bell services at the resort...no need to wait until official checking.

BUT we don't take the ultra early flights anymore. Getting my kids up in the middle of the night to get to the airport in time to get through security meant they were tired and cranky by dinner time. Sure, we were in Orlando earlier, but it made for a shorter day,

On that basis I would choose the later flight or one between those two.

Our flight leaves at 9:30am. To get to the airport at7:30 I'll have to get them up at about5:30am...early but not the middle of the night.

 

[wdwrich]

I second the previous poster- take the later flight. If you just plan to swim and visit DTD that first day, there's no reason to get everyone up in the wee hours to get to the airport.
If instead, you were planning to go to a park that first day, then I would recommend the earlier flight.

 

[JessM]

I would take the later flight. There's nothing worse than starting off a Disney vacation exhausted because you were up at 4am to catch an early flight.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Another vote for the later flight!

 

[sam_gordon]

Later flight. As mentioned, getting the family up and going early is possible, but I'd need a pretty good reason.

Even if it's a small airport, I'd say you'd need to get there by 5:30am at the latest, add in drive time, prep time leaving the house, etc... nope, too early for me.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Keep in mind check is actually 4.pm. but you might get lucky and your room will be ready a little bit sooner.

If your room is not ready when you arrive just give your carry on bags to bell services

 

[Sandi]

I'd also do the later flight, but we have done 6:00 a.m. flights in the past and you can make it work if everyone tries to be a morning person that day. I can be a morning person GOING to WDW. I can't doing the reverse.

You'll be able to check in at Pop and leave all your bags there with luggage assistance. Then you can go to a theme park, DTD, mini golfing, or swim at Pop pool (pack swimwear in your carry-on), etc. You might luck out and get one or both of your rooms early. It depends on whether you have room requests and at what capacity the resort is. I've gotten rooms as early as 9:00 a.m. -- but that is not usual.

 

[Alesia]

We are going to WDW Sat July 5-Sat July12. We signed up for the SW credit cards so we could get the free miles. SW just opened up their July flights and we are trying to decide which one to take. There are 5 of us (Myself, DH, DS(20), DS(17), DGM(71)). We are staying at the POP in 2 rooms.

There is a 6:40am flight that lands at 8:55 and should put us at the hotel about 10-10:30 but we couldn't check in until about 3.

The other flight is at 11:05am and lands at 1:20 and should put us at the hotel about 2:30-3 so we could check in right away.

My question is if we took the early flight and wanted to say go to DTD once we arrived at the resort what do you do with your carry on bags? Would you have to take them with you? We wouldn't do a park day that day just DTD and swimming.

We have only flown 1 other time with the whole family. What do you guys think? Which one should we take. Would it be less trouble to come in later or are there somewhere to store the carry on bags?

Thanks for any help.

You can check in as early as 6:30 am - they just won't guarantee that your room will be ready until official check in time. There is a pretty decent chance that your room will be ready when you get there.

If your room isn't ready, you'll just leave your bags with luggage services.

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

If you are using DME, they will take your bags to the hotel for you and deliver them to your room. Once you get to the hotel check in and they will send a text or call with your room number if it is not available yet. We always fly in early (my boys don't sleep well when they are excited), put our suits in a carry-on bag so that we can have lunch and swim when get there. We fly out the last flight at the end of our trip, check our bags at the hotel in the morning and head to the parks until 3 hours before our flight. If your kids are early risers, I would go for the earlier flight. Otherwise the later one is fine as well. Bell services can hold your carryons if needed.

 

[wdwrich]

Keep in mind check is actually 4.pm. but you might get lucky and your room will be ready a little bit sooner.

If your room is not ready when you arrive just give your carry on bags to bell services

Actually, the "official" listed check in time at POP is 3pm. I believe it's 4pm for DVC rooms/suites.