Which return flight is better?

[lindanj]

So I have 3 return flight choices. One is very early in the morning, 7:20 which means DME would pick up 3 hours earlier. Can't imagine getting up that early. The other flight is 3:25 pm. and the last one is 7:25 pm. But if check out is 11AM and I need to take DME to the airport what do I do for all that time, especially if I take the 7:25 flight which is the cheapest. Any experiences with the best return flight time?

 

[dawnhaze]

I always take the latest return flight I can get, leave my carry-on at my resort, and go to a park on my departure day.

If you don't want to do that, I'd go for the afternoon flight, sleep in until check out, and then hang out at the resort pool/food court/arcade/etc until DME.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

We leave the luggage at the ME earlier and with our carry on's kept just spend time at the pool, DTD, if we take a later flight. Difficult o get the early flight. With the latest flight do you have children, it could be hard on them traveling that late.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Well depending on what time you will arrive at your home airport, would be what I factor in. If the 7p.m flight gets you into your home airport very late and you have to go to work the next day I would say take the 3 p.m flight.

If the 7p.m. works our good for your return home I would check my luggage with RAC - they will take your luggage to the airport for you provided you are on a participating airline and you check your luggage in with them before 1:00 p.m (they close at 1:00 p.m). Give your carry on to bell services then go enjoy the day. We usually hang out by the pool or go visit another resort. If you decide to go away from your resort besure to allow plenty of time to get back to catch the DME.

I certainly would not want the 7 a.m. flight. Your pick up time will be 4:00 a.m and you will probably have to get up at 3:00 a.m.

 

[goofy4tink]

As ShellyF said, it depends on the time you land, and how long a drive you have to get home. I like to arrive at my home airport by 9-9:30, so that means no flights after 6:30pm.
Another consideration I have is how long I've been in WDW. If I've been there more than 5 days, I usually try to get a midafternoon flight home..that gets me picked up around 12-1, which means I can sleep a bit and get a good meal in before heading to the airport.
If I really want to spend a bit more time at WDW, I take a later flight..usually around 6 or so. That gets me picked up by 3ish, so I can go to a park for the morning, and have lunch, then back to my resort by 2.
I check my bags with RAC by 8am, no matter when I'm leaving that day. Then, if I'm leaving after checkout time, I leave my carryon bags with Bell Services and get them back when I return to get the bus..but be sure to allow time to get those bags. Sometimes it takes them 15 mins or so if they're busy.

 

[monorailsilver]

We did a 7 pm return in August and it was great!

I got up, did laundry, folded it and my dh packed it and the rest of the room while I went out to the pool to reserve a seat for the day. The kids slowly came out and then my dh finished up in the room and we made the kids sit at the table and we brought the bags to baggage claim.

We spent the rest of the day (til about 3) in the pool staring at the most beautiful castle. Then we got dressed and left.

Thankfully we purchased the even more leg room for the return flight because we got to by pass that really long line in MCO. I saw a sign that said 30 min from this point and there were any people beyond that spot.

I won't do a park on the day I leave (or arrive) because I'd rather be relaxed by the pool.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I actually base my flight choices on different criteria. I don't like very early morning flights. I look at the plane type, seat availibility and my chances of scoring a free upgrade (I usually fly UA where I get free domestic upgrades if they are available). I also always try to get a non-stop flight. No red-eyes. No regional jets, if it is possible to avoid them.