The Facts: We (41F, 47M, 18F, 16F) leave Ottawa at 6:30PM and arrive at MCO at 11:59PM on Saturday (the flights were really cheap). Our reservation at POR are for Sunday-Friday.
Plan A: Spend $266 USD to stay at the Hyatt in the Orlando airport, sleep until 8ish, take an Uber to POR the next morning, drop off our bags, enjoy an afternoon at the park and then check in to the hotel around dinner.
Plan B: Spend another $340 USD and book a night at Port Orleans Riverside. Personally, this feels like a lot of money knowing we’ll only be getting there around 1AM and will just be crashing for the night. But we’d be there, and could hit the parks earlier. Not like rope drop early, but still…
Plan C: Is there an airport hotel that’s not the Hyatt, that’s maybe a 5-10 minute Uber, and we can save a decent amount of cash if we only need a place to crash for the night?
I like the Hyatt idea. Personally I would probably do the POR option since I don’t like changing hotels and would prefer to be in the magic that extra night (just who I am ), but if that $74 is a meaningful difference to you and / or you would really prefer not to have to transport to your hotel that late at night, go for the Hyatt.
Keep in mind that transferring hotels means you will have to pack / unpack and spend time in transit the next day, vs. sleeping in a little if you’re already at POR.
Hyatt for the convenience. That late, after all that traveling, I wouldn’t want to wrangle with a ride share.
It’s not going to be THAT much cheaper when u factor in rideshare and tip.
It’s also the extra travel time late at night. That counts for a lot for me. I’m dead on my feat that late (or after 10pm, lol)
Also, when we do this, the toiletries bag and everyones next day of needs goes into 1 bag. Nothing else gets unpacked.
One other thing to consider. Book Pop Century for a night. with the special depending on room type it is about $195 room only special. You would then be on property for less and switch hotels in the morning.
I’ve done both options and honestly, I found myself getting up earlier at the Hyatt to get the Magical Express (it existed then) ASAP and be able to drop my bags at my resort and head straight to my park of choice. I actually got a little more sleep the time I just went on to the resort - and I still made rope drop or pretty close.
Our June 2022 flight arrived about 8:30 pm on a Saturday, not as late as yours but flying wears me out. We were staying at Saratoga Springs starting Sunday.
I had originally thought Hyatt at the airport. Then I thought about getting up and moving luggage and us the next morning. Then I saw a preferred at All Star Sports for $120 something. And thought, wake at Disney, go to a park, and let them move our luggage.
And that’s what we did. And I was exhausted and grumpy walking by the Hyatt on our way to the Mears shuttle. Coulda been in a room already.
But we were at AS Sports within an hour and in the morning, I was happier to hand luggage to bell services.
If I had it to do again, I’d likely suck it up and do the Disney room. But I’d keep a few necessary things with me during the day in the park, cuz Disney isn’t quick at moving your stuff.
We went to the Hyatt Place which was half the cost of the airport Hyatt, so got two rooms instead of squeezing into one. It’s on (or just off) Hotel Boulevard where there were lots of hotels. Took about 15 minutes in an Uber.
The next morning we had the free breakfast and then called an Uber to take us to OKW.
We always travel with a change of clothes and toiletry essentials in our carry-ons, so no unpacking. Worn clothes just went back in them the next morning.
I think one thing that helps us is our flight doesn’t leave Ottawa until 6:30 PM, so yes it’s a late night, but people who want to can nap in the afternoon before we leave. We will only have our carry ons + park bags. And the park bags will be packed and ready to go. We’ll probably put bathing suits in those bags, so if we’re back at the hotel before our luggage at least we can go for a swim.
I am now thinking about spending the night at Pop Century because it will let me (“sleeping is giving in”) and my eldest (the only teen in the world who has never slept in - even on a Saturday in the middle of summer break) hit the park early. While my husband and youngest can mosey along at their own time. And - we’ve never taken the Skyliner so that’ll be fun for everyone.
I no longer take a bus from Mears. We tried Lyft and that is the only way to go for us. No more waiting or having to depend on Mears. We now pick our pick-up time and within 15 minutes a Lyft shows up and we go directly to our destination. At first we were worried about what we would get for a car and driver, but we have had great experience with Lyft and their cars and drivers have been great.
One quick night at Pop also gets my vote. Sliding into the bubble and having provided transport for RD is great. Plus if bell services will move the luggage (even for a few bucks), that’s way better than moving properties.
++ @OBNurseNH and everyone who recommends the Airport Hyatt.
The convenience of retrieving your luggage and being in the hotel in a matter of minutes was way to appealing to me during our last trip. In fact, I’m planning to do the same thing on departure day during our next trip.
), but if that $74 is a meaningful difference to you and / or you would really prefer not to have to transport to your hotel that late at night, go for the Hyatt.