What do you do on departure day when you have a later flight?

[Ava]

This is our first time having a later evening flight (7:30pm) on departure day, and I can't decide what we should do. We'll have extra WPF&M entries, and could have an extra day on our park tickets as well. (I was going to downgrade from 8 days to 7 days but may keep the day now since it's so little cost. Then if we want to go to a park before we fly out, we can.)

We're staying at AoA, and our girls are 6 and 2. We'll be out late at MK the night before so I don't anticipate us getting up and out until near check out time. That would put us at getting somewhere around 12:00, and we'd have to leave by probably 3:30 for a 4:30 ME pick up. What would you do with 3-4 hours on departure day?

 

[Disneylover99]

We always take the latest flight home, so we either go to a park (when we have AP's) and/or we go to DTD for lunch at WPE and shopping.

 

[cariann77]

Last minute shopping at Downtown Disney or ask the kids what they'd like to do again before they leave and see if you can hit it one more time.

 

[DisneyPeachNJ]

Our family always ends with a half day at MK and late lunch at Tony's.

 

[sritter78]

We always do 1/2 day at MK.

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

We are in the same boat. 8pm flight home. Not doing park tix for last day. I'll probably ask a CM at checkout if it's okay if we hang around at the playground and pool. Or maybe we'll go for a joy ride on the monorail and just go around the full loop, or get off at different resorts and check them out.

 

[tooh8ful]

We like to do 1/2 day at MK and a last meal at Crystal Palace. We can this time so just lollygagging at the resort until time to leave. Don't feel sorry for us though. We're spending 17 nights in the resorts (3!) and our first lunch is CP!

 

[melindae10]

I asked my DD what she wanted to do, she chose to ride Tower of Terror. We rode that three times in a row and then did some snack shopping for the trip home. It was a fun, relaxing way to end the trip!

 

[Jewel3k]

I find going to Downtown Disney on the last day stresses me out. We always seem to have trouble with the buses this day. I would sleep in, pack up and then enjoy all the fun statues at the resort. I'd hop a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then ride the resort monorail touring any of the resorts the girls wanted to see. Any of the quick service locations would be great for lunch. I'd then ride the monorail to EPCOT and catch a bus back to the Pop Century. I'd play on their play ground and then walk over to AoA. Grab a Mickey Bar and sit by the pool in the shade.

 

[TOBS2010]

We usually sleep in and then go to Downtown Disney for lunch and any last minute shopping if we don't have an extra day of park tickets. If we have an extra day of tickets, we usually end up in the Magic Kingdom and then have lunch either there or one of the monorail hotels. We overall just try to take is easy and relax since it is our last day of vacation.

 

[B-Ride]

We always have an early afternoon flight so haven't had an opportunity to try this. Usually up late and a relaxed breakfast. Given the opportunity I can't think of anything better than a morning at MK.

 

[Ava]

@Jewel3k that sounds like an awesome day! I'm not very interested in DTD anyway, so the reports of terrible bus service during the construction make me really not want to go there. I would say we'll just go to MK but the thought of getting there at noon on a non-recommended Saturday makes me nervous. Although I suppose if we go in with the idea that we want to ride one or two last rides, maybe get one more Dole whip, we can have a nice relaxing time. I'll most likely end up asking my DD what she wants to do but it's good to have some choices to give her.

 

[scrapquitler]

We go to a park! Even if it's for just a couple of hours, it feels like a bonus that we got away with. We usually do MK, and we either do something we missed out on earlier in the trip or hit a couple favorite attractions. And have a final Dole Whip. If it were a busy day like you anticipate, we might just walk around, have a snack and people watch, at the cost of the extra day, we'd still feel we got a good value.

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

What do you all do with your luggage? We have to check out at 11 but not leave till around 5 for the airport. I don't really want to roam around the monorail/resorts with all our bags.

 

[ktlm]

We absolutely go to a park! We pack up our stuff, check the bags at resort airline check in and leave the carry ons with bell services, and then we head out to squeeze in every last bit of park time we can (for anyone not doing ME or resort airline check in- bell services will hold all of your bags). We have always enjoyed having a bonus day. We usually just pick whichever park DD wants to go to for some extra time. It is a little harder now with FP+, so our last trip I guessed which park DD would want and booked FP+ there. I would say, go ahead and book FP+ at your 60 days out for the park you think the kids will want (MK is a good bet for that age), and then a day or two before confirm which park they want and if it is not the one where you have things booked, you can switch FP+ out beforehand. You will have more availability switching FP+ out even the night before, than you will have once the park opens and everyone who did not book ahead of time can hit the kiosks.

We don't like going to DTD that last day for a couple of reasons. First, it is too hard to get there and back-- the buses there and back are slow, sometimes we have had to wait a long time for a bus--it is a longer drive with more traffic back to the resorts where we have stayed. Second, everything is already packed and we have even airline resort checked our bags already, so if we buy anything it makes it very difficult to get it packed to return home. It has to be in a carry on, and it has to fit in the already packed carry on- which might require a lot of rearranging on the sidewalk by bell services outside at the resort.

 

[ktlm]

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[scrapquitler]

What do you all do with your luggage? We have to check out at 11 but not leave till around 5 for the airport. I don't really want to roam around the monorail/resorts with all our bags.

If you are taking ME you just bring them to bell services who will check them in for the trip to the airport. Bell services will take your carry on bags as well and give you a claim ticket for them...when you go back to the resort to hop on ME, you bring the claim ticket to bell services and they give you you bags.

If you are not taking ME, it's still the same. as above.

 

[mandis77]

We like to go to DTD before the flight. We usually never make it over there during the trip so it's a nice way to end it. Plus it's easy to grab those last minute gifts and treats!

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I have done AK, MK, DTD and water park in the past. This year, we decided to check out at 11am and stay at the resort pool.

 

[Sophiathe1st]

I like to resort hop! Ride the monorail or the buses and use any extra snack credits at each hotel you visit. It is a great way to get exposure-for your next trip of course! If you want you can always plan a late meal at one of the hotels you visit. On my last visit I resort hopped and visited the mini golf course. Enjoy your trip!