SYD-LAX-MCO...VA doesn't connect to VX. Doh!

[Homer]

I've got a conference in MCO in April, right at the end of the school holidays. So I'm thinking of taking Marge, Lisa and Maggie for a two-week Disney-a-thon in the lead up to the conference (plus Kennedy Space Centre, etc). This will be our first visit to Orlando.

The first issue I've struck is that my VA1 flight lands about two hours after the only VX flight from LAX-MCO departs, so I can't connect "seamlessly" through to MCO. There is a 10.30pm Delta flight but I know that the girls won't feel like schlepping back out to LAX after 10 or so hours of "relaxing" in a hotel room.

So the best idea I've had is to book a separate VX flight the next morning, and overnight in LA. That's probably a good thing anyway but I just wanted to find out whether anybody had any better ideas.

 

[NM]

Why not max-out the Disney experience and spend a few days in LAX area and then you can complete the comparison between the east and west coast Disney venues. Or use it like a an appetiser for the real event at WDW.

 

[Homer]

Why not max-out the Disney experience and spend a few days in LAX area and then you can complete the comparison between the east and west coast Disney venues. Or use it like a an appetiser for the real event at WDW.

That's a good idea but we have been to Disneyland before - we took Lisa there for three days in 2011 and also did Universal Studios.

 

[NM]

That's a good idea but we have been to Disneyland before - we took Lisa there for three days in 2011 and also did Universal Studios.

Perhaps Knotts Berry Farm then? Great for roller coasters.

 

[robd]

Perhaps Knotts Berry Farm then? Great for roller coasters.

and/or Six Flags Magic Mountain.

 

[Homer]

OK this question has been resolved by Marge who has decided that she doesn't want any extra time in LA (I understand that completely) so it looks as though we'll book a half-day at an airport hotel and then do the Delta flight at 10.30pm.

 

[Fruitcake]

Why not do the DL flight to MCO at 10:30am instead? 3.5hr+ transit time is fairly generous.

 

[Homer]

Why not do the DL flight to MCO at 10:30am instead? 3.5hr+ transit time is fairly generous.

VA1 lands at 10.30am

 

[DJSYD81]

Can you go via MEL/BNE and get in earlier in the morning? Not sure if it allows for the connection to VX off the top of my head though.

 

[Fruitcake]

VA1 lands at 10.30am

Oops! Thanks. Didn't realise VA1 got in so late. Just remembered that the reason I flew via MEL was that VA11 gets in much earlier, because I also wanted a ~10:30am connection out of LAX.

Any chance you can re-route SYD-MEL-LAX? The transit in MEL is fairly painless, and if you're family pooling that's handy SC pickup .

 

[NM]

OK this question has been resolved by Marge who has decided that she doesn't want any extra time in LA (I understand that completely) so it looks as though we'll book a half-day at an airport hotel and then do the Delta flight at 10.30pm.

The boss has spoken ... wise men listen

 

[Paddy55]

Just done much the same in Dec.

Arrived on QF93 and stayed at the Four Points LAX for 2 nights to "adjust" and take in the Getty Center and a few other things in LA. The 24 hr check-in was great at Four Points, and I'd recommend this.

You could then take the Virgin America flight the following morning.

I'd be catatonic after your planned SYD-LAX and redeye to MCO!

We spent 8 nights in MCO, and stayed at Staybridge Lake Buena Vista in a 2 bed suite - happily recommend also.

8 nights was not enough btw :shock:

5 days Disney, 1 day Kennedy plus a rest day is bare minimum, and I would like to have gone to Universal too :mrgreen:

 

[MadFairlane]

Just done much the same in Dec.

Arrived on QF93 and stayed at the Four Points LAX for 2 nights to "adjust" and take in the Getty Center and a few other things in LA. The 24 hr check-in was great at Four Points, and I'd recommend this.

You could then take the Virgin America flight the following morning.

I'd be catatonic after your planned SYD-LAX and redeye to MCO!

We spent 8 nights in MCO, and stayed at Staybridge Lake Buena Vista in a 2 bed suite - happily recommend also.

8 nights was not enough btw :shock:

5 days Disney, 1 day Kennedy plus a rest day is bare minimum, and I would like to have gone to Universal too :mrgreen:

We had ten days there and it wasnt enough.

We connected off the MEL flight and made the 10:30am direct to MCO, was a much better option if you can grab it.

In MCO, we stayed at the Raddison Lake Beuna Vista, was really nice and didnt break the bank.

Definately get the Park Hopper option on your disney tickets.

We also found having a car was better... unless you are staying at a disney hotel, the comp shuttles from other hotels are realistically few and far between.

 

[Homer]

Thanks everyone. I think it makes sense to try to go via MEL so we can connect through to MCO. My ticket was booked last year so I'll need to check that it can be changed to a MEL departure.

We'll have 13 whole days on the ground, but my conference will use up the last 2.5 of those so it will be a little tight. But I don't feel a need to see absolutely everything - I'd rather keep Marge happy (as NM has so eloquently suggested) and pace ourselves.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just remember than even if you do go via MEL & take the VA11 flight that if you have separate bookings LAX/MCO whether VX or DL, your bags will still only be tagged to LAX so you will have to collect your bags & clear customs then checkin again with VX or DL.

VA arrive at LAX T5 but depart from LAX T3 so to keep it simple I would book a DL flight LAX/ATL as DL depart from T5 so no shuffling between terminals. You still need to remember that if the VA flight is late in from MEL you're at the mercy of DL as to whether they'll rebook you without charge.

If you were flying LAX/MCO on VX, as above after clearing Customs in LAX you'd need to make your way from T5 to T3 with your bags for the VX flight & again if the VA flight from MEL was late you'd be at the mercy of VX as to whether they'd rebook you with charge.

Just done much the same in Dec.

Arrived on QF93 and stayed at the Four Points LAX for 2 nights to "adjust" and take in the Getty Center and a few other things in LA. The 24 hr check-in was great at Four Points, and I'd recommend this.

You could then take the Virgin America flight the following morning.

I'd be catatonic after your planned SYD-LAX and redeye to MCO!

We spent 8 nights in MCO, and stayed at Staybridge Lake Buena Vista in a 2 bed suite - happily recommend also.

8 nights was not enough btw :shock:

5 days Disney, 1 day Kennedy plus a rest day is bare minimum, and I would like to have gone to Universal too :mrgreen:

Absolutely agree with Paddy on the above. We stayed at the Sheraton Four Points at LAX also after arriving off QF15 from BNE. We hadn't slept much on the flight so it was great to get immediate checkin and have a few hours sleep as we were quite tired by then. Just remember that you have to pre-arrange the immediate checkin with the hotel at least 48 hours before arrival.

Woke up early afternoon feeling brand new & as we'd already picked up a rental car on arrival, got out our trusty TomTom GPS & went for a drive up to Santa Monica where we had dinner. Just remember that you have to pre-arrange the immediate checkin with the hotel at least 48 hours in advance & the rate has to be USD119.00 or over for the 24/24 rate. Guest parking is free.

OK this question has been resolved by Marge who has decided that she doesn't want any extra time in LA (I understand that completely) so it looks as though we'll book a half-day at an airport hotel and then do the Delta flight at 10.30pm.

I would run through the proceedings with Marge ahead of time particularly with regard to a red-eye flight which I would avoid at all costs. "Marge, what would you like to do in MCO for the 8 hours we have to kill before we can checkin to our hotel". I don't really think it's a good idea to be driving around when you've had so little sleep.

 

[Deewhy]

Thanks everyone. I think it makes sense to try to go via MEL so we can connect through to MCO. My ticket was booked last year so I'll need to check that it can be changed to a MEL departure.

We'll have 13 whole days on the ground, but my conference will use up the last 2.5 of those so it will be a little tight. But I don't feel a need to see absolutely everything - I'd rather keep Marge happy (as NM has so eloquently suggested) and pace ourselves.

Instead of flying to MEL, another option is to fly onto SFO - it's only another hour. VX fly out at about 945am and get into MCO about 5pm. Did this in December and spent 10 days. Reiterate the other comments.... not enough time .

 

[Homer]

Instead of flying to MEL, another option is to fly onto SFO - it's only another hour. VX fly out at about 945am and get into MCO about 5pm. Did this in December and spent 10 days. Reiterate the other comments.... not enough time .

Please excuse my ignorance as I'm sure I'm just missing something...but given VA1 lands at LAX at 10.30am, how would I make a 9.45am flight out of SFO?

 

[Deewhy]

Please excuse my ignorance as I'm sure I'm just missing something...but given VA1 lands at LAX at 10.30am, how would I make a 9.45am flight out of SFO?

Oh sorry, I was assuming you can fly onto SFO earlier in the dat rather than waiting for the late night DL. Then you'd have to overnight(or more) in SFO to catch the 945am to mco.