To not know how to get to the airport

[disneyconfusion]

Posting for traffic.

Booked Disney for next March for 5 of us, we live a few hours away from the airport so planning on booking a hotel for night before.

And this is where I need you smart mummy's of MN

I haven't the first idea of the best way to get 5 of us with 5 huge cases down to the airport. What size car would we hire? Is it better to get the train?

We've got a Vauxhall Meriva so doubt we could fit 5 cases in that

I'm super confused

What did you do when you travelled to Gatwick for your holiday?

A premier inn is a hotel?

I presume PP meant that it doesn’t actually have its own parking (the on terminal one that is), so can’t be described as a hotel with parking.

@MrsFezziwig

Thanks but I already acknowledged my error.

Ps do not attempt to drive to the Midlands after an overnight flight. We did it never again! It's £130 each way for a 7 seater can from the south midlands by the way

I can sleep reasonably well on planes, no problem for me driving anything up to 3 hours after an overnight flight. Trains/hiring different cars seems like a lot of extra hassle and expense versus taking a bit less luggage. Trains are a liability if you're travelling over a weekend ime too, engineering works/replacement bus services etc.

Taxi would be my second choice, if i could justify the extra expense.

stucknoue we always drive back to the midlands after an overnight flight. Some people prefer not to of course, but it is perfectly possible to do so!

Roof box - we went away with toddler and 6 year old and needed the roofbox on the car to fit the two suitcases and buggy.

Gatwick you say...

I did Gatwick in April (live in Northamptonshire). We did one of those drive-sleep-fly things, where you drive to a hotel, pay to leave the car there, get a taxi to the airport in the morning, then when you return, call the hotel and they'll drive the car to meet you at the airport.

It worked really well for us. The hotel we stayed was one of those generic business-y ones. We pre-booked a taxi for about 3:30am (tell them what size you need and no problem) and it took about 15 mins to the airport. Cost about £18 for the taxi I believe. Sorry, but honestly can't remember the cost of the stay and park, but we did crunch our numbers, and it was cheaper than a hotel stay and airport parking.
Google it, there will be lots available. Airport transfers and the like are big business round the large London airports.

What Stucknoue says is right, IMO.

As children, we did a Disney holiday and returned to Manchester airport around breakfast time. My parents then shared about a 3-hour drive back to Northamptonshire.

They said for both of them, it was the most foolish and dangerous bit of driving they ever did in terms of feeling unsafe to drive, especially with kids in the car.

No way I could fill up 5 large suitcases but that's the allowance.

Well that's fine, then. The allowance is a maximum, not a minimum!

Exactly as @stucknoue and @zingally said. I did a 3 hour drive back north after an overnight flight and swore never again. I cringe when I look back at that trip, I was far too tired to be driving that far. Worst drive I've ever had to do. It's probably worth booking a taxi transfer.

I used a huge case when I moved all my clothes to uni in another country. Looking back I should have carried half the amount. Why do you need 5 huge cases for kids I have no idea. DS and I can manage even ski holidays with just hand luggage.

Believe me, it makes life much easier. the kids will insist in wearing their favourite clothes ALL the time so you will be coming not having used 2/3 of what you packed

If you google ‘one way car rental £1 UK’ you’ll get lots of options. Car companies use it for cars they need repositioned, maybe that one way, then train back to save you the sleepy drive back

Taxi minibus - if it works out cheaper than airport car park costs.
If you have kids, don't even think about train.

National Express?

I think DP and I stayed in a Travelodge near Gatwick a few years ago which was a good price and there was a shuttle bus from the hotel to the airport

You will probably need 5 cases as you will bring stuff back from the US.

We didn't go out looking to buy stuff and came back with (extra)
5 pairs of trainers
10 t-shirts
4 pairs water shoes
christmas decorations
2 largish toys
a couple of souvenir glasses
4 rash vests.

Some of it was bought extra as we needed it, and some as it was good value.

So go with 5 part empty cases...

As to how you get there..... Roof box/roof rack? Hire a taxi (may be cheaper than petrol+parking)? Take 2 cars? Get DH to drive up with the cases the day before, drive back and get you?

You don't need to think about luggage as a bag per person (except the small backpacks to carry into the cabin with you).

I would take no more than 1 big case, one medium case and a backpack each.

Definitely do not take a cabin-sized wheelie for each person, there simply is not room in the overhead lockers. Small backpack for each kid with their snacks and entertainment stuff, spare pants, socks, shorts , T shirt.

Too much luggage is such a pain to deal with.

Im going against the grain and would say take the 5 suitcases if you plan to do some shopping as you'll need it! Just get a people career to the airport - cab or hire one.

We took a stupid amount of stuff on our most recent holiday, we also the two of us and three kids. We used our whole allowance - 2 large hold suitcases and 7 hand luggage inc changing bag and a buggy. What we didn’t think about was how we were actually going to move around the airport itself with that many bags and children. Fortunately we travelled with others who could carry a child/case for us but if we’d been on our own we would have really struggled!

Thanks for all your help!

So we have decided to book the premiere inn and park with Meet and Greet... it's going to cost about £120 so all in all not too bad 🙂

120 for hotel and parking

If you do a hotel package you can choose to stay after your return rather than the night before. We used Hampton by Hilton, it's part bbc of North terminal, super easy. Don't plan on buying loads in the US, we returned last week and it's become very expensive, not just the exchange rate.

Don't know where bbc came from.

Addison Lee. Fewer cases. Done

You definitely dont need the full luggage allowance.

Because of the current rates most stuff isn't that much cheaper in the US anymore. We rarely buy anything unless it is something specific from a park store anymore, or something you can't buy in the UK.

Take less cases - 2 or 3 max for a family of 5, and park smart. We use packing cubes inside our cases to make packing more organised.

The parks are very relaxed and in March the weather should be warm, maybe just need one hoodie or cardis incase of a cooler start to the day. You shouldn't need coats - we didn't in February the times we've been. Shorts and t shirts, trainers - that's your park wear sorted. Then add some swimmers for the water parks and/or pool, and we find them useful for the bigger water rides - well, board shorts and a thin t shirt anyway.