Where/when to book? deals?

[seobaina]

hi all

Ok, I need your help and advise PLEASE

My mum just asked me to check out prices for orlando for next year. We're looking at 3 (maybe 4) adults and two kids aged 8 and 6 at the time. We ideally need to fly from London and we have to go near school time cause of the kids.

We can prob take them out for a day or two but not more than that. We're looking therefore at dates around one of the following:

1) half term next year (which is around 13-21st Feb),
2) easter hols (so march 28th to 10th April) or
3 ) october half term (dunno dates yet but this year it was around 25th to 31st october).


We want to go for a week to ten days (pref the latter). And I'm looking for flights, hotels, tickets and maybe car hire (although might not be necessary). We want to stay on site and my preference is Pop Century.

We are looking for either...

1)a package deal of flights, hotel - maybe car and tickets
2) individual good deals which work our cheap.

You see, as a CM I can sometimes get hotel for a good discount so it can work out cheaper doing things individually sometimes. I've just never had to travel in school holiday time before.

So, can anyone give me any advice or good deals etc to look at? You guys normally know all the best deals out there and I'd really appreciate the help.

Thank you

 

[wayneg]

Can't help much with package, I check Virgin but rarely find deals in school hols(although did last Xmas) Most package offers are for 14 days, not usually what we do.

Hotel, if you are staying onsite check the offers with Disney.co.uk. some of your dates include upto a $1,000 giftcard but has to be 14 days incl tix. Probably better off with CM discounts. Dates in Oct incl free DDP minimum 5 days + tix, for us this August it was way better than CM discount(a CM friend books for us) but we wanted the tix, you might not.

Flights, you just have to check every day(I check 6-10 times a day) until you see price you are happy with. I use these + others.
Kayak.co.uk
travelsupermarket.com
kelkoo.co.uk
orbitz.com

I am looking for Easter and August, no really good flight deals yet.

 

[Kell-Bell]

Hi,

Just thought I'd offer my thoughts!

I always book seperatley works out so much cheaper. I always go in term time so not too sure about half term.

But if you go October, you'll get free dining plan

Copied from their website.

Book your magical Walt Disney World holiday before 2 August 2010, for stays 1 August - 18 November 2010, and you'll enjoy FREE Disney dining. Make your booking for a minimum of 5 nights including tickets, and everyone in the party dines for free for your whole holiday.

And also if you go October you can go to mickeys not so scary halloween party!!

Like Wayne said you'll have to just keep checking the prices. Flights for October won't be available yet.

And also looking at who/how many of you are going you'll need 2 rooms, and packages (virgin etc) will charge you for under occupying. Where if you just book 2 rooms direct with disney you pay for the room regardless of how many there are of you.

Personally I would price the 3 trips up and see what comes out the cheapest.

Hope that helps you. Please ask away if you have any questions!

 

[Kell-Bell]

Sorry I forgot to mention you have to be staying in a Moderate for the free dining plan.

Just had a quick search and for 7 nights staying at POP (that is based on 2 adults & 2 kids, so double the price for 2 rooms)
13th Feb - 20th Feb £504
28th March - 4th April £539
25th Oct - 2nd Nov £434

Looked on virginatlantic.co.uk also and flights for 3 adults & 2 kids on
13th Feb - 20th £3,139.50 but if you go on the monday 15th it drops to £2,038
28th March - 4th April 3,128 but again if you go on the monday it drops to £2,992
Can't get prices for Oct yet

Hope that helps!

 

[seobaina]

Thank you so much guys, I really appreciate the help. Cause I normally go just adults in term time it's thrown me having to look at the complete opposite.

 

[Kell-Bell]

No problem! I love helping to plan Disney holidays!!!

Give us a shout if you need any more help!

 

[seobaina]

I will do. Gonna try to pin down a better idea of what they want first. I'm just so excited that mum wants to take them. I don't have kids and my brother isn't a disney fan (yeah, I don't get it either) so I've wanted to take them for years but, having started my own company, I don't have the money to pay for all of us. So now I'm very excited.

 

[stoneyloon]

I've been looking for Easter flights for a while now. I'm hoping to afford to go Business class as it's OH's 40th. US Airways have dropped their prices in the last week.....

I'm hoping for more though.

 

[wayneg]

I've been looking for Easter flights for a while now. I'm hoping to afford to go Business class as it's OH's 40th. US Airways have dropped their prices in the last week.....

I'm hoping for more though.

Have you looked at Tampa instead of MCO? Easter dates I checked either from London or Manchester US airways Biz class were about £100pp cheaper into Tampa.
We flew Biz class into Tampa in August, wouldn't hesitate using Tampa again, only about 30 mins further away than MCO and no lines at Car rental.

 

[stoneyloon]

Thanks Wayne, I'll look into it.........

 

[seobaina]

ooh that's useful to know, thanks