The Official October 2013 Trip Planning Thread

[ColonelHathi]

I just checked last night and the best flights I could find on Southwest or other airlines from Minneapolis to Tampa or to Orlando are $370 round trip - is this cheaper than they were or are you finding better deals?? Seems high, but our last flights were FFmiles paid so not sure what to expect to pay.

Thanks,
Sydnerella's Mama

This IS cheaper than they were, but not cheaper than last year. Last year they came down to just over $300. We bought 3 tickets for $460 (ouch) and the 4th using pay with miles on with the Delta AmEx - so no baggage fees. Delta has only come down about $30 per ticket (2 days later, ugh) before skyrocketing, and we have a layover on the way down in Detroit, NS return. I think they know they have a hold on the market since we are a HUB - grrrr... SWA first came out with RT NS tickets for $405 when they released their fares in March, so they have come down a bit from that. It's a gamble though... Maybe a summer sale?

I think with SWA you can always rebook if you find a lower fare, with no rebooking penalty. Having kids with us, we didn't like the idea of priority seating order/scrample on SWA and preferred selecting our seats ahead of time with Delta. At the time we booked, not a huge price difference for us.

Delta it's $75 pp to rebook, so it has to be "worth it" if you find a lower fare. There are also some restrictions with using miles - the pay with miles is a nice option though if you have a Delta AmEx, you don't use AS MANY miles as if you did an award trip. I think it's at least 50,000 for an award trip to MCO vs. $100 paid off the ticket in increments of 10,000 miles. But, if you have to rebook or cancel, you lose your miles on pay with miles, so it is a risk ( I booked the other tickets separate for that reason). Crazy detail, but definitely look at your options. We used miles for an international trip and it is SUCH a great option when it works out!!!

 

[ColonelHathi]

We are hoping to go to MNSSHP on the 24th as well depending on weather & ticket sales. I too am hoping to wait to get tickets. Maybe we will bump into each other

We are also planning on going the 24th!

Yay! Here's to good weather on the 24th! I think we'll wait until just before we leave home and check the weather a week out. it sounds like so much gets cancelled if it rains hard throughout the party, and that would really throw a damper on things and why we want to go - characters, parade, fireworks...

 

[melissac]

I just checked last night and the best flights I could find on Southwest or other airlines from Minneapolis to Tampa or to Orlando are $370 round trip - is this cheaper than they were or are you finding better deals?? Seems high, but our last flights were FFmiles paid so not sure what to expect to pay.

Thanks,
Sydnerella's Mama

I got a great deal out of Wausau, WI on American for $300 round trip(flying Sat-Sat). I would think that Minneapolis would be cheaper.

 

[melissac]

Yay! Here's to good weather on the 24th! I think we'll wait until just before we leave home and check the weather a week out. it sounds like so much gets cancelled if it rains hard throughout the party, and that would really throw a damper on things and why we want to go - characters, parade, fireworks...

We are doing the 24th too.

 

[Sydnerella]

LOVE that show. The theme song is my ringtone. We saw a family dressed as them during Comic Con. Soooo cool.

Since
It's our anniversary weekend, thinking DH and I will go as a Day of the Dead or zombie bride and groom. I need a cheap "wedding dress" because it's going to get trashed with makeup anyway. I'm thinking DotD is less scary.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

This IS cheaper than they were, but not cheaper than last year. Last year they came down to just over $300. We bought 3 tickets for $460 (ouch) and the 4th using pay with miles on with the Delta AmEx - so no baggage fees. Delta has only come down about $30 per ticket (2 days later, ugh) before skyrocketing, and we have a layover on the way down in Detroit, NS return. I think they know they have a hold on the market since we are a HUB - grrrr... SWA first came out with RT NS tickets for $405 when they released their fares in March, so they have come down a bit from that. It's a gamble though... Maybe a summer sale?

I think with SWA you can always rebook if you find a lower fare, with no rebooking penalty. Having kids with us, we didn't like the idea of priority seating order/scrample on SWA and preferred selecting our seats ahead of time with Delta. At the time we booked, not a huge price difference for us.

Delta it's $75 pp to rebook, so it has to be "worth it" if you find a lower fare. There are also some restrictions with using miles - the pay with miles is a nice option though if you have a Delta AmEx, you don't use AS MANY miles as if you did an award trip. I think it's at least 50,000 for an award trip to MCO vs. $100 paid off the ticket in increments of 10,000 miles. But, if you have to rebook or cancel, you lose your miles on pay with miles, so it is a risk ( I booked the other tickets separate for that reason). Crazy detail, but definitely look at your options. We used miles for an international trip and it is SUCH a great option when it works out!!!

I got a great deal out of Wausau, WI on American for $300 round trip(flying Sat-Sat). I would think that Minneapolis would be cheaper.

Thanks guys! I have been checking but perhaps cuz the days we are flying are Friday to Wednesday (12 nights) it is more. Based on your post ColonelHathi, it seems these are good prices.

We have one FF ticket from Grandpa and we are buying the others as we dont have enough points. Staying with the grandparents in Sarasota after a week at Disney. Would love to fly into MCO and out of TPA for this reason... probably requires more miles from Grandpa though and would not want to ask.

Can I assume the Wausau price is for SW?

 

[melissac]

Thanks guys! I have been checking but perhaps cuz the days we are flying are Friday to Wednesday (12 nights) it is more. Based on your post ColonelHathi, it seems these are good prices.

We have one FF ticket from Grandpa and we are buying the others as we dont have enough points. Staying with the grandparents in Sarasota after a week at Disney. Would love to fly into MCO and out of TPA for this reason... probably requires more miles from Grandpa though and would not want to ask.

Can I assume the Wausau price is for SW?

Wausau is not lucky enought for SW to small of an airport We will be flying American Airlines with a stop in Chicago. Milwuakee and Minn are 4ish hours away from us and Wausau is only 1 hour. I'd rather have a stop then have to drive and park car for a week but I would think Minn has direct.

 

[ColonelHathi]

Wausau is not lucky enought for SW to small of an airport We will be flying American Airlines with a stop in Chicago. Milwuakee and Minn are 4ish hours away from us and Wausau is only 1 hour. I'd rather have a stop then have to drive and park car for a week but I would think Minn has direct.

I was shocked that SW had a direct from MSP, that surprised me. It arrives at like 7 pm, so that's not all that great. We considered adding a day, but then we'd have to spend $$ on a hotel too. There are other direct flights, but they are over $500+ now on both Delta and Sun Country. Everything else is connecting. Last year (for same Oct week) they were about $300+ direct mid-March which I priced out for planning, so no real pattern to the madness.

We have a connecting flight through Detroit, but DS is ecstatic that he now gets to ride on 3 airplanes instead of just 2. Totally makes it worth it I guess? We have a very early morning flight from MSP to DTW, then a nice 3 hour layover for breakfast before heading out to MCO. I really like DTW as far as airports go, so it will be fun to just explore it with the kids and stretch our legs. The other option was a 46 min layover, which would have been too tight with the kiddos and the taxiing at MSP and DTW or ATL.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Hey fellow Midwesterners!! We're flying out of Milwaukee on Oct 27 and I got around 225 per, but on Delta so we have to pay baggage fees. I am now trying really hard not to check again because it's not like I can change it now, lol. I am new to buying airline tix, can't believe how often they go up and down!

 

[melissac]

Hey fellow Midwesterners!! We're flying out of Milwaukee on Oct 27 and I got around 225 per, but on Delta so we have to pay baggage fees. I am now trying really hard not to check again because it's not like I can change it now, lol. I am new to buying airline tix, can't believe how often they go up and down!

Another option is Madison. We have flown from there also for reasonable prices and Green Bay has MetJet which has direct flights to MCO on select days.

KellyJeanie- Where in the UP are your from. We just purchased a ski chalet at Powderhorn/Ironwood, MI

 

[kellyjeanie]

Another option is Madison. We have flown from there also for reasonable prices and Green Bay has MetJet which has direct flights to MCO on select days.

KellyJeanie- Where in the UP are your from. We just purchased a ski chalet at Powderhorn/Ironwood, MI

Yes, Madison - there were some flights a few weeks back for $150! The times were horrible but still, I probably should have pounced. They were gone by the time I finished waffling. We looked at flights out of Green Bay and I hear Appleton can be reasonable as well.

We're in the central UP, about 2 hrs straight north of Green Bay. Congrats on the ski chalet, nice!

 

[bookgirl]

I am trying to decide between Hollywood studios and Epcot during our stay. Here is our itinerary as of now:
10/3 animal kingdom
10/4 magic kingdom
10/5 magic kingdom
10/6 Hollywood studios

Should we go to Epcot instead on our last day? What do you think about changing up animal kingdom? We are pretty set on MK day 2-3 due cinderellas Bfast, and fireworks. My girls will be 4 and 7. What do you think they will like best??

10/6 will be a weekend so Epcot will be packed with Food and Wine browsers. If you are not interested in F&W then I'd do DHS.

 

[jska482]

10/6 will be a weekend so Epcot will be packed with Food and Wine browsers. If you are not interested in F&W then I'd do DHS.

**Oh that's something I hadn't thought about! Hmm...I'll definitely have to take that into consideration! Thanks so much **

 

[Sydnerella]

I was shocked that SW had a direct from MSP, that surprised me. It arrives at like 7 pm, so that's not all that great. We considered adding a day, but then we'd have to spend $$ on a hotel too. There are other direct flights, but they are over $500+ now on both Delta and Sun Country. Everything else is connecting. Last year (for same Oct week) they were about $300+ direct mid-March which I priced out for planning, so no real pattern to the madness.

We have a connecting flight through Detroit, but DS is ecstatic that he now gets to ride on 3 airplanes instead of just 2. Totally makes it worth it I guess? We have a very early morning flight from MSP to DTW, then a nice 3 hour layover for breakfast before heading out to MCO. I really like DTW as far as airports go, so it will be fun to just explore it with the kids and stretch our legs. The other option was a 46 min layover, which would have been too tight with the kiddos and the taxiing at MSP and DTW or ATL.

This AM a direct Delta flight from MSP at 7:10am to MCO (arriving 11:23am) and returning on direct Delta Tampa to MSP was $389 each. Tonight same flights are $424 each. Sounds like the flights were a fantastic steal this AM from what I am reading - from cost, times and direct flight perspective. I prefer non stop and less time in airports anytime I can get it.

I guess we will look next Wed AM for the same flights/good deals and watch in between. We will be with Grandparents on Gulf coast at the end of trIp so multi destination is a good fit.

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

I am trying to decide between Hollywood studios and Epcot during our stay. Here is our itinerary as of now:
10/3 animal kingdom
10/4 magic kingdom
10/5 magic kingdom
10/6 Hollywood studios

Should we go to Epcot instead on our last day? What do you think about changing up animal kingdom? We are pretty set on MK day 2-3 due cinderellas Bfast, and fireworks. My girls will be 4 and 7. What do you think they will like best??

Our three girls were the same age as yours on our last trip. Epcot is tied with MK as being their favorite park and the one they keep talking about going back to this year. We devoted two days to it and they still wanted to go back for more. We did Hollywood studios in about half a day on the last trip. Although they enjoyed it, it was their least favorite park.

Animal Kingdom is a nice change from the other parks both visually and for pacing. We tend to slow down at that park.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Our three girls were the same age as yours on our last trip. Epcot is tied with MK as being their favorite park and the one they keep talking about going back to this year. We devoted two days to it and they still wanted to go back for more. We did Hollywood studios in about half a day on the last trip. Although they enjoyed it, it was their least favorite park.

Animal Kingdom is a nice change from the other parks both visually and for pacing. We tend to slow down at that park.

When you did 2 days at Epcot, did you do one day in the Future World section and the other day in the WS section? What was their favorite part of Epcot? I have 2 days planned in Epcot and was hoping to get over to F&W both days, but not sure if that's feasible...or necessary? Would love your thoughts.

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

When you did 2 days at Epcot, did you do one day in the Future World section and the other day in the WS section? What was their favorite part of Epcot? I have 2 days planned in Epcot and was hoping to get over to F&W both days, but not sure if that's feasible...or necessary? Would love your thoughts.

For us, we've found that it's better to do 1/2 of Future World and 1/2 of WS each day. We spend from rope drop until about 11:30 in FW, then have a sit-down lunch in WS and tour WS for a couple hours before going back to the hotel for a swim break.

Their favorite rides in Epcot FW include Spaceship Earth, Figment, Living with the Land, Soarin', and everything in the Seas pavilion. Not sure if all kids love Spaceship Earth the way ours do, but it's sort of the family "cult classic." We went back two other nights just to ride it before bed on our last trip.

In World Showcase, we spend more time just absorbing the feeling of each country. Last visit, the girls got pulled into participating in a wedding celebration (a show) in Italy. They loved it!! We never end up looking at the schedule of performers, but just sort of stumble on things as we explore. For us, I think the balance of planned rides in the morning and relaxed exploring in the afternoon makes for a nice day.

You could easily exchange exploring a few of the F&W booths instead of a sit-down lunch. We enjoyed F&W before kids, but never seem to spend much time with them now that we have kids.

 

[kellyjeanie]

For us, we've found that it's better to do 1/2 of Future World and 1/2 of WS each day. We spend from rope drop until about 11:30 in FW, then have a sit-down lunch in WS and tour WS for a couple hours before going back to the hotel for a swim break.

Thank you so much for all your information, it is super helpful! Planning FW in the morning and a relaxed stroll through WS in the afternoon sounds perfect.

 

[Miss Potts]

Joining in!
It will be my DH and I.... We are going sept 29-oct 4... Staying at the Polynesian!!! It will be our 2nd Wedding Anniversary on Oct 1!!!!

 

[ColonelHathi]

WooHoo, ADRs, BBB and PL reservations made!!! Going back to sleep now...

 

[txcpamom]

I get to join y'all! DH, DS(9), DD(7), and I will be going back Oct 26-Nov 1 for our second trip ever. We will be staying at the Poly again. I have the flight booked and the deposit made. Now I am working on ADR's. Fingers crossed for a BOG ressie! And free dining!