2012 trip planning

[Trixster]

Perhaps I am mad, but I am already starting to think about my next trip to WDW in 2012. Your help and advice for this will be greatly appreciated.

I live in Scotland and have tried in the past to fly from Manchester and Newcastle but this means having to stay the night in a hotel beforehand and I don't sleep at all first night in a strange bed. This makes the day of travel particularly hard with tiredness and the change in time. I also don't like the drive back after a night flight again with lack of sleep.

As a result we have decided to fly from Scotland next time which really limits our options. From what I have seen we could fly indirect from Edinburgh with Continental via Newark, but this is quite long.

The only direct options seem to be from Glasgow with Thomson, Thomas Cook or Virgin (the latter at selected times). I would want PE seats and think that the seats with Thomson are great for this as are Virgin but the cost is huge.

Does TC do PE seats from Glasgow?

If PE is too expensive, can you pre-book extra leg room seats with the 3 airlines?

Time of year - we would have to go in school holidays and the 2 options would be Easter or the start of July. The weather in July is doable but just wondered about the crowds and weather in April?

If we went in April, I think only Virgin go from Glasgow?

The next issue is accommodation - we would book a villa either directly or through the above, but would want to choose a particular estate. Do these travle companies enable you to book a certain estate eg Windsor Hills or do they just book an area eg Kissimee.

Many thanks for your help.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

First of all,no you are not mad for planning 2012.We are doing exactly the same.Its expencive,you need to plan.Also their is so much to see and do,if you dont plan you'll just spend your time not knowing what or where to go first.The more you know the more you can do.

From my experience Easter is always very busy because it is Americas spring break time,but you dont get the heat,which is a plus.
July is also very busy because the kids finish school at the start of june,so you can pretty much be sure its going to be like that until mid August when most of them go back.July is much hotter and much more humid,so you would need to plan a slower holiday.We went june this year and did parks in the morning and pool in the afternoon, which was great.

If you do go at these times i would use the Disney fast passes to the max.Find out the best ways to use them,plan on where you are going to eat,make some ADRs,you can always cancel if you change your mind.

We mainly fly Virgin,and have nothing but great things to say about them.Once we didnt and it wasnt the same.Also with Virgin flying time is less which pleased the children.

I find the planning part of the enjoyment of the holiday,so have fun

 

[tracie17]

First of all,no you are not mad for planning 2012.We are doing exactly the same.Its expencive,you need to plan.Also their is so much to see and do,if you dont plan you'll just spend your time not knowing what or where to go first.The more you know the more you can do.

From my experience Easter is always very busy because it is Americas spring break time,but you dont get the heat,which is a plus.
July is also very busy because the kids finish school at the start of june,so you can pretty much be sure its going to be like that until mid August when most of them go back.July is much hotter and much more humid,so you would need to plan a slower holiday.We went june this year and did parks in the morning and pool in the afternoon, which was great.

If you do go at these times i would use the Disney fast passes to the max.Find out the best ways to use them,plan on where you are going to eat,make some ADRs,you can always cancel if you change your mind.

We mainly fly Virgin,and have nothing but great things to say about them.Once we didnt and it wasnt the same.Also with Virgin flying time is less which pleased the children.

I find the planning part of the enjoyment of the holiday,so have fun

Hi
We are flying from Glasgow in Oct 2011 with Virgin and cost wasn't too bad.Would you not consider Oct?A lot of the Scottish schools are off for 2 weeks and from what i,ve read on these boards, it's a great time to go.Might be cheaper for you as well.

 

[2Tiggies]

Perhaps I am mad, but I am already starting to think about my next trip to WDW in 2012. Your help and advice for this will be greatly appreciated. Nope. Perfectly acceptable to start planning now!!

I live in Scotland and have tried in the past to fly from Manchester and Newcastle but this means having to stay the night in a hotel beforehand and I don't sleep at all first night in a strange bed. This makes the day of travel particularly hard with tiredness and the change in time. I also don't like the drive back after a night flight again with lack of sleep.

Okay, living in Scotland as well so I will give you my experience on this. Manchester has always worked out cheaper. In fact this is the first time I managed to snag a direct flight from GLA. Even with an overnight at the hotel in MAN plus domestic flights, once VA adds the GLA supplements onto already more expensive airfares it's six of one and half a dozen .... I agree with you about the tiredness factor, but I had not considered a further chalenge with the GLA flight. The 10.25 flight from MAN arrives in Orlando around 2 pm. We are able to do something with the afternoon and evening and get into bed at a reasonable time and even sleeping 'late' the next day has us up for around 6 am. No jetlag on the outbound. THe GLA flight lands at 6 pm so we are likely to only reach our resort around 8 pm. There goes the first evening, yet if we go straight to bed, we will be up way too early the next morning. If you haven't booked by the time I get back I will give you some feedback if you remind me. I am a single parent with a now 8 year old so I can give you the 'kid factor' aspects of both too.

As a result we have decided to fly from Scotland next time which really limits our options. From what I have seen we could fly indirect from Edinburgh with Continental via Newark, but this is quite long.

I am looking at this for next year as it is not only cheaper but it is less hassle than going to MAN first. You clear customs in Newark so by the time you get to Orlando you are ready to get your bags and go without the long immigration queue.

The only direct options seem to be from Glasgow with Thomson, Thomas Cook or Virgin (the latter at selected times). I would want PE seats and think that the seats with Thomson are great for this as are Virgin but the cost is huge.

Does TC do PE seats from Glasgow?

I heard a rumour that TC is no longer offering PE on transatlantic from next year. Not sure if there is anything to that or if it is just a story.

If PE is too expensive, can you pre-book extra leg room seats with the 3 airlines?

You can't pre book but you can book them at the check in desk.

Time of year - we would have to go in school holidays and the 2 options would be Easter or the start of July. The weather in July is doable but just wondered about the crowds and weather in April?

Love April. Little rain if any at all, warm enough for pools and waterparks, but not the high level of humidity. Long park hours give great flexibility to your day. Downside: It is BUSY!!! But with a touring plan and good use of fastpass, it is pleasantly managable.

If we went in April, I think only Virgin go from Glasgow?

The next issue is accommodation - we would book a villa either directly or through the above, but would want to choose a particular estate. Do these travle companies enable you to book a certain estate eg Windsor Hills or do they just book an area eg Kissimee.

Many thanks for your help.

I can't help with the villa but my other comments are in red. Please feel free to ask away.