Advice booking flights please!

[amacspad]

Hi all, not been on here for a while so feeling a bit rusty with everything! We have booked through WDW again 30th Oct 2014, 14 nights at OKW as we enjoyed the Halloween/Xmas seasons last year! I'm now looking to add flights, we always prefer to fly virgin direct if we can, we prefer to get the 11.15am mcr to Orlando so we have time to go to the village on the first night, this flight is more expensive and last time the flight ended up changing to the 1.15pm flight so just wondered if it is worth risking paying more to hopefully get the time we want, also not sure if to book flight through Disney which is more expensive for the convenience of it being a package, prices as follows!

Disney 13.10pm outbound/20.05pm inbound £593 pp
Virgin 11.15am outbound/20.05pm inbound £573 pp
Virgin 13.10pm outbound/20.05pm inbound £548 pp

Any advice appreciated,

Debs x

 

[flortlebap]

Personally I always book the 11am flight. The difference is less than £50pp so it's not a lot.

We paid an extra £200pp to get the earlier flight in August (expensive as very last minute). It was worth it as we were at our hotel for around half 4.

We have booked the same off peak flight for September 2014 (both were same price) and touch wood haven't been bumped to 1pm yet despite them changing our flight times slightly...

 

[amacspad]

Thank you, I agree, even though it's only 2 hours, it makes a huge diffence, don't want to waste the first night, would normally stay at SS as we enjoy the walk to the village but there's 4 adults this time so staying in the 1 bed at OKW, be great if we could still walk though think its not advised at night!

Debs xx

 

[susieh]

BA was cheaper than Virgin last time we flew (2011) and they are again next August. Suggest (assuming you are flying from Gatwick) that you take a look at their flights too

 

[wayneg]

We don't mind the later flights. Get there on the early one and we are just kicking our heals waiting for time to pass then try stay awake as long as poss so we don't get up too early on our first day. The later flight is great for us to arrive, unpack, a bite to eat then sleep. Depends what you do on arrival.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Personally I would not pay more than about £50 pp to arrive a few hours early,I don't think there's that much to gain IMHO. Not sure if your aware but VA now charge an extra £25 ew if you want to pre select your seats, that's another added cost to be aware of! It's these little added extras that soon bump your price up.

 

[flortlebap]

It really depends on how long you're there, too.

When we do 14 nights+, that first night doesn't matter. Our last trip was only 7 nights so we really wanted to make the most of that first night. Our next trip is 8 nights and we are hoping to keep the earlier flights so we can walk to epcot on our first night and take advantage of FP+ and the fireworks

 

[amacspad]

Hi everyone, thank you for all your advice, it's great to be part of the planning with you all again, we fly from Manchester and are leaving on the 30th October so will be there for Halloween and christmas seasons which we loved last time! I might be jumping the gun but just want to make sure we get a good price and with the virgin sale on at the moment am worried the prices may jump up afterwards! I think with it being a full on holiday wanted to squeeze every minute out of it and it's a bit of a tradition going to the village first night! I looked at virgin Flydrive as we need a car too for 4 adults and the price was crazy and that was before extras! Not sure what car to book for the best price and which insurance we need, seems ages ago now lol!

Debs x

 

[Elise79]

We wouldn't pay extra to get an early flight - it doesn't seem to make that much difference to what we do.

We always check in, unpack and grab a snack before bed and at the moment DTD is such as mess I have no real desire to visit!

 

[RobynPrincess]

I'd never pay the extra £200 (for 4 of you) to go on the earlier flight, but that's just me I'd rather have the extra money to spend on something I wanted out there.... The shops call to me

 

[amacspad]

Lol and I forgot about all the renovations too!

Debs x

 

[Kath2003]

I'd never pay the extra £200 (for 4 of you) to go on the earlier flight, but that's just me I'd rather have the extra money to spend on something I wanted out there.... The shops call to me

Me either. £50 to arrive two hours early?!

 

[joolz1910]

I'd never pay the extra £200 (for 4 of you) to go on the earlier flight, but that's just me I'd rather have the extra money to spend on something I wanted out there.... The shops call to me

Absolutely agree. Then again, I would stand for 9 hours if it meant saving money on flights lol.

 

[amacspad]

It works out £25 each more but when I've checked prices again today they have gone up, I've cleared cookies and data and will hang on a bit before I try again!


Debs x

 

[penlanspice]

For £25 I would pay for the earlier flight, for us we make an evening of it and quite often visit a park the first night or have a meal at logans and a trip to walmart.

 

[amacspad]

Thank you, I will check prices again in a few days as they rise every time I look and hopefully they may drop again!

Debs x

 

[amacspad]

Just looked on the Disney site and they now have the 11.15 departure flight and leaving at 20.05 for £550 each so grabbed it quick! )

Debs x