Advice - Jan. 2012

[skd333]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks to this site, we have decided to book our 3rd trip to Disney!! We were planning to go the 1st week of January (the 3rd -8th), and based on price alone are leaning (heavily) towards flying out of Buffalo. I was looking for advice about where to stay the night before the flight (doing a park-sleep-fly type package) from anyone that has done it before and could recommend a place (or advise of places to stay away from). My biggest fear about flying through Buffalo is the weather,and that our flight gets cancelled and the trip is ruined, or that our flight is cancelled on the way back and I can't get to work (I teach so I have to be at work the first day back). But the price difference is so HUGE between flying from Toronto and Buffalo that I am ready to put my fears on the back burner. Also, typically what are flight prices like during the 1st week of January? Right now I am pricing at $350/PP all in, is that 'good' or should I wait a little longer?

Thanks for any hlep.

S

 

[Sue M]

We often fly out of Seattle, and do a park & fly using Marriott Towneplace Suites. Includes breakfast, but if you have an early flight before they put out breakfast, let the desk know. they are very accommodating, and will take out some milk & cereal, yogurt, fruit, etc so you will have something to start your day with.

I'd stick to well known chains, Hampton Inn also does park & fly, in my neck of the woods anyway.

Can't help with fares, I just know what a good one here is. I like to use Kayak.com to search out fares.

 

[bande]

We are going through the same thing as you right now. We are going the first week of Feb.2012 so many airlines do not have the fares available yet. A friend who has a condo in Orlando gave me the guideline that if I see a flight I like (non-stop, not middle of the night times) for $200 per person return including taxes to jump on it. I'm using $800 return as my guide right now for my family and have seen some flights for this amount. I just looked at Southwest flights and for Nov. 3rd to Nov.15th I could fly all 4 of us for $725.60 including taxes! Thought that was great rate and Southwest gets good reviews too. Also saw Direct Air doing a flight out of Niagara Falls where they offered buy 1 get 1 free. Made the total only $581.60 for 4 people, but Direct Air gets very mixed reviews and also flies into Lakeland, not the main Orlando airport. I'm a little leary to fly this one as it's our first family trip and we are not very experienced travellers. The other suggestion my friend had was to see an amount that you are comfortable with and then watch like a hawk every day. Once you hit that price, just book it and don't look back.

 

[Tower]

Don't know about the others, but Southwest has one-way fares to MCO at either $124 and $139 depending upon departure time. Unfortunately, the latest date they have on schedule is January 6 so you may want to explore booking separate flights until SW can get their new schedule/fares up.

As for hotels, and others on this board are likely tired of my promotion, but go for the Marriott through Priceline.com. Put in a bid of around $60/night on the night before you fly out. The rate includes parking and shuttle to the airport. Depending upon the time you leave, you could grab a Starbucks coffee at the little store as you leave, a restaurant meal, or if you're really early, something quick from the shops at the airport to eat.

Hope your family has a great time then! Just remember, it's January and the pools may not be too comfortable at wherever you're staying. Focus on the parks and non-water play and you'll be fine.

 

[Sue M]

You could try Delta. They have fares out for Jan. They're actully pretty good from here, but may hold out for Continental who I have more points with.

From Seattle a good RT fare is around $300 - $350 ish incl tax. SW doesn't have great fares for NW area right now.

 

[formill]

Since there is a very good chance of plenty of snow then- make sure you find out where your vehicle will be parked if you do a park and fly hotel deal-Sleep Inn Buffalo airport parks you down the street from their hotel depending on how long you are away and I guess how full their lots are.....we ended up in a huge mess- they had big snow storm when we were gone- we had to push the van over a snowbank in the parking lot-the lot was a mess. We so far have had very bad luck with hotel shuttles at the end of our trip waiting and waiting and waiting in the cold. The difference in price is minimal between parking at the airport and paying to park at the hotel in Buffalo with the exception of the Marriott in Buffalo that truly seems to not charge extra to park there while you are away. We now use Priceline or Hotwire to book a hotel and will park at the airport. We have stayed at the Day's Inn, Sleep Inn ,Best Western and Comfort Inn- all were completely fine for one night- all had early breakfast included. Sleep Inn and Comfort Inn are "suites" so will accommodate up to 6 people- have 2 beds and sofa bed in room. We have the Comfort Inn booked for this year's trip -paid $58 per night via Hotwire and will park at the airport -Long Term B parking lot is maximum of $50 per week or $10 per day.

 

[NancyK]

We also were parked down the street from the hotel when we stayed at Sleep Inn. I much prefer parking right at the airport.

 

[CanuckTraveller]

Our experience is that the beginning of January the airlines are still charging premium fees as there are many people travelling. We paid $165/each to go down to Orlando Dec 31, however, I was able to get $99 flights from Orlando to Syracuse on Jan 8. Total I paid $1100 with tax for 4 people to fly US Air, so I was fairly happy. I think if you can find something in the $250 range return you're doing well.
Happy travels!