Any Canadians going to Disneyland?

[TheZue]

Not sure about Nanaimo, but I'm in Victoria and think it's strange that Westjet only flies Victoria to Calgary, then Calgary to LAX. It's silly that Westjet doesn't fly Victoria to Vancouver. We'll be flying out of Vancouver to get the Westjet deal because I don't want to spend the night in Calgary in order to get to Disneyland! So, we're taking the 7am ferry and flying out of YVR at 11:30am. The kids fly free promotion is for travel before Oct. 31 and you need to book hotel and flight. For us, for 4 people and 4 nights at Ramada Maingate in late Sept it will be around $1300 (plus ferry and bus to and from airport).

Last year we flew Alaska/Horizon Air from Victoria to Seattle to Orange county, and it was way more reasonable than getting to Vancouver and flying with Westjet. But it seems like whichever way you go, it's so costly to get off the island! You may want to look into driving down to Victoria taking the ferry to Vancouver to see if you can get the cost down by flying out of a larger airport.

We are pretty committed to driving at this point It only costs us around $700 to drive including hotels on the way and back (without the ferry, but we've got Save on More points for that), and we don't have to rent a car or pay to park the van for a week. We also get to buy more stuff without worrying about baggage fees. We also get to load up on cheap booze on the way home

I only looked at Westjet because if it was significantly cheaper than driving it would be worth the annoyance of luggage weight issues. I thought it was either a dumb agent or bizarre pricing. I also don't get the stopover in Calgary; it takes about as long to fly to Calgary as it does to LA. When it's just DH and I we fly, once we've got the kids & all their stuff it gets annoying and expensive.

 

[tanyaewa]

We have been flying Alaska Air lately because you have the option in their website of choosing YVR, BEL or SEA and landing in LAX. LGB or SNA. You can make any combo since you buy each leg separately. They have lots of flights to soCal and Hawaii too.
Our flights in early December were def cheaper from BEL this time. It is our first time flying from there. We have to drive down from Whistler anyway so it's likely just as easy as going through downtown to YVR.

I will check out the airmles.ca tickets. Maybe I have enough for one or two hoppers. It was 2010 last time I bought BCAA tickets too. Used Flightcentre.ca in 2011.

Btw- grew up in Coquitlam too!

 

[MICKEYFIL]

Oh I didn't see that deal! Darn!

Black Friday sale??? Do tell! Please...

Last year Alaska had a cyber Monday (sorry, not Black Friday) sale for a few days if not a week on a bunch of their airline tickets. For those unaware, cyber Monday is the Monday after US Thanksgiving. If memory serves me right the Seattle to Long Beach route was one of the ones on sale.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

We have been flying Alaska Air lately because you have the option in their website of choosing YVR, BEL or SEA and landing in LAX. LGB or SNA. You can make any combo since you buy each leg separately. They have lots of flights to soCal and Hawaii too.
Our flights in early December were def cheaper from BEL this time. It is our first time flying from there. We have to drive down from Whistler anyway so it's likely just as easy as going through downtown to YVR.

I will check out the airmles.ca tickets. Maybe I have enough for one or two hoppers. It was 2010 last time I bought BCAA tickets too. Used Flightcentre.ca in 2011.

Btw- grew up in Coquitlam too!

Park at the airport if you like. I was down there a few months ago and it cost $9 a day to park outside the airport as compared to the $21 for economy lot at YVR. The food selections at the airport are improving but nothing spectacular.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

We are pretty committed to driving at this point It only costs us around $700 to drive including hotels on the way and back (without the ferry, but we've got Save on More points for that), and we don't have to rent a car or pay to park the van for a week. We also get to buy more stuff without worrying about baggage fees. We also get to load up on cheap booze on the way home

I only looked at Westjet because if it was significantly cheaper than driving it would be worth the annoyance of luggage weight issues. I thought it was either a dumb agent or bizarre pricing. I also don't get the stopover in Calgary; it takes about as long to fly to Calgary as it does to LA. When it's just DH and I we fly, once we've got the kids & all their stuff it gets annoying and expensive.

You mentioned Save on more points. Those points can also be used for certificates on Alaska Vacations. Not flights but full packages. 25,000 points is $100 on Alaska Vacations.

 

[Lizzzys]

I had originally booked with Alaska Airlines out of Vancouver, priced out Bellingham with Allegiant ( but I was sketched out ) and eventually found a better price into Orange County right from YVR. We flew last year to Disney with Westjet and couldn't be happier with how everything worked out.

I'll be staying at the Sheraton Park again if any of you fellow Canucks will be there

I haven't flown with Allegiant Air before but have tickets booked through them soon. What has you sketched out?

 

[TheZue]

I haven't flown with Allegiant Air before but have tickets booked through them soon. What has you sketched out?

I flew with them to Vegas and it was fine. It's a very low frills airline. The only recomendation I have is get there early to check in if you are avoiding checking your luggage. The people at the end were running out of places to put their carry on.

 

[Lizzzys]

I flew with them to Vegas and it was fine. It's a very low frills airline. The only recomendation I have is get there early to check in if you are avoiding checking your luggage. The people at the end were running out of places to put their carry on.

WHew.... good to hear! I was a little worried! And thanks also for the tip as we are not checking our luggage.

 

[TheZue]

You mentioned Save on more points. Those points can also be used for certificates on Alaska Vacations. Not flights but full packages. 25,000 points is $100 on Alaska Vacations.

That I may look at next time, or if we go without the kids. This time based on mileage the van has been getting lately and the gas prices up on gas buddy we are looking at $450 in gas to get there and back and $200 for a hotel each way so $650 total. That's going to be hard to beat for 4 people in airline fares after tax, luggage fees, rental car, parking the van at the airport etc. Parking alone was over $200 when we went to Hawaii for 10 days in January

 

[MICKEYFIL]

That I may look at next time, or if we go without the kids. This time based on mileage the van has been getting lately and the gas prices up on gas buddy we are looking at $450 in gas to get there and back and $200 for a hotel each way so $650 total. That's going to be hard to beat for 4 people in airline fares after tax, luggage fees, rental car, parking the van at the airport etc. Parking alone was over $200 when we went to Hawaii for 10 days in January

Won't argue with you on cost. I just put a price on the extra time associated with driving, my mood, my angry wife, the near death experiences on the I-5 and besides, we will not be renting a car for this trip.

I do dream though of one day driving my family down to DL like the generation before.