Anyone fly to WDW from Western NY

[Masonmj84]

I'm a fan of the early direct flight to WDW (ideally like to get to my resort by late morning or early afternoon).

Previously, we lived in the DC area where there were multiple options for this.

While ROC is our closest major airport, it doesn't look like any major carrier has direct flights from there to MCO. Instead, it looks like our best bets are JB from SYR or SW from BUF. Can anyone who flies to WDW from Western NY confirm this?

 

[focusondisney]

Hi & welcome to Sabre country! Or are you a Caps fan putting the Jinx on them?

Back on topic: Yes, Jetblue & Southwest both have direct flights to Orlando from Buffalo. The Buffalo airport is small & modern. Very easy to navigate around. And if you need to drive in the night before, there are several very nice but reasonable priced hotels right across the street. And many allow you to leave your car at the hotel while you're gone. They will shuttle you to the airport. Have fun planning!

 

[theatermouse]

I've flown to Buffalo from Orlando (and back again) on Southwest and it's a good route. As mentioned, Buffalo is a good airport to fly out of. I'd probably wager that's going to be your best bet. Have fun!!

 

[vacationclub]

I'm a fan of the early direct flight to WDW (ideally like to get to my resort by late morning or early afternoon).

Previously, we lived in the DC area where there were multiple options for this.

While ROC is our closest major airport, it doesn't look like any major carrier has direct flights from there to MCO. Instead, it looks like our best bets are JB from SYR or SW from BUF. Can anyone who flies to WDW from Western NY confirm this?

No, Airtran has daily flights to and from ROC/MCO non-stop direct. We take the direct every time on the return. It's also the cheapest way to fly anywhere from WNY to MCO. People from SYR routinely drive to ROC for Airtran prices.

When are you going?

 

[Cricket2]

Don't forget the online airport parking coupon on the website if you do fly BUF (it is "the stuff").

 

[pigletto]

I'm a fan of the early direct flight to WDW (ideally like to get to my resort by late morning or early afternoon).

Previously, we lived in the DC area where there were multiple options for this.

While ROC is our closest major airport, it doesn't look like any major carrier has direct flights from there to MCO. Instead, it looks like our best bets are JB from SYR or SW from BUF. Can anyone who flies to WDW from Western NY confirm this?

I have flown direct from BUF on Jetblue, Southwest, and Airtran. This Spring I will be trying DirectAir from Niagara Falls airport. It's a charter and a different experience but many friends have tried it and had positive things to say.

As far as BUF airport, I love it. I have never had a problem and it's a nice small, clean airport.
Flights out of BUF to MCO have increased a great deal this year. We flew direct for 800 for the four of us 18 months ago. It looks like that is a thing of the past.
If you find a fare you like, go for it. BUF is a great airport.

 

[kimkoz]

I agree with the other - We're local to Syr so prefer Jet Blue but its always a money game with us.

I've never flown Roc but driven by often and it looks very similiar to both BUF and SYR. All three are easy access off the main highways so traveling would never be a problem.

Check Airtran in Roc
Jetlblue has an early direct or later afternoon direct to MCO
Southwest in BUF.

BUF and SYR are smaller airports and very easy to get around.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

We live in Rochester so we'd obviously prefer to fly in and out of our home airport but Buffalo is a 50 minute drive away so if prices, flight times and etc. are better then we can use that airport too. We tend to only fly non-stop flights and prefer to get to Orlando early.

We're flying out of BUF this time around but returning to ROC, thanks to a family friend who will be giving us a ride to BUF. We leave BUF at 9am and get to Orlando at 11:30am! The cost for my family of 4 was $450. I've noticed JB has gone up...A LOT so I'm glad I got them when I did. We like JB because you can choose seats at no extra cost and your first checked bag is always free, we also like the tv's in the seats and the seats seem a little more roomy for my tall DH.

We'll be flying back into Rochester on airtran, it's a non-stop also and we got the tickets at $89 each person! For my family of 4 the total was about $400. We had to pay extra to choose our seats ($30) and will have to pay $20 per bag that we check also ($60) which will bring us to about $490. Ugh, hate the extra fees.

 

[vacationclub]

We live in Rochester so we'd obviously prefer to fly in and out of our home airport but Buffalo is a 50 minute drive away so if prices, flight times and etc. are better then we can use that airport too. We tend to only fly non-stop flights and prefer to get to Orlando early.

We're flying out of BUF this time around but returning to ROC, thanks to a family friend who will be giving us a ride to BUF. We leave BUF at 9am and get to Orlando at 11:30am! The cost for my family of 4 was $450. I've noticed JB has gone up...A LOT so I'm glad I got them when I did. We like JB because you can choose seats at no extra cost and your first checked bag is always free, we also like the tv's in the seats and the seats seem a little more roomy for my tall DH.

We'll be flying back into Rochester on airtran, it's a non-stop also and we got the tickets at $89 each person! For my family of 4 the total was about $400. We had to pay extra to choose our seats ($30) and will have to pay $20 per bag that we check also ($60) which will bring us to about $490. Ugh, hate the extra fees.

Just FYI, we also leave ROC at 7am and arrive MCO at 11:45. This is via Airtran with a brief stop in ATL.

Does everyone in your family need their own full size checked bag in addition to 2 carry ons? My wife and I combine our stuff to 1 full size checked bag. (once we went for 4 days with no checked bag) 4 people might easily combine their stuff to 2 checked bags while the rest goes into carry ons and back-packs (personal item).

 

[cheerful chickadee]

we avoid any flight with stops, we've had bad experiences with lost luggage on the flights we've taken with a stop. I know it's probably just a coincidence but it's terrible to get to your destination and be told your bags got lost during a transfer from one plane to another. I think we have bad luck lol

re: checked bags....believe me 3 is the lowest amount we'd be able to squeeze all our "stuff" into. We're staying for 11 days and will still be doing laundry atleast once. Plus we always being back more than we came with because of souvenirs and what not.

 

[vacationclub]

Wow, avoiding flights with stops severely limits your options to travel to most cities from WNY. How often have you lost luggage? Seems like an extreme measure to me.

FYI, they can still lose your luggage even with directs, just less likely...it can miss your plane or be put on another going to the same place or even another place.

 

[sara mom]

We live in Wayne County and fly out of Syr. Jetblue has direct flights from there that leave at 7am and arrive at MCO at 9:50. Our return flight leaves at 5:40pm. We price out flights from Syr, Roc, and Buf.

Jetblue once had direct flights from ROC to MCO, but no longer. I have learned that my kids do not do well at LaGaurdia at 10pm after a week at Disney.

Tonight's evening news mentioned that Southwest will be flying out of ROC soon, as the bought out AirTran. Southwest flight schedules should be out by the end of the month.

 

[jgperkin]

We fly out of Buffalo Airport all the time. We have flown Jet Blue (LOVE THEM!), southwest and airtan all nonstop flights.. I have been finding lately that Buffalo is cheaper than Rochester. We are right in the middle of both airports. We are currently pricing trips for August. Prices are MUCH higher than what I paid last August.. Good luck with your planning. Buffalo Airport is easy to navigate and we have not had any issues there.

 

[DebbieB]

Wow, avoiding flights with stops severely limits your options to travel to most cities from WNY. How often have you lost luggage? Seems like an extreme measure to me.

FYI, they can still lose your luggage even with directs, just less likely...it can miss your plane or be put on another going to the same place or even another place.

I had a Delta flight last winter from Minneapolis to Pittsburgh, non-stop. I got to the airport 3 hours early. Somehow my luggage took a detour to Duluth MN! That was Friday night, it was not delivered to my house until Sunday morning, it had a long trip back through Detroit. At least it was on the way home.

 

[Alexander]

JetBlue from SYR is direct--no fees for first bag.

JetBlue from BUF is direct--no fees for first bag.
Southwest from BUF is direct--no baggage fee.
AirTran from SYR is direct--$25 baggage fee.

AirTran from ROC is direct--$25 for baggage.

These as of now, are the only direct flights from Upstate NY. JetBlue used to fly direct from ROC to MCO but that stopped sometime last year. None of the legacy carriers (Delta, American, etc.) have direct flights. Delta did for a while from ROC but there just wasn't enough demand to make it worthwhile.

 

[vacationclub]

How ironic that just today Southwest announced that Rochester will one of its transition cities, with schedules released this summer. Oh, joy. I will savor my last ever Airtran flight coming soon. Then watch the prices to fly out of ROC go up.

 

[Alexander]

How ironic that just today Southwest announced that Rochester will one of its transition cities, with schedules released this summer. Oh, joy. I will savor my last ever Airtran flight coming soon. Then watch the prices to fly out of ROC go up.

I don't understand?

Southwest has been flying out of Buffalo for years and their rates lately have been lower than both ROC and SYR.

 

[vacationclub]

I don't understand?

Southwest has been flying out of Buffalo for years and their rates lately have been lower than both ROC and SYR.

Southwest is rarely cheaper to MCO than Airtran from ROC, especially if you book out a few months.

Do some comparisons. I just sampled the two airlines to MCO on May 13.

Airtran is 89-108.
Southwest is 139-169.

On April 15:

Airtran is 106-159
SW is 139-169


Even with a checked bag Airtran is sometimes cheaper.