Anyone travel during half terms I need your help!!!

[emmamc252]

I am a teacher so am restricted to school holidays for our Disney trips! Currently we tend to go for 2 weeks end of aug, but we now have a baby and I think the crowds and heat will be a pain. We've just got back and loved the weather etc so we are trying to decide how much more it would cost to go for 2 1week trips a year, maybe even fitting in a third if we had the money.
So far I figure rather than a 14day pass we would need an annual pass but the discounts you get when at the theme parks and restaurants might even this out a little, we are in dvc so points wise it's less points at these times so it definitely works that way.
The big question is are flights any cheaper??? Going in nov we flew virgin from Manchester for £408pp, going in aug we normally pay about £650 for the sambar with Thomas cook which is a lot of messing with taxis from Sanford etc, virgin in summer is peob around £700pp.
So does anyone know what the prices are like for October feb and may half terms? At the minute for feb virgin is well over £800, but I know it's all about timing for virgin prices! Just any advice/opinions would be appreciated!! X

 

[florida sun]

Hi There

Im going to move this over to trip planning for you as I know there will be plenty of our regular dissers there to help you with your planing

 

[Kath2003]

I've looked at going in half terms but have never done so, simply because you're stuck flying on both the Saturdays which tends to put a premium on the price. Plus, the flight is a huge chunk of the cost so for what is essentially 6 days, it's not worth it for us. We use the Easter holidays instead and shave a few days off to get the cheapest flight prices - gives us more flexibility to get flights at the price we want to pay (just over £400 for indirect, but we don't have children). Personally I think Virgin are having a joke with their school holiday prices, but someone must be paying it.

It is busy, but we go to the parks early and leave around lunchtime. We refuse to queue for more than 20 minutes for any attraction and so far have never needed to break this rule.

 

[crabbie1]

Hi Emma
It was nice talking to you and your mom on the bus..I know your mom said it was difficult for you due to your job and I said we now have to go during school holidays due to my DB ex not allowing his daughter out of school.We thought of doing like you 8 days in feb and 8 days in october but the flights tend to be at a premium so we have booked for 16th august-1st sept.DD went back today after we landed yesterday and was crying as so tired.Not back till 4th sept next year so will have a couple of days to recover.
I know you have the baby but if you were thinking of August the crowds are lighter the last 2 weeks and flights do come up for under £500 but you would have to constantly check. The weather is very humid yes but if you go early and take regular breaks you should be ok. Flights are our issue but Niamh is 5 when we go so would do indirect as long as stopover is no longer than 2 hours on return.Not so worried going out.If it means saving £200 each will do it.After flying back on the new airbus we were so impressed though the food was nothing to shout about.
We bought into DVC this time at WVL so have provisonally booked 17-1st but hoping to change the first week to the 16th and staying at BWV or AKLV again and 3 nights RPR or HRH to get front of the line.
I think its a personal thing but it would be nice to go a couple of times a year but then may work out more as because of the flights.We upgraded our tickets this time and it cost $107 each with DVC discount and $119 for thr child one which I find very strange . We also purchased the TIW card but found that some resturants had a better discount with the dvc membership card but I found the TIW better as it covered the tip although a couple of places didnt deserve one.
Anyway let us know how your planning goes.Iv just added a new ticker.

 

[dixonsontour]

We've been October half term twice and Virgin flights are at a premium price sat to sat.

We flew indirect for £500 from Manchester this year - virgin wanted over £800 each for the same flights on the day they were released.

Also the flights are jam packed. I know in 2010 virgin were bumping people off flights.

Are you going back full time?

I know when I worked 3 days after DD it was easier for hols eg you could get 10 days away when there was a weeks half term.

 

[janiebubble]

it can work if your half terms don't quite match the 'standard'. We managed February half term in 2008 on miles plus money for £350 each with Virgin. I'm heading back this February and it's not cheap, but I can get free dining so that's made the difference there. We've tended to go at Easter the last few years, but we've never stayed the full two weeks. As a A level teacher I have to back by results day so the window for me in July/August is small and expensive!

Many people would say a week isn't long enough - but in all my US holidays I've only spent 2 weeks there 3 times - so I think this means I'm about to take my 10th one week trip. For me it is worth it to be able to go at all ... others would disagree and say they'd only do it for 14 days minimum - I'd love to have that luxury but at the moment a week is good enough for me