Disney Air Program

[Whiskers]

We've booked the Aug repo Panama Cruise for next year. I've always purchased flights myself for our vacations - including the Disney cruise we did in 2002. Our TA said often air is expensive for Panama Cruises because you have to book 2 one way tickets (for us that's one Seattle to LA and then Florida to Seattle). The price quoted from Disney for the family looks really good. So I was just wondering - anyone that has booked with them before - do you get as close to a direct flight as possible (one stop maybe) and do you get to pick departure times?

 

[RickW]

Originally posted by Whiskers
The price quoted from Disney for the family looks really good.

How much is "really good"?

I ask, because we are pricing the same flights, but in the other direction (Seattle to Orlando & LA to Seattle). We will probably wait until Southwest releases their fares before we buy anything.

Personally, I much prefer making my own flight schedule decisions so I haven't even asked about Disney Transfers, but I would be curious about what you found.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

A few years ago, DCL's air package was actually pretty competitive vs. buying everything a la carte. Considering that for us the package included a night at the Hyatt, and (for everyone) transfers, it cost about the same as buying everything yourself. We had DCL book our air for a few of our cruises, and the connections have been fine. It was actually the same flights each time, early morning Delta flight out of Ontario, CA, a one-hour stop at DFW, then getting in to MCO at around 5:00pm. If the price hadn't gotten ridiculously high ($575/person now), I probably would have continued to book air that way. The one-stop shopping, and the fact that they were responsible for getting you to the ship on time, made it worth the little bit more money for us.

Now that's just our experience, and I have heard that others have connections/flight times that they're less than thrilled about. One of the complaints I've heard the most is that a lot of the time large groups can't get seats together. By the time your tickets actually arrive, it's only about two weeks before you leave. You can usually avoid this by calling DCL 30 days prior to your departure. This is when they make the flight reservations. You can call and ask for the air desk, and they will give you your flight info. You can then call the airline and get seat assignments.

 

[glindamood]

We cruised from Vancouver to Anchorage last summer and we booked our own airfare on Northwest. I always book direct with the airline and when I priced I was told that it was not 2 one way ticket prices but half of a roundtrip to each location - there is a difference but it may be a very small difference. It also may be a North West pricing policy and other airlines do it differently.

 

[thiscloud]

anyone doing the repo cruises and need multiple one-way tickets should really check out southwest airlines. they're just booking to january 2005 right now, but will probably start booking around the may repo cruise in the fall and the august one by the beginning of the year. their prices are anywhere from $39 to $99 one way during sales, and even when they're not on sale, i haven't seen a one way go over $200, which may be cheaper than most airlines that charge an arm and a leg for oneway trips.

 

[gottaluvdis]

Originally posted by thiscloud
anyone doing the repo cruises and need multiple one-way tickets should really check out southwest airlines. they're just booking to january 2005 right now, but will probably start booking around the may repo cruise in the fall and the august one by the beginning of the year. their prices are anywhere from $39 to $99 one way during sales, and even when they're not on sale, i haven't seen a one way go over $200, which may be cheaper than most airlines that charge an arm and a leg for oneway trips.

Southwest never has a one way fare over $199 (before tax), even if you book at the 11th hour. And if you pay $199, chances are it's completely refundable to boot. If you book ahead and get the deals like the poster above lists, all the better.

 

[cristit14]

Originally posted by Whiskers
- do you get as close to a direct flight as possible (one stop maybe) and do you get to pick departure times?

We just used Disney air. We did only have one stop, but you don't get to pick times at all. You also don't get your docs until about 2 weeks before you leave. We didn't have any problems (other than not being seated together on the plane), but I think next time we will book our own air to have more control.

 

[Denise W]

Hi Whiskers, I just sent you a PM!

Denise

 

[tvguy]

Originally posted by gottaluvdis
Southwest never has a one way fare over $199 (before tax), even if you book at the 11th hour. And if you pay $199, chances are it's completely refundable to boot. If you book ahead and get the deals like the poster above lists, all the better.

I strongly disagree about nothing over $199 one way on Southwest. Due to a family illness, we have made multiple trips from Sacramento to Houston in the past 2 months, the first time we went SW , booked 5 days in advance, and the fare was $360 per person ONE WAY NON-REFUNDABLE!!!!, $720 RT per person. We switched to America West, their RT is only $390.
I just never seem to be able to get SW's best fares.
And remember, if you travel as a family, there are NO reserved seats on SW, and only those with children under 5 get pre-boarding, so there is a pretty fair chance you won't get to sit together.

 

[kellib36]

We fly out of Denver, so I've been checking Frontier. Last week, their one ways were $115-$125. GREAT prices for Denver, but there are just TOO many variables for us to book right now.

Kelli

 

[inkkognito]

I would do Disney if they are the cheapest (that has sometimes been the case on holidays or last minute trips), but ONLY if they are the cheapest. Once when we booked a cruise pretty late and went through them, we were on connecting flights. Since we fly from Chicago, we are definitely NOT used to connecting on the way to Orlando! And we like to arrive the night before, so why pay a deviation fee to Disney? But for convenience and a vey good price, I would do it if the difference was large.
Barb

 

[Whiskers]

Thanks everyone for your great info! Just reading through it all now - been sooo busy at work.
Well, looking at the Southwest prices - I now realize my price quote isn't all that great. TA quoted me 1700 for the four of us, but when I rechecked the sheet, I realized it is for flying out of Vancouver (which is where we live) instead of Seattle (where we usually fly from).
So I think I'll keep my eye out and try booking myself.

Denise - thanks so much for the nice PM! I'll try to PM you back if I can figure out how to do it!