Disneyland Dream - Nightmare!

[DisneyFan06]

I am having the hardest time finding a plane ticket at a decent price. In fact, I dont even know what a decent price is because this will be my first time on a plane (or even out of Florida). Someone once told me that it is cheaper to fly out of small airports and into other small airports; however, I recently heard otherwise. Can anyone please clear this information up for me.

I live in Daytona Beach and we have our own small airport. There are also smalle airports in the surrounding areas. Orlando and Jacksonville are the two largest airports near me. I am just have a hard time as to where to begin looking. I never had to do this before and I am totally stressing.

I would only need one ticket - round trip, since I would be traveling alone. Where would I even fly into if I was staying at a Disneyland resort? As you can see, I am in the beginning stages. I wanted to try and go in mid - December if I could get everything set up. If I can't the next time I would be able to go would be in the beginning of May in 2008 - when I graduate with a B.A. in Elementary Education.

I just dont want my Disneyland dream to turn into a nightmare.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Leofoenget]

I am having the hardest time finding a plane ticket at a decent price. In fact, I dont even know what a decent price is because this will be my first time on a plane (or even out of Florida). Someone once told me that it is cheaper to fly out of small airports and into other small airports; however, I recently heard otherwise. Can anyone please clear this information up for me.

I live in Daytona Beach and we have our own small airport. There are also smalle airports in the surrounding areas. Orlando and Jacksonville are the two largest airports near me. I am just have a hard time as to where to begin looking. I never had to do this before and I am totally stressing.

I would only need one ticket - round trip, since I would be traveling alone. Where would I even fly into if I was staying at a Disneyland resort? As you can see, I am in the beginning stages. I wanted to try and go in mid - December if I could get everything set up. If I can't the next time I would be able to go would be in the beginning of May in 2008 - when I graduate with a B.A. in Elementary Education.

I just dont want my Disneyland dream to turn into a nightmare.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just go on the southwest airline website, pick an airport you want to fly out of. SAY Orlando to Orange County. (SNA) pick the days you want to fly and see what it says. Not sure what all the stressing is about.........

let me run a few examples;

Not sure when you want to go, but I had you fly out of Orlando to Ontario CA (a smaller airport but you will have to drive a bit farther.) Try entering in your airport, dates

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow, congratulations on your first big trip!

I personally love Southwest Air. Others don't. The only way to know if you like it is to go on it. So my own first step in booking flights is to go to their website and check out the fares.

Airports in your area...well I think when people mention it being cheaper flying out of the small airports, they are meaning smallISH, not tiny. If you have to catch a "puddlejumper", or a tiny jet or even a prop plane, to get to a bigger airport to switch planes, you're not going to be saving money. But there are smallER airports that don't charge as much for the planes to land, and so the savings can be passed along. In Anaheim, although others' experiences have been different, my experience in booking flights was that the Orange County (John Wayne Airport, code SNA) was less expensive than going to the massive Los Angeles airport (LAX). Also it's closer (closEST, I think) to Disneyland. There's also the Long Beach airport (don't remember the code for that one).

I can't remember the various airports around you, and for some reason my computer is having a hard time giving up that info. So i'll keep writing and hope that my computer wakes up soon.

Although it does NOT give Southwest rates, www.kayak.com is a good one to check out rates across the board.


My computer's internet connection has now woken up, oh happy day! http://southwest.com/travel_center/routemap.html gives you the cities they fly from/to.


If you really want to look into Southwest, they have a download called Ding!, which gives you access (when it "dings", or chimes) to usually-better fares than what they have online.

But other than that, kayak.com has been helpful to me, just to give me a range!


Good luck!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

By the way, although I'm very much a do-it-yourself-er when it comes to travel, I wasn't always. I used to use travel agents and was HAPPY to do so, especially when doing new things and going to new places. Since this is your first time even out of your state, it might serve you very well to find a local travel agent who will help you find this flight.

Do you belong to AAA? They have travel agents. Ask your friends and family if they have any trusted travel agents...I remember when my mom lived in Miami (and I still have tons of family in the D.Beach and Orlando area who will confirm) hearing the news about all sorts of scammers, and I am sure that there are scammy travel agents too, so especially in FL I would only use one who came recommended by trusted people that you know.

Anyway, my point is, since this is all so new and since it is causing you stress since you're an absolute beginner, this might be the PERFECT opportunity to work with a travel agent.

 

[KPeterso]

I go the opposite way CA to FL. We fly out of John Wayne (SNA) on Us Airways (usually decent prices) to Las Vegas and then catch the redeye to Orlando, and then Orlando to Phoenix to John Wayne. What I do is go to a website that lists all the airlines to get an idea of price, and then to the actual airline website. Just put in the route you are looking at, e.g. MCO to SNA and it will give you all sorts of options. I personally look at schedule and price. Usually there is also an option to change to other area airports to get other ideas on price, and then I work from there.

 

[brenda1966]

Like the above poster said, go to a site like expedia or travel ocity and put in your two airports and see what fares come up, which airlines, and how many stops.

Flying so far you'll probably have to make at least one stop, but I wouldn't book a flight with more than one unless I was saving a bundle.

Flying out of bigger airports is usually cheaper. I fly in and out of Orlando on Southwest for the best fares. I fly in and out of LAX on American for the best fares that direction.

I have not been able to find good airfare for John Wayne airport, which is closer to Anaheim, so I always go to LAX.

once you find a good airline and route, then go directly to that airlines' website and book there for the best price and more route selection.

Have fun!

 

[Albort]

travelzoo.com

best deals, but limited...

 

[queenrollog]

Jet Blue flies Orlando to Long Beach, which isn't that far from Disneyland. Check www.jetblue.com

 

[dcr]

You can use the "discount" sites like travelocity to get a good idea about ticket prices, but dealing directly with the airline web site will get you that price, or even better.

Flying out of a major airport and into a major airport nets you the cheapest prices. Multiple stops will usually get you cheaper prices, but not always.

Try pricing flights into LAX vs SNA and see if it makes it worth the extra drive time.

Good luck and good flying.

 

[Jeanne B]

We flew Boston to Long Beach on Jet Blue in June but I booked my flights 5 months ahead of time and the flights only went up after that. Still worth checking them though since they've had sales for Nov/Dec lately. Also check Southwest from MCO to SNA (but I found flying into SNA the most expensive as compared to LGB and LAX).

Good luck!!