Fall 2016 planning (continuation of 2016 Free Dining Watch)

[Meeko5]

I'm trying to talk my daughter in to driving, lol.

If I didn't live 19 hours away and have a 2yo who HATES the car I'd drive.

Ok, if we lived within 6 hours I'd consider it. But no more haha!

 

[Elsaalltheway]

We used to be a group who used the early magic morning hours, but this trip we are going to avoid all of those. Anybody else have any preference?

 

[Iowamomof4]

Since we're going in December, I've done some early looking. If we wanted to fly Spirit, which we don't, our flight would be $46 there, on 12/10 and $248 returning 12/17. Ouch! Hoping SW can give us some magic in August!!

If it wasn't for Spirit's awful reputation, I'd be tempted to book a one-way to take advantage of that $46 flight! You could always do SW for the ride home. Probably more trouble than it's worth though.

 

[scard192]

have not book my airfare yet, but pretty expensive from New England. We prefer to fly Jet Blue out of Boston but Providence is usually cheaper, Jet Blue and Southwest fly from there. Jet Blue seems to have fewer direct flight than they did in 2013.

 

[BrightOwl1]

have not book my airfare yet, but pretty expensive from New England. We prefer to fly Jet Blue out of Boston but Providence is usually cheaper, Jet Blue and Southwest fly from there. Jet Blue seems to have fewer direct flight than they did in 2013.

Those are our airport choices, too. Disney is the only place we go that is too far away to drive so these flight prices are some serious sticker shock.

 

[Disneylover99]

Ok what do you consider a "good" flight price RT per person? We've only flown once as a family and that was when DS2 was still a lap infant. I'm struggling with flight prices over here!

I know it will vary a lot based on location and airline, etc. I have the sinking feeling when SW releases their prices they are going to be $$$ so I need to have plan B (and c and d) ready too. We have 3 airports within 3 hours of my house, but the cheapest is a huge major airport and would be a huge major pain to drive almost 3 hours away on travel days. I need to decide if it's worth an extra couple hundred total to fly out of our home airport, but not at ideal times.

We've managed to get return flights out of Buffalo with SW for $200 per person for the past few August and December trips. This year, our August flights were over $300 per person, so that's why we're going to drive.

 

[scard192]

Those are our airport choices, too. Disney is the only place we go that is too far away to drive so these flight prices are some serious sticker shock.

JetBlue out of BOS is ~ $600 right now. the only AM non-stop from PVD is at 7AM; would have to get up at 4:30 which I don't want to do. Waiting for SW to open the schedule this week; even paying for EBCI for all of us they will still be way cheaper. I don't care for SW, the choosing to ignore seat saving while others pay for EBCI really irritates me. what's the age limit now for Family Boarding, there is a 6 year old in our family by the time we travel.

 

[SunnieRN]

How far away do you live? I'm in Arizona.

We're in TX. I was born and raised east of San Francisco, so we went to DL often. We had relatives in Pheonix and Flaggstaff so visited AZ regularly.

 

[Disneylover99]

We used to be a group who used the early magic morning hours, but this trip we are going to avoid all of those. Anybody else have any preference?

We almost always avoid the early magic hours. It's too much stress for us getting to the parks that early. We've also done fewer rope drops as my kids start to get older. They are beginning to like the late park nights now.

 

[SunnieRN]

If I didn't live 19 hours away and have a 2yo who HATES the car I'd drive.

Ok, if we lived within 6 hours I'd consider it. But no more haha!

Our first trip to the world was when my grandmunchkin was 7 mos old and hated riding in the car. We had to stop almost every 1/2 to 1 hour, until he fell asleep. So, we traveled hard, until he woke up. Then we were at a snails pace again from Northern Florida.

When it was time to head home we really didn't want to get back in the car. Ever. But we made it and have done other car trips that were much more enjoyable!!

If flights are over $300 each, I would rather drive. My daughter, when I proposed it, looked at me like I had three heads, which were sprouting horns. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for less expensive flights!!!

 

[revdisney33]

have not book my airfare yet, but pretty expensive from New England. We prefer to fly Jet Blue out of Boston but Providence is usually cheaper, Jet Blue and Southwest fly from there. Jet Blue seems to have fewer direct flight than they did in 2013.

I was able to get $250 round trip for 5 of us in September out of Bangor Maine on United. Some Delta flights are close that now but can't fly the early flight due to school for the DD. Reducing day missed from school.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

We're in TX. I was born and raised east of San Francisco, so we went to DL often. We had relatives in Pheonix and Flaggstaff so visited AZ regularly.

I'm Originally from Oregon, so did DL till I was over 30 then found going back and forth very confusing. I prefer DW

 

[Elsaalltheway]

We almost always avoid the early magic hours. It's too much stress for us getting to the parks that early. We've also done fewer rope drops as my kids start to get older. They are beginning to like the late park nights now.

My brother and I always done early entry to each park but then we started to realize that those were the busy parks because everybody was eekeing out as much as possible. We are morning to night goers. Last year was the first year that we didn't close the parks down.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I was able to get $250 round trip for 5 of us in September out of Bangor Maine on United. Some Delta flights are close that now but can't fly the early flight due to school for the DD. Reducing day missed from school.

I would love prices that low. We are flying frontier and they charge for overhead baggage too. So we are checking two bags. We are doing red eye. Our flight is at seven on Thursday and we arrive at six on Friday morning.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

There's meat! My husband loved the Schnitzel. It looks like the menus show some other options - pork, pot roast.

Oh good!! Thanks so much!

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

That is a great price for SW! The free bags are a huge perk and I'm hoping to use SW for that reason, but waiting for their schedule to be released on Thursday. I'd jump on that price too!

DH Wants to avoid adding another night at a hotel before vacation, but if we get a great deal it might be worth it. The cheapest Im getting is $218 RT on Delta out of the furthest airport. And we would have to check 2-3 bags too which adds to the cost.

Doesn't help we are flying the Saturday after thanksgiving lol

$218 sounds like a great price to me! We paid $232 in 2013. Out of Philly

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Looked at AA and I can get $328 RT plus bag fee. We've flown Spirit before, but we may decide to do that, come August!

SW flies out of our local airport. About 7 miles away. Spirit and the rest fly from our Internationl airport. About 40 minutes away. So whatever we can get a good buy on is what we will do.

I'm trying to talk my daughter in to driving, lol.

Yup. That's the best we can do now too. It was as low as $280 for a day or 2, but I we find the best deals are 2-3 months out.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

JetBlue out of BOS is ~ $600 right now. the only AM non-stop from PVD is at 7AM; would have to get up at 4:30 which I don't want to do. Waiting for SW to open the schedule this week; even paying for EBCI for all of us they will still be way cheaper. I don't care for SW, the choosing to ignore seat saving while others pay for EBCI really irritates me. what's the age limit now for Family Boarding, there is a 6 year old in our family by the time we travel.

What's the ignore seat saving? And family boarding?

 

[Elsaalltheway]

What's the ignore seat saving? And family boarding?

I think they mean SW has a cattle call. Well they line up in numbers now, but there is no guarantee that families sit together. And they don't have family boarding.

 

[scard192]

What's the ignore seat saving? And family boarding?

families with children under 6 board between the A and B group. People buy EBCI for one person in their party so that person can "save seats" for others that board later and did not pay the fee. There is no "official" policy about seat saving and the FA don't do anything about it. They sell a service that for a fee should get you a better boarding position than if you check in at 24hrs yet let people save seats for those that did not pay the fee. Just rubs me the wrong way, if we fly SW I will pay $15 each way for EBCI for everyone in my family while others will have someone save better seats for free.

but if the price with the $30pp included is cheaper than we will fly SW.