First time planning a vacation and I need MAJOR help!

[acf_1991]

Okay, for the most part, I think I'm handling everything fairly well. I haven't had a Disney meltdown yet. But what I would like to know I am pretty sure my fellow DISers can help me. I have a couple of questions, okay, maybe a LOT of questions.

1. I will be flying out to WDW from SOCAL (southern ca) LAX. Is it generally cheaper to have stops or a nonstop flight? Which one is more convenient and which one do you suggest?

2. What airlines should I consider? So far I've signed up for American Airlines and Southwest Airlines newsletters for deals.

3. Does it matter which airline I use if I want to take advantage of Magical Express?

4. Has anyone tried booking airfaire through both Disney and independantly? Generally speaking, which choice is more cost efficient?

5. This trip isn't until July 2012 but for those of you who travel often, when do airlines release their traveling prices?

6. What time do you suggest we fly out to get the most of our Disney Vacation Experience?

TIA for anyone who is kind enough to help out. This trip is for a family of 7 (DM DSF DB14 DB9 DD2 DH and myself)

 

[francie57]

The major airlines open their rates at 333 days from your departure date. JetBlue and Southwest open up blocks of time so their fares won't come out as fast. We only have to go from CT to MCO but we only do non-stop since there is nothing that can go wrong and make you miss a connection. Any of the airlines can use ME since that is a perk of Disney and comes when you make your Disney reservations. When the time come you should have Disney price out our airfare and do it on your own since I have read that at times Disney can come up with cheaper rates but not always. It just takes some time on the computer when the time comes and you just have to keep checking the airline websites and when you see a fare that looks good book it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

As far as airlines we prefer SW because the first two check bags are free. If the flight prices drop you can rebook your flight for free and get a refund in the form of a travel vouchure. Or if something happens and you need to change your travel dates, SW does not charge a change fee.

Non stops are more convenient and usually cheaper. On a connecting flight you will have to pay about a $13 charge to stop at that airport. This is a landing fee that the airline must pay and they pass that charge on to you.

 

[acf_1991]

Thank you so much for your advice. Now I will know that I still have a good while to look for a flight. What exactly would be a "good" price?

 

[clanmcculloch]

While yes you can use Magical Express regardless of which airline you use, there's also something available at WDW called Resort Airline Checkin which allows you to check your bags in to your airline right at your WDW resort. This is only available for people flying on participating airlines. Currently, the following airlines are listed as participating: American Airlines, Continental, Delta, jetBlue, United, Alaska Airlines, AirTran, US Airways and Southwest. Disney will pick your bags up at the airport and deliver them to you at your resort (as long as you land before 10pm) regardless of your airline but you can only use RAC if you fly one of these airlines. If you fly another airline then you have to stow your bags under the bus for your bus ride to the airport and then check your bags at the airport.

The majority of the time, you will not get a better price booking airfare through Disney. Disney also only deals with a couple airlines. Book your airfare yourself. You’ll just need to let Disney (or your travel agent if you use one) know your flight information to register for Magical Express. I like to look at sites like kayak.com to find the best prices and then go directly to the airlines’ own sites to book since it’s usually slightly cheaper on the airlines’ sites. I also check southwest because they won’t post on sites like kayak. Remember when comparing fares that you really need to include all the fees (seat assignment, luggage) in order to get even comparisons.

Flight times really are a matter of preference. I’m fond of early morning flights for our outbound flight because my family is early birds anyway plus there’s less chance of delays. The later your flight, the more likely you are to encounter delays. I think more people prefer later morning flights heading out. That being said, I like late flights coming home. In my case I’ve got a much shorter flight than you do and I’m in the same time zone as Orlando. You’ll be crossing 3 times zones and have over a 7 hour flight. When we flew a family member of ours out to Orlando from LAX we chose a flight out of LAX that would hopefully beat the rush hour traffic (they used a shuttle to avoid traffic anyway) and then flew them back out so that they’d land late afternoon in LAX so they’d get home in time to throw on some laundry, get some sleep that night and still be able to get to work the next day. It’s very much personal preference.

Normally I like nonstop flights because one of my kids gets a lot of ear pain going up and down, but for a long flight like yours I’d likely choose a flight with a stop so we could all stretch our legs. It’s really hard sitting in those small seats for a solid 7 hours, only getting up for bathroom breaks. Then again, some people will take the nonstop every time because there are less chances of problems without connections and nonstop is simply faster. Again, it’s personal preference.

Here’s something you didn’t ask about. You’re travelling with 3 kids. Airlines do nothing to ensure parents sit with kids other than give parents the opportunity to pay for seat assignments just like everybody else. Lots of people are not aware of this so I want to make sure you are. People who have paid for their seat assignments generally don’t want to then give up their chosen seats so that a parent can sit with their child after not purchasing the seats assignments that could have ensure this. Please purchase the seat assignments for your family if you want to be sure to sit together. Also, make sure to check your itinerary weekly to be sure that you still have your seat assignments. If the airline makes some kind of change to the itinerary or equipment, seat assignments can disappear. It’s very easy to call the airline and have them re-instated but you do need to call. It’s very frustrating to people but it just is what it is. The only airline where this isn’t an issue is Southwest who doesn’t do seat assignments. They do open seating where you board the plane and choose your seat. Boarding is based on boarding positions. After people who pay full price and business class, they then assign boarding positions to those who pay for Early Bird Check In and then just assign the rest as people check in (you can start checking in a 24 hours before the flight. I would recommend paying for EBCI since you’re an inexperience flyer. Most likely you’ll get A boarding passes which means you’ll board in the first 1/3 of passengers. If you do get a B boarding pass (second 1/3 of passengers) then you can always take advantage of family boarding between A and B, at least for one adult and your 2 year old. The short version of this long paragraph is that I really, really, really recommend paying for whatever option the airline gives to ensure seating together.

Have a great trip!!

 

[DCTooTall]

1. I will be flying out to WDW from SOCAL (southern ca) LAX. Is it generally cheaper to have stops or a nonstop flight? Which one is more convenient and which one do you suggest?

2. What airlines should I consider? So far I've signed up for American Airlines and Southwest Airlines newsletters for deals.

3. Does it matter which airline I use if I want to take advantage of Magical Express?

4. Has anyone tried booking airfaire through both Disney and independantly? Generally speaking, which choice is more cost efficient?

5. This trip isn't until July 2012 but for those of you who travel often, when do airlines release their traveling prices?

6. What time do you suggest we fly out to get the most of our Disney Vacation Experience?

TIA for anyone who is kind enough to help out. This trip is for a family of 7 (DM DSF DB14 DB9 DD2 DH and myself)

As the Previous poster mentioned, There are pro's and cons of nonstops and connecting flights. Each airline also has it's own advantages and disadvantages. As for flight cost, It's hard to say since ticket prices can fluctuate a lot between now and when they go on sale for your flight...especcially if oil prices continue to increase. most people will agree that you should set yourself a price that you'd like to pay per seat, and when you see that price (or lower), go ahead and grab it.

you will also want to factor in any fees that will be charged. Southwest gives you 2 free checked bags. Jetblue gives you your first checked bag free. the Legacy airlines will charge for all checked bags (Delta, United, Continental, American, etc). Spirit will charge you for EVERYTHING, including carry-ons. I think the Airtran/Southwest Merger will likely be completed by the time of your flight, so I won't mention them.


With the Legacy Airlines, Your airfare will include an assigned seat. Southwest has open boarding, so you will grab your seat from an available one when you board. Airtran does a system where you can either pay to reserve a specific seat when you buy your ticket, or wait until you check in to your flight 24hrs before takeoff and get your seat assignment then. I'm not sure how the other airlines do their seating, but that information is out there.

Kayak.com is a great site to get an idea of what the costs are for your flight across all airlines. it is usually cheaper and easier to book directly on the airline's website however than thru a site like Kayak or Orbitz.

Southwest (and I think jetblue) will allow you to get credit for any drop in airfare from your initial booking, however legacy airlines will not.

As for flight time, Since you are doing a west-coast to east-coast trip, You may want to look into a red-eye, or overnight, flight. If you think you or the kids can sleep on the flight, it may help with passing the long flight time and helping you adjust a bit to the time differences.


It might be worth doing some initial flight research now (again, kayak is awesome since they can factor certain fees into the comparison) to get a general idea on flights available to MCO from LAX during the mid-summer, and maybe a good baseline to give you an initial ballpark idea of how much flights run. While things are subject to change, This might also help you decide if maybe you want to pick a particular airline for your flight now based off the services they offer from your airport. since you still have over a year, this would allow you time to possibly join any credit card or reward programs they have available that might help....for instance, Delta's AMEX card will give you your first checked bag free for everybody on your reservation (IE, booked at the same time as you)).


Since this is your first time flying, It may be worthwhile to heavily weight your flight preferences to nonstops since they are less complicated, but it means you'll also be stuck in the plane for hours without a lot of opportunity to stretch. (Airplane bathrooms are going to be a lot like the ones in the back of a tour/greyhound bus....IE, very cramped). If you do go for a connecting flight, you may want to be aware of the airport the connection occurs in and the time between the flights. with a large party and small children, it can sometimes be an adventure in itself getting across an airport to make the connection. There are also occasionally flights which will stop at a midway airport but not require a plane change. These may allow you to get out and stretch without the need to play ringmaster to the circus of getting your group across the airport in 30min to make a connection.

 

[acf_1991]

While yes you can use Magical Express regardless of which airline you use, there's also something available at WDW called Resort Airline Checkin which allows you to check your bags in to your airline right at your WDW resort. This is only available for people flying on participating airlines. Currently, the following airlines are listed as participating: American Airlines, Continental, Delta, jetBlue, United, Alaska Airlines, AirTran, US Airways and Southwest. Disney will pick your bags up at the airport and deliver them to you at your resort (as long as you land before 10pm) regardless of your airline but you can only use RAC if you fly one of these airlines. If you fly another airline then you have to stow your bags under the bus for your bus ride to the airport and then check your bags at the airport.

The majority of the time, you will not get a better price booking airfare through Disney. Disney also only deals with a couple airlines. Book your airfare yourself. You’ll just need to let Disney (or your travel agent if you use one) know your flight information to register for Magical Express. I like to look at sites like kayak.com to find the best prices and then go directly to the airlines’ own sites to book since it’s usually slightly cheaper on the airlines’ sites. I also check southwest because they won’t post on sites like kayak. Remember when comparing fares that you really need to include all the fees (seat assignment, luggage) in order to get even comparisons.

Flight times really are a matter of preference. I’m fond of early morning flights for our outbound flight because my family is early birds anyway plus there’s less chance of delays. The later your flight, the more likely you are to encounter delays. I think more people prefer later morning flights heading out. That being said, I like late flights coming home. In my case I’ve got a much shorter flight than you do and I’m in the same time zone as Orlando. You’ll be crossing 3 times zones and have over a 7 hour flight. When we flew a family member of ours out to Orlando from LAX we chose a flight out of LAX that would hopefully beat the rush hour traffic (they used a shuttle to avoid traffic anyway) and then flew them back out so that they’d land late afternoon in LAX so they’d get home in time to throw on some laundry, get some sleep that night and still be able to get to work the next day. It’s very much personal preference.

Normally I like nonstop flights because one of my kids gets a lot of ear pain going up and down, but for a long flight like yours I’d likely choose a flight with a stop so we could all stretch our legs. It’s really hard sitting in those small seats for a solid 7 hours, only getting up for bathroom breaks. Then again, some people will take the nonstop every time because there are less chances of problems without connections and nonstop is simply faster. Again, it’s personal preference.

Here’s something you didn’t ask about. You’re travelling with 3 kids. Airlines do nothing to ensure parents sit with kids other than give parents the opportunity to pay for seat assignments just like everybody else. Lots of people are not aware of this so I want to make sure you are. People who have paid for their seat assignments generally don’t want to then give up their chosen seats so that a parent can sit with their child after not purchasing the seats assignments that could have ensure this. Please purchase the seat assignments for your family if you want to be sure to sit together. Also, make sure to check your itinerary weekly to be sure that you still have your seat assignments. If the airline makes some kind of change to the itinerary or equipment, seat assignments can disappear. It’s very easy to call the airline and have them re-instated but you do need to call. It’s very frustrating to people but it just is what it is. The only airline where this isn’t an issue is Southwest who doesn’t do seat assignments. They do open seating where you board the plane and choose your seat. Boarding is based on boarding positions. After people who pay full price and business class, they then assign boarding positions to those who pay for Early Bird Check In and then just assign the rest as people check in (you can start checking in a 24 hours before the flight. I would recommend paying for EBCI since you’re an inexperience flyer. Most likely you’ll get A boarding passes which means you’ll board in the first 1/3 of passengers. If you do get a B boarding pass (second 1/3 of passengers) then you can always take advantage of family boarding between A and B, at least for one adult and your 2 year old. The short version of this long paragraph is that I really, really, really recommend paying for whatever option the airline gives to ensure seating together.

Have a great trip!!

Thank you for the advice about the seating arrangements. I wasn't aware of that AT ALL. If you hadn't told us DB's would be freaking out more than they already are because this will be there first flight! And I also would have been upset if I didn't have DD next to me. Another question, will DD be able to sit on my lap or do I have to pay for a seat for her as well?

As the Previous poster mentioned, There are pro's and cons of nonstops and connecting flights. Each airline also has it's own advantages and disadvantages. As for flight cost, It's hard to say since ticket prices can fluctuate a lot between now and when they go on sale for your flight...especcially if oil prices continue to increase. most people will agree that you should set yourself a price that you'd like to pay per seat, and when you see that price (or lower), go ahead and grab it.

you will also want to factor in any fees that will be charged. Southwest gives you 2 free checked bags. Jetblue gives you your first checked bag free. the Legacy airlines will charge for all checked bags (Delta, United, Continental, American, etc). Spirit will charge you for EVERYTHING, including carry-ons. I think the Airtran/Southwest Merger will likely be completed by the time of your flight, so I won't mention them.


With the Legacy Airlines, Your airfare will include an assigned seat. Southwest has open boarding, so you will grab your seat from an available one when you board. Airtran does a system where you can either pay to reserve a specific seat when you buy your ticket, or wait until you check in to your flight 24hrs before takeoff and get your seat assignment then. I'm not sure how the other airlines do their seating, but that information is out there.

Kayak.com is a great site to get an idea of what the costs are for your flight across all airlines. it is usually cheaper and easier to book directly on the airline's website however than thru a site like Kayak or Orbitz.

Southwest (and I think jetblue) will allow you to get credit for any drop in airfare from your initial booking, however legacy airlines will not.

As for flight time, Since you are doing a west-coast to east-coast trip, You may want to look into a red-eye, or overnight, flight. If you think you or the kids can sleep on the flight, it may help with passing the long flight time and helping you adjust a bit to the time differences.


It might be worth doing some initial flight research now (again, kayak is awesome since they can factor certain fees into the comparison) to get a general idea on flights available to MCO from LAX during the mid-summer, and maybe a good baseline to give you an initial ballpark idea of how much flights run. While things are subject to change, This might also help you decide if maybe you want to pick a particular airline for your flight now based off the services they offer from your airport. since you still have over a year, this would allow you time to possibly join any credit card or reward programs they have available that might help....for instance, Delta's AMEX card will give you your first checked bag free for everybody on your reservation (IE, booked at the same time as you)).


Since this is your first time flying, It may be worthwhile to heavily weight your flight preferences to nonstops since they are less complicated, but it means you'll also be stuck in the plane for hours without a lot of opportunity to stretch. (Airplane bathrooms are going to be a lot like the ones in the back of a tour/greyhound bus....IE, very cramped). If you do go for a connecting flight, you may want to be aware of the airport the connection occurs in and the time between the flights. with a large party and small children, it can sometimes be an adventure in itself getting across an airport to make the connection. There are also occasionally flights which will stop at a midway airport but not require a plane change. These may allow you to get out and stretch without the need to play ringmaster to the circus of getting your group across the airport in 30min to make a connection.

Thank you. I have so far decided that I will do a nonstop flight in the morning. I am still not sure on what airline but I am taking your advice and begininng that research now. I have a lot of disney movie rewards and I'm thinking about using the Delta Ecertificates. I have no clue how to use the kayak.com website. It is VERY confusing because a lot of different windows popped up with different websites. Am I doing something wrong? For now I am going to go to each website and "pretend" I am booking.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Another question, will DD be able to sit on my lap or do I have to pay for a seat for her as well?

No. Age 2 and older need their own seat.

You have plenty of time to do research before your trip if you aren't traveling until July 2012. I suggest that you do some Google searches about air travel.

Non stops are more convenient and usually cheaper.

Yes they are more convenient, but they are often more expensive, not cheaper than flights with stops.

 

[acf_1991]

No. Age 2 and older need their own seat.

You have plenty of time to do research before your trip if you aren't traveling until July 2012. I suggest that you do some Google searches about air travel.



Yes they are more convenient, but they are often more expensive, not cheaper than flights with stops.

Well, technically she will be one on our departure and two coming back. Should I just go with counting her as a 1yr old?

I wasn't aware that they were more expensive. Thank you for letting me know.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Well, technically she will be one on our departure and two coming back. Should I just go with counting her as a 1yr old?

You'll have to check with the airline. Some require you to buy a ticket for the return, some don't. You will have to bring a birth certificate to prove that your child is under age 2 for your outbound trip.

Example:

http://www.cheapflights.com/airlines/Virgin-America/

If your child turns 2 during the trip, you still must buy a ticket for the return flight.

 

[acf_1991]

You'll have to check with the airline. Some require you to buy a ticket for the return, some don't. You will have to bring a birth certificate to prove that your child is under age 2 for your outbound trip.

Example:

http://www.cheapflights.com/airlines/Virgin-America/

If your child turns 2 during the trip, you still must buy a ticket for the return flight.

Bummer. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. When I decide on an airline I'll contact them directly to see if I need to buy DD a ticket.

 

[DCTooTall]

Kayak.com is pretty simple once you understand their layout.

First off.... uncheck all the boxes on the flight search screen where it asks about comparing with other sites. Those are the boxes that open up the other popup windows.


Once you've made the search, If you want to include any luggage fees, on the left side there is an option that says "add baggage fees."

You also have sliders and checkboxes you can use to further refine your results. The results themselves will tell you the airline, cost, the flight info (departure time and airport, arrival time and airport), the number of stops (the number next to the flight info and the flight time), and the flight time which tells you the complete time from departure to scheduled landing.

the Details button will let you see more information such as flight numbers involved.




As for non-stops being more expensive.... it can sometimes be hit-or-miss. In General, non-stop flights may be priced at a premium due to the convenience factor from not having to make a connection. However, you will pay less in taxes/fees due to the lower number of segments. A connecting flight may have a cheaper ticket price, but your taxes/fees will be higher. sometimes those fees can almost equalize your actual cost, so it's a good idea to compare them.

Since you are flying out of LAX whch is a hub for several of the major airlines, you may not see as much of this as you would if you were flying from a secondary airport.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I believe it is FAA regulation which dictates whether or not you need a ticket, not the airlines. Each flight is independent from the FAA's perpective. If the child is 2 for the flight then you need a ticket. Even if an employee of the airline on the phone tells you that you don't need a ticket for her for your return flight, that doesn't mean you won't. What will happen is that you'll have to pay full price for her to return with you, assuming there's an available seat. If there is then you have to realize that it won't be next to the rest of your travel party and you'll have to decide who will sit alone. If there isn't then you will have to decide who will not get on the flight in order to stay with her and then possibly you may have to pay a change fee to get moved to another flight. Buy the ticket for her for the return flight. You're going to have to no matter what. Doing so up front will be cheaper, less hassle and less stress.

Keep in mind that on a nonstop flight, that'll be 7 hours where somebody has to hold her for the flight down. I realize that you'll have 4 adults so you'll be able to share that responsibility, but keep in mind that there will not be a spare seat to put her down. She will have to be on somebody's lap for the full 7 hour flight. You can do the flight down with her as a lap baby; just be fully aware of what that means. Oh, also, you won't be able to bring her car seat on the plane if she doesn't have a ticket.

I just want to clarify the nonstop vs layover price difference thing. When flight availability is first opened up, they generally start out at the same price. If you book at that point then the final price of the nonstop will be slightly cheaper because the flight with a stop will have an additional airport fee for the airport in the middle. As time goes on, the nonstops tend to sell faster than flights with stops. Airlines only have a fixed number of seats per flight at the lower prices so the prices of the nonstop flights tend to go up faster. As I said before, I always book nonstops when possible. I typically pay the same base price for nonstops as I would for flights with stops because I book shortly after Southwest opens up their itinerary. When I've booked later, I have paid more for the nonstops.

 

[VAN]

Remember that you can always get a travel agent to book everything for you.

Every airline, these days, are different. You really do have to know which ones fly in-out of your desired airport.

You need to know that some of the discount airlines fly into Sanford/Orlando Airport instead of Orlando International. The Magical Express only operates out of the Orlando International Airport - those flying into Sanford need to make other arrangements (e.g. rental car) to get to WDW.

Most airlines charge for checked bags. SW does not. If you have a Delta AMEX card, each person on your reservation gets one checked bag free. Spirit Airlines charges for checked bags AND carry-on bags.

Allegiant Airlines has assigned seating for a fee / otherwise you don't get a seat assignment until you check in AT THE AIRPORT.

So, you see, "buyer beware" ... read the fine print ... compare apples to apples. Only then, can you make an informed purchase.

Don't forget to factor in any home airport parking costs ... if you fly out of an airport that is close by, you could always have someone drop you off or you can take a taxi to avoid the airport parking fees.

Lots to know.

Do you have a friend or relative that travels a lot? It might be worth your while to sit down with them for advice.

 

[jsilvers]

You'll have to check with the airline. Some require you to buy a ticket for the return, some don't. You will have to bring a birth certificate to prove that your child is under age 2 for your outbound trip.

If a child is 2 years old, FAA regulations (specifically, 14 C.F.R. 121.311) require that he/she has her own seat. No exceptions.

So don't trust any airline - if there actually is one - which claims that a child who turns 2 mid-trip doesn't require a ticket for the return leg. The airline's either misinformed about its own policies (bad) or violating federal safety requirements (worse).