Fly from Bangor or Drive all the Way?

[fan1080]

I'm going to try to find out tonight how far Manchester is. You mentioned hotels offering breakfast, shuttle and park and fly. Have you found any good deals?

Go to mapquest.com, click on the directions tab and enter your starting and ending location. Gives you directions and estimated driving time.

Looks like Manchester is about 2 hours past Portland.

 

[schoonersky]

Thanks fan - you were busy while I was doing kids bedtime!!

 

[fan1080]

Thanks fan - you were busy while I was doing kids bedtime!!

Your welcome, and no worries, we are all here to learn and help each other.

All the best planning your trip.

 

[canadianmickey]

Hey.

I just joined this forum to help you out. Been lurking for a long time though.

We've flown from Manchester to Orlando on Southwest, and I would highly recommend both the airline and the airport. Southwest is awesome because they don't charge you any fees at all, and they are very punctual and a great airline overall. The best part is they're very affordable, and I think we got tickets at $69 each in August 06. Everything was great beside the fact that they lost our luggage (or, I should say the TSA lost our luggage), but they reimbursed us.The only thing I found bad about the airport is that they charged for luggage carts, which I found outrageous (having been at large airports all over the world), but it wasn't much, something like $5 per cart.

Southwest into MCO will allow you to take advantage of Magical Express. I don't think the Disney website says this, but if you call them (ME) in advance, they will get it arranged for you.

The hotel I would recommend is the Quality Inn near the mall. It's close to some large stores and a movie theatre, has cheap rates, $15 park and fly, and a complimentary airport shuttle.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions if you have them.

PS: If you like shopping, definitely go to Portland or Manchester. Both are HUGE hubs for outlet stores, and Manchester has no sales tax as far as I remember.

 

[hockeymom3]

The one part I'm going to miss about not driving to Maine to get a flight is the shopping I was going to do. I swear there have been times when you couldn't see that we had 3 kids in the back!! By the time I hit the Christmas Tree Shop I'm at max capacity. But we got direct flights for 550 each x 5 but next time we'll either drive all the way or to Maine at least.

We always drive on our vacations (normally to North Conway) so this is a HUGE treat to fly and leave the car at home.

 

[schoonersky]

Well now that I've got my early starting free dining, I am on the hunt for an airfare deal. Thanks for the Manchester tips. I see the Southwest schedule comes out April 14th, so I will be watching to see what I can get. A direct would be awesome, way less painful than 8 hours of milkrun from Bangor to get a similarly cheap flight.

So excited!!!

 

[hockeymom3]

I was disapointed that I am missing the free dining - but when I selected 11 nights with free dining it is 700.00 more than the room rates now. If I were to add the dining it was 1100 for 11 nights, so its only saving 400. Don't get me wrong - I'd save 400!! BUT we have 3 kids and there is no way in heck I can guess where we'll be, when we'll be there or what mood my kids (pretty much the 2 year old) will be in when we do!!

Plus, my kids are pickers, so we'd pay 100.00 to go to a buffet and they'd nibble, we'd leave and they would want an order of fries or something an hour later!!

 

[disneycrazy2004]

we had tickets to fly out of Bangor last year and had the worst experience ever. They only had one flight to Orlando and the plane broke down, they had no one to fix it, since the maintaince man was on call and took him two hours to get there. Once he got to the airport he could not figure out what was wrong with the plane, so we ended up driving to Boston and fly out of there. Bangor is a very small airport and I found the staff very unfriendly. Anyway, we said never again flying out of Bangor. We are flying out of Boston this time.

 

[schoonersky]

I am leaning towards Manchester if I can get a good deal on a direct flight out on Southwest. I would do Boston if I had to, but I've never been before and a little hesitant to do that airport this time (just getting to it and all, new city, etc.). But if it's a better deal in the end I'll take it. That's good to know about Bangor. For us, an extra 4 hours driving isn't the end of the world - DH and the kids are all off anyway, so I can 'rough it' and force myself to take some extra vacation! LOL.

 

[DCinNs]

I pulled my hair out last August and researched the flights to death. It was $2400 from Halifax for the 3 of us. We ended up flying JetBlue from Portland for $690US. It cost us about $600 for 2 nights in the Holiday Inn Express in Portland and gas. the flight was direct and the service was very good. I would not hesitate to do it again. The only down part, for me, was that my DW & DD spent ALL the savings on the way back between Portland, Augusta & Bangor

 

[schoonersky]

I'm worried about that, too DC! But the flights out of Halifax are crazy - priced lower this year than last at this time for August flights, but even though, $2400 for 4 is still a but ridiculous. I'll save my flight money for next time when I don't have extra days. If I have to, I'll drive the whole way. I don't really WANT to, but I will.

 

[DCinNs]

I would actually like to do the drive some time. But not until I have a month or so so I can take my time. The farthest we have gone is Maryland.

Are you renting a car when you get there? If so make sure you sign up for National and there Emerald Aisle service, it is the way to go!

Derrick

 

[schoonersky]

I will look into that. We will likely use Disney transportation, but may rent a car for a few days to do Aquatica, SeaWorld, etc. Depends on those flights. LOL!

 

[schoonersky]

Which hotels at or near airport include parking and shuttle? Any suggestions?

Finally booked flights out of Bangor, not direct but for $1000CDN as compared to over $2000 from Halifax, I'll make do. we only need hotel on the way to Orlando, can drive back the day we travel back from Orlando as we land in Bangor at 12:45.

Thanks!

 

[coastgirl]

Wow, this is the biggest collection of Haligonians and Nova Scotians I've seen! (And hi Moncton!!) Could hardly read to the end before adding my two cents. We've driven to Manchester twice now, both times in winter...Jan/Feb 07 and Dec 07. Last trip, I just found my notes, it was 14 hrs from Halifax to Manchester, but we're slow. We have two kids and we stop for proper meals to allow everyone a stretch. Also that trip I think we detoured to see dh's sister in Fredericton.

It's really, really hard to contemplate paying the prices from YHZ now that we've crossed over to the dark side. Our first trip we did on Continental for under $800 US for four. The second trip I held on for a Ding! from SW and we got there for under $500 for 4. (During that brief and wonderful period when the dollar was par or better...) We're considering using Airmiles from Halifax for this fall, but lord, it's $795 in fees for our "free" tickets.

We have stayed with the Holiday Inn in Machester. Really good shuttle service, nice place, really generous time limit on the park and fly deal. There are two HI's, we stayed at the one closer to the airport. MHT is a great airport, too, clean and bright and easy to navigate. Don't know if we'll have time to add the drive this time, especially with enough Airmiles to go from YHZ, but I'm watching for Dings! nonetheless.

 

[tribus121]

there are dozens of hotels close to BGR most have free parking and free airport shuttles I have heard good things about the Four Points Bangor Airport witch is located right at the airport but it is at least $150 a night

 

[DianaNS]

have flown out of bangor many times. always stay at the sheraton four points at the airport. it is verrrrrry convenient usu park and fly is 129 in the am you just walk across a pedway and get on a plane car is in secured lot. we usually bring in a pizza for thekids so it is a cheap night for supper nad the kids s sit and watch the planes come and go all night they get pumped for florida. we usually come back lunch time drive to comfort inn(teachers rate is 70 dollars) shop for a bit, keeps kids occupied, eat at chilis(theri fav) and then hit the hay wake up refreshed eat the free bfast and head for home we get home in decent shape
as i said in an earlier post we were lucky to get delta flights out of halifax this august 1-12 for 440 taxes in i have seen same flights for 486
enjoy the drive its not too bad.

 

[Bea]

We just booked our flights out of Bangor ($1004.00 for 5 of us). I was waiting for SWA to open up for end of August but these flights ended up cheaper and the drive won't be as long.

I have booked 4 points Sheraton at the airport becuase we have 3 kids and if it means they can sleep in a little longer, then I will pay more $$ for that luxury. Our flight leaves at 6:25 am. I also like the fact that we can entertain them by going into the airport and watching the planes. We have a very,very active 3 yo.

The cheapest I can get is $190.00 for park and fly package though, and really hoping it goes down before August.

 

[schoonersky]

I'm going to book the Four Points..but good to know about the Comfort Inn - may make a reservation 'just in case' for the way back. And would give me some shopping time.

 

[braddillman]

Just curious, I've never flown from anywhere but YHZ, but very tempted to do Bangor next time... I assume they have long term parking at the airport?

I'm used to driving overnight, and if I got, say, an early morning flight like 6:25am I might just leave Halifax the evening before. The kids sleep in the car just fine, and I could catch up on the plane. It also opens up a possibility of leaving, say, Friday morning since DW doesn't work Fridays. It would be much easier than the overnight we do to Ottawa, say 1/2 as much.