Flying from BUF during Ontario March Break: Parking, SW pricing, UO APs

[PinkMagnolia]

I'm considering converting my Universal TIX to Annual Passes and trying to squeeze in another trip during March Break 2017. I've never traveled during this time, and have a couple of questions:

1. The BUF shuttle driver (during the summer) told us once that parking in the lots was a nightmare during Ontario March Break - Is this your experience? I'm wondering if I should plan a sleep & fly hotel just to secure parking - what is your experience with parking in the economy lot during this time?

2. I peeked onto the Southwest site, and saw that there are a TON of direct flights to MCO during March Break. When you book your March Break flights, are the prices good the day they open up? I'm wondering if I'll have a good chance at getting flights in the US $100 range.

3. If you happen to have Universal Power Passes, do they typically black out during Ontario March Break? I've never had an AP before, and they don't have the 2017 blackout dates posted yet. I see that in 2016, the blackout period begins the week after our break.

I work at a school, so will have to travel at peak times: Sat or Sun of the break - Won't be able to add any days before or after the break, so will need to travel during the peak (worst) of the break - just trying to get an idea what to expect.

 

[Disneylover99]

2. I peeked onto the Southwest site, and saw that there are a TON of direct flights to MCO during March Break. When you book your March Break flights, are the prices good the day they open up? I'm wondering if I'll have a good chance at getting flights in the US $100 range.

SW out of Buffalo always has lots of direct flights to MCO all through the year. We've been looking at March break flights the day that SW opens up their flights for the past three years. It's always expensive, so we've never booked. Prices did drop for this coming March break about a month or two ago. I'm not sure if that's the norm or not.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

SW out of Buffalo always has lots of direct flights to MCO all through the year. We've been looking at March break flights the day that SW opens up their flights for the past three years. It's always expensive, so we've never booked. Prices did drop for this coming March break about a month or two ago. I'm not sure if that's the norm or not.

What did this year's flights start out at when they opened at 6:00 AM?

We normally go at the end of August, where there are only 2 direct flights per day down to MCO - I was surprised to see seven this Saturday!! (March 12)

 

[Disneylover99]

What did this year's flights start out at when they opened at 6:00 AM?

Roughly $200 down and $200 back for the direct flights.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

Roughly $200 down and $200 back for the direct flights.

WOW That's a lot more than I thought! It's about where they are at right now!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've booked on SW two years in a row for March break and a third year a few years back. For this year and last I booked the day fares were released but I'm able to travel a day or two off of those weekends...so we do. The weekend fares were around $200+USD each way. We are traveling Wednesday night after my DD gets out of school and coming home on the last flight of the night on the Friday at the end of MB. I ended up paying $245 USD RT each. We were originally coming home on the Thursday and paid $220 RT for that. Many people have been saying that with the exchange rate it's cheaper or the same to fly from YYZ. Well, I checked that out and have continued to watch it, even after booking SW. The lowest I've seen a flight from YYZ to MCO has been $653 CAD. It was a connecting flight and departed YYZ late at night with a return flight leaving MCO around 7am. I would estimate that the average has been around $750/person. So IMO, even if BUF is the same cost the options are much better. SW offers 4-6 non stops per day and other connecting flights.

Fares came down significantly at the end of Jan and again in early Feb. That has not happened before though. My feeling is that the flights are not sold at the level that they normally are for two reasons. 1. the exchange rate and 2. we've had a mild winter so not as many people feel the need to escape it. Yesterday I looked at the flights I'm booked on and could still buy 8 seats on all the flights each day.

Parking at BUF starts getting filled on the Thursday afternoon. By Friday night the orange and economy lots are filled to capacity. They have other more expensive lots onsite and an overflow lot across the street. A few years ago we had to use the overflow lot and got one of the last spots on the Monday morning after the start of MB. You can reserve a spot at Thrifty which is directly across from the airport. We have used that at other times and had no issues. They have a frequent user program, the lot is well lit and gated. There are also numerous hotels that offer park/sleep/fly packages. This year I'm leaving my car at the Aloft which is where I'm staying the night I return. I've booked on SPG points so they are going to charge me $5/day for parking.

 

[darwinsrule]

WOW That's a lot more than I thought! It's about where they are at right now!

Just remember what you are comparing it to. We did March Break in both 2013 and 2015. Both years we were all in RT at around $1400 for four of us. Pearson we would have been looking $3-4k.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

Thanks for the helpful replies - I appreciate it! I'm happy to see I'm not the only one who enjoys keeping my eye on flights
It sounds like for my situation (having to travel on the weekends book-ending the MB) it may be a bit more difficult with flight fares and parking. Not impossible, but not as easy as when we go at the end of August.

FWIW, I found some $385 return Air Transat Sat-Sat flights for next week on Google Flights - A great deal! But there are no Value or Moderate rooms available at WDW

I hope both of you have great vacations next week! How I wish I was waiting at the BUF gate for my flight right now

 

[darwinsrule]

DW is a teacher here in Toronto so peak travel times is just what we have to do. August is easier. And cheaper. With JetBlue we pool our points/miles so we got all four of us to Orlando this summer for free.

Best advice. Commit to going the day the air goes on sale. Start with Jetblue since it will go on sale first. If the prices are too high wait for Southwest. The longer you delay, the more it will cost you. Last year we were on the Wonder. As we were sitting on a beach in Cozumel it was all worth it.