Happy day for Edmontonians

[willturner]

Westjet just announced a direct flight to Orlando . It leaves Saturday's at 12:45 am (yes, redeye) but gets you in at 7:41 am. All flights are priced at $199 right now. I just booked our flights for January 1, 2011. Fortunately we were looking for a redeye. I'm sorry I didn't check the return date/time. Service starts Dec. 18. HTH someone .

 

[Tecbot]

thanks for this saved my family about $2000 with flights, not even with $199 price but $288 and $318 cheaper than where we were going to fly out of hopefully they get even cheaper we are flying out in april 2011.

 

[willturner]

So glad it helped you. I am impressed with it being direct and the price. The cheapest I have seen flights is $189 and that is with layovers. Being able to book for this price, direct, this far out is awesome.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Cool. Now we drop the kids off with grandparents and catch a direct flight to WDW for an adult get-away.

 

[dis_guy]

Wow, this is great news for those who can sleep on a plane. I've tried but just can't pull it off.

The flight arrives in Orlando at 7:30 AM, giving you a full first day in the parks, if you're up to it. Wouldn't get into your room until the PM sometime, probably.

Good to have another option from our "home" airport!

 

[ABCanada]

Great to hear.

Hopefully it will be supported so it becomes year round with more frequent flights.

As to fare, there have been decent flights (7-8 hours) for under $400 all in (think it was $139 each way plus tax) as recently as this June (Continental - good flight, great sevice). We have flown for under $400 each rtn on Continental, United and Delta/NWA althought other than June it has been harder recently to find fares this low, more recently I would consider $500 all in a good deal.

A direct flight is worth a premium.

Thanks for the good news.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I admit we were excited when we first heard about the non-stop flight but then read that it was a red-eye arriving in Orlando at 7:30 am, our excitement faded. We're among those that can't sleep on the plane, so by noon on our day of arrival we'd be dead tired, and most likely not able to get into our room yet, so would be grumpy and tired

The other downside is sitting in a cramped airplane seat for over 6 hours ... no doubt we'd be walking like Quasimodo after getting off the plane.

 

[SmilingGrump]

Doh, we're booked on a cruise from Dec 16-19 so we can't take advantage of this

I wish Westjet would keep up this service year round. Same with direct flights to Phoenix ... over the summer Westjet goes through Calgary even though when I flew back a few weeks ago, over 2/3 of the plane was for Edmonton. Many grumblings on that plane from people with layovers ranging from 5-12 hours (lucky me talked my way on to the last seat of a flight leaving only 2 hours later)

The lack of year-round direct flights is what caused us to buy a vacation home in Phoenix rather then Orlando. Now we get Coyotes instead of the Mouse

 

[tiggerrr]

Westjet just announced a direct flight to Orlando . It leaves Saturday's at 12:45 am (yes, redeye) but gets you in at 7:41 am. All flights are priced at $199 right now. I just booked our flights for January 1, 2011. Fortunately we were looking for a redeye. I'm sorry I didn't check the return date/time. Service starts Dec. 18. HTH someone .

Hey, we're on the same flight. I just booked our whole family (10 of us) to WDW on Jan 1 on that flight. I can't tell you how excited we were. The red-eye doesn't bug us too much, but I am a big fan of direct flights. Less chance of luggage lost or missing a connection due to weather in January.

Plus, that price is good, and I don't have to agonize over when I might get a seat sale.

 

[willturner]

Hey, we're on the same flight. I just booked our whole family (10 of us) to WDW on Jan 1 on that flight. I can't tell you how excited we were. The red-eye doesn't bug us too much, but I am a big fan of direct flights. Less chance of luggage lost or missing a connection due to weather in January.

Plus, that price is good, and I don't have to agonize over when I might get a seat sale.

Cool. Where are you staying? We are going to AKL for the first time. There is no way in the world I am attempting a park on New Year's Day so we will just be hanging out enjoying the resort for the first day. I am envisioning my family stretching out on pool loungers for a morning nap until our room is ready .

Edited to add I just looked at your ticker and we may be on the same Magical Express bus over to AKL/AKV <----- are the villas and the lodge on the same property?

 

[tiggerrr]

Cool. Where are you staying? We are going to AKL for the first time. There is no way in the world I am attempting a park on New Year's Day so we will just be hanging out enjoying the resort for the first day. I am envisioning my family stretching out on pool loungers for a morning nap until our room is ready .

Edited to add I just looked at your ticker and we may be on the same Magical Express bus over to AKL/AKV <----- are the villas and the lodge on the same property?

Actually we're not going to be able to go to AKV on the first day. Here's what happened:

This is a family trip that my father is putting together for our family. There are 12 of us going. The original plan was that my wife and I would be going out on Jan 1, staying one night and then everyone else would come out on Jan 2 and we'd have the Grand Villa at AKV. Well, this new Westjet flight was too good to pass up, so everyone is coming on the 1st. And there is no room at AKV for everyone for that first night.

So, the bottom line is that we are all staying one night at Old Key West and then we'll move to AKV on the 2nd for our original reservation. So, we're on ME to OKW. Too bad, that would have been kind of cool to have a fellow Edmontonian, fellow Diser where you're on the same flight and staying at the same resort.

EDIT To ADD - To answer your other question. The main lodge (Jambo House) has villas on the 5th and 6th floor. The other building, called Kidani Village (where we're staying), is all villas and is off to the left as you face the main lodge when you pull up to it. There is about 800m between the lobby entrances of the two buildings. One of the savanna's sits between the two buildings. That's a long winded way of saying - yes they are on the same property and anyone can wander between them. Each has its own pool and restaurants and they share bus service to the parks.

 

[willturner]

Oh that's too bad that we won't be making the trek to AKV together - in reality we will probably all be sleeping/zombie like anyway .

As an aside, it appears you have some experience with AKL, we are booking concierge so even though our room won't be ready when we arrive will we be able to go up to the lounge right away?

 

[tiggerrr]

Oh that's too bad that we won't be making the trek to AKV together - in reality we will probably all be sleeping/zombie like anyway .

As an aside, it appears you have some experience with AKL, we are booking concierge so even though our room won't be ready when we arrive will we be able to go up to the lounge right away?

Yep. Access is tied to your room key. Once you check in, you'll get your room keys and you're all set. In fact, Concierge guests are actually checked in at the lounge desk upstairs. Just let the Cast Members (like Bell Services when you arrive) know when you arrive that you are staying Concierge and they should get you all directed to the right place.

 

[willturner]

Yep. Access is tied to your room key. Once you check in, you'll get your room keys and you're all set. In fact, Concierge guests are actually checked in at the lounge desk upstairs. Just let the Cast Members (like Bell Services when you arrive) know when you arrive that you are staying Concierge and they should get you all directed to the right place.

Thanks. That is really helpful and hadn't even thought about using the lounge until now. I guess this will be one more reason I can use to assure dh that concierge is the best fit for our family .

 

[bdtracey]

I wouldn't mind the red-eye but leaving MCO at 8:35 A.M. kind of sucks. If you're doing Magical Express this means that they'll pick you up at 5:30 A.M.

I'm trying to figure out how to fly out of Edmonton on the red-eye but fly back to Calgary on the 5:45 P.M. direct.

 

[tiggerrr]

I wouldn't mind the red-eye but leaving MCO at 8:35 A.M. kind of sucks. If you're doing Magical Express this means that they'll pick you up at 5:30 A.M.

I'm trying to figure out how to fly out of Edmonton on the red-eye but fly back to Calgary on the 5:45 P.M. direct.

It's even worse. It's a direct flight to Canada which means it is an international flight for Disney. We're getting picked up at 4:30am. Yuck! But worth it for the direct flight.

On my day of departure, how will I know what time a motor coach will pick me up at my Resort hotel to return to Orlando International Airport?

The day before you check out, you will receive a transportation notice advising you of your motor coach pick-up time, which will be approximately 3 hours prior to your flight departure time for U.S. flights and 4 hours prior for international flights. You are responsible for bringing your luggage to the motor coach pick-up location. (From Disney Magical Express FAQ)​

For your other comment, I sure wish I knew why Westjet doesn't allow the connection through Calgary to Edmonton. The 5:45pm flight to Calgary is supposed to arrive at 9:10. There is a 10:40pm flight to Edmonton. That's a 90 minute layover and I've done layovers that tight through Vancouver, including having to clear Customs.

Of course it doesn't much matter to us this time because in the winter that direct flight to Calgary leaves after 8pm, but we've gone in May before when it is 5:45pm departure and I'd rather do that than connect through *cough* Toronto.

 

[chimo2u]

I'm a fellow Edmontonian who is excited to be booked on the new direct flight on Feb 5, 2011 at the $199 price!! I only wish the return flights where as great a schedule! Unfortunately....I looked for a decent return schedule, and there is none....if I leave on the direct flight Orlando to Edmonton, I lose a whole day at Disney on the Saturday, as it leaves at 8:30am. So...what I chose to do instead was buy my flight from Edmonton to Orlando now, and I am keeping my eye out for return flight....I am thinking the direct return on Sunday Feb 13 from Orlando to Calgary....Hubby will have to drive to Calgary to pick us up, at least we will have a full day at Universal on the Saturday by leaving early Sunday morning.

Also, I have booked a private driver for my return trip from Portofino Bay to the airport....so I will try and get him to push the pickup time as late as safely possible to make our flight.....right now he is thinking 6am.

I hope those flight prices go on sale in the next while....right now the return flight is sitting at $269.00 each plus taxes....I am tempted to snap it up, but also hoping it goes down a little more ($50.00 ea would be nice!)
I have lost quite a bit on flights already this year (as I had to cancel my awesome August direct flights when I had to postpone my trip....those flights where $175.00 each way direct from Calgary!) I lost the $100.00 for the change fee they charge when you cancel, so I really am hoping to pay as little as possible with this return flight.

Do you think there is a chance of another seat sale before February?? or would you pay $269 plus tax/ ticket (todays pricing)???
Decisions, decisions!!! I am just glad we were able to re-book for February....anytime in Disney is a good time!!!

Marie

 

[tiggerrr]

Do you think there is a chance of another seat sale before February?? or would you pay $269 plus tax/ ticket (todays pricing)???
Decisions, decisions!!! I am just glad we were able to re-book for February....anytime in Disney is a good time!!!

Marie

It would be my personal choice to wait. I do believe there will be a seat sale. We were waiting until September at least before booking our January trip. Now the Westjet thing was just too good to pass up, so we jumped on it.

My mental limit is about $600rt before I jump on something to WDW before the last minute. I am a little risk averse so I don't let it go past about 3 months away from the trip very often, but usually we get a seat sale. The seat sales that were going on in August had limits for travel of either Oct 31 or Dec 14 for travel to Florida, so I would personally be inclined to wait.

I haven't seen too many fares that are much below $600rt from Edmonton in a while (unless they are really last minute and only on random days of the week). That translates to about $325 incl tax for a one way down and $275 incl tax on the way back.

 

[chimo2u]

It would be my personal choice to wait. I do believe there will be a seat sale. We were waiting until September at least before booking our January trip. Now the Westjet thing was just too good to pass up, so we jumped on it.

My mental limit is about $600rt before I jump on something to WDW before the last minute. I am a little risk averse so I don't let it go past about 3 months away from the trip very often, but usually we get a seat sale. The seat sales that were going on in August had limits for travel of either Oct 31 or Dec 14 for travel to Florida, so I would personally be inclined to wait.

I haven't seen too many fares that are much below $600rt from Edmonton in a while (unless they are really last minute and only on random days of the week). That translates to about $325 incl tax for a one way down and $275 incl tax on the way back.

Thank you for the reply Tiggerrr I think I will wait a while longer....at least we secured our going down flight at $199 plus taxes = $256 total/pp. If I can get the return flight for under $210....that would be good, I think! Hopefully some seat sales for FEB will be released before too long!
~ Marie