HELP! Making plans for Feb 2004

[jmcross]

I have been reading these boards for a while now and just joined. Everyone gives such great advice!
I have a couple of questions for February vacation week of next year:
1) I can make airline reservations now for $225 round trip from Boston. It's a great airfare and I'm wondering what the chances are of putting the rest of the package together on my own. I've always been a chicken to try it and have booked the package through AAA. How easy is it to put together the pieces and are the rates cheaper in the end?
2) Are there any discounts at all for popular vacation weeks? I'd like to try AKL since everyone is raving about it.
3)) Can you get the military rate at CR if you are a disabled veteran at only 30% disability??
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Welcome to the Dis.i am sure there is someone with answers to your questions.

 

[Harambe]

Welcome! I think I'm actually too new to welcome you but what the hey! I have done each of our trips myself with no travel agent involved. I have also made a few mistakes. I knew nothing about all the codes you'll see here and at Mousesavers, so I probably could have got a better rate at our resort the first trip. Used my Disney Club discount next time and saved 400 off reg. rates. But these codes seem to be awesome.

My major blunder was buying way more "pass" than we needed or used our first trip. I got the length of stay pass for eight days. Next trip I got park-hoppers for five days. That was all we needed because we stayed at the Poly, spending two days pool side. What a difference in price.

So my planning advice - research the passes. You don't think of them as a major expense but they are!

Have fun planning! I hope you own a really big eraser!

 

[jmcross]

Thanks for the pass advice. Do you have any opinion on whether or not I should be purchasing airfare now while the fares are so low?

 

[JOC]

According to the SOG website, only disabled veterans with 100% service disability are eligible to stay there. As far as airfare goes, it goes up and down throughout the year. I personally could not purchase airfare one year out because our vacation dates aren't set in stone until about three months out. If you're certain that your travel dates won't change and if the fare is just about the lowest that you think it will get, then maybe you should purchase. Good luck with your planning!

 

[Harambe]

I just bought our tickets for January 2004 thru Delta. However, Delta's new branch (Song) is supposed to take over all the flights to Orlando by the fall sometime. I got 205 RT (taxes and fees included), for four of us, which I thought was very reasonable. I was afraid if I waited for the Song prices to come out for BOS to MCO, non-stop, the Song planes would be filled with all the folks who bought Delta tickets. I'd be a wreck waiting!

More honestly, I don't really care what I pay for airfare because I feel the airlines are hurting and I don't mind paying for a fair rate.
I also know that they will probably change the times or seating, but I can deal with that!