Help me to fly!!!

[wgwtgb]

I am trying to plan a Nov. 2011 trip. I would love to convince my DH that we can afford to fly, but the numbers aren't really working in my favor from what I can see. We live right outside of New Orleans. Our plan is to be at Disney from 11/18-11/24 or 11/25... which I know is a holiday weekend, and maybe that's why the flights seem a little high.
We will have to rent a vehicle to go, as we have just turned in a lease and are trying to hold out on getting anything before the beginning of 2012(approximately 500.00 for the week). The way I figure it (since this is what we did in 2009). We will stay in a hotel one night there and back (approximately 120.00 a night since we aren't really picky about where we stay... for a total of 240.00), gas there and back will run us an average of 300.00 (I know this may vary some, but just an estimate) and i would imagine food there and back will run us no more than 100.00 since my children are kinda picky and snack anyway.
My real kicker is that I don't want to drive the 12 hrs. with my 4yo!!!!
I haven't flown to WDW in about 15 years and would love to give my kids the experience, but the cheapest flight I've found is about 379.00 per person (about 1500.00) and my driving total is only about 1100.00
How can I make up that extra 400.00????
Thanks for any input!!!

 

[McIntoshTx]

I am trying to plan a Nov. 2011 trip. I would love to convince my DH that we can afford to fly, but the numbers aren't really working in my favor from what I can see. We live right outside of New Orleans. Our plan is to be at Disney from 11/18-11/24 or 11/25... which I know is a holiday weekend, and maybe that's why the flights seem a little high.
We will have to rent a vehicle to go, as we have just turned in a lease and are trying to hold out on getting anything before the beginning of 2012(approximately 500.00 for the week). The way I figure it (since this is what we did in 2009). We will stay in a hotel one night there and back (approximately 120.00 a night since we aren't really picky about where we stay... for a total of 240.00), gas there and back will run us an average of 300.00 (I know this may vary some, but just an estimate) and i would imagine food there and back will run us no more than 100.00 since my children are kinda picky and snack anyway.
My real kicker is that I don't want to drive the 12 hrs. with my 4yo!!!!
I haven't flown to WDW in about 15 years and would love to give my kids the experience, but the cheapest flight I've found is about 379.00 per person (about 1500.00) and my driving total is only about 1100.00
How can I make up that extra 400.00????
Thanks for any input!!!

Just went thru the same debate We are about 1 hour south of Houston and were originally planning on driving. It would have been cheaper without a doubt, to the tune of $1350 or so (there are 5 of us and we now are renting a car in Orlando).

But I hated the ideal of wasting all that time driving when we could be having fun. We ended up canceling the stay at the Contemporary and booking Port Orleans, we then used that savings to pay for the flight. All in all it was an almost break even deal. Not sure where you are staying but is a less expensive hotel an option like it was for us?

Otherwise maybe cut some more expensive meals out and eat cheaper while you are there?

Less souvenirs?

Sell some blood? An extra internal organ?

Good luck either way

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

Airtran, Nov. 18-24, 4 passengers, 275 a piece, multiple flight options.

 

[disneysmyhappyplace]

Get the southwest credit card (don't know if they fly from New Orleans) they were offering two free tickets after first purchase (buy a pack of gum). You open one and your husband open one and you have four free tickets.
If you did not want to get the credit card you can fly on Southwest for those dates for a little over $1100.00 dollars...Good Luck

 

[ceecee]

Thanksgiving is one of the most expensive times to fly. That may be the best you can do.

 

[stargazertechie]

Southwest flying out of New Orleans on the 18th (first flight of the morning) and returning the 25th (last flight of the night) for 4 people is $1357

BUT you would be able to visit the parks on the 18th and the 25th, which you COULDN'T do if you were driving.

Plus, you have no clue what the cost of gas is going to do between now and then, so if you buy airline tickets now and gas skyrockets back to $4 a gallon, you could easily break even.


You're already spending a lot of money to go to Disney- I personally feel that having 2 extra park days justifies the additional $250 to fly

 

[tlbwriter]

My real kicker is that I don't want to drive the 12 hrs. with my 4yo!!!!

Then tell him this. It doesn't have to be a financial decision. Sometimes the more expensive choice is the more sane choice. Tell him your sanity is worth more than $400.

 

[wgwtgb]

Get the southwest credit card (don't know if they fly from New Orleans) they were offering two free tickets after first purchase (buy a pack of gum). You open one and your husband open one and you have four free tickets.
If you did not want to get the credit card you can fly on Southwest for those dates for a little over $1100.00 dollars...Good Luck

This sounds like a great idea... DH needs a credit card anyway. Is there a particular website you saw this deal? I did a quick google search and haven't found it.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Then tell him this. It doesn't have to be a financial decision. Sometimes the more expensive choice is the more sane choice. Tell him your sanity is worth more than $400.

agreed

Also, you can set yourself up a fare watch at kayak.com if you don't see prices you like right now and they will alert you weekly about the price. I have found that 3 wks out is a great time to purchase, although that is cutting it close...but you could always drive if you ended up w/o decent flights.

 

[wgwtgb]

Southwest flying out of New Orleans on the 18th (first flight of the morning) and returning the 25th (last flight of the night) for 4 people is $1357

BUT you would be able to visit the parks on the 18th and the 25th, which you COULDN'T do if you were driving.

Plus, you have no clue what the cost of gas is going to do between now and then, so if you buy airline tickets now and gas skyrockets back to $4 a gallon, you could easily break even.


You're already spending a lot of money to go to Disney- I personally feel that having 2 extra park days justifies the additional $250 to fly

I am so clueless as to finding these early and late flights... Can u tell me the flight #'s or how to find this...

 

[wgwtgb]

Thank you all so much for all the help!! I really appreciate it!!!

 

[nilseks]

Airline prices are very volatile right now, on the heels of the FAA tax shutdown and whatnot. They have been all over the road, and you need to watch them almost daily--good deals do pop up. Airfare from Chicago had been in the $400ish range for MONTHS, and 2 weeks we found flights for roughly $170 RT, nonstop. Then they spiked back up. Depends on how long you can stomach riding it out. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes...not. Based on the fact that you are flying on either end of a holiday, that might be a tough one. We are going the week after you and I noticed prices are much lower.

 

[disneysmyhappyplace]

This sounds like a great idea... DH needs a credit card anyway. Is there a particular website you saw this deal? I did a quick google search and haven't found it.

There was a thread about this credit card in Budget boards, but it was also on slickdeals.net. Just have to search the forums with southwest. Sometimes they post this deal on southwest's website too.

 

[SandrA9810]

Plan for the drive, then watch the flights like a hawk. That way you can ride out till the best deal approaches.

Southwest also lets you rebook with no penalty, and if the prices drop you can get the lower fare. However, it is only in credit with them, which has to be used within 1 year. So if you're planning on flying again within a year, it'll help with the next trip.

Ohh and they also have 2 free bags. A major perk when you need a bit more than just carry on.

 

[dzorn]

I am trying to plan a Nov. 2011 trip. I would love to convince my DH that we can afford to fly, but the numbers aren't really working in my favor from what I can see. We live right outside of New Orleans. Our plan is to be at Disney from 11/18-11/24 or 11/25... which I know is a holiday weekend, and maybe that's why the flights seem a little high.
We will have to rent a vehicle to go, as we have just turned in a lease and are trying to hold out on getting anything before the beginning of 2012(approximately 500.00 for the week). The way I figure it (since this is what we did in 2009). We will stay in a hotel one night there and back (approximately 120.00 a night since we aren't really picky about where we stay... for a total of 240.00), gas there and back will run us an average of 300.00 (I know this may vary some, but just an estimate) and i would imagine food there and back will run us no more than 100.00 since my children are kinda picky and snack anyway.
My real kicker is that I don't want to drive the 12 hrs. with my 4yo!!!!
I haven't flown to WDW in about 15 years and would love to give my kids the experience, but the cheapest flight I've found is about 379.00 per person (about 1500.00) and my driving total is only about 1100.00
How can I make up that extra 400.00????
Thanks for any input!!!

Go from 11/17 to 11/24 only $205 per ticket on Delta.

If you drive you could always just drive straight through. Only about 11 hours. Heck we have driven straight through from MI. This would eliminate the hotel there and back.

Denise in MI