Help with choosing flight option...

[familydisney]

So we are booking airfare to Disney this June and feel we need to nail down flights before gas prices keep rising. We live in the mountains of Colorado so we could fly SW out of Denver, but their rates are pretty high. We also looked into a Colorado Springs to Tampa flight. How far is it realistically (in hours) from Tampa airport to AKL? Here are the pros and cons. What would you do??

Den-Mco on SW
1. Leaves early (6:30) but gets in at noon so at AKL by 2?
2. Magical Express
3. Southwest is more flexible and no bag fees,etc.
4. Denver is further from home
5. No rental car+ no off site and we are staying at AKL
6. Current flight is $300 more

[UDen-TPA on Frontier[/U]
1. Flies out much closer to home, but would have to drive in Florida instead
2. Cheaper, but must pay bag fees and rental car so pretty even
3. Can't change flights without fees and if rates go down we're out of luck
4. Wouldn't get to AKL until at least 6:00 PM
5. Return flight is later so we'd have a partial day
6. Rental car= freedom or hassle?

Which would you choose and why? We are taking my mom for her first ever trip and want it to be seamless but not break the bank. Maybe SW's prices will go down or there will be a code?? Help!! TIA

 

[RMAMom]

I'd go with SW, by the time you pay for your rental etc your not saving a whole lot and the ease of SW and DME is priceless. Remember on the trip down you'll be full of energy and excitement but on the way home you'll be exhausted and about out of patience and thats when you'll be really glad you chose the path of lest resistance!
Just my 2¢

 

[familydisney]

Thanks. We agree...so we booked tonight. It's sure a lot more than we have ever paid, and I'm afraid the days of $250 tickets are over...