High prices!!!!!

[Julia Ann]

Ok so i'm not planning on going back until 2015 but I like to keep a check on the prices to know what I have to save up for. We last went with Virgin Holidays in 2006 and the same holiday for 2012 is coming out over a thousand pounds more , I know it's been 6 yrs since last trip but that's a heck of an increase.

Why are the prices so high now, is it just typical "Rip off Britain" or is it the fuel that making it so expensive

Might have to consider a DIY but I get a bit scared as never done it before.

 

[wayneg]

Haven't used VH for a few years now, we can only go in school hols and find them far too expensive.
If you can travel off peak then you might find they are more reasonable.
I priced up with them for this summer, they wanted almost £12,000, doing it DIY for under £4,500, I have used some airmiles to get the price down but I couldn't pay VH prices.

We can't just blame VH, even DIY trips have increased drastically since 2006, flights could be as much as double 2006 prices, partly due to increased taxes but also airlines are now trying to make profit compared to a few years back they were making a loss (VA lost about £130million 1 year)
If staying in Disney then hotels have also gone up with a bang, In 2009 we paid £80/nt at OKW next year they are quoting over £140/nt for the same room. 2008 we stayed at AKL for about £75/nt, not a chance of that anymore, you are looking at £200/nt.

DIY is not difficult but you need patience, its very time consuming, book the first prices you see and you could pay near package prices but buy at the right time and you should save.

 

[Molyneuxd]

Cant complain with VA flights or prices.

This years trip...

Flight (April into May)
Hotel (Westgate Lakes (off site)
Car Hire (Mustang)
Manchester Car Parking
Holiday Insurance (2 people)

Came in at £680per person, obviously plus food and park tickets on top, but a bit of left over $$$'s from Vegas at £1 = $1.75 this should be quite a cheap trip.

Was planning on returning to Vegas and not Florida, but same hotel, same flights as we went with previous year was £250pp more expensive, so shall keep searching for Vegas bargains later in the year.

 

[RudeDogg1]

Cant complain with VA flights or prices.

This years trip...

Flight (April into May)
Hotel (Westgate Lakes (off site)
Car Hire (Mustang)
Manchester Car Parking
Holiday Insurance (2 people)

Came in at £680per person, obviously plus food and park tickets on top, but a bit of left over $$$'s from Vegas at £1 = $1.75 this should be quite a cheap trip.

Was planning on returning to Vegas and not Florida, but same hotel, same flights as we went with previous year was £250pp more expensive, so shall keep searching for Vegas bargains later in the year.

wow thats cheap howd you manage that and a mustang?

 

[thestevied]

We're going virgin next September. Prices have been higher, they even told me they had increased quite a bit recently.

At the mo they have a special offer. Prices have come down about £1000 so it's now coming in at £5000 for my wife and I for flights and two weeks at the yacht club. Also includes either car hire or transfers and they currently are doing free dining plan and $200 to spend in Disney world when you get there.

Not sure how long the offer will last so think we will book soon.

 

[wayneg]

Also includes either car hire or transfers and they currently are doing free dining plan and $200 to spend in Disney world when you get there.

Not sure how long the offer will last so think we will book soon.

If you opt for the car hire you will need to add insurance, often cheaper to book your car elsewhere.
Have you considered booking your flights seperately?
Disney.co.uk 2 weeks at Yacht Club with tickets & DDP & $200 gift card will cost £3,577 less 3% Quidco = £3,470, leaves you £1530 for flights, they shouldn't cost you that in Sept, I would expect you to get your flights and a fully insured car for that.

 

[gemmybear83]

I have always done DIY holidays to Florida, but randomly found that for this trip virgin holidays were the cheapest way to go. We booked may 2011 for may 2012 and there was a discount weekend on. We do travel off peak and avoid weekend surcharges!

I will say the same holiday is now much more expensive now!

 

[thestevied]

If you opt for the car hire you will need to add insurance, often cheaper to book your car elsewhere.
Have you considered booking your flights seperately?
Disney.co.uk 2 weeks at Yacht Club with tickets & DDP & $200 gift card will cost £3,577 less 3% Quidco = £3,470, leaves you £1530 for flights, they shouldn't cost you that in Sept, I would expect you to get your flights and a fully insured car for that.

Thanks, I'll take a look at flight costs. If it saves us £100's I'll consider it, but honestly, I kind of like the ease of doing it all as a package. Sounds stupid if it costs more but I love the buzz of getting the big red envelope, the security of everything, and we don't drive out there (both prefer to be able to drink!).

 

[wayneg]

Thanks, I'll take a look at flight costs. If it saves us £100's I'll consider it, but honestly, I kind of like the ease of doing it all as a package. Sounds stupid if it costs more but I love the buzz of getting the big red envelope, the security of everything, and we don't drive out there (both prefer to be able to drink!).

If not renting a car and your quote is £5k I would be looking at saving £300-£500 doing DIY but I dislike packages, I feel like its cheating much prefer to find the deals myself. If you are happy with a package then go for it.

 

[zippy99]

This is our first fully DIY trip in August.

Booked 9 days at CBR on US site £2000 With Magic your Way Hopper plus Dining (park tickets alone would have cost us £960 for 4 of us)

It is still August so are hoping to get our flights at less than £500 pp

Looking at £150 max for 5 nights in an i-drive hotel for beginning of hols

Car hire we have budgeted £300.

Previously we have packaged with First Choice and then Virgin - but last two trips have been with Complete Orlando - not techically DIY but I found it is a nice step you get closer to DIY prices but with package protection and can pay a deposit.

 

[Elise79]

If not renting a car and your quote is £5k I would be looking at saving £300-£500 doing DIY but I dislike packages, I feel like its cheating much prefer to find the deals myself. If you are happy with a package then go for it.

I priced up a VH package for next July - OKW one bed, tickets, PE flights and no car.

Having looked at Disney uk prices and CO estimates I think I can get the whole package plus a car and still save at least £1000!

Book on a CC and you still get the security of money back if anything goes wrong (although beware of booking through 3rd parties as the CC coverage doesn't apply then)

Personally I don't like giving a company money for something I can do myself - put together a package!

 

[Julia Ann]

Book on a CC and you still get the security of money back if anything goes wrong apply then)

!

Of course, never thought about that, the DIY thing scares me in case your have to cancel, a friend of mine did DIY (Villa, flights, car) and decided not to go confused3) anyway she lost about 800 quid in deposits cuz of DIY. I wonder if you take out insurance at the time of booking your desposits would be refunded, due to the illness/extreme circumstances (obviously not if you just change your mind!!)

 

[Julia Ann]

Actually just checked on First Choice/Thomson and then are coming out much cheaper. 12/10/12 14 nights from birmingham (which is rare - i think its east midlands but a bonus anyway!) family insurance, car and insurance, 2 adults, 1 child £3229.00. Virgin hols were coming out at £4,800! I think this date goes into half term which is what we will be looking at .......not till 2015 though.

 

[Julia Ann]

oops - meant to add hotel, is Quality Inn International, int drive (we have stayed there before so I know it's very budget but great location)

 

[zippy99]

Just had a look at the dates you said below as an example - DIY = £2246
So there is another £1000 saving!

Flights
Thomas Cook from LGW to Sanford (direct):
£1470 (or an extra £50 each to go premium)

Hotel
£476 Quality Inn (with Complete orlando)

Car
£300 for a standard 4 door car with Premium package (extra drivers/full tank of petrol) also with Complete Orlando

 

[Julia Ann]

Wow that's an amazing price - thanks for that zippy it's made me really consider DIY, money is tight and we are already saving hard so this is a great price

 

[Julia Ann]

Wow what an amazing price, thanks for that zippy it's made me think that DIY is definately the way to go. I'll be back on again nearer the time for more advise. Will probably look at booking 1 year in advance, can you do this with DIY?