Hotel/Tickets First, Then Wait for Flight?

[princess aurora]

Well it looks like we are lucky enough to be planning another trip back to the World. I'm pretty excited about it and of course I now have a new reason to spend way too much time on the DIS boards.

We will most likely fly out of Buffalo to Orlando as it is cheaper for us than out of Canada. My question is should I book my Hotel and WDW tickets now and then wait for a good deal on SWA to come up (I just downloaded DING) or get the flights first then secure resort and tickets. I've always done it together so not sure what I should do.

We are planning to travel the first week in December any where from Dec 1- 10. Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

 

[philaround]

I have always been a firm believer in getting the room, tickets, PSs, and whatever set first and then keep my eyes open for a decent airfare until this trip. This trip wil be the last time I do it this way. From now on I will find the best airfare [not just decent] and work my vacation time around the flight dates.

A month after I had this vaation all set I deiscovered that if I stayed at WDW 1 more day and flew out on Monday instead of Sunday I could have saved over $120.00 on the airfare. An extra night at POFQ would have cost us $109.00 AP rate and no additional cost for park tickets since we both have APs. What's better then 6 days at WDW instead of 5 days and it costa you LESS. With the change fee for the airline tickets we would have lost money so I was stuck with my 5day trip. Oh well, you live and you learn.

 

[fishy_mouse]

I say flight, then hotel.

Airfares vary day to day and flight to flight. Disney rack rates are well known and don't vary. I was able to add a day to our next trip by getting a $49 pp each way fare from PHL to MCO.

If you are an AP holder or receive codes, then my opinion might change a bit.

 

[beattyfamily]

I do my trips for the most part this way:

I decide when I'm going and then book the hotel first.

I then book the airfare if it's reasonable (I then continue to see if the airfare came down at all for a refund/voucher).

I then book the rental car (and check up until my trip to see if the price has come down)

I then buy the tickets when I've saved up enough money.

 

[princess aurora]

I say flight, then hotel.

Airfares vary day to day and flight to flight. Disney rack rates are well known and don't vary. I was able to add a day to our next trip by getting a $49 pp each way fare from PHL to MCO.

If you are an AP holder or receive codes, then my opinion might change a bit.

I'm not an AP holder. We've never done a trip to the World 2x in one year. We usually go every few years. Do I wait and hope I can get one of these special $49 airfares? I realize the Resorts and ticket prices won't change and we are planning to go at a lower crowd time (1st week in Dec) so getting a room won't be too much of a problem I don't think.
The flights I had originally found for this time frame (on US Air) just went up so I'm just worried that I've missed my window? I don't fly often so is the key to just keep checking and cross my fingers. I thought the further you booked out the better the price am I wrong?

 

[kandmwedding]

I think it depends on what flights are typically like in your area. The airport I fly out of is one of sw's hubs, so getting flights has never been a problem. I always book the resort first and the flight later. But, if getting a cheap flight is normally difficult for you I'd definitely get the flight first and the resort later.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I book airfare whenever I see a deal I can't pass up...and never more than a few months before the actual trip. I tend to book the hotel first.

 

[princess aurora]

I think it depends on what flights are typically like in your area. The airport I fly out of is one of sw's hubs, so getting flights has never been a problem. I always book the resort first and the flight later. But, if getting a cheap flight is normally difficult for you I'd definitely get the flight first and the resort later.

Hmmm don't know if cheap flights are difficult to get. As I said I don't fly that often. We are in Canada (near Toronto) but fly out of Buffalo b/c it is so much cheaper to do so whether it's with SWA or United or last time we got a great flight with Delta ($645 for 4). Great deal when out of Toronto we're looking at $370 ea. plus taxes.

 

[princess aurora]

I book airfare whenever I see a deal I can't pass up...and never more than a few months before the actual trip. I tend to book the hotel first.

Thanks I think I feel a little better knowing I can wait before having to book flights for our trip.