How much is too much?

[KBoopaloo]

I just priced April vacation week for us (also in MA) we are a family of 5 and it was $5,600.... not happening! Thats going to be the price of my 11 day trip in Aug with airfare.

Good luck I really feel your pain here.

It's totally nuts! I would normally never go during this time but it was either February vacation or April vacation because we have four school age kids and two school teachers traveling with us so it has to be during a school vacation. I had tried to push for February thinking fares would be cheaper but they ended up being just as expensive this year anyway.

 

[laughinplace199]

We've gone to WDW for April vacation for the past few years. We fly out of BOS and always book non-stop flights on JetBlue. We expect to pay more during school vacation week than at other times of the year, so we set our limit at about $350 per person. So far, we haven't even paid that much. The thing we do is fly a few days off of the regular school break schedule. For instance, we may leave the Wed before vacation week and return the Wed of vacation week. In 2010, we flew down the Tues of vacation week and flew back the Wed after vacation. Our kids miss 2-3 days of school, but that hasn't been a problem for us (or them), so that's what we do.

Good luck!

 

[winterman]

My DD and her DH also want to go to WDW that week. (She is a teacher.) The problem is that in 2011 Easter is at the end of the week so that makes flying from New England even more expensive than it usually is the week of spring break. They found flights for $280 RT out of Portland. By leaving Wed. the 13th and returning Thur the 21st they saved several hundred dollars. Yesterday, she told my that the flights are now twice what they are paying. You might have better luck if you have some flexibility with your dates.

Have you considered renting some big vans and driving? Wouldn't be my first choice but it might make financial sense. Good luck.

 

[SkinsFan76]

About $400 is the most I'll pay to fly for any where in the US (except Hawaii). We fortunately have been able to plan almost all of our trips around teh busiest times, so we haven't had to deal with large price increases yet. Our son will be starting school in another year, and all of that will change. I hope you end up finding something more reasonable.

 

[Rpsemont]

Also, please note that April break 2011 this year coincides with Easter week. That means it's going to be super expensive all around...airfare, hotels, car rentals (And busier at the parks). When April break falls outside of the Easter week timeframe, it's much more affordable.

If you can adjust your day to not fly sat-sat or Sun-sun, you can probably save some money.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I truly appreciate everyone's suggestions!

I am well aware that we are going to be facing serious crowds while at WDW since our break falls right before Easter. That is one of the reasons I tried to push for February vacation. Unfortunately part of my family has been during our regular April vacation in years past (when it was NOT near Easter) and refuses to believe my warnings about crowds. At this point, I've done all I can do as far as crowd and cost warnings and just have to let it all play out. OF course, I need to ger airfare booked first!

 

[uva185]

I truly appreciate everyone's suggestions!

I am well aware that we are going to be facing serious crowds while at WDW since our break falls right before Easter. That is one of the reasons I tried to push for February vacation. Unfortunately part of my family has been during our regular April vacation in years past (when it was NOT near Easter) and refuses to believe my warnings about crowds. At this point, I've done all I can do as far as crowd and cost warnings and just have to let it all play out. OF course, I need to ger airfare booked first!

Why don't you look into the companion pass certificate offered by the US Airways credit card? Buy the 1st ticket at regular price (min. fare $250) and get 2 companion tickets for $99+ tax each. The card has an $89 annual fee however you can "unofficially" re-use the companion pass certificates

Assuming you are flying out of BOS you can get an average fare of $244 roundtrip including tax using the companion pass departing 4/14 and returning 4/21.

Apply for the Premier World Mastercard
http://www.mostmiles.com/***/

I'm really surprised more families do not use this. I'm traveling solo on 90% of my flights but even being able to use it just 2-3 times a year is awesome!

Other airlines offer similar programs.

 

[Brian Noble]

Delta's only applies to certain fare classes---and I've had at best mixed success finding those fare classes available for trips I want to take.

 

[uva185]

Delta's only applies to certain fare classes---and I've had at best mixed success finding those fare classes available for trips I want to take.

Thats true, Delta's is only available on L, U, and T fares (the 3 cheapest). The US Airways companion pass is not restricted in this way -- in fact its almost opposite. The first ticket must cost at least $250 and has no upper limit.

 

[Rpsemont]

Unfortunately part of my family has been during our regular April vacation in years past (when it was NOT near Easter) and refuses to believe my warnings about crowds.

Personally, if it was me, I'd bow out of any planning on this one. I'd make SWA reservations for my family only, tell everyone else they're on their own (but that the SWA schedule opens 10/5) and that they should make their hotel reservations asap. If part of the group has been before during April week and doesn't believe you about the crowds, and if you're doing the planning, it's going to end up being your ineptitude that you can't get any deals on hotel, cars, airfare.

Good luck!

 

[KBoopaloo]

Personally, if it was me, I'd bow out of any planning on this one. I'd make SWA reservations for my family only, tell everyone else they're on their own (but that the SWA schedule opens 10/5) and that they should make their hotel reservations asap. If part of the group has been before during April week and doesn't believe you about the crowds, and if you're doing the planning, it's going to end up being your ineptitude that you can't get any deals on hotel, cars, airfare.

Good luck!

Thanks for the good luck wishes - I know I will need them!

Fortunately, the lodging is already taken care of - the lodging part of our trip is actually a gift from my parents to everyone else - we are booked on their DVC points in two two bedrooms and a studio. They offered up several possible dates and had everyone take a vote. So this planning headache is what we get for going with democracy!

 

[CleoPahd]

I too am from MA and as an educator, I can usually only get April vacation week off. They frown upon using personal days before and after school vacations so we usually are stuck leaving on saturday. We've paid as much as $600 for our airfare. It kills me to pay so much. Something we tried last year was flying into tampa and renting a car. I see that you have a large group, so I'm not sure how the numbers would work for you. For our trip last year it was cheaper to rent a car and fly in and out of tampa then fly to MCO and we saved quite a bit. The ride to Tampa wasn't bad at all...about an hour and 15 mins or so.

I usually try to book airfare as soon as it's released for that week because it SKYROCKETS in no time. Easter is really messing things up for this year. I'd JUMP on airtran & southwest as soon as you see the dates are going to be released. If you search online you'll see people post when they feel the dates will be released. I've gone so far as booking the flight down first, then waiting to book the return flights separately because I've gotten a better deal this way. I saved several hundred dollars for our upcoming april trip doing it this way. If I had waited for the complete week to be released and booked round trip we would have missed out on some cheaper seats. Yea, it's a little more work, but it was worth it. We're flying one airline down and another back. I'm not sure where in MA you are coming from, but we are flying out of Boston, and coming home to Manchester. Manchester is a great, easy to access airport. Good luck to you!