I couldn't wait, booked OKW for August

[disney_princess_85]

Great news Wayne!

I think we're booking our accommodation when DBF gets paid on Thursday, we're probably going to go for the full 15 nights at SSR (+ free DDP).

 

[luke]

Off to pay my deposit for our stay at SSR after work today.
There's nothing better to get over coming back from one holiday (and going back to school) than starting the planning for the next

 

[PChef]

Glad you got it booked. Hope some reasonable flights come along soon. Well done on the cashback too, I missed out on cashback on our disney.uk booking, didn't realise....shh don't tell DH!!!

 

[christinasmum]

Hi Wayne,

Glad you have booked I said to my husband if he has booked it must be a good deal! You mentioned car hire, do you get one for the whole time you are there? Is this because the transport system is slow/unrealiable or do you like to escape Disney and need a car for that?

Sorry to be noisy but I am trying to start planning budgets etc. Thanks

 

[luke]

Hi Wayne,

Glad you have booked I said to my husband if he has booked it must be a good deal! You mentioned car hire, do you get one for the whole time you are there? Is this because the transport system is slow/unrealiable or do you like to escape Disney and need a car for that?

Sorry to be noisy but I am trying to start planning budgets etc. Thanks

Just to give my take on that, even tho it's because we've stayed offsite both recent times, we always hire a car, just for the freedom of it, after all Orlando is far more than just WDW.

We will probably use Disney transport occasionally this time, especially to get to Epcot for a spot of DATW

 

[wayneg]

Like Luke we always have a car, onsite or offsite.
Many people visit and have no problems with transport, I just can't get on with it, I don't get on well waiting for buses or sitting on crowded buses. Not been on a bus in UK for about 25 years, I like being in control. Tried a couple of times in Disney but me and buses don't go together.
As Luke says there is more to the area than Disney, we have friends at Hunters Creek, drive to the port for a cruise, day trips to places like Savannah (Georgia), Clearwater, Daytona, Cocoa beach, spend evenings at The Old Town or Celebration, If not on Dining plan we eat a lot at Hunters Creek away from tourist area, Mannys Chophouse @ Haines City.
We also do something called Geocaching http://www.geocaching.com/ Go out and find caches that have been hidden all over the world, many around central Florida.
Our next trip at Easter I doubt we will even go into Disney so a car is a must for us, others manage without.

 

[heatherbelle]

Congrats on the booking, now the search for flights is on.

We're coming home on 28/08, on Virgins late flight to Manchester. I doubt you'll be on that, at their prices.

I'm sure when I checked the other day, there were no return flights for 29/08.

Hope your Gas is on, I see those living in Batley have been without it since New Years day, and they are digging up everywhere trying to sort it out.

 

[wayneg]

Congrats on the booking, now the search for flights is on.

We're coming home on 28/08, on Virgins late flight to Manchester. I doubt you'll be on that, at their prices.

I'm sure when I checked the other day, there were no return flights for 29/08.

Hope your Gas is on, I see those living in Batley have been without it since New Years day, and they are digging up everywhere trying to sort it out.

No problems getting Virgin flights home for either 28th (£913) or 29th(£823). I check every day they are always available but not paying that for a flight, would rather not go. Odd dates keep coming up Miles and Money at about £670, too much for me.

Not heard about Gas problems. OK here.

 

[fuse04]

See you all there

Booked Gatwick Hilton last night to avoid panic and rush to airport on the day

 

[heatherbelle]

Wayne

I don't know if you have any airlmiles, but someone posted over on the Dibb that they had found a good deal.

here's the link. http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=370302

 

[wayneg]

I read that last night and got excited until I saw it was Airmiles.co.uk not Virgin airmiles. I only have Virgin about 200,000 of them not much use for the MAN~Orlando route recently.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Great news on booking - you just couldn't resist any longer

With all this snow you'll have plenty of time for planning.

 

[wayneg]

With all this snow you'll have plenty of time for planning.

I even started searching for car hire today, the job I hate most about planning a trip, Snow looks great but its killing business, 75% of my customers are over 50, they don't come out for a walk in this weather.

 

[igk]

Hope you find decent flights soon.
We booked our Oct flights (VA m+m and for a day less than we really wanted) on Boxing Day after seeing the American Airlines non stop flight disappear, then a few days later the date we wanted came up, and the cash price has fallen It's £50 pp to change - I don't think we'll bother.
So it's a tricky call whether to jump or wait

 

[wayneg]

Just checked Virgin again, dates we want are now upto £918pp for economy, who pays that for a flight? not me.
BA have dropped the price from Heathrow to Miami direct, £600. which is my upper limit for direct but to MCO or TPA not MIA, would rater go indirect from MAN than direct from London.
Plenty of time yet.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Just checked Virgin again, dates we want are now upto £918pp for economy, who pays that for a flight? not me.

Is that price for your August dates? That's over double what we've paid for Aug. 26-Sep. 10. For the sake of a few weeks' difference, it's ridiculous!

 

[scojos]

Is that price for your August dates? That's over double what we've paid for Aug. 26-Sep. 10. For the sake of a few weeks' difference, it's ridiculous!

unfortunately, people with kids cant travel that late in aug, thats why your flights were cheaper.
i wish i could fly the dates you are, the parks would be quieter too..
Tracy

 

[disney_princess_85]

unfortunately, people with kids cant travel that late in aug, thats why your flights were cheaper.
i wish i could fly the dates you are, the parks would be quieter too..
Tracy

Oh I know, I just think it's bad how much they take advantage of those with children.

 

[scojos]

Oh I know, I just think it's bad how much they take advantage of those with children.

i dont think anyone would disagree with those sentiments, but thats how they make their money, parents pay for the cheaper flights that you get at "down" times, there is no way the big airlines could afford to do the £99 fly drives in jan, if people like me where not stuck paying nearly x10 in aug...
sad but true - sellers market.
tracy

 

[disney_princess_85]

i dont think anyone would disagree with those sentiments, but thats how they make their money, parents pay for the cheaper flights that you get at "down" times, there is no way the big airlines could afford to do the £99 fly drives in jan, if people like me where not stuck paying nearly x10 in aug...
sad but true - sellers market.
tracy

Yep. I know they're running a business at the end of the day, it's just a shame that some people always manage to get a good deal (like myself), yet others (like those with children/people who work in schools etc.) don't.