I haven't heard good things about President's Weekend

[disney's daughter]

I am taking my adult children and grandchildren the 16th of February through the 22nd which is President's Weekend...I have read how crowded it is...but, it can't be avoided...(it will be less time for the kids to be out of school). We had to go Thanksgiving week before...and it was CROWDED! There will be nine of us...My question is...and I hope someone out there might know...Should I go on and buy the airfare tickets now...($254.00 round trip from Flint, Michigan to Orlando)..or hold off a couple of months? Do you think the ticket prices will go up or down? I have paid as little as $147.00 round trip... (June)...and as much as $478.00.....(the Thanksgiving week)
By the way...I have been to Disney World every month except for July and August....you'd think I'd know about the air fares, wouldn't you?

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Originally posted by disney's daughter
My question is...and I hope someone out there might know...Should I go on and buy the airfare tickets now...($254.00 round trip from Flint, Michigan to Orlando)..or hold off a couple of months?

There are a couple of Airfare Websites that will "look" for selected route bargains and they will e-mail you when something pops up. I know Travelzoo.com and expedia.com both offer this service, you put in your departing airport and your desired destinations.

 

[disney's daughter]

Thanks, I'll try those sites!!

 

[kilee]

Last year (by Christmas) the flights from our area for that timeframe were either sold out or over $600 R/T a piece. I really wanted to go for a few days (DS has the whole week off school), but wasn't forking over that much money. We are planning on going this year and I will buy the tickets as soon as Southwest puts them up for sale.

 

[jkfreeman33]

We (8 adults) are also going 2/16 - 2/23, but for the Daytona 500. I have heard from NASCAR fans at other races that lots of people stay in the Orlando area and drive to Daytona. Have also read on the boards that between President's week & Daytona 500, there isn't a shortage of people in WDW. Can't really be helped. I am a DVC owner (BWV) and have heard lots of DVC people go at this time.
I ive in Chicago and ATA has round trip airfare to Orlando for 185.20. Our group is booking air now. Don't know if it will go lower, but I'm happy with $185.00.

 

[disney's daughter]

So...do you all think I should just go on and purchase the plane tickets now instead of waiting?

 

[CindyBeth]

Disney's Daughter - I am struggling with the same issue. We are also going President Week. Went last year same time, didnt' get our flights until December and paid over $600 apiece! Don't want to do that again! I have to tell you though, even though it was crowded, I worked the fastpass system and used Tourguide Mike's advice and we didnt' have to wait for almost anything! So I have no problem going at that time. But I also want to get a good flight price. We usually fly out of Metro Detroit, but Flint is not that much further away. And just to let you know that best direct flight from Metro is with Spirit for $321rt. Who are you flying with and is it a direct flight?

 

[disney's daughter]

I haven't made my flight arrangements yet...I just keep "looking"...So far..Delta is the cheapest..and it is out of Flint..We are from Saginaw. I even tried Northwest...So far, Delta may be the one..and no it isn't a direct flight...I tried Air Trans earlier..and they didn't have anything "up" at the time...(they are usually a direct flight) So..unless they come up with something cheaper..I will probably purchase my tickets pretty soon...based on what everyone has been saying. Anybody who wants to go around Thanksgiving time...GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! I had to buy plane tickets for then...and believe me..IT WASN'T PRETTY!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think $254 is decent.

Especially if you can get your preferred dates and times. You are also flying out of Flint and later you may have to fly out of DTW to get a lower fare. That's not a short drive.

Actually, if you check Travelocity, many of the lower fares for those dates are sold out. They may release more seats later, but since you will be connecting, those times may be worse.

I've found that it's not always about the lowest fare but getting what you want at a reasonable price. I have yet to regret purchasing early as when the lower fares are announced, they are not in the least desirable and the difference is maybe $20 to $30 and not worth it imho.

Im originally from Michigan and still have family there so Im often checking.

 

[vicb]

I also think $254 is good. I am in a similar boat only buying tickets to FL for Easter weekend. We decided to bit the bullet and buy our tickets now. We aren't going to WDW this year , just a beach vacation. We are flying Detroit to Ft. Lauderdale $350 Easter weekend. We got non-stop flights at reasonable times on the days we want so we decided not to risk being sold out or priced out.

Pres. Week is a holiday week and flying is busier and more expensive. We flew this year (2004) at the tail end of Pres. week and stayed at WDW into the following week (which was Mardi Gras) and paid $330 non-stop from Detroit to Orlando. We bought those tickets in August.

Hope this helps.

 

[ALostBoy]

Hi,

We went to WDW presidents week 2004 and we also
just got back from a trip over July 4th. To us the
crowds were alot heavier over presidents week
than over July 4th. We were so suprised at how
low the crowds were on July 3 and 4th.
Good luck

 

[chicknoodle99]

I booked Flint-Orlando tickets on nwa.com last week for Sept 14-19 and got a fare of 136.00 per person! I watched the fares and they went from 196 to 249 and down to 136! We live near Flint and check fares for Flint and Detroit..we dont usually do MBS as its too expensive. If you find a good fare I suggest you buy also as over a holiday they tend to fill up the flights. In the chance the fares go down you can usually reissue for a fee and get the difference back. Of course, the difference has to be enough to oversee the fee but you never know. And each airline is different so maybe check into that also.

DH and I were down in January this year and it was over Martin Luther King Day and I was surprised that the parks were more crowded then normal in January. I cant speak for February but usually when a holiday is in there they can be busier. I would not think that Presidents weekend would be AS busy as Thanksgiving so you may be pleasantly surprised.

Have fun and good luck!