Last minute DVC trips just got easier for us!

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

One of the biggest headaches we have had with trying to do last minute trips was not booking, but figuring out how to get there. It would be awesome if Disney brokered some type of partnership with airlines to get discounts for DVC members, wouldn't it?! Ah, but that's just a *dream*...

Tonight, our newscasters just announced a low-cost airline that is beginning direct flights between many new markets and Orlando... and in the list of those new markets was BATON ROUGE. They went on to advertise an "introductory" rate of $49/person each way!!!

I admit I have sometimes turned green with envy when I have read posts here in the DVC forum about frequent trips that didn't involve a 14-hour drive to the World! I've drooled over reports of those inexpensive flights that enhanced the DVC memberships of others!!! I eagerly went to the Vision Airlines site, ready to reserve away... to discover that the flights are only offered on Monday, Friday and Saturday in our market. Our three current reservations are Wednesday arrival and Sunday departure... so guess who will be on the phone with Member Services trying to juggle dates tomorrow?!

How do most of you cut down the travel expenses to allow frequent DVC trips? Share, please. =)

 

[kristie03]

SCORE!!! $49 each way is soooo exciting!! Which airline was that?

I'm doing my first last minute trip this weekend and I was thrilled with my $150 round trip tickets!!

Yea!! Go you!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Are you talking about Allegiant? We had them in Shreveport to Sanford, Las Vegas and Branson, but now I don't know if they even fly out of Shreveport any more. The $49 price had a lot of strings attached. You couldn't make a reservation on line without an extra cost. You couldn't make a reservation over the phone without an extra cost. Etc.

Now they only fly to Las Vegas. Why? We have at least five casinos here in Shreveport.

 

[kristie03]

Or is it Vision Airlines....I saw a bunch of $49 fares there, but alas, none from DC

 

[nolanboys]

I think this is one of the hardest things for me now that we are DVC members. I will only fly, since a drive from Chicago is tooling for me. Before, our trips to Disney were always when we could find good airfare. Now, we booked our trip before the air. After keeping an eye on airfare for weeks, it finally dropped big, but only if we flew Monday to Monday, instead of Sunday to Sunday. We already had the THV booked, and hoped that it would still be available to move the one night. It was before the 7 mo booking window, but close to it. We lucked out and it was still available. I was ready to switch for that one night, because the flight saved us over $1000. Last minute trips will be tricky. I am on the email sale alerts for the 2 airlines that offer cheaper flights by us, so I look at them when I get them. Also, I know if I want cheaper air, I have to be willing to fly during the week instead of the weekends. I would recommend trying to look at flights on wednesday. You'll be better able to gauge what days of the week offer you the best prices and that is usually the day they have sale fares. It is a game for me, and when I snag that great deal, I'm on cloud nine.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

It's Vision Airlines that's offering the new service here in Baton Rouge. They are opening with just two destinations... Destin and Orlando. Their introductory price is $49 each way, and there are no strings attached. Checked baggage does have a fee... $15 per bag if prepaid. With just hubby and me flying, that would be $60 total in baggage fees (roundtrip), which is lower than the cost of gas to drive to/from New Orleans to catch a direct flight on Southwest there. Our parking garage is also much less expensive than the New Orleans garage. Because of all the extra expense and hassle of flying out of New Orleans, we've fallen into the habit of driving to Disney instead... which really is not cost-effective for a shorter trip. All in all, this new air service will make it a much better option for us to sneak in some short getaways and use up all of our DVC points each year!!!

EDIT: Actually, for shorter trips, we'd probably make due with carry-ons and not even have the baggage expense. Even better!

 

[kristie03]

Yea!!! It looks like member services is getting a call from you tomorrow!!

 

[hakepb]

How fun!
The airport nearest to me had Allegiant to Orlando Sanford, which got me stated on planning a long weekend trip. (Although after I realized that Sanford did not get the free DME service like MCO, I wound up going to a different another airport to use Air Tran..)

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Air Tran is the one I've heard about so often with great rates from up north. Air Tran doesn't fly non-stop to Orlando from New Orleans and it doesn't fly at all out of BR. =(

Would there be a way to encourage DVC to negotiate air discounts for the members? Just wondering...

 

[nolanboys]

I think that vision doesn't fly into MCO, so no ME. We looked into flying Alligent, but they fly into the wrong airport.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I think that vision doesn't fly into MCO, so no ME. We looked into flying Alligent, but they fly into the wrong airport.

You're right; they fly to Sanford. There's no ME, but for shorter trips, I believe we would rent a car... especially if we only had carry-ons. That way, we could play in the parks for a portion of our last day instead of hopping on a bus to the airport as early as ME requires.

 

[april5675]

Are you talking about Allegiant? We had them in Shreveport to Sanford, Las Vegas and Branson, but now I don't know if they even fly out of Shreveport any more. The $49 price had a lot of strings attached. You couldn't make a reservation on line without an extra cost. You couldn't make a reservation over the phone without an extra cost. Etc.

Now they only fly to Las Vegas. Why? We have at least five casinos here in Shreveport.

It is Vison Airlines!!!! and it flys into the Sanford airport. They will start flying out of Shreveport on April 1st. They will fly Saturdays and Tuesdays. It's not a direct flight, they will stop in Ft Walton/Destin then on to Orlando. I'm in Bossier and I totally agree with you on the Las Vegas thing.