March 16, 2013 - 5 Night Western Caribbean - Disney Wonder

[Trep72]

I have personally found that they fluctuate just like any other airline, and it's usually after 9am on Tuesday of each week that they go higher/lower. I think they probably have low fares for a short time at first, just to get people to bite, and then they go up quickly.

I prefer SWA because of the no bag fees, or any add'l fees for that matter. When I do the math, most of the time they are cheaper. However, back in April, when SWA released their fares for this October, I waited until the end of May to book. I probably would've waited a little longer, but they raised their fares a lot (but did lower them again) and I got worried that I was gonna miss out. Fortunately, after I booked, fares to Orlando came down again and I now have an $82 credit to use within a year's time frame, which works out ok because of our trip in March.

I think it just comes down to personal preference. The fares are USUALLY not that far off, I just don't like the "extras" that airlines, other than SWA, charge its customers. I doesn't bother me that we usually have a small layover somewhere. For our trip in October, we have to stop in St. Louis and change planes, but we are still getting to Orlando @ 1150a local time. On our way back, we are stopping in Houston, but we don't have to change planes.

Sorry for the long winded answer.

Hey there - I have a question for you guys about Southwest. Are their fares usually the cheapest when they first come out or does it flucuate a lot like other airlines? We usually fly Delta out of Minneapolis because it's ALMOST always the cheapest and we can get direct flights. But, flights are just soooo expensive for Florida for March that if Southwest is a fair bit cheaper then I'm really tempted to go with them on Monday when fares come out. But I wasn't sure if I should be prepared to grab something on Monday or if I could expect them to stay like that for a little while. I would have the added transportation cost from FLL to POM so they'd have to be quite a bit cheaper to make it worth it. Thanks!

 

[disneypoor]

Hello! I agree that SW airfare fluctuates like all of the other airlines, but the reason we almost always go with SW is because we don't pay for luggage (which often makes them cheaper than other airlines), they are super easy to work with (you can change your flights with no fees and get a credit if the fares go down or if you cancel your trip altogether), and because we can get a direct flight from Kansas City. We've flown SW and had layovers, and we've never had any issues with canceled flights, etc. I'm sure I just put a curse on our Miami trip now!

With all of that being said, I'm not totally sure if I will actually book our air tomorrow or not. We went to Disney World in July, and I watched the fares and waited for them to be released. I didn't jump on board and book when they first came out, and they did drop a bit but not much. I found that they stayed pretty steady until about 4-6 weeks before our travel dates. I'm going to see what the fares are in the morning and ponder it while I'm at work tomorrow. Plus, I'm still not totally sure if I'm wanting to take off work on that Friday before our cruise or if I want to take their late flight (leaves KC at 6:15 p.m. but doesn't get to FLL until 12:20 a.m.). Lots of stuff to decide in the next 24 hours.

Good luck with your decision and both of you keep me posted on what you decide!

Susan

 

[Trep72]

I won't be booking tomorrow either. I still have to save some $$$. But, I'm afraid that with it being smack dab in the middle of Spring Break month, seats are going to go fast.

 

[disneypoor]

I totally agree with you! Because it's spring break, I'm a little (ok--a lot!) worried. I'm going to see what the fares are, compare them to what the previous dates have been, and go from there. Luckily, we have about $1100 in free airfare from SW, so that will make it a bit easier to swallow. I just really need to figure out what I'm doing and when we want to leave. I'll let you know if I book though.

Susan

 

[cheesemouse]

I guess I'll see what the fares are tomorrow. We don't pay baggage fees on Delta so that's a wash either way. The difference will be flying into FLL vs MIA and added transportation costs. And the layover I suppose. With 3 little kids, one added on and off is a pain but do-able if the price is right. The lowest I've seen for our route is $475 and the higest low fare (does that make sense?) is $562. The lowest has always been Delta but I'm hoping SW can come through this time. Any savings is x5 for us so it adds up. Here's to hoping for low fares tomorrow!!!

 

[Trep72]

Well, the fares are out. And for here in OKC, Southwest has cut back on flights to FLL on 03/15/12 compared to what they are flying on 3/8/12. I'm hoping they are still loading things in their system.

I'm also hoping that the prices will come down just a bit. I don't have any other trips planned after this one, so booking now and getting credits later will not really help me.

At least now we know what we have to work with.

Happy Planning!!!

 

[cheesemouse]

Ugh, Ugh, and double UGH. The SW fares are $476 from msp. Yuck. And the schedule is worse too. What the heck. I'm definitely not buying anything today.

 

[disneypoor]

I agree! Ugh, ugh, and double ugh! I got up extra early this morning to check out flight from Kansas City, and I was also surprised to see that they weren't offering as many flights on the 15th as they were for the previous week. Plus, I sure didn't see any bargains either. I looked at it and looked at it and left for work without booking anything.

Then, I got to work, and I just couldn't stand the pressure of waiting with it being spring break, so I went ahead and booked. Even with almost $1200 worth of free airfare from SW, I still paid almost $500! I decided to go with the latest flight they offered, but it doesn't get us in to FLL until 12:55 a.m. I keep telling myself that it is really like 11:55 p.m. here. I'm trying to make it be okay. My kids won't have to miss any finals, and I won't have to miss a day of work since we're leaving so late. Plus, I figure we can be exhausted the first night and then relax on the ship!

Let me know what both of you end up doing. We have LOTS of people going with us, and so far, only 11 of us have booked air. The rest are in total sticker shock and just can't do it yet. I hope it doesn't go up, but most importantly, I hope it doesn't sell out. Good luck and have a good night--I'm getting off the DIS so I can start researching hotels again!

Susan

 

[Trep72]

I'm going to try to hold out until the end of October. My daughter's friend's mom asked if I could book her kid's airfare along with ours and she'd get us the $$$ ASAP. I completely trust them and know they'd get me the $$$ but the problem is that I don't have those extra funds to spend yet. I'll have the money by the middle of Sept. (if not sooner) to book for just my daughter and I.

I've even put a call into a local travel agent to see what kinda package deals I can that will allow us to book now and pay it off before we go. I probably won't hear anything back until tomorrow.

Still kinda shocked that SWA cut back on flights going out. Would love to know their reasoning.

I agree! Ugh, ugh, and double ugh! I got up extra early this morning to check out flight from Kansas City, and I was also surprised to see that they weren't offering as many flights on the 15th as they were for the previous week. Plus, I sure didn't see any bargains either. I looked at it and looked at it and left for work without booking anything.

Then, I got to work, and I just couldn't stand the pressure of waiting with it being spring break, so I went ahead and booked. Even with almost $1200 worth of free airfare from SW, I still paid almost $500! I decided to go with the latest flight they offered, but it doesn't get us in to FLL until 12:55 a.m. I keep telling myself that it is really like 11:55 p.m. here. I'm trying to make it be okay. My kids won't have to miss any finals, and I won't have to miss a day of work since we're leaving so late. Plus, I figure we can be exhausted the first night and then relax on the ship!

Let me know what both of you end up doing. We have LOTS of people going with us, and so far, only 11 of us have booked air. The rest are in total sticker shock and just can't do it yet. I hope it doesn't go up, but most importantly, I hope it doesn't sell out. Good luck and have a good night--I'm getting off the DIS so I can start researching hotels again!

Susan

 

[cheesemouse]

Well, Delta dropped their fares to Miami to $430 today so we booked. I was really hoping for under $400 but wasn't willing to risk them going back to the $500 I've seen lately. I also ended up not booking a seat for the little guy. This goes against all of my good judgement but I ended up caving to my husband's insistance that he'll just hold him. Well I'm going to make him stick to that promise. I want nothing to do with a squirmy 1 year old.

 

[Trep72]

Southwest already raised the price on one of their OKC - FLL flights. Right now, my cheapest is $307, leaving mid-morning. Coming home, the cheapest is $210 but leaves earlier in the morning than I'd like. (Right now I plan on staying a night after we leave the boat, but if I can find a later, and cheaper flight on that Thursday, we might drop that extra night in FLL.

The waiting game is underway and it stinks! LOL

 

[disneypoor]

Now that we have our air booked, I really have to figure out the whole transfer and hotel thing. Flying in to FLL the night before complicates things. I was planning to just use Disney transfers because it's easy, but that would mean we'd have to find a hotel near the airport with a shuttle service (and we don't get in to FLL until 12:55 a.m.!) and shuttle back to the airport in order to catch the transfer. Sounds complicated to me. Any suggestions from either of you?

Plus, I just got off the phone with Disney, and they are waitlisting us for transfers because they aren't positive they're going to even offer them from FLL. This trip is already a wee bit more stressful than the others. Darn free flights anyhow!

Susan

 

[Trep72]

Right now, I'm not even planning on Disney transfers. I have them included in our trip cost, but as now of I am planning on taking SAS Transportation for $15/person from our hotel to the Port and then back to the hotel. The Hampton we are stating at as 24-hr transport to/fro the airport. Unless Disney's transfers are free, SAS is going to be $30 cheaper. I'll drop the transfer cost before I get the trip paid off.

As far as airfare, I'm looking into flying out of Dallas on our way out there. There's a LOT more choices and some cheaper flights. I just need to run the numbers and see just how much I'm going to save. Either way, it's looking like the earliest I'm going to be able to book is the end of Sept.

Now that we have our air booked, I really have to figure out the whole transfer and hotel thing. Flying in to FLL the night before complicates things. I was planning to just use Disney transfers because it's easy, but that would mean we'd have to find a hotel near the airport with a shuttle service (and we don't get in to FLL until 12:55 a.m.!) and shuttle back to the airport in order to catch the transfer. Sounds complicated to me. Any suggestions from either of you?

Plus, I just got off the phone with Disney, and they are waitlisting us for transfers because they aren't positive they're going to even offer them from FLL. This trip is already a wee bit more stressful than the others. Darn free flights anyhow!

Susan

 

[cheesemouse]

Now that we have our air booked, I really have to figure out the whole transfer and hotel thing. Flying in to FLL the night before complicates things. I was planning to just use Disney transfers because it's easy, but that would mean we'd have to find a hotel near the airport with a shuttle service (and we don't get in to FLL until 12:55 a.m.!) and shuttle back to the airport in order to catch the transfer. Sounds complicated to me. Any suggestions from either of you?

Plus, I just got off the phone with Disney, and they are waitlisting us for transfers because they aren't positive they're going to even offer them from FLL. This trip is already a wee bit more stressful than the others. Darn free flights anyhow!

Susan

How many are in your family? I see a picture of two kids but I wasn't sure. I would look into the possibility of renting a car if cost is your main issue. Cruise line transfers are usually the most expensive route. But, if you just want something easy, then they are a good bet. Yep, I guess you'd have to book a FLL airport hotel that has a shuttle and then shuttle back to the airport in the morning. If you want to check into the car route, check out cruisecritic and the Florida board under North American Home Ports. There is some good info about renting cars and discount codes. There's also some good info about transfers and non-cruise line companies.

We will either be renting a car or a taxi on the way to the cruise. Budget has an office within a mile of the port. I'm still debating about after the cruise. I'm thinking a taxi, but am not ruling out DCL transfers. I need to find out more about their transfers and the luggage. If DCL will transfer my bags so that I don't have to see them from the time I put them outside of my door until I get back to MSP, then I'll go with DCL. But, if I have to claim them and then schlep them to the bus and check them in at the airport, then we'll just do a taxi. Not having to schlep bags for our big family is worth the added cost of a DCL transfer to me. But, since DCL is new to sailing out of Miami, I can't seem to find out any concrete info on how this will work. CM at the call center don't have a clue - a different answer every time I call.

There's always something to be working on, isn't there???

 

[disneypoor]

How many are in your family? I see a picture of two kids but I wasn't sure. I would look into the possibility of renting a car if cost is your main issue. Cruise line transfers are usually the most expensive route. But, if you just want something easy, then they are a good bet. Yep, I guess you'd have to book a FLL airport hotel that has a shuttle and then shuttle back to the airport in the morning. If you want to check into the car route, check out cruisecritic and the Florida board under North American Home Ports. There is some good info about renting cars and discount codes. There's also some good info about transfers and non-cruise line companies.

We will either be renting a car or a taxi on the way to the cruise. Budget has an office within a mile of the port. I'm still debating about after the cruise. I'm thinking a taxi, but am not ruling out DCL transfers. I need to find out more about their transfers and the luggage. If DCL will transfer my bags so that I don't have to see them from the time I put them outside of my door until I get back to MSP, then I'll go with DCL. But, if I have to claim them and then schlep them to the bus and check them in at the airport, then we'll just do a taxi. Not having to schlep bags for our big family is worth the added cost of a DCL transfer to me. But, since DCL is new to sailing out of Miami, I can't seem to find out any concrete info on how this will work. CM at the call center don't have a clue - a different answer every time I call.

There's always something to be working on, isn't there???

Hi! I just have four in my own immediate family, but we have 34 people cruising in all. That's why we wanted to do the transfers--to make it easy. I did get things figured out today though. I got a hotel and transfers booked. It was hard to find a hotel with decent reviews that was NOT pet friendly. My son cannot handle indoor pets, pet hair, etc., and has been known to have allergic reactions. I finally found a place that gets really good reviews and is smoke and pet free. The transfers were only $13 per person each way, so that was way cheaper than Disney!

You are right, when you call DCL, you get a different answer every time. I think because this will be a new sailing for them, they don't really have a clue. For example, when we booked our cruise a long time ago, they said they would be doing transfers from FLL. Guess what? Not necessarily true. Now they aren't sure but will put you on a waitlist to see if there is enough interest for them to actually do that. The down side is that you won't find out until much later. I'm not willing to wait, and I didn't want the hassle of having to get back to the airport Saturday morning anyhow, so it all worked out for the best.

Hope your planning is coming along! For the price of air, I would have made my husband hold my kiddo too, but since mine are 17 and 14, it might have looked a bit suspicious.

Susan

 

[Trep72]

I checked in with my TA today and she confirmed the same waiting lists info that was mentioned last week. She also mentioned that it is her feeling that DCL will more than likely be using a third party for the transfers and therefore won't be taking care of our luggage, like DME does. That just means we're probably going to be responsible to getting everything to the porters and then they will take it onboard for us.

She also mentioned that the DCL transportation option can be dropped from our reservations as late a week before we sail. I'm not sure what happens to the $$$ that will be refunded.

The more and more I think about it all, I'm leaning towards using SAS for transportation. I just wish they would hurry and make a decision!!! [FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[disneypoor]

I checked in with my TA today and she confirmed the same waiting lists info that was mentioned last week. She also mentioned that it is her feeling that DCL will more than likely be using a third party for the transfers and therefore won't be taking care of our luggage, like DME does. That just means we're probably going to be responsible to getting everything to the porters and then they will take it onboard for us.

She also mentioned that the DCL transportation option can be dropped from our reservations as late a week before we sail. I'm not sure what happens to the $$$ that will be refunded.

The more and more I think about it all, I'm leaning towards using SAS for transportation. I just wish they would hurry and make a decision!!! [FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

Good morning! Once I found out the transfers weren't guaranteed to happen from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami, it made my decision to use an outside transportation company much easier. I just wanted stuff to be planned and ready to go. I'm not a very patient person. Any luck on air yet? I have some people in my group that haven't booked yet because they're praying prices will drop, but based on what I've seen so far, I don't know if that is going to happen.

It's getting closer and closer every day. We can't wait!

Susan

 

[cheesemouse]

It figures - airfare on both Delta and SW from MSP is down today. Only $20 less than I booked it for, but still...grrrr. I know I shouldn't even look but I can't seem to help myself. I should probably work on some transfer stuff but it's one of my least favorite things to plan. It's such a hassle with 3 kids in car seats. I'm so NOT hauling 3 car seats with me, but it's hard to find people that provide them with transfers, and makes taking a cab near impossible. I love my kids, but man are they a hassle to travel with.

 

[disneypoor]

It figures - airfare on both Delta and SW from MSP is down today. Only $20 less than I booked it for, but still...grrrr. I know I shouldn't even look but I can't seem to help myself. I should probably work on some transfer stuff but it's one of my least favorite things to plan. It's such a hassle with 3 kids in car seats. I'm so NOT hauling 3 car seats with me, but it's hard to find people that provide them with transfers, and makes taking a cab near impossible. I love my kids, but man are they a hassle to travel with.

I do the same thing that you're doing--I keep checking air even though I've already booked. Sometimes it depresses me and other times it makes me happy. I'm surprised it dropped though. With it being spring break, I really didn't think it would go down. My sister still hasn't purchased her air, and I'm so nervous for her! SW just keeps going up from Kansas City, and on the two flights we are on, three of them are sold out. I hope she gets something booked soon so I can quit worrying about it!

Take care and keep us posted on what you decide for transportation.

Susan

 

[Trep72]

Since almost everyone has Facebook profile nowadays, I have created a closed group dedicate to our cruise!

It is listed as Disney Wonder - March 16, 2013 - Western Caribbean

Please stop by the group and ask to join. Since it's closed, I'll have to add people as they request.

This could be a great way to communicate to a larger group of people who are going to be on our cruise, but do not have a DISBoards account.

(You can also friend me on FB: http://www.facebook.com/intrepid72)