NC. January

[Jaci]

Jaci- yes we are also leaving the 24th returning the 25th to Southern Pines. I believe the train is #92 on the return trip.

I think that will be ours too! Wonder if it would be cheaper to share a van back to the station? We'll have four...me, DH, DD9 and DD6.

Have you decided where you are staying?

Hey, OP, can you add everyone's name, resort and dates to your OP?

Jaci

 

[postesf]

HI! I'm Stacie from Selma, NC... We are going Jan 6-11 for Marathon weekend. DH and I are doing the Half Marathon on Saturday.

I was just able to apply the AP code to ressies. 3 nights at CSR and 2 nights at Poly! Yay. I saved $340!!!

We are flying. Now I'm just waiting on some DINGS from South West Airlines. The reg price is coming up around $200-220 per person, but I know they will eventually have a Ding and I can save some $$$. Cross your fingers for me!

 

[dr28326]

Jaci- We are staying at the ASMu.

 

[dr28326]

If I could find airfare for 4 of us at about 150pp r/t I would cancel my train res and FLY! Hard to beat $98 a person r/t for Amtrak though...but it is a L...O...N...G... ride

 

[robinbutterfly]

I was just thinking.... if the weather is bad here in NC and planes are cancelled and we can't get to WDW, will they refund the money?
I am starting to worry about going in January.

 

[postesf]

If I could find airfare for 4 of us at about 150pp r/t I would cancel my train res and FLY! Hard to beat $98 a person r/t for Amtrak though...but it is a L...O...N...G... ride

Could be possible w/ the SW. Keep an eye out. Dowload the DING software if you haven't. Also, there is a DING watch out for Orlando flights as well (on the transportation board I think.). Sometimes they have them as low as $49 each way up to $89 or $99 each way. Good luck!

 

[dr28326]

I will sign up for that...Thanks! How soon ahead do these rates usually come out though? I can't wait till the last minute to cancel the train or I won't get a refund.

 

[roryc]

For those of you who have flexible schedules, Allegiant Air (www.allegiantair.com) flies from Greensboro and Wilmington only on Fridays and Mondays nonstop into SFB (Sanford...about 30 miles north of MCO)...but they can be silly cheap and the planes are huge...100+ passengers. I have flown Allegiant 5 times...three times when it flew directly out of Fayetteville, once when it flew directly out of Kinston and once directly out of Greensboro.

So, if you're going for any of the following combinations- Friday to Monday, or Monday to Monday, Friday to Friday or Monday to Friday, Allegiant might work for you.

Right now, in January, one way airfare out of GSO is $69 each way. Wilmington is $59 each way.

BUT, the prices can be seriously low...right now, you could fly in November out of Wilmington for $29/each way.

I've never paid more than $59/each way...and I've seen prices as low as $19/each way. I've found prices tend to be lower when searching online on the weekends (I mean you're looking at prices and wanting to buy on a Sat/Sun...you'll pay less for the same dates than if you book on Monday). That's not a fact, but that is what I have found.

My family of 4 flew in February and total airfare was just under $300.

Allegiant charges for extra bags and such, but it can seriously be a HUGE savings if the days of service work for your schedule.

We just rent a car from Alamo and tend to pay $25-$30/day...we generally go for 3-4 day trips so car rental isn't a crazy cost. It's cheaper than a shuttle and we have the car to take to Sea World or the Grocery store or whatever.

I'm wanting to plan a trip Jan 23-26...but my DH is saying "NO" right now; I'll break him though!

 

[dr28326]

I checked this out already and really good prices but...hubby and son has to work Friday and Monday so we can only travel sat or sun.....DARN!

 

[postesf]

I will sign up for that...Thanks! How soon ahead do these rates usually come out though? I can't wait till the last minute to cancel the train or I won't get a refund.

Seems right now the Dings are coming out for travel dates through Dec 20. I'm expecting (hoping) that within the next few weeks they will start having them out for dates.

The good thing w/ SW is that if you book at reg price, then can get a ding, you can cancel, and then apply your cancellation code to your new ressie. You need to have two windows open for this so can work on this simultaniously. Then, whatever credit you have left, you can use for for 12 months from your original booking date.

We've done this before since we had future trips planned. If you don't travel much, I wouldn't take the chance though... Just wait for the Ding and see what happens.

Good luck!

 

[Jaci]

Could be possible w/ the SW. Keep an eye out. Dowload the DING software if you haven't. Also, there is a DING watch out for Orlando flights as well (on the transportation board I think.). Sometimes they have them as low as $49 each way up to $89 or $99 each way. Good luck!

In 2004, two days after a week long vacation to the Bahamas, I got $35 one way on Southwest. I grabbed those suckers and went from there. First time I planned a vacation based on airfare.

J

 

[postesf]

In 2004, two days after a week long vacation to the Bahamas, I got $35 one way on Southwest. I grabbed those suckers and went from there. First time I planned a vacation based on airfare.

J

WOW! Can't beat that. How much you wanna bet we won't ever see $35 one way again!

 

[Jaci]

WOW! Can't beat that. How much you wanna bet we won't ever see $35 one way again!

I'd have planned a lot more trips....I was happy to find the train so in expensive. With four of us needing seats, it is definately cheaper to drive. DH doesn't like to drive it all in one day (or overnight), so that adds a motel and meals. I like that the train will cost about the same as gas, but no motel.

Can't wait!

 

[Mama of Triplets]

If I could find airfare for 4 of us at about 150pp r/t I would cancel my train res and FLY! Hard to beat $98 a person r/t for Amtrak though...but it is a L...O...N...G... ride

How long of a train ride is it?
I am in Willow Springs about 20 mins from Raleigh, and it takes us 9 hours with stopping to drive. I was just wondering the difference in time.

 

[dr28326]

It says 12 hrs by train but trains do tend to have delays also. But I am too old for those 10 hr drives anymore. I will take the 12 hrs in a train overnight so everyone can sleep and be refreshed for morning after breakfast on the train.

 

[Jaci]

tell me about breakfast on the train....

 

[dr28326]

There is a snack car and a dining car...you can go in and have breakfast. I do not think it is included...don't remember.

 

[Jaci]

There is a snack car and a dining car...you can go in and have breakfast. I do not think it is included...don't remember.

I'll have to look into that. I just figured I'd bring pop tarts, drinks, etc... But a change and short walk might be good come morning. Does it get crowded in the dining car?

J

 

[justtobeme2]

If I could find airfare for 4 of us at about 150pp r/t I would cancel my train res and FLY! Hard to beat $98 a person r/t for Amtrak though...but it is a L...O...N...G... ride

We got our ressies awhile back on some special then the fares went up and maybe they'll come down again! I keep looking at them even though we can't cancel...lol..I'm not sure why...glutton for punishment I guess. Btw we are flying out of RDU because my SO lives there so that did save us I'm sure.

 

[justtobeme2]

Robin, I worry a little bit about the weather and flying also but I figured what are the chances? Keeping my fingers crossed. The way I see it is if the weather is that bad I couldn't drive it anyway.

Wow those are some low fares on allegiant..I'm going to keep an eye on them.

Boy there sure is alot of us NC Disney fans!