Need some advice

[Twelovedisney]

I'm sorry this is so long. I do have some questions at the end. But I need to give some background info.

We will be at Disney the last week of August. Our package with free dining starts Aug 26 thru Sept. 3. When we go to Disney I always try to stay as many days as we can afford. In this case, I kept debating if we should stay until Sept 3, Labor Day when the kids start school the next day. I kept going back and forth on driving or flying. We'd be driving from Michigan to Disney and it's about 18-20 hour drive. So I thought if we flew, we'd have more time at Disney and with the price of gas, I thought it was worth trying to get good airfare prices.

So I started checking airline prices and the best prices were with Spirit or Southwest. But everytime Spirit had a special offer with a great rate, I would miss it. I was attempting to book Spirit and got all the way to the last screen and it kicked me back to the home page and then the rates were gone. This was probably the best deal I found at 4 round trip tickets for approx 600. Then Southwest had 4 round trip tickets for approx 715. So I decided to wait and see if the rates would drop. If they didn't, then we could always drive. Then Southwest tickets went up to approx 815.00 and I was starting to get worried because I didn't really want to drive. Well Spirit had a sale $ 24 dollars off tickets and I was able to get 4 round trip tickets for $535.00. It sounded like such a good deal and I was afraid if I thought about it too much I'd miss the good deal so I went ahead and booked with Spirit.

But to get this price I had to change our dates a little. I originally wanted to arrive on Aug 25 (Sat) so we could settle in before our package started on Aug 26 (Sun) . We're staying at POR and this extra night would cost 117.00 (taxes and all). This was the plan. Also, I wanted to fly home on Sep 2 (day before Labor Day) to give everyone a chance to relax before going back to school and work. So I planned on cutting 1 day off of the trip. Well to get this airfare at 535.00 we are leaving Detroit Aug 24 (Fri) at 5:45 pm arriving in Orlando at 8:30. And our return flight is Sep 3 (Labor Day) at 8:00 am in the morning. So I called and got the extra night at POR for another 117.00 dollars.

So I have quite a few questions for anyone that has the time to reply

1) Was I crazy to fly in on Friday night when the package doesn't even
start until Sunday. I just figured that 535 (airfare) + 234 (2 night
POR) = 769 is still cheaper than the next best rate at Southwest for
835.00.

2) We're leaving so early on Sept 3 that we'll be exhausted by the time we
get home. But we'll get that extra day on Sept 2.

3) Should I stay offsite those 2 nights and save money? But I didn't
think 117 was unreasonable. I could of also stayed at POP those 2
nights and saved 80.00. But then I would have to change resorts on
the 1st day of my package. Would you do this to save 80.00?

4) If I can get a good deal on a car rental, then I will rent a car for the
week. I was thinking of using priceline. Has anyone gotten any good
rates with priceline? Any other advice for getting a good rate on a
car?

5) Does anyone have any suggestions on what we should do on that
Saturday. We'll have the entire day without and park passes. If we
have a car, I was thinking of going to the space center. What do you
think? Any better ideas?

6) Did I pick the worst airtimes? And do you like Spirit?

Thank you for listening and I'd appreciate your feedback.

 

[jamstew]

I've gotten really good rates from priceline, but I don't know how good you can get on a holiday weekend. Just put in an outrageously low number and see what you can get. You can work up from there

 

[Hannathy]

We flew in 2 days early last August to get the best rates on airfare and didn't want to check in and not get the off season rate so we stayed off site. Stayed at the Lake Buena Vista Comfort Inn. Very close to DTD, cheap and OK. Worked out well, On Sunday -our Disney check in- went to POP at 7am checked in and went to the park for the day.

 

[stacy6552]

Ok Ok lets see. Did you make a mistake going early? No way. A bad day at WDW is way better than a day at home.

Staying at the Pop would be fine, because Disney will move all your stuff for you, and $80 will buy a few counter service meals for your family. On the other hand the $80 might be worth the better pool, if you don't rent a car and end up staying on property.

$234 isnt bad for an extra day of parks and food for your entire family. I'd probably spend the money there, rather then on a rental car, but that's just me.

 

[cccm]

Do you have AAA? If so I was getting a price of $65.60 for All Stars/Pop. I would stay at one of these and then move to POR before I would stay offsite. This will allow you to still use Resort services, no rental car to hassle with, etc.

I think you did the right thing with the airfare. Gas, wear and tear on the car would have brought you to that point.