Need your experiences with flights!

[lydia]

we're thinking of doing a package to wdw and the cruise. Our agent says when you book as an entire package (air included) Disney decides the airline. You basically get what they give you in terms of flights. This can even include stop-overs. When I asked what the chances were of getting Air Canada non-stop, they said they weren't sure. My question is, have any of you taking the package to wdw and the cruise ever gotten an Air Canada non-stop flight? What are my chances? Were the "other" experiences acceptable?
Help

 

[diz karen]

We took the package as we could not find our own air for as cheap as Disney was offering. We ended up on US Air both ways and we had to transfer on the way down and on the way back. The flights were not too bad. The wait time between flights were not very long. The only trouble we had was that our flight on the way home was not until 2:30. We got to the airport, from the ship, at 9:30. That was a long wait. They wouldn't even let us check our bags that early. We ended up putting our name on a stand by flight just so we could check our bags. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[lydia]

Thanks for your imput. Still deciding.

 

[Elaine]

If you are out of Toronto, you should get a direct flight to Orlando. I don't see why not. Disney will prob have you stay in an on-site hotel and transport you by their own luxury bus to the ship.

 

[lydia]

Yes, we fly out from T.O. The transfers from Orlando>WDW, WDW>Cruise, Cruise>Orlando are all part of the package. And although the entire "deal" is pricey this way, it gives you peace of mind that you will get to where you're going on time. My only concern, as I said is not wanting an american airline and stop-overs.

 

[CindyAnn]

Lydia - We are going to WDW next week, but had originally considered going when Disney was offering their "kids go for free" program last September. In August, when we would go in to book it on the Disney site, we might be offered a non-stop flight at one point, and a flight with stopovers in both directions literally 5 minutes later, only to have it change back to a non-stop flight the next day. It was like spinning a roulette wheel, and I'm assuming the Disney people would have been spinning the same wheel if I had called them. I'm not sure when you're going, but the January flights we got via Air Transat were fairly reasonably priced out of Toronto.

 

[diz karen]

We were told that for a $50.00 (per person) air deviation fee you could be much more specific about flights. You might want to check that out. I am sure Disney will put you on the flight where they will get a reasonable fare. Air Canada is often more expensive so I would not think the chances are great for that.

 

[funetics]

We go on the cruise on Jan 26 WOHOO!!!!!!
Anyways, We booked our air through disney as it makes them responsible to get us to the ship and home, so if there is any delay with the ship returning to port we don't have to worry about missing our flight.
We are flying from Calgary Alberta and are being flown AIR CANADA.
We fly Calgary-Denver-Orlando and then Orlando-Montreal(with a 4 hr delay yuck!!)-Calgary. We are a family of 3 with a DD3 for the cruise.
If you have any more questions please private message me or email me.
Nicole
Disney Magic Jan 26/02

 

[Momtoemma]

We are crusing March 9/02, and have been struggling with this air problem. We fly out of Toronto. Here is what I know.

1. if we do Disney air we fly on the day of cruise but do not arrive until 107 pm (seems late to me). This is only air Canada flight available that day.
Cost seems a lot higher (particualrly since there are 7 of us.
non stop.

2. air Transat a lot cheaper, non stop flight (ie day before) leaves around 6:45 am. Costs is about $550 (with taxes)/per person.

Would need hotel room and rental car. Extra cost around $300.00 US for the extra day plus food and what we would do there.

decided to go with Disney air because of such busy time of year and it is winter!!!!! Needed peace of mind that they will get us to ship however. Also means I do not have to leave work an extra day early.

If I can help furtehr, ask away

debbie

 

[Momtoemma]

PS they will not book you on Air Transat as I udnerstand it as it is a charter (their times of flights can change with little noticeas we discovered 2 days before our flight to orlando in Nov/01). Finally I think due to the cutback in available flights since 9/11, there is not much choice. I udnerstand AC is $1300 for the time of year we are flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which is shocking

 

[lydia]

Thanks to you all for your tips and experiences. The deviation fee that was referred to, is useless in my case our agent told me because she checked, and all the AC flights for the dates we need are sold out. I really am annoyed that a 2.5 hr flight to Orlando from TO because of stop-overs could be hours longer. (less time to spend at WDW) Plus my kids hate flying as it is. Nothing's worse than getting off of one plane in a strange airport and then sometimes making a run across their terminal to another airplane. Like I said, esp. for us Cdn travellers, this package does not come cheap. If it were a real bargain trip, well you put up with the hassles. Anyway, I'll just have to get past the travel portion of the trip and look ahead to all the fun (and hopefully relaxation) that awaits us on the cruise.............March break!

 

[CindyAnn]

Lydia - Just curious - did you look into flying out of Buffalo? (okay, assuming that they dig themselves out by March). I just thought that there might be more choice and perhaps cheaper prices since the March break time frame is so wild in Toronto.

Good Luck!

 

[Momtoemma]

Lydia you say March break? Are you on the Magic for Marcjh 9/02, we are and also flying from Toronto. We took the deviation from Disney (just last week/Jan 2/02) and have non stop AC from Toronto, on March 9 BUT PROBLEM IS WE DO NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 1:07 PM. We may change TO March 8, BUT IF WE DO THEN I AM CONSIDERING GIVING UP dISNEY AIR AND USING aIR TRANSAT (THEIR FLIGTH GETS YOU INTO oRLANDO AT 9:15 AM, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE ENTIRE DAY AT wdw), and save some dollars (that's US dollars for Disney). I think Air Transat is about $550.00 that day (nothing available March 9, plus would never fly charter on day of cruise), versus I think around $450 US through Disney which includes transfers. We only need transfers one way as we are staying an extra week after cruise. If used Air transat we woudl rent car on Friday (about $40.00 US with all taxes), and Radisson for night ($99 US). So for three of us including extra food cost it is about $1650 CDN versus $1600 US, so extra cost to use Disney air on day of cruise is about $800 Cdn AND get an extra day in Disney and not going to panic on day of cruise. What to do.

email me if I can be of any help. Good luck (PS there is also space I think the night before on AC which is non stop and gets into orlando at 11:00pm, and a Continental flight leaaves Toronto at 7am and gets in at noon but must transfer in Cleveland, and under no circumstances do I want to transfer!!!!!!!!!!! (my own pet peeve!)

Debbie

 

[lydia]

Debbie,
thanks for your imput.
P.S. we're not on the seven day Magic. Most likely, the 4 day Wonder during March Break.

Cindy-Anne,
no we're not considering Buffalo as an option. Thanks for your suggestion.