October half term 2014 direct flight prices help

[Mummycat]

Hi everyone we're looking at going to disney October 2014, ideally 17th-31st october as this includes half term. Another reason for going at this time is it will be our 12th wedding anniversary, after we married at sunset point Polynesian resort. We would love to renew our vows/wedding blessing at the Polynesian on the actual date of 25th October.
I've tried doing dummy bookings for this year with virgin Atlantic to get a rough idea but as we'd like to depart on a Friday the flights of miles plus money are all gone so not really getting any clue.
Can anybody give me a rough ball park figure of what they've paid for 2 adults and 2 children, pref direct with virgin Atlantic (as have some air miles I can use for miles plus money). thank in advance

 

[MrRomance]

Hi everyone we're looking at going to disney October 2014, ideally 17th-31st october as this includes half term. Another reason for going at this time is it will be our 12th wedding anniversary, after we married at sunset point Polynesian resort. We would love to renew our vows/wedding blessing at the Polynesian on the actual date of 25th October.
I've tried doing dummy bookings for this year with virgin Atlantic to get a rough idea but as we'd like to depart on a Friday the flights of miles plus money are all gone so not really getting any clue.
Can anybody give me a rough ball park figure of what they've paid for 2 adults and 2 children, pref direct with virgin Atlantic (as have some air miles I can use for miles plus money). thank in advance

We renewed our wedding vows at the Poly last year. I don't know if you know about it but Disney just introduced a package called the "Memories Collection" which is perfect for small vow renewal ceremonies and you can have it at Luau Beach. I think it's $2495.

As for the flights, we are looking for flights for the same time (we are going 28th Oct - 11th Nov 2014) we are also going the same time this year and we got our flights in the BA sale in December, we paid £825 each Fly Drive in Premium Economy, if we were flying economy it would have been about £520 each. Virgin had a sale around the same time, but we had such a crappy experience last year with them, we won't use them again!

 

[joolz1910]

We paid around £550 each for 29th Oct - 12th Nov last year with Virgin from Manchester.

 

[Mummycat]

We renewed our wedding vows at the Poly last year. I don't know if you know about it but Disney just introduced a package called the "Memories Collection" which is perfect for small vow renewal ceremonies and you can have it at Luau Beach. I think it's $2495.

As for the flights, we are looking for flights for the same time (we are going 28th Oct - 11th Nov 2014) we are also going the same time this year and we got our flights in the BA sale in December, we paid £825 each Fly Drive in Premium Economy, if we were flying economy it would have been about £520 each. Virgin had a sale around the same time, but we had such a crappy experience last year with them, we won't use them again!

Great to know that prices aren't too inflated for the half term. Looking at booking DIY again for old key west, just hope we like it when we go for the first time this year!
Yes the memories collection looks perfect as it will just be the 4 of us and it will be nice to share it with the kids. Just hope all the disney vacation club building doesn't interfere with the beauty of the Polynesian and luau beach. Any tips you want to share gratefully received.

 

[Mummycat]

We paid around £550 each for 29th Oct - 12th Nov last year with Virgin from Manchester.

Thanks juliette good to have a price in mind. Loved your trip report by the way

 

[MrRomance]

Great to know that prices aren't too inflated for the half term. Looking at booking DIY again for old key west, just hope we like it when we go for the first time this year!
Yes the memories collection looks perfect as it will just be the 4 of us and it will be nice to share it with the kids. Just hope all the disney vacation club building doesn't interfere with the beauty of the Polynesian and luau beach. Any tips you want to share gratefully received.

We usually stay at Saratoga Springs, we did consider Old Key West and we drove over there during our trip last year but it just didn't have the right "feel" for us. I have to say that the CMs at Saratoga Springs were absolutely phenomenal for our wedding vow renewal. We had a bit of a mishap...the limo collects from the main lobby area and our room was quite a way from the lobby! We called over to the lobby and they sent transportation over to collect my DW and daughter and take them to the lobby.

I actually arranged our renewal as a surprise for my DW. Long story short, we didn't have much of a wedding first time around. My DW is from the US and due to visa restrictions we had to get married within 6 months of her moving to the UK. We had a quick registry office deal and planned to have a "real wedding" later in the year but we adopted our kids and it never happened. Memories is ideal, especially if you only have the 4 of you. I would definitely recommend Rev. Tim Herring as your officiant because he actually writes "family" renewals where he will also involve the kids. He was fantastic.

The only downside to Memories is that it doesn't include your reception meal and the photography package included isn't great. I arranged a reception meal with Disney Catered Events and hired an outside photographer (Randy Chapman) who was absolutely brilliant too.

In total, our renewal cost around $4500, but we had an amazing day. The current DVC construction shouldn't affect you too much on Luau Beach but I'm not sure when they will start with the DVC at the Poly which will affect Luau. If you have any questions, please PM me and I'll be happy to help out.

 

[joolz1910]

Thanks juliette good to have a price in mind. Loved your trip report by the way

Thanks.
October half-term was a perfect time to go. I really wish we could go at that time again. You will have a great time.

 

[Mummycat]

We usually stay at Saratoga Springs, we did consider Old Key West and we drove over there during our trip last year but it just didn't have the right "feel" for us. I have to say that the CMs at Saratoga Springs were absolutely phenomenal for our wedding vow renewal. We had a bit of a mishap...the limo collects from the main lobby area and our room was quite a way from the lobby! We called over to the lobby and they sent transportation over to collect my DW and daughter and take them to the lobby.

I actually arranged our renewal as a surprise for my DW. Long story short, we didn't have much of a wedding first time around. My DW is from the US and due to visa restrictions we had to get married within 6 months of her moving to the UK. We had a quick registry office deal and planned to have a "real wedding" later in the year but we adopted our kids and it never happened. Memories is ideal, especially if you only have the 4 of you. I would definitely recommend Rev. Tim Herring as your officiant because he actually writes "family" renewals where he will also involve the kids. He was fantastic.

The only downside to Memories is that it doesn't include your reception meal and the photography package included isn't great. I arranged a reception meal with Disney Catered Events and hired an outside photographer (Randy Chapman) who was absolutely brilliant too.

In total, our renewal cost around $4500, but we had an amazing day. The current DVC construction shouldn't affect you too much on Luau Beach but I'm not sure when they will start with the DVC at the Poly which will affect Luau. If you have any questions, please PM me and I'll be happy to help out.

Thanks for that your vow renewal sounded lovely. I've sent you a PM to pick your brains! Thanks catherine

 

[littlesos]

We're going then!
I've booked OKW as we stayed there last year (our first visit to WDW) and we really loved the laid back, quiet feel of the place. My girls (5 and 9) loved it too, although I suspect they would have been happy anywhere.
We arrive on the 18th Oct for 10nights, came to £2473 incl park tickets and dining plan.

I am a bit worried about the flights, but there are sales around Christmas/new Year, so I'm hoping for the best.

Rach

 

[Brave5]

We are also going then (OKW)!!!! I've been tracking flight prices and the best deals seem to come out in Nov/Dec and cheaper still if you fly on Wed or Thur. I will be watching them closely starting in September. We are flying US air this summer to Seattle and their prices to Orlando are very very good - so if we have a good flight with them this summer I will move them to the top of our list for Orlando.

 

[Sencybil]

Hi

I am going October 2013 (yippee!) including half term.

We paid £1936 for 2 adults and one child Virgin Atlantic (Economy) Gatwick to MCO, flying out on a Friday way before half term starts and back the Sunday that UK half term ends. I booked within 10 minutes of the return flights being released, and by the next morning they were substantially more expensive. Saturday return flights were more expensive too.

I could have got indirect returns for about £550 each with a wide choice of airlines, but reckoned the £85pp odd extra was worth it for direct for first time with a child .....

I've kept an eye on the price for those flights since, and they've never been close to that low even when the sale was on - so I reckon that's the least you should count on. Its awkward because the airlines release their fights at slightly different times, so its impossible to do a comparison when you really want to! (I was considering Aer Lingus via Dublin, but only if it was a significant saving - but if I'd waited for Aer Lingus to release their flight price then the Virgin flights would have been much more. Same with BA). Prices definitely are inflated around half term weekends, but if you can travel midweek then it helps a lot.

Good luck!

Sencybil x

 

[scoobydooby]

Hi

I am going October 2013 (yippee!) including half term.

We paid £1936 for 2 adults and one child Virgin Atlantic (Economy) Gatwick to MCO, flying out on a Friday way before half term starts and back the Sunday that UK half term ends. I booked within 10 minutes of the return flights being released, and by the next morning they were substantially more expensive. Saturday return flights were more expensive too.

I could have got indirect returns for about £550 each with a wide choice of airlines, but reckoned the £85pp odd extra was worth it for direct for first time with a child .....

I've kept an eye on the price for those flights since, and they've never been close to that low even when the sale was on - so I reckon that's the least you should count on. Its awkward because the airlines release their fights at slightly different times, so its impossible to do a comparison when you really want to! (I was considering Aer Lingus via Dublin, but only if it was a significant saving - but if I'd waited for Aer Lingus to release their flight price then the Virgin flights would have been much more. Same with BA). Prices definitely are inflated around half term weekends, but if you can travel midweek then it helps a lot.

Good luck!

Sencybil x

Do they release them at midnight? I've also found booking the first day Virgin is available the cheapest but never know when they come on line exactly.

Thanks

 

[Mummycat]

Thanks for the responses guys guess we'll all be on tender hooks!
So in general what day of the week is cheapest? The kids will have to miss some school anyway and the fine is the same once you hit 5 days () so it doesn't matter too much which day we fly (bad mummy I know but only 2 years until senior school so doing it whilst we can!).
I know Disney can be flexible with moving dates but hoping to get it right from the start.
How busy is it around half term? We usually go September when it's lovely and quiet.
Thanks
Catherine

 

[Mummycat]

Just counted back 11 months from October 2014- we'll have been back from Florida about 3 weeks-yikes that's tight-oh well we don't need to eat for a while?!?!

 

[dixonsontour]

Weekdays are usually cheaper to fly on - we went Monday 22nd October Last year as it was a decent saving.

 

[Sencybil]

Yes, Virgin released at midnight.

Depends a bit on whether the whole country has the same half term...we have 2 weeks, most schools only have one week. But the weekdays during the first week of our half term were more ££ because some schools already off, and people are missing a few days of school too. So if you're flying out that week then the weekday fares are still going to be somewhat inflated. Whereas returning the week that everyone is back at school was a lot cheaper than the weekend prices, so the extra day off (for us) or 2 or 3 days for you could make a big difference.

I think you can research in advance on what an indirect flight will be (they don't vary much as seemed to be little affected by UK half term) and then set a figure of what you're prepared to pay for direct. If you get a fare at that level or below then book it. If you don't then fall back on the less ideal but still do-able indirect option to keep within your budget.

Sencybil xx