We're in the same boat. They just opened Sept 13-Oct 27. They don't even have internet specials for our dates yet. They want to see how many bookings they get at the high fares first. If they don't fill it up to their satisfaction, the internet specials will pop up. Those usually pop at anywhere from $99 to $129. Then after that you get the $49 special. Sometimes they'll throw the $49 out off the bat. My advice is to keep watching. But keep in mind there may not ever be a $49 special on your days/flights. Last year, by the time the $49 popped up, our dates were already over their target booking percentage so we never truly ever got a shot at our flights for $49. $99 and $129 were the cheapest we saw them respectively.
Last year for our dates, fun fares were still available up until about three weeks before we left. The Internet Special rates were available, but for our dates they never dropped below $99 on the way back and $129 on the way there. But there was still a flight available both days up until about a week before we left. Then about a week before we left, everything went to the nonrestricted expensive fare. Right now it's over $1100 for a family of 4 from here using the fun fares. That's too expensive. I can do it for less than $900 on Delta. We can drive it for about $200. We've driven it. It's not quite as bad a drive as you think.
You can also download Ding. Sometimes you get offers for ding fares that are really good. But we never got a Ding to Orlando last year.
My advice is to wait and see if those internet specials pop for you. You have to keep checking.
