Thanksgiving Dilemma

[PooksMom]

Hi all,
I booked a trip fot the week of Thanksgiving, (my dd's first year in school) I didn't realize how expensive airlines would be that week for a family of five.. I may cancel. If I don't how is it during Thanksgiving? Any Dinner ideas? We usually visit in december and early May, easy times Tank you in advance for any suggestions to save my vacation

 

[Ellester]

I've never been over T-day but I've heard its OK early in the week but really gets busy by Wednesday. I do know that if you want to eat on Thanksgiving, you had better call now. Friends of ours are going that week and they were having trouble getting the ADR's they wanted last month at the 180 day mark!

 

[Cruz91]

Are you staying on site or off? We went last year for two weeks at thanksgiving (the week of and week after) and it was great. Our families went with us (DW's and my folks) and DW's sister as well. Anyway - we had two condos, and we just ordered up a big dinner from Publix. I think the whole dinner with turkey and all the trimmin's cost us something like $45 - $55 for feeding 10 people, and we still had leftovers we ate another night! That worked out great for us...

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We have done Thanksgiving week starting the Saturday prior and coming home the Saturday after. Crowds definitely pick up over the holiday weekend, but nothing hideous. Yes, the airfare is pricey...everyone is going home for the holiday. It's really outrageous if you try and fly the day before or day after Thanksgiving-I wouldn't advise it. I think its a great time of year to go to Disney. If you can bite the plane fare bullet, I'd definitely go!

 

[bigmama67]

Actually, we are flying in the day after Thanksgiving and I got a pretty decent fare - $164 per person (we are flying Newark to Tampa though).

We don't plan to hit the Disney parks till the Monday. We are doing Chef Mickey's and a side trip on Saturday, and Sea World on Sunday. From what I've heard it should be quite doable at that time.

Have fun!

 

[vamom]

We also booked Disney for Thanksgiving (16-24) and are finding airline rates are high. Still holding out for Southwest to ***e through with a good rate. We are going to have Thanksgiving dinner at the LTT. From what I here we were lucky to get reservations. Good luck & hope you also find cheaper airfare. Don't give up hope yet!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Actually, we are flying in the day after Thanksgiving and I got a pretty decent fare - $164 per person (we are flying Newark to Tampa though).

We don't plan to hit the Disney parks till the Monday. We are doing Chef Mickey's and a side trip on Saturday, and Sea World on Sunday. From what I've heard it should be quite doable at that time.

Have fun!

Wow...that is phenomenal...is that round trip? If it is, I may have to start flying out of there again. I hate Newark Airport with a passion...too many delays, problems & long security lines. I've been flying out of Atlantic City and Philly for years now. Spirit and Southwest are my airlines of choice...gotta love those cheap fares!

 

[bigmama67]

Yep, round-trips on Continental, non-stops too! This will be for DH, me, and DS (who will turn 5 right after we get home.) I am thrilled. We are flying home on Saturday, December 1. We have a free week in a friend's timeshare (2 bedroom villa at Vistana Villages) and then are adding one extra night at Country Inn & Suites Calypso Cay.

I've never had any problems with Newark - but we are fortunate to live in Weehawken, NJ, about 1/2 hour away from there (and a very quick bus ride to Port Authority for La Guardia/JFK buses).

With the flight insurance for us ($15 each) the whole thing came to just under $590. And I only bought them last Saturday, btw.

Rachel in N.J.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Yep, round-trips on Continental, non-stops too! This will be for DH, me, and DS (who will turn 5 right after we get home.) I am thrilled. We are flying home on Saturday, December 1. We have a free week in a friend's timeshare (2 bedroom villa at Vistana Villages) and then are adding one extra night at Country Inn & Suites Calypso Cay.

I've never had any problems with Newark - but we are fortunate to live in Weehawken, NJ, about 1/2 hour away from there (and a very quick bus ride to Port Authority for La Guardia/JFK buses).

With the flight insurance for us ($15 each) the whole thing came to just under $590. And I only bought them last Saturday, btw.

Rachel in N.J.

How far is your drive (time wise) from Tampa to Disney? We always fly right into Orlando and I like that by 10am we could be in the parks if we get first flight out in the morning.

 

[bigmama67]

I'm told it's a bit over an hour straight down I-4. I haven't done it yet though.

So I guess if you tried it, you could easily be in the parks by lunchtime.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm told it's a bit over an hour straight down I-4. I haven't done it yet though.

So I guess if you tried it, you could easily be in the parks by lunchtime.

That doesn't sound bad at all. I may have to check into that if fares into Orlando are way up there on the next trip. If there's a big disparity, I'd definitely go through Tampa. Thanks for the info.

 

[bigmama67]

My pleasure. I was also finding that the fares to Orlando that were in the same price range were not non-stops so it was definitely worth it to me!

 

[Starr W.]

We caught Airtran on a good day and I'm getting a family of 4 down to Orlando(11/17-11/23) for $1100 from Detroit(and that's with the reserved seat fees). Direct flights! I usually budget about $1500 for holiday airfares.

I called for ADR's at about 175 days out, got everything we wanted(no character meals, heavy on DTD resturants since we're staying at SSR).

I'm now going to study the effect of SW opening their window and see how fare go through the rest of the summer(while eyeballing MLK weekend and Easter).

 

[AlyLynn]

Hi! We are also going at Thanksgiving, with 4 kids. We're driving. We've done the drive about 8 times roundtrip. We flew at Easter, and the kids hated it. Even over a 23 hour drive each way! Go figure! Maybe you could drive to a cheaper airport? We flew from Philly for $700.

 

[PooksMom]

Thanks for the tips, i am going to check some different airlines and fares to Tampa from Logan!

 

[Starr W.]

Thanks for the tips, i am going to check some different airlines and fares to Tampa from Logan!

Remember to check car rental prices too. Add a little extra time to your drive back to Tampa from Orlando. The times we have been in the Tampa area and driven the interstate towards Orlando(went to Lakeland to see the Tigers in spring training) the traffic was bad.

Now how I buy tickets is different then most people. First direct flights only at reasonable times. I'll pay more to have an assigned seat. So my budget basis is probably higher than most. Detroit seems to have a pretty active market with direct flights(NWA, SWA, Airtran and Spirit). It seems to get more competitive in the 90 day window.

 

[kitsch4]

If you do go then, I highly recommend eating Thanksgiving dinner at Crystal Palace. We ate there last year, and the food was great- lots to choose from. We've gone to Disney the last two years during Thanksgiving. We arrived in the middle of Thanksgiving week and then stayed through the following week. It was very crowded Thanksgiving weekend, so we didn't really try to do too many rides until the week after. And the weekend after Thanksgiving is when they tape the Christmas parade, so that was a bonus.

 

[LauraV]

We have gone during Thanksgiving week for our last three visits.
MK always seems to be extra busy on Turkay day so we usually go to another park that day.
We have always found this week to be a great time to go.
Enjoy!

 

[KevinCG316]

This will be my families 1st trip for Thanksgiving and i am so excited i cant wait. We have dinner res at Whispering Canyon for Thanksgiving night. I was on Southwest airlines the minute the fares came. We are going the day before Thanksgiving and coming home the following Wed. We are flying from Philly to Orlando and i got the price of $476 round trip for 3 people, i was so excied to be able to get the time i wanted and the great price also. I have never been so excited for Thanksgiving in my life.
Kevin