The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 2

[tmfranlk]

OK, my trip planning dilemma lives on!!!!!!!!!! (for the record I have never even planned a trip this far out and I can't believe the trouble I'm having )

Now that I can price airfare for our trip- we are getting really bad prices!! As near as I can tell the problem is our return flight on 12/17. That must be too close to Christmas or something. The only window to get a cheap flight is Dec 1-15 (with a few days excluded). That means we have to go during Pop Warner week

DH doesn't want to upgrade to stay at AKL (at this point I can't even get a standard room at WL for any days in that 15 day window ). We were supposed to stay at POR but I don't want to be by the Pop group. I guess we'll have to try for POFQ but half the time when I pull the dates, it doesn't even come up available.

What's a girl to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that for airfare it is simply too soon. I know that for both Oct and Dec from Boston I am getting a very standard $203 price. I know that if I wait, I will certainly pay less than $150 and probably closer to $120. I want to say that 6 months out has been a magic number for me. After that, I start seeing the fare sales and good prices come out. Have you ever signed up for fare alerts on Travelocity? You can sign up to get emails whenever the price on a certain route changes (which you enter). You can opt for notices when the price drops or for when the price drops below a certain price (you name it). Sure you'll get notices for price changes that aren't for your dates, but I've also gotten several tickets to WDW, CA and MO through these notices over the years.

I am surprised about WL being full so early. I noticed that it was booked for the 1st week of Dec last year when I looked in the summer, but didn't know it booked so quickly. Have you tried booking single days and adding on? Also, have you tried various sources for the room? I've heard that some sources have different inventories available to them so maybe try a travel agent, AAA if you have it, calling CRO, booking online and maybe even expedia. I don't think the discounts that came out last year covered WL since it was so booked so you may not have to worry about that.

Good luck!

 

[tmfranlk]

See my last post and now it all goes out the window!!! At least I like to plan!

Me too! It's almost as fun as the trip itself.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I think that for airfare it is simply too soon. I know that for both Oct and Dec from Boston I am getting a very standard $203 price. I know that if I wait, I will certainly pay less than $150 and probably closer to $120. I want to say that 6 months out has been a magic number for me. After that, I start seeing the fare sales and good prices come out. Have you ever signed up for fare alerts on Travelocity? You can sign up to get emails whenever the price on a certain route changes (which you enter). You can opt for notices when the price drops or for when the price drops below a certain price (you name it). Sure you'll get notices for price changes that aren't for your dates, but I've also gotten several tickets to WDW, CA and MO through these notices over the years.

I am surprised about WL being full so early. I noticed that it was booked for the 1st week of Dec last year when I looked in the summer, but didn't know it booked so quickly. Have you tried booking single days and adding on? Also, have you tried various sources for the room? I've heard that some sources have different inventories available to them so maybe try a travel agent, AAA if you have it, calling CRO, booking online and maybe even expedia. I don't think the discounts that came out last year covered WL since it was so booked so you may not have to worry about that.

Good luck!

At this point it looks like we will probably just do POFQ- DH is adament that we will not upgrade to a deluxe!

As far as airfare goes, I'm not sure what to do.
If we go 12-6 to 12-13 we can get the flight for $187 (including fees) PP at the times we want. (But that is midweek to midweek and DH was hoping for Sun to Sun)
To go 12-10 to 12-17 (the orginal plan) is $250 pp.
To go 11-26 to 12-3 (SIL's choice of dates) is $375 pp!!!
I just don't know that I have the stomach to ride it out and see if the 12/10 -12/17 fares come down. On United's Ted site, they show the prices separately by date so it's not the 12/10 date that's a problem, it's any travel after 12-15 since it's so close to Christmas (ditto for the Nov 26 dates because of Thanksgiving)

I'm losing my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kristin

 

[julia & nicks mom]

At this point it looks like we will probably just do POFQ- DH is adament that we will not upgrade to a deluxe!

As far as airfare goes, I'm not sure what to do.
If we go 12-6 to 12-13 we can get the flight for $187 (including fees) PP at the times we want. (But that is midweek to midweek and DH was hoping for Sun to Sun)
To go 12-10 to 12-17 (the orginal plan) is $250 pp.
To go 11-26 to 12-3 (SIL's choice of dates) is $375 pp!!!
I just don't know that I have the stomach to ride it out and see if the 12/10 -12/17 fares come down. On United's Ted site, they show the prices separately by date so it's not the 12/10 date that's a problem, it's any travel after 12-15 since it's so close to Christmas (ditto for the Nov 26 dates because of Thanksgiving)

I'm losing my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kristin

I just found your dates for $201 on american and $210 on USair

also - you will proably be able to get a good deal on SW or Airtran - I think you can definately get a good fare on the dates you want!!!

I would pick your dates that you want to go - airfare will fall into place

 

[triplefigs]

I just found your dates for $201 on american and $210 on USair

also - you will proably be able to get a good deal on SW or Airtran - I think you can definately get a good fare on the dates you want!!!

I would pick your dates that you want to go - airfare will fall into place

Ok, our Queen! Find me ATL to MCO for 12/15 to 12/22 that doesn't break the bank. Cheapest I've found is close to $300 pp. No way! We'll drive. (Fun... three 5 year olds in a car for 8 hours...)

 

[julia & nicks mom]

the reason you have not found good airfare yet is b/c you have not reached the 300 day booking window yet - I can not even book your dates on travelocity - the airlines will not put out the discount fares right away - they want to suck people who are anxious to fly in before they drop the fares!!

airfare from Atlanta to Orlando through March is only 123 a person - you should definately hold out - I am betting you can get airfare for 150 or less per person!!

 

[bengalbelle]

Very nice Kate!

Happy Birthday Amy and Marti!

 

[triplefigs]

the reason you have not found good airfare yet is b/c you have not reached the 300 day booking window yet - I can not even book your dates on travelocity - the airlines will not put out the discount fares right away - they want to suck people who are anxious to fly in before they drop the fares!!

airfare from Atlanta to Orlando through March is only 123 a person - you should definately hold out - I am betting you can get airfare for 150 or less per person!!

Thanks, Kate. $150 is my magic number for fly vs drive!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Thanks, Kate. $150 is my magic number for fly vs drive!

I will watch it for you - the nice thing for you is that you don't have to fly so you can keep an eye out for fares until you get your number!! I am totally confident you can do it!!!

 

[triplefigs]

I will watch it for you - the nice thing for you is that you don't have to fly so you can keep an eye out for fares until you get your number!! I am totally confident you can do it!!!

That's what I'm hoping. And we should have enough Delta FF miles for 1 free ticket, so I may only need 4.

BTW, the Wendy's AirTran deal is blacked out on our return date, 12/22.

 

[tinknme]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!!!!!

 

[tinknme]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTI!

Glad to hear that you are having a good time & that the parks are not busy

I had my 1st dole whip float last week, oh those are good

 

[tinknme]

Hope you are feeling better & your surgery went well

Goodnight everyone...

Thanks for all the kind words...I apprecite it very much!

I am feeling somewhat better. I suppose it's a combination of things, weather, bad work day, worried about a surgical procedure tomorrow. I have a strange growth on my finger that has attached to the bone and has to be removed. DH says I'll have to use my nose to click the mouse Gotta love him...

Have a good night!!

 

[tinknme]

Hope Grace is feeling better so she can go to school I was woke up in the middle of the night with ds Riley in tears. His stomach was hurting & he was throwing up & then the diareha started. So he stayed home from school today as well. I do hope no one else gets it. I also got a call at 6am this morning from work, my manager has this as well & needed me to go in for her. Hope this bug goes away soon!

Brendita hope you get to feeling better soon as well

So finally this morning, everyone is going to school, right?? WRONG!!! We all get up, get dressed, hair brushed and then 10 minutes before we walk out the door --- Grace throws up!!!!!!!

 

[itdjbw]

So finally this morning, everyone is going to school, right?? WRONG!!! We all get up, get dressed, hair brushed and then 10 minutes before we walk out the door --- Grace throws up!!!!!!!

THis child has not been to school since the Friday before MLK Day! This is her 6th day of missed school!!

THen she spend 15 minutes crying so hard because I would not let her go to school, I thought she would throw up again. Now she is watching Disny Channel!

Will this never end????????

Sorry to hear Grace is still sick and you have to clean it all up and deal with it. Hopefully everyone gets well soon.

 

[triplefigs]

A few quick prayer requests please. Brantley-Kate has been sick since Sat pm with a 103 fever. Today she got a rash, and we figured out she has Fifths Disease. She still has the fever tonight, so she's missing school again tomorrow.

Just got off the phone with my MIL. My DH's grandmother is in the ICU with kidney failure. She has Alzheimer's and lives on an Alzheimer's unit. Well a nasty stomach bug went around the unit, and she got really dehydrated and it shut down her only working kidney (she has a history of kidney disease). They are doing surgery tomorrow, and my MIL is not sure if this is the end or not.

Finally, here in GA they have denied 65% of children enrolled in the medically necessary Medicaid for disabled children. Rees is being denied, and we will have to go to court to fight it. DH and I have no idea how we will make it without this extra insurance (we have incredible primary insurance but Rees' medical bills go into the 100's of thousands each year and the medicaid picks up what our primary doesn't). I may be doing a segment on our family in the Atlanta paper or TV. I will let you know.

So please keep us in your prayers. This week is really tough.

 

[lovespoohbear]

Ok, our Queen! Find me ATL to MCO for 12/15 to 12/22 that doesn't break the bank. Cheapest I've found is close to $300 pp. No way! We'll drive. (Fun... three 5 year olds in a car for 8 hours...)

thats the cheapest i have found for my dates too.i have 2 airports to pick from too. hobby or bush to mco. hope price comes down.

 

[Tammi67]

You've got it, Denise. If there is anyone who deserves any extra PD, it's you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.


If there is anything that I can do, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

[lmartin2711]

That's what I'm hoping. And we should have enough Delta FF miles for 1 free ticket, so I may only need 4.

BTW, the Wendy's AirTran deal is blacked out on our return date, 12/22.

Hi Denise

How many Wendy's cups did you get?? I send in last week enough for one round trip ticket. Come to find out the dates we are flying into Miami for our cruise and the date we are flying out are both blacked out. Oh well........our nephew is graduating from high school in June so my DH may use it then to fly in and out of Chicago.

Lynn

 

[marcij]

Denise -- So sorry to hear how the week is going! Many prayers and lots of PD sent to you and your family. That's a lot of tough things at once.