think I'm too late for a sort of budget trip?

[abmitch01]

I'm toying with the idea of taking my 12 yr and 14 yr old to Disney over February break. They're too old to take out of school, we went last February and found the crowds surprisingly tolerable, so I'm thinking of trying again. But I just looked at Southwest airfare and by waiting so long to book, I lost out on $600 dollars of savings already. I'm guessing car rental and hotel might be the same thing. Last year we rented a house because we went with a bigger group, so the cost was low. What do you think, have I waited too long to plan a reasonably priced trip?

 

[Marionnette]

I'm toying with the idea of taking my 12 yr and 14 yr old to Disney over February break. They're too old to take out of school, we went last February and found the crowds surprisingly tolerable, so I'm thinking of trying again. But I just looked at Southwest airfare and by waiting so long to book, I lost out on $600 dollars of savings already. I'm guessing car rental and hotel might be the same thing. Last year we rented a house because we went with a bigger group, so the cost was low. What do you think, have I waited too long to plan a reasonably priced trip?

My gut feeling tells me 'yes'.

You can control costs by staying offsite and getting your tickets from some place like Undercovertourist. But airfare to Orlando during a school holiday is probably not going come down in price. And rental cars will also be high compared to the weeks leading up to the holiday.

I recommend keeping an eye on airfares since it looks as if the that is going to be the deciding factor. There are still more than 45 days until your dates and the airlines sometimes do one more fare sale before then. You can always choose an offsite location that has its own transportation to the parks (like the Downtown Disney hotels) and then skip the rental car if the airfare comes down to a reasonable level.

 

[hpfan100]

If you prefer SW sign up for the weekly email and DING service. Also check flights everyday for a week or so to see if the prices fluctuate. I've been checking flights to Orlando in January and they have been changing. Wednesdays seem to be a good day for checking.

Hotel rates should be easy to find deals for. Good luck!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

If your looking for the week around presidents day I wish you lots of luck. My YDS birthday is that week and I think it is jersey week or some such thing. Anyways stuff books up fast! Hope you find a deal and availability!

 

[disneymarie]

I thought the same thing, but there was no way to do a Presidents weekend cost wise. The rates are just so high compared to the two weeks before or after. I am trying a budget trip for early Feb. Just worried about the weather.

 

[Marionnette]

If your looking for the week around presidents day I wish you lots of luck. My YDS birthday is that week and I think it is jersey week or some such thing. Anyways stuff books up fast! Hope you find a deal and availability!

Jersey Week is in November.

Presidents Week is just Presidents Week. That's the reason that it is more expensive. You see a rise in airfare and room rates any time that the kids around the country are out of school.

 

[Marionnette]

Here are a couple of price saving ideas for the OP -

• Fly out on Thursday night before Presidents Weekend. The fares are $124 pp cheaper for the Thursday night flight than they are for the cheapest Friday flight.
• Check rates for just one passenger, then 2 and so on to see if there are at least some cheaper tickets available. Southwest doesn't do assigned seats, so it won't matter if you don't get boarding spots together. You will still be able to sit together as long as you are in the A or B boarding group.
• Check Southwest Vacations for airfare and hotel packages which may end up being cheaper than doing the "pieces" yourself.
• Check flyertalk.com forums for deals on airfare and car rental codes. Sometimes things are posted there that are not permitted to be posted on the disboards because the codes are not for the general public. You might find a rental code that you qualify for.

 

[JennSaint]

I think if you really want to make it happen on a budget you will have to pull the kids from school for a couple of days. Flying weekend to weekend during President's week is always expensive. We go every year and have always had to pull the kids out for about 2 days. This coming President's week we are leaving late afternoon on Wednesday February 15. So the kids are missing 2 1/2 days of school. Most of the teachers don't do much on that Friday anyway. I would use kayak.com to see if there are any other airlines with better prices. I will be hard to get nonstops for good prices now. So I think you will have to be willing to have a layover also.
Also if you checkin by February 16 you could stay onsite and get free dining. Then you wouldn't need a car rental.

 

[Disney-Chick]

Did you ever think about driving? That would save a bit of money and you wouldn't have to rent a car. Also look at checking in before President Day weekend. We went this past Feb and were there a week before President's Day. What a difference in crowds! We drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia and takes us 36 hours. We try to do the drive in 2 days, if not our biggest thing is to get to the other side of NY so we don't hit traffic the next day. I know weather can be a bit tricky but you are able to watch the days before and after so can adjust your dates. If we arrive early we always stay at Old Town, Kissimmee.

So no I don't think it's to late for you to book, just look at other options. Good luck!

 

[TravelholicBR]

If you are willing to have your kids miss 2 school days (february 16th and 17th) you can actually take advantage of the free dining. This way you would save on food and transportation, seen as you could take the Magical Express from/to the airport and you could use Disney's transportation system. Before I wrote this message I checked on Disney's website and there was still availability for february 16th check-in on value resorts.

 

[englishteacha]

We went last year to Orlando during vacation week, but we flew Tuesday of vacation, and came home Tuesday after vacation. I used 2 personal days of work. We saved over $600 by flying Tues-Tues. Even if I'd had to take the 2 days unpaid, we still would have saved money over flying on the weekends. I had to get special permission from the principal to miss those 2 days, but I got approval. I think your kids missing 2 days wouldn't hurt them too badly. Just make sure they're back in school on Wednesday! (Even if they're tired! Make them go!) In my case last year, one of the days I would have missed was a snow day anyway.

 

[abmitch01]

these are lots of really good ideas, thank you all.

 

[shoney]

If you are willing to have your kids miss 2 school days (february 16th and 17th) you can actually take advantage of the free dining. This way you would save on food and transportation, seen as you could take the Magical Express from/to the airport and you could use Disney's transportation system. Before I wrote this message I checked on Disney's website and there was still availability for february 16th check-in on value resorts.

We are taking the kids out of school on the 15th..going Wed to Wed. We are flying down on Delta and back on JetBlue (jfk airport). I found this to be the cheapest (200 pp RT) on kayak.com.
We are staying at POR and have free dining.

 

[abmitch01]

I don't think driving would be a viable option. I'm a single mom so I'd be the only driver. I found some condo options that seem reasonable. I thought about staying on site but even the All Star resort seems so high and the kids really want to do Universal or Sea World so we'd need a car. I just need to pull the trigger, already, lol. It makes me nervous for some reason for not having it all planned out far ahead.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I think if you really want to make it happen on a budget you will have to pull the kids from school for a couple of days. Flying weekend to weekend during President's week is always expensive. We go every year and have always had to pull the kids out for about 2 days. This coming President's week we are leaving late afternoon on Wednesday February 15. So the kids are missing 2 1/2 days of school. Most of the teachers don't do much on that Friday anyway. I would use kayak.com to see if there are any other airlines with better prices. I will be hard to get nonstops for good prices now. So I think you will have to be willing to have a layover also.
Also if you checkin by February 16 you could stay onsite and get free dining. Then you wouldn't need a car rental.

We're doing the same thing and I just booked last week!

We're driving and will probably book a vehicle tomorrow. We need a van because my folks are coming. We're checking in on the 16th at Pop so we got the free dining We are driving so I don't know anything about the airline prices. You could check Amtrak for the regular train or the Auto Train.

This is so last minute for us, but timing lined up and we are so blessed to have this chance for my parents to come with us-Dad has Parkinsons and thankfully, can still travel comfortably and is going to try a scooter! I know we will cherish this trip with him!

 

[abmitch01]

[ This is so last minute for us, but timing lined up and we are so blessed to have this chance for my parents to come with us-Dad has Parkinsons and thankfully, can still travel comfortably and is going to try a scooter! I know we will cherish this trip with him![/QUOTE]

we usually travel with my parents who were in ill health. the scooters were the only way they could do a park. Good luck to you!