Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[kimyinpink]

Hi!
First time posting, but I've been lurking since just before free dining came out. This will be our family's first trip to Disney and I'm so excited! Originally I was able to book FD at CSR 11/28-12/6. Then I added a RO at POR for 3 nights when flight prices are showing almost that much cheaper to fly 11/25 rather than 11/28. And then on Wednesday afternoon, after trying to get ADRs as a 11/28 check in, I just happened to check and was able to book 11/26-12/6 ar CBR which is where we wanted. So my main question for now is how is everyone getting to Disney? This will be our first time flying with our children (DD7, DD4 & DS20mo.) and we are coming from CA. I'm trying to decide between SW and it's flexibility or United which has assigned seats and a nonstop flight. What would you do? Sorry if this is the wrong place for this question. I've just been following you guys the most and these forums are a maze to me!

So glad you decided to post. This is the perfect place to ask those questions. This group has been awesome and so helpful to me! We flew SW last year and are again this year. With the little ones the free baggage is key and like others have mentioned we are able to do family boarding which pretty much eliminates the need to pay for early bird. However our flight is nonstop. I cannot imagine having to switch planes. Bleh. That would be a huge consideration for me on the final decision. Glad u got ur dates all fixed! It's going to be an amazing time!

Oh and def use magical express. It is so smooth and economical.

 

[Meeko5]

DD was supposed to take a FD trip sometime this fall/winter but couldn't get her buds to commit. Now I want the two of us to go but there is nothing available at any of the values. I keep checking and hoping someone cancels or maybe they open a few rooms. Wish me luck and I hope to see you all there.

Boo! I hope something opens up!

 

[Meeko5]

Ditto the others - SW was good to us last trip and we managed to get great prices this trip too by flexing our dates a day earlier. Love the free luggage combined with Magical Express. Such a savings being in the Disney Bubble is so nice for us with young kids.

 

[Meeko5]

Hi!
First time posting, but I've been lurking since just before free dining came out. This will be our family's first trip to Disney and I'm so excited! Originally I was able to book FD at CSR 11/28-12/6. Then I added a RO at POR for 3 nights when flight prices are showing almost that much cheaper to fly 11/25 rather than 11/28. And then on Wednesday afternoon, after trying to get ADRs as a 11/28 check in, I just happened to check and was able to book 11/26-12/6 ar CBR which is where we wanted. So my main question for now is how is everyone getting to Disney? This will be our first time flying with our children (DD7, DD4 & DS20mo.) and we are coming from CA. I'm trying to decide between SW and it's flexibility or United which has assigned seats and a nonstop flight. What would you do? Sorry if this is the wrong place for this question. I've just been following you guys the most and these forums are a maze to me!

If you can't get a nonstop on SW I'd probably lean towards United. With 3 kids and one of them an infant the stress of a layover would tip me over the edge. We had a nonstop in and a short layover home and just with 2 kids it was a pain. Of course the price would be a big deciding factor too.

 

[MonaMN]

If you can't get a nonstop on SW I'd probably lean towards United. With 3 kids and one of them an infant the stress of a layover would tip me over the edge. We had a nonstop in and a short layover home and just with 2 kids it was a pain. Of course the price would be a big deciding factor too.

Agree. Nonstop if at all possible!

 

[Iowamomof4]

We're looking at flights from Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha, St. Louis (gasp! - that would be a long drive), and any other airport I can think of. Delta is currently in the lead as far as prices go. We're willing to fly down on Saturday instead of Monday if the price is low enough that we can afford two nights in a suite at ASMu. I love SW's no-change fees and free bags, but Delta lets us pick our seats (we don't qualify for family boarding). We would either be paying for EBCI for all 6 of us on SW ($15 * 6 people each direction) or paying for a couple checked bags on Delta ($25 * 2 or 3 bags) so I figure our fees will add up to about the same no matter which one we go with. That makes it easier to just look at the price of the flight for comparison's sake.

Anyway, I should post over on the transportation board to see if anyone has opinions on flying out of DSM vs. MCI (Kansas City) as far as TSA and security lines, ease of navigating the airport, etc... Those two airports are currently our best prospects but it's been years since we've flown so we feel like newbies.

 

[MonaMN]

We're looking at flights from Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha, St. Louis (gasp! - that would be a long drive), and any other airport I can think of. Delta is currently in the lead as far as prices go. We're willing to fly down on Saturday instead of Monday if the price is low enough that we can afford two nights in a suite at ASMu. I love SW's no-change fees and free bags, but Delta lets us pick our seats (we don't qualify for family boarding). We would either be paying for EBCI for all 6 of us on SW ($15 * 6 people each direction) or paying for a couple checked bags on Delta ($25 * 2 or 3 bags) so I figure our fees will add up to about the same no matter which one we go with. That makes it easier to just look at the price of the flight for comparison's sake.

Anyway, I should post over on the transportation board to see if anyone has opinions on flying out of DSM vs. MCI (Kansas City) as far as TSA and security lines, ease of navigating the airport, etc... Those two airports are currently our best prospects but it's been years since we've flown so we feel like newbies.

We have done Sun Country out of MSP for our last two trips, so you may want to check that as well. They have nonstop flights and we love them! We are going with Delta this time only because the times are a bit better.

 

[Iowamomof4]

We have done Sun Country out of MSP for our last two trips, so you may want to check that as well. They have nonstop flights and we love them! We are going with Delta this time only because the times are a bit better.

I did consider them, though their current pricing isn't very competitive I know it has been in the past. I am a bit concerned about traveling NORTH in late Nov/early Dec though! Really driving *anywhere* right then could cause us to have to deal with snow or ice (not as likely after Thanksgiving as it would be in Jan/Feb, but you know... the weather changes quickly that time of year). Hopefully prices come down and we can just stick to the local airport and not have to worry about the roads to and from.

 

[jlundeen]

I did consider them, though their current pricing isn't very competitive I know it has been in the past. I am a bit concerned about traveling NORTH in late Nov/early Dec though! Really driving *anywhere* right then could cause us to have to deal with snow or ice (not as likely after Thanksgiving as it would be in Jan/Feb, but you know... the weather changes quickly that time of year). Hopefully prices come down and we can just stick to the local airport and not have to worry about the roads to and from.

Being in the Twin Cities area (MN) Delta has been our choice for a long time due to the choices of travel times, and because I have frequent flyer miles and an AMEX CC (preferred for Delta) which qualifies for 1 free bag. I have to say that prices have been through the roof for this trip, and we finally just went ahead and booked using miles, right before another price/miles hike. I'm glad we did!!

Not sure what's going on, but I've never had to book our flights this early, but on the return trip, the plane is almost already full (including 1st class and preferred seats)! Must be some large groups coming home (MSP) that same day we are 12/3.

 

[MonaMN]

Being in the Twin Cities area (MN) Delta has been our choice for a long time due to the choices of travel times, and because I have frequent flyer miles and an AMEX CC (preferred for Delta) which qualifies for 1 free bag. I have to say that prices have been through the roof for this trip, and we finally just went ahead and booked using miles, right before another price/miles hike. I'm glad we did!!

Not sure what's going on, but I've never had to book our flights this early, but on the return trip, the plane is almost already full (including 1st class and preferred seats)! Must be some large groups coming home (MSP) that same day we are 12/3.

I booked using rewards on my credit card too - which is the one I have had since they were Northwest! Anyway - I was expecting these flights to be kind of expensive due to being close to Thanksgiving, but even while I was looking, the price jumped up so I booked ASAP.

We are flying back on 12/3 too - are you on the mid-day Delta flight (something like a 2 PM departure)? If so, we will see you there!!

 

[jlundeen]

I booked using rewards on my credit card too - which is the one I have had since they were Northwest! Anyway - I was expecting these flights to be kind of expensive due to being close to Thanksgiving, but even while I was looking, the price jumped up so I booked ASAP.

We are flying back on 12/3 too - are you on the mid-day Delta flight (something like a 2 PM departure)? If so, we will see you there!!

Yep 2:20 - we're flying down on Sunday and flying home on Saturday - luckily, my FLEX account (NorthWest which merged with Delta WAY back when) had enough miles for 1st class...we're old ladies now and have a hard time in those tiny main cabin seats! When we booked, it was 40,000 miles each and over $800 if paying cash - now it's 50,000 and over $900 for the same tickets. I figured that if we had converted those 40,000 miles to a cash back type of reward, it would be $400....so in essence, we got 1st class round trip for about $400 each...which is less that the "basic economy" is now!

You are lucky you got seats on that 2:20 flight...there aren't many left!! Will be interesting so see just WHO is flying home with us! I keep checking just to see how high the price goes!

 

[heath92681]

So I tried out the touring plans reservation finder. Just got my first alert. If you're looking for a certain ADR, consider signing up. It's free and you can put in up to 10 requests. I got both a text and an email alert.

 

[jlundeen]

So I tried out the touring plans reservation finder. Just got my first alert. If you're looking for a certain ADR, consider signing up. It's free and you can put in up to 10 requests. I got both a text and an email alert.

Very cool. Can I ask which restaurant you were looking for? I have two TP resv finders going, but they are for restaurants that are not showing ANY Dinner opening at all on MDE.

 

[heath92681]

Very cool. Can I ask which restaurant you were looking for? I have two TP resv finders going, but they are for restaurants that are not showing ANY Dinner opening at all on MDE.

I have BOG for a slightly better ppo breakfast and an Ohana for a slightly later dinner time.

 

[MeghanG855]

So I tried out the touring plans reservation finder. Just got my first alert. If you're looking for a certain ADR, consider signing up. It's free and you can put in up to 10 requests. I got both a text and an email alert.

I had no idea that it was free! I just signed up...thanks!

 

[Meeko5]

So I tried out the touring plans reservation finder. Just got my first alert. If you're looking for a certain ADR, consider signing up. It's free and you can put in up to 10 requests. I got both a text and an email alert.

Yay! It's awesome right?

 

[Meeko5]

I just checked our SW flights again with all this airline talk. Up $600 from when I booked. Phew! Haha

 

[Meeko5]

Also I think this trip I'm going to bring some sort of small single serve coffee maker (staying in a value so no coffee pot in room) so I can make a cup while I get ready and not trek to the dining hall first thing, or drink cold coffee from the night before haha.

Anyone have one that they like? I'll probably just get the cheapest one I can find and leave it there anyway. It really only needs to work for a week so the less I spend the better!

 

[heath92681]

I just checked our SW flights again with all this airline talk. Up $600 from when I booked. Phew! Haha

Half of the Friday flights, including ours, are sold out. By the end of the day flights were released, the prices had doubled. So glad I booked at 6:30am!

 

[Meeko5]

Half of the Friday flights, including ours, are sold out. By the end of the day flights were released, the prices had doubled. So glad I booked at 6:30am!

My DH thought I was ridiculous for getting up early to book flights. And ADRs. It feels so good to say "told you so"!