Whole package????

[TheShea's]

We booked everything but our flights through Disney. Second time we've done so and the process was very easy. We're AAA Premier members and I did an apples to apples comparison with AAA and WDW Travel was a better deal.

 

[mickeynut1]

Will prices go up or down the closer we get to October?

Depending on where you're flying out of, it is possible for fares to go down. We are in NWI and fly Southwest out of Midway and fares are usually highest the day they come out and then decrease as time goes on (although they eventually get to a point where they increase and stay there). With that said, people in other areas that fly Southwest have reported that fares are the cheapest the day they come out and just increase from there. If you are comfortable with the fares you are seeing, I say go ahead and book; but if you think they're a little high and there's a good chance they will come down, I'd wait it out and see what happens. If you decide to wait, I'd check on a regular basis as you never know when you might hit a good fare. Good luck .

 

[MacDalt]

Right now they are $340 round trip.

 

[mickeynut1]

Right now they are $340 round trip.

Speaking from our experience, that's a pretty high fare for going out of Chicago Midway. I see you're from IN, so depending on where in IN and what airport you fly out of, it might be high or it might be an OK fare. Our last trip to Disney was in December 2010 (right before Christmas) and we paid around $900 for 4 of us R/T.

 

[MacDalt]

Speaking from our experience, that's a pretty high fare for going out of Chicago Midway. I see you're from IN, so depending on where in IN and what airport you fly out of, it might be high or it might be an OK fare. Our last trip to Disney was in December 2010 (right before Christmas) and we paid around $900 for 4 of us R/T.

We fly out of Indy. I was thinking if I could keep it under $300 rt, that would be good. But I just don't know if the rates will go down or if i will be stuck paying more.

 

[Rhody Red]

We book everything but the Flights through Disney. Last year, we couldn't find anything through them that didn't have a Layover, and also no Southwest Flights showed up. So, we booked through Southwest separately, and got what we wanted.

We did the same for this September's Trip.

 

[mickeynut1]

We fly out of Indy. I was thinking if I could keep it under $300 rt, that would be good. But I just don't know if the rates will go down or if i will be stuck paying more.

We've never flown out of Indy and I'm not familiar with fares out of there, but $340 would be alot for me to swallow. So if it were me, I think I'd watch the fares a little longer. It's still a little early, IMO, that I think the fares can/will come down at least a little. Buying airfare is always a gamble because it changes so often. One plus, though, with SWA is that if you buy and the fare goes down, you can get a credit to use within a year. The credit must be used within a year of when you originally purchased and not from when you got the credit, but if you will be flying again within that time period, the credit will come in handy. Good luck.

 

[drp4video]

I book everything separately especially when I have Disney Visa points to use on the room or park tickets. For me, it usually comes out cheaper than buying a package.

 

[ARAITHEL]

I've done both, but booking separate works better for me. I can start paying a little a month for my vacation and not have to lay out all of the $$ for plane tickets right off of the bat. I checked on the combined air and package deals when I booked our April package, and ended up getting a better flight through southwest. It's a straight flight to MCO! I guess I like shopping around for my own airfare and waiting for the best deals...

 

[MacDalt]

Right now they are $340 round trip.

I found them on SW for $ 262 with the Wanna Get Away fare. I guess that means I can't change the dates or cancel. Anyone else do this?

 

[mickeynut1]

I found them on SW for $ 262 with the Wanna Get Away fare. I guess that means I can't change the dates or cancel. Anyone else do this?

The Wanna Get Away fares are the cheapest with stipulations, but you can still get a lower price later on if the fare drops, as well as change your dates if you need to. If you do find a lower fare and/or change flights for a cheaper price, you will get a credit through SWA to use at a later date, but you won't get an actual "refund". You can also cancel flights and get a credit (to be used within a year of the date originally purchased), but no money will be refunded back to your cc. "Refunds" on Wanna Get Away fares for price drops are in the form a SWA credit.

 

[amberpi]

We book everything separately. We try to stay at the Swolphin when they have openings, so book that directly to get our SPG points and book our flight (through SW, and my DH flies free on my companion pass) directly with SW to take advantage of said perk. Note that if you book through WDW/Expedia at the Swan for instance, you won't get your SPG points. If we can't get in at the Swolphin, we try the CR and then the YC and will compare WDW rates vs. Expedia rates. For the girls marathon trip in Jan., I saved a decent amount booking AKL through Expedia instead of through WDW direct.

We go multiple times a year for a 3-4 days at a time, so buy 10 day no expiration park hoppers. I'd love to do a longer time at WDW, but DH can only take so much WDW or Vegas, so we hit them more often for longer amounts of time. I know for our April trip, I'd like to hit Blizzard Beach which means we won't do the AK, which is fine, I just did AK with the girls in Jan. and will do it again during F&W. I think this, like almost everything about WDW, is about you and your party travel.

 

[Robbi]

I always book separately and then if we've decided to do the dining plan, I book it 5 days before our trip. If you book a package and anything happens w/in 45 days of your trip, you lose your deposit. Booking everything separately allows changes until 5 days before a trip.

 

[Disneylover99]

I found them on SW for $ 262 with the Wanna Get Away fare. I guess that means I can't change the dates or cancel. Anyone else do this?

So... Did you book??

 

[MacDalt]

So... Did you book??

Not yet. I have to double check with school to make sure that's our fall break AND I have to tell DH. He knows nothing yet. Wish me luck with that!

 

[MacDalt]

We are actually headed to Florida next week for spring break. Driving down, condo on the beach, doing one day at MK, rope drop to close. Im not sure if I should tell DH about October mother/daughter trip before or after spring break. Our "plan" is to bring it up while at Disney. Lol!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I always book separately and then if we've decided to do the dining plan, I book it 5 days before our trip. If you book a package and anything happens w/in 45 days of your trip, you lose your deposit. Booking everything separately allows changes until 5 days before a trip.

I agree...prepay as little as possible unless it involves a significant discount...and be very aware if cancellation/change fees. Prefer room only res. And add tickets at checkin...