WWYD?? Xmas Trip!!

[csjordan]

I'll try to keep this as short as possible...could use expert advice on whether to fly out Christmas Day or wait until morning...

I purchased DVC points for 12/26-12/31 at VWL...so freaking excited...it is a surprise trip for Christmas for the kids. I plan to stay until 1/1, so I will have to make a separate ressie for 1 night (if any advice on this...please share). Want to go to HS for New Year's eve, so I'm thinking on-site is best.

My big question is whether to fly out out Xmas day or wait until morning. We usually fly SW, and they don't have the schedule out yet, but they typically have a late afternoon flight out of RDU (12/25) and an early morning flight (12/26 that gets in around 8:10 am). I would like to go ahead and fly in on 12/25 evening, but I hate to pay premium prices for a night at on-site hotel where we will only be there for a few hours). BUT, I'm afraid to wait until morning, due to crowds at WDW for the holidays (was considering either Epcot or AK that day...day after Christmas). If I could find a DTD hotel that has transportation from the airport for 12/25 night, I would probably go ahead and fly out 12/25. BUT, since we won't have a car, I would have to take a taxi to the WL...any ideas??? All advice welcome and appreciated!!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would go ahead and book rooms that can be cancelled for right now. That gives you time to snoop around for a better deal, if that's even possible for that time frame. I think your best bet is to book an onsite(value) room to get the DME perk. You probably could get a low price offsite room but then when you add in taxi fare you will be right around the same cost. Another option is to watch the DVC rent/trade board to see if someone has a low number of points to rent that could get you into VWL for that single night.

As far as flights go....I fly from BUF and the summer/fall sched has changes drastically. It used to be fairly predictable but this year not at all. So I wouldn't count on seeing any particular flight from your airport. You will have to wait and see when they open up the dates. In general, it's less expensive to fly on Xmas day than the day after.

 

[csjordan]

I would go ahead and book rooms that can be cancelled for right now. That gives you time to snoop around for a better deal, if that's even possible for that time frame. I think your best bet is to book an onsite(value) room to get the DME perk. You probably could get a low price offsite room but then when you add in taxi fare you will be right around the same cost. Another option is to watch the DVC rent/trade board to see if someone has a low number of points to rent that could get you into VWL for that single night.

As far as flights go....I fly from BUF and the summer/fall sched has changes drastically. It used to be fairly predictable but this year not at all. So I wouldn't count on seeing any particular flight from your airport. You will have to wait and see when they open up the dates. In general, it's less expensive to fly on Xmas day than the day after.

Hi There! Thanks for the advice! SW flights out of RDU seem about the same this year as last, so I feel like there will be similar flights. BUT, I would rather book a refundable room and know that I have something. I tried to book the original ressie 12/26-1/1, but the VWL studios had nothing available for 12/31. I was considering Art of Animation since we've never stayed there for 12/31, but I hate to book a room we will only see after midnight on 12/31 (or rather 1/1 by the time we get back to the room New Year's Eve), but I have to book somewhere and the values seem the most obvious choice. Just wasn't sure whether there was a DTD hotel with transportation to/from MCO.

Thanks again for responding!