This is part nine in my blog series: Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. You can read the rest of the posts here.
I get many questions from people who are thinking about visiting Walt Disney World and want Disney World vacation tips and suggestions. Disney vacation planning can be very involved and confusing as well, so the goal of this series is to start at the beginning, and look at everything you need to think about, in the general order you need to think about it. Each week’s post will be numbered and link to all the others so that, when complete, you will have a guide with all the steps and information you need to plan your own Disney magic.
Now that you have determined when you are going to go to Disney World…and where you are staying, the next major thing to decide is how you are going to get there. And as with many aspects of this process, you have some choices…and the most affordable choice is not always the most obvious.
Once upon a time, if you wanted to travel to Walt Disney World, you either flew if you wanted to save time, or drove if you wanted to save money. Then energy/gas prices started to climb, and now the best travel option for an affordable Disney vacation is not as obvious.
Flying is still probably the most popular choice for transportation, but getting the best price will require diligence and hopefully the ability book well in advance of your vacation. You will probably get the lowest airfares 4 months out, and then again possibly 6-8 weeks in advance. If you wait and book within the last 2 weeks, you will pay the most. Consider, if your travel plans allow it, to fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for the cheapest fares, and avoid Friday and Sunday nights. Traveling during holiday seasons or weekends? Do not wait, and book as soon as you can: waiting will probably mean paying more…if you even get a seat.
As to airlines, I suggest doing comparisons through the major travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity. Realize though that some of the “discount” airlines like Southwest or Jet Blue may not be reflected in your options, so be sure to get a quote directly with them as well. And register with each of the airlines you are considering: you may get special email offers, and with Southwest especially, their “DING” program often provides some pretty sweet discounts…but you need to be prepared to grab them fast, as they usually are good for only a few hours.
What about airports? Most folks fly into Orlando International Airport, and if you do that and are staying with Disney, you can use their Magical Express buses to travel to your resort, thereby eliminating the need for airport transfers.
But this is not always the most economical, and personally I always take a look at nearby airports like Tampa, and Jacksonville. Many folks also like to fly into Sanford, which is a smaller, regional airport that some smaller airlines use. Clearly, doing this will necessitate the cost of a rental car, so you need to do the math to see if your airfare savings will be negated by the cost of renting a car…but sometimes, especially during holiday travel, it is just worth it. Same thing goes for at home: if you can, see if you have other airport options to fly out of and see if you can get a better price using them if you do.
Make sure you consider additional “fees” such as cost for checked luggage, or additional booking fees that may be added if you are using sites like Travelocity. When choosing an airline these days, those extra bag fees can add up, especially if you have to pay the fee and THEN your bag comes in at over 50 lbs. Many folks have found it to be cost effective to just ship items directly to their resort hotel ahead of time, to be waiting there when they arrive.
When it comes to booking airfare, your best way to have an affordable Disney vacation is to plan ahead!
Related posts:
- Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Eleven: Driving There CAN be Fun!
- Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Twelve: Getting Around Once You are There
- Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Ten: Why Not Take a Train?
- Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Four: What is Your Budget?
- Affordable Disney Vacations Step by Step. Part Eighteen: Fun and Cheap Souvenirs
