It can definitely save you some money. It also gives you a car when you are there, which, depending on where you stay, can be a good thing. Sometimes, you don't even need a car, other times, it is golden and will save you lots of time and grief and even money (eat outside the world? Cheaper! Maybe not as fun, but cheaper!).
When you weigh driving vs. flying, please consider the costs.
Flying costs:
The cost of flying your entire family (see posts below for ways to cut those costs).
If staying on site-Magical Express = free
If staying on site or off site and want a rental car. Rental car plus all taxes and fees.
If staying off site and not an annual pass holder = $15 a day parking at parks
Transportation from airport to your hotel if staying offsite and not renting a car.
Driving costs:
Gas to get there and back.
Staying off site? Cost to park at hotel (sometimes nothing, sometimes a lot).
If staying off site, and not an annual pass holder = $15 a day to park at the parks.
On site guest park at parks for free.
Time spent driving (see next paragraph).
This one is a BIG consideration, the cost of TIME. Besides a lucky few, everyone has a certain amount of time allotted for vacation. Flying generally takes half a day, with security, checking bags, duration of flight, give or take. If you don't have to drive far, swell, but the longer the driving distance, the greater the difference between flying and driving, time wise.
Consider the physical cost of driving if it is a long drive too. You have to focus for that driving time vs. letting someone else do the driving. Drive for a long time, and share the duties help, but when you arrive at your destination, you will need some rest and sleep to recover. More time away from the main focus of your vacation.
This sounds like I am saying FLY! No matter what. I am not.
What I am advocating is, if you drive, take it easy. If you can take a break and make that into a mini vacation perk, do it. Stop and play. Stop and sleep. Stop. The good old USA has so much to offer, explore a bit. It will make for a safer drive. You will just feel better and more awake, when you get there. It will make a much more fun first day at WDW.
Benefit of driving? You can bring whatever you want with you. You are not bound by the confines of checked luggage. Much more fits into your vehicle then into bags.
Check out the cost of flying (early! costs are much more palatable) vs the cost of driving (time).
I do not have the answer for you, only you do. What I do want you to think about is that is not just the difference of cost of tickets vs. cost of gas.
Main Mouse
Parade Magic!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Magical Express
You have arrived and are staying a Walt Disney Resort! You are going to take the Magical Express (a company that is hired by Disney, it is NOT a Disney company) to your Disney hotel! Your vacation is beginning!
Here is the scoop from the Disney website:
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Here is the scoop from the Disney website:
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How It Works
- Reserve Disney's Magical Express Transportation when you book online or by calling (407) WDW-MAGIC or (407) 939-6244. Guests under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian's permission to call.
- Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.
- International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. After completing the process, proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will recollect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 4 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.
- Sit back and relax as Disney transports you to your Disney Resort hotel in an air-conditioned motorcoach.
- As your vacation draws to a close, you'll receive a Transportation Notice advising you of the pick-up time and place for your motorcoach ride back to Orlando International Airport. Please note that it is your responsibility to bring your luggage to the pick-up point.
*******
Ok, so the above details how to do it. You will also receive the Magical Express yellow tags for your luggage several weeks prior to travel along with information on what to do.
That said, there are things you might want to know.
If you have the Magical Express folks take your luggage (pick it up from baggage claim and transport it "magically" to your room), you can get to your room, sometimes, up to three hours before your bags do. Sometimes less, and a few times, sometimes longer. If this is a problem, don't put those yellow tags on your bags (that tells the ME folks to pick them up and transport them)!!!
Just leave the yellow tags off your bags, go down to baggage claim (level 2), claim the bags, and roll (hopefully, you will have rolling luggage!) them to Magical Express check in on the first level. Get in line with your bags and roll them up to the bus, and watch the driver put them on your bus. It's magic! Those bags will go with you to the resort and come off when you get there (don't forget to tip the driver for this extra loading and unloading). You take your bags right then and head to the resort check in desk. Viola', your bags are ready when you are.
When to use the yellow tags and when don't you? If you are going early enough in the day that you won't need your bags for a while, let Disney do it. Put on the yellow tags and relax and head to parks after arrival at your resort. Your room probably isn't ready anyway! Going to land and arrive after 2 or 3 in the afternoon? Might as well skip the yellow tags and grab your bags, so you can take them right up to your room, which will probably be ready by then.
Landing after 10pm or before 5am? You have to go to baggage claim. Do not use yellow tags! If you use them but are delayed past 10pm, go to baggage claim.
Last thing! Magical Express is a privilege of guests of WDW, staying on site at a WDW resort hotel. The ME goes between the airport and Disney World resort hotels ONLY. Not to the parks, not off site hotels, not any Downtown Disney hotel (or Disney Springs as it will soon be called), not Swan or Dolphin, not Shades of Green.
That said, what if you land late and want to stay near the airport or at the airport Hyatt Regency (it's in the Orlando airport and very convenient) and then go in the morning? You can do that! Call the Magical Express folks and set it up. You are a guest of WDW and you are going from the airport to the WDW resort. All good. Talk to someone at the Magical Express office though, and not a cast member from WDW. The ME folks know the exact rules about what you can and can not do.
Orlando Airport
Ok, so the Orlando airport is a large one, with gates and ticketing all on level three, Baggage claim on level 2, and transportation on level 1 (this includes the Magical Express, car rental agencies, and other forms of transportation).
When you land, take the tram or the monorail into the main terminal (all gates are out at satellite gate pods). There are two terminals, the A terminal (with two gate pods) and the B terminal (also with two gate pods). There are food choices in all of the gate areas along with a few shops. In the main terminals, you will find a food court and Disney specific gift shops (two of them in the main terminals), along with a Universal gift shop and many other ways to spend your money.
When you land, take the tram or the monorail into the main terminal (all gates are out at satellite gate pods). There are two terminals, the A terminal (with two gate pods) and the B terminal (also with two gate pods). There are food choices in all of the gate areas along with a few shops. In the main terminals, you will find a food court and Disney specific gift shops (two of them in the main terminals), along with a Universal gift shop and many other ways to spend your money.
Flying? What happens if.....
Oh flying. I love to fly. I fly a lot. Most of the time, everything runs smoothly and life is good.
But.
What happens if:
My flight is canceled?
Get in touch with your airline by all means necessary. Get in line at the counter, and get on the phone, and get on the website from someone else's phone (if you are traveling with someone). Rebook as quick as you can. Get that empty seat on another flight as fast as you can. Do not wait to make it to the front of the line, if you can do it on the phone or online, do it. Work out the details when you get to the counter. Most flights and airlines run at a very high load factor (how full the plane is), and if there are empty seats on a flight on the same day, trust me when I tell you that there aren't enough for all the folks on the canceled flight. That said, if you are in a large party or group or family, and you can split up, go for it. If an airline cancels a flight, also, very often (unless it is out of their control like weather and then it is sometimes, not all the time) they will give you accommodations and food vouchers.
They will get you out, just the when is a question. They wanted to run the flight too, promise and didn't cancel just to make folks cranky.
Another note, if you find a flight on a different airline, then you are on your own. You will usually have to buy that seat on the different airline. Your airline is under contract to you to fly you on that specific airline to your destination, not on any airline.
My flight is delayed and I will miss my connection?
Double check that you will indeed miss the connection. If it is the last flight of the night, often times, they will hold the last flight of the night for connections. Not always! But sometimes. I have seen it many times, especially with last flights of the night. Mid day or morning missed connections will roll over to the next flight, usually. You will be later then planned.
You miss the last connection and it is their fault, then see above. Go to the counter, see if there is an alternative way to get to your destination (Orlando or ?), and if not, ask for accommodations and food vouchers and to be rebooked on the next flight, the next day. If it is weather or something beyond their control, they aren't liable to assist in accommodations but maybe? It never hurts to ask!
I can't sit together with my family?
This one is tricky. For example, this is an issue with Southwest sometimes. The flight attendants WANT you to sit your family, promise. If you have a child who is 4 years old or younger, you can board with family boarding (between A and B groups).
If your child is 5 or 6, you are still worried but can't board with family boarding. You are late in the process of boarding. At this point, your best bet is, as you walk on the plane, talk to the first flight attendant you see at the door of the plane. Point to your sweet youngest child, and ask if their is any seats together or close to each other (middles in front and behind each other might have to work where you reach your hand through the seats to hold hands). Sometimes, the flight attendant will call to the back flight attendant and ask if they can move folks or save seats.
If your child is 9 or 10 or older, then resign yourselves to sitting separately and know the flight won't last forever. Sit in front of each other in middle seats. Younger (2nd grade and down), check with flight attendant to see if they can do something.
This flight is driving me nuts for whatever reason (noise, smell, clicking sounds, conversations)?
First, see if you can move. With today's heavier flight loads, this isn't always an option but maybe? If at all possible, just try to ignore it. No flight lasts forever (and trust me, I have been on some that I thought would never end). Peace and love, peace and love. If it is kicking on the seat from behind you, maybe give them a look. If it appears that the folks who are doing X which is driving you nuts won't be receptive to a gentle request, then DO NOT DO IT. Remember, that you are in a confined space with folks whom you do not know and do not know how they will react.
If the seat belt sign goes off during the flight, and you can get up and go to the back of the plane for a break, do that. Take the break. Maybe ask the flight attendant if there is anything that can be done. Sometimes all it takes is a professional in charge to make a request or point out the rules of the road to make folks understand.
Worse case, remember, it won't last forever, it won't last forever, it won't last forever.
But.
What happens if:
My flight is canceled?
Get in touch with your airline by all means necessary. Get in line at the counter, and get on the phone, and get on the website from someone else's phone (if you are traveling with someone). Rebook as quick as you can. Get that empty seat on another flight as fast as you can. Do not wait to make it to the front of the line, if you can do it on the phone or online, do it. Work out the details when you get to the counter. Most flights and airlines run at a very high load factor (how full the plane is), and if there are empty seats on a flight on the same day, trust me when I tell you that there aren't enough for all the folks on the canceled flight. That said, if you are in a large party or group or family, and you can split up, go for it. If an airline cancels a flight, also, very often (unless it is out of their control like weather and then it is sometimes, not all the time) they will give you accommodations and food vouchers.
They will get you out, just the when is a question. They wanted to run the flight too, promise and didn't cancel just to make folks cranky.
Another note, if you find a flight on a different airline, then you are on your own. You will usually have to buy that seat on the different airline. Your airline is under contract to you to fly you on that specific airline to your destination, not on any airline.
My flight is delayed and I will miss my connection?
Double check that you will indeed miss the connection. If it is the last flight of the night, often times, they will hold the last flight of the night for connections. Not always! But sometimes. I have seen it many times, especially with last flights of the night. Mid day or morning missed connections will roll over to the next flight, usually. You will be later then planned.
You miss the last connection and it is their fault, then see above. Go to the counter, see if there is an alternative way to get to your destination (Orlando or ?), and if not, ask for accommodations and food vouchers and to be rebooked on the next flight, the next day. If it is weather or something beyond their control, they aren't liable to assist in accommodations but maybe? It never hurts to ask!
I can't sit together with my family?
This one is tricky. For example, this is an issue with Southwest sometimes. The flight attendants WANT you to sit your family, promise. If you have a child who is 4 years old or younger, you can board with family boarding (between A and B groups).
If your child is 5 or 6, you are still worried but can't board with family boarding. You are late in the process of boarding. At this point, your best bet is, as you walk on the plane, talk to the first flight attendant you see at the door of the plane. Point to your sweet youngest child, and ask if their is any seats together or close to each other (middles in front and behind each other might have to work where you reach your hand through the seats to hold hands). Sometimes, the flight attendant will call to the back flight attendant and ask if they can move folks or save seats.
If your child is 9 or 10 or older, then resign yourselves to sitting separately and know the flight won't last forever. Sit in front of each other in middle seats. Younger (2nd grade and down), check with flight attendant to see if they can do something.
This flight is driving me nuts for whatever reason (noise, smell, clicking sounds, conversations)?
First, see if you can move. With today's heavier flight loads, this isn't always an option but maybe? If at all possible, just try to ignore it. No flight lasts forever (and trust me, I have been on some that I thought would never end). Peace and love, peace and love. If it is kicking on the seat from behind you, maybe give them a look. If it appears that the folks who are doing X which is driving you nuts won't be receptive to a gentle request, then DO NOT DO IT. Remember, that you are in a confined space with folks whom you do not know and do not know how they will react.
If the seat belt sign goes off during the flight, and you can get up and go to the back of the plane for a break, do that. Take the break. Maybe ask the flight attendant if there is anything that can be done. Sometimes all it takes is a professional in charge to make a request or point out the rules of the road to make folks understand.
Worse case, remember, it won't last forever, it won't last forever, it won't last forever.
Last Minute Flying
Ok, so you want to go to WDW and you want to go tomorrow or next week or within a few weeks. NOW even. There are lots of things I want to go over but for here and now, let's talk about flying last minute.
Generally, expensive. If you can plan ahead, swell! But if you are reading this, you want last minute deals.
Try the tried and true from previous posts:
www.kayak.com (everyone but Southwest)
and
www.southwest.com.
Try not to fall over in shock at last minute fares. If you are within three weeks of travel, it will be much more expensive, and within one week, top dollar.
Are there any alternatives? Yes and Sort of. Ok, there is an alternative, but the sort of comes into play with flexibility again.
www.priceline.com
These is one of my favorite last minute hotel booking sites. Car rental site too! If you need a flight, you can do this too and it will, most likely, get you there cheaper. There is a catch though.
Let's look at the site. Priceline has flights available with the airline listed and connection. Prices are pretty much what you would get from the airline site directly. It looks like kayak.com or expedia.com.
IF you are willing to spend all day going (or early or late or ? whenever they have availability), then hit the box for up to 40% off (this is on Priceline) and you bid. The catch is that you can't request a non stop or time of travel or airline. You can request a 1 or less stop flight to your destination. If you are ok with possibly two flights (and a change of planes) to get to MCO (Orlando airport code), then go for it. The fine print is that you can't really tell it where the two flights go on it's path to MCO or even what time of day it leaves. The time of day is IMPORTANT. You tell it a day, and it could be anytime on that day. Your flight might not leave until 7 at night, getting into Orlando around midnight.
Why is a connection a problem? Because if you are in Dallas, it could send you to Chicago or Denver or even Los Angeles, change planes and head to Orlando. You could have a long layover. What ends up on the discounted sites is the leftover empty seats. There is a plane somewhere, usually, with an empty seat to Orlando and the airline wants to fill it. You start from somewhere. They fly you to that plane with an empty seat, and then you fly to Orlando. This could take much longer then a non stop or even a scheduled connection (though double check connections on the airline sites too. They have some random connections as well) from a directly booked flight.
You won't know the route the flight is going to take until after you book it and pay for it, non-refundable (that last part is very, very important. You click buy and that flight is YOURS, no refunds).
The good part? You can get to Orlando, CHEAP, usually. Buyer beware for the length of travel time to get there and time of day you get there. If you are loose though and can take a day to get there, and you want to go last minute and you want to fly (and all day at the airport is still less stressful then all day driving but that is just me) there, check out these sites.
Another site,
www.hotwire.com
used to be buyer beware, hidden flight information until you purchase but I am thinking that perhaps they have gotten many negative reviews for this as now for flights ( I still LOVE Hotwire for hotels and car rentals), it looks a lot like Expedia in the listing of what is available.
The last site for last minute deals that I really like but destinations are hit or miss, so not a sure thing to get to Orlando specifically is:
www.travelzoo.com.
Sign up for their weekly newsletter (comes out on Wednesdays- The Top 20), as it is much fun to dream and go last minute to places. They cover all of the USA but deals can vary week to week as to destination or mode of transport. They run deals quite often on flights.
Ready to drive yet? More on that later!
Generally, expensive. If you can plan ahead, swell! But if you are reading this, you want last minute deals.
Try the tried and true from previous posts:
www.kayak.com (everyone but Southwest)
and
www.southwest.com.
Try not to fall over in shock at last minute fares. If you are within three weeks of travel, it will be much more expensive, and within one week, top dollar.
Are there any alternatives? Yes and Sort of. Ok, there is an alternative, but the sort of comes into play with flexibility again.
www.priceline.com
These is one of my favorite last minute hotel booking sites. Car rental site too! If you need a flight, you can do this too and it will, most likely, get you there cheaper. There is a catch though.
Let's look at the site. Priceline has flights available with the airline listed and connection. Prices are pretty much what you would get from the airline site directly. It looks like kayak.com or expedia.com.
IF you are willing to spend all day going (or early or late or ? whenever they have availability), then hit the box for up to 40% off (this is on Priceline) and you bid. The catch is that you can't request a non stop or time of travel or airline. You can request a 1 or less stop flight to your destination. If you are ok with possibly two flights (and a change of planes) to get to MCO (Orlando airport code), then go for it. The fine print is that you can't really tell it where the two flights go on it's path to MCO or even what time of day it leaves. The time of day is IMPORTANT. You tell it a day, and it could be anytime on that day. Your flight might not leave until 7 at night, getting into Orlando around midnight.
Why is a connection a problem? Because if you are in Dallas, it could send you to Chicago or Denver or even Los Angeles, change planes and head to Orlando. You could have a long layover. What ends up on the discounted sites is the leftover empty seats. There is a plane somewhere, usually, with an empty seat to Orlando and the airline wants to fill it. You start from somewhere. They fly you to that plane with an empty seat, and then you fly to Orlando. This could take much longer then a non stop or even a scheduled connection (though double check connections on the airline sites too. They have some random connections as well) from a directly booked flight.
You won't know the route the flight is going to take until after you book it and pay for it, non-refundable (that last part is very, very important. You click buy and that flight is YOURS, no refunds).
The good part? You can get to Orlando, CHEAP, usually. Buyer beware for the length of travel time to get there and time of day you get there. If you are loose though and can take a day to get there, and you want to go last minute and you want to fly (and all day at the airport is still less stressful then all day driving but that is just me) there, check out these sites.
Another site,
www.hotwire.com
used to be buyer beware, hidden flight information until you purchase but I am thinking that perhaps they have gotten many negative reviews for this as now for flights ( I still LOVE Hotwire for hotels and car rentals), it looks a lot like Expedia in the listing of what is available.
The last site for last minute deals that I really like but destinations are hit or miss, so not a sure thing to get to Orlando specifically is:
www.travelzoo.com.
Sign up for their weekly newsletter (comes out on Wednesdays- The Top 20), as it is much fun to dream and go last minute to places. They cover all of the USA but deals can vary week to week as to destination or mode of transport. They run deals quite often on flights.
Ready to drive yet? More on that later!
To Fly or Not to Fly?
Sometimes it isn't even a question. If the concern is money or time or convenience, then your decision is made for you.
But! If it is a question- what do you do? Start out with your dates. Find the ideal date by crossing out the days/months that are absolute no way, can't go. School? Work commitment? Personal commitments?
Do you care about crowds or can you roll with whatever theme park crowds can deal (which is a LOT) out? To me, crowd levels are important in considering when to go.
Ok, so picking a date(s) probably needs more consideration and I will address later in more detail. But generally, pick a date of travel. It is really helpful if you can be a bit flexible in those dates, even if by a day or so on either end. That will help immeasurably in pricing flights. If you really think this is the only trip you will ever take to WDW, trust me when I tell you that it probably won't be. It might for some but most folks go, and then at some point in the near or distant future, go again. So flexibility (if you cut the trip short a day due to much better airfare, for instance) isn't so bad!
Two sites to visit on the web:
www.kayak.com for all airlines, except Southwest Airlines,
and
www.southwest.com for Southwest.
So go ahead, and price the flights from your ideal dates at the ideal time, from your ideal airport. I can wait.
Now, that you have priced the ideal, switch it up. Day before, day after on the going and coming end. See what happens? Hmmm, usually good stuff.
What happens if you leave from an airport that isn't ideal? An airport that perhaps might be in the less then 100-150 mile range (drive a bit to get to it). This doesn't always change the results to make it worth it, but for some of you, wowza.
Timing of said flights is another consideration. I had our first trip all planned out and we were going in for a room only and were to have a lovely dinner at a Disney hotel the night before, then we would move to package hotel the next morning, and hit the ground running. Except the week before, things changed and we couldn't leave until last flight of the night before package. Enter flexibility again! So we canceled the room only about a week prior to coming, canceled the Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs), and flew in late. What happened next was wonderful! We stayed at the Hyatt in the airport. Got off the plane, took the tram to central part of airport, and went up an elevator and were in our room. We also saved a ton of money by not staying on site for the room only
We packed a bag separate from our main trip bag with clothes for the next day, along with pjs to sleep in, and toiletries. Set the alarm, and went down to Magical Express (ME), and took the ME to the hotel of our package, checked in at 7am, left bags, and was on a bus towards Epcot right after. Remember the Magical Express just wants to take you from the airport to your onsite, Disney hotel and back again at the end. That is the only two places it will go. Not the parks, not offsite hotels.
The long and short, is life is rarely clean and if you want to fly, BE FLEXIBLE. If you can't be flexible, hope for the best because weather, airline operations, and life happens. You will get to your vacation. You WILL. Flexible will save you money!
Driving? I have another fifty posts for that! Until later....
But! If it is a question- what do you do? Start out with your dates. Find the ideal date by crossing out the days/months that are absolute no way, can't go. School? Work commitment? Personal commitments?
Do you care about crowds or can you roll with whatever theme park crowds can deal (which is a LOT) out? To me, crowd levels are important in considering when to go.
Ok, so picking a date(s) probably needs more consideration and I will address later in more detail. But generally, pick a date of travel. It is really helpful if you can be a bit flexible in those dates, even if by a day or so on either end. That will help immeasurably in pricing flights. If you really think this is the only trip you will ever take to WDW, trust me when I tell you that it probably won't be. It might for some but most folks go, and then at some point in the near or distant future, go again. So flexibility (if you cut the trip short a day due to much better airfare, for instance) isn't so bad!
Two sites to visit on the web:
www.kayak.com for all airlines, except Southwest Airlines,
and
www.southwest.com for Southwest.
So go ahead, and price the flights from your ideal dates at the ideal time, from your ideal airport. I can wait.
Now, that you have priced the ideal, switch it up. Day before, day after on the going and coming end. See what happens? Hmmm, usually good stuff.
What happens if you leave from an airport that isn't ideal? An airport that perhaps might be in the less then 100-150 mile range (drive a bit to get to it). This doesn't always change the results to make it worth it, but for some of you, wowza.
Timing of said flights is another consideration. I had our first trip all planned out and we were going in for a room only and were to have a lovely dinner at a Disney hotel the night before, then we would move to package hotel the next morning, and hit the ground running. Except the week before, things changed and we couldn't leave until last flight of the night before package. Enter flexibility again! So we canceled the room only about a week prior to coming, canceled the Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs), and flew in late. What happened next was wonderful! We stayed at the Hyatt in the airport. Got off the plane, took the tram to central part of airport, and went up an elevator and were in our room. We also saved a ton of money by not staying on site for the room only
We packed a bag separate from our main trip bag with clothes for the next day, along with pjs to sleep in, and toiletries. Set the alarm, and went down to Magical Express (ME), and took the ME to the hotel of our package, checked in at 7am, left bags, and was on a bus towards Epcot right after. Remember the Magical Express just wants to take you from the airport to your onsite, Disney hotel and back again at the end. That is the only two places it will go. Not the parks, not offsite hotels.
The long and short, is life is rarely clean and if you want to fly, BE FLEXIBLE. If you can't be flexible, hope for the best because weather, airline operations, and life happens. You will get to your vacation. You WILL. Flexible will save you money!
Driving? I have another fifty posts for that! Until later....
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