For you West Coast DVCers, how do you justify airfare costs?

[Denise L]

Going with AA $581/pp

Well, I decided to just buy the AA tickets last night after an entire evening of research and stress. I hope I don't have buyer's remorse soon. Those MD-80s should be flying in November, right ?

I was afraid to lose the fare, and then if I let it go and DVC didn't have BCV available for two extra nights, then I would have been sad. So it's done. Now watch it go down. Oh well, it's done! I should be happy.

The AA flight leaves SJC at 9:00am and gets to MCO at 7:10pm. At least we will get to the resort before 9:00pm, hopefully. Usually we take the UA non-stop and get to the resort by 11:00pm!

Maybe I should buy trip insurance. Does anyone have any good experience with a trip insurance company?

 

[Blues]

OAlso, I only have 5-day hoppers for our full 5 days. Do you think we could get away with not having to buy any more park tickets?

The cost of upgrading a 5-day hopper to a 7-day hopper is only a few dollars per ticket. You can do this at Guest Services at any park. For a very good synopsis of everything you want to know about WDW tickets, see this link on Disboards. One thing that it points out is that if you got your tickets at discount, you should use at least one day's entry before doing the upgrade.

Enjoy your trip! Just 17 days until we're going

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Regarding pressure from teachers - blame your state legislature for this. The only way your school gets paid ADA when your kids are absent is if they go on short term independent study. If your school is not letting them do this - make an appt. with the principal. I think the minimum is 5 days.

I do blame the school board but I haven't gotten far.

As far as independent studies per our district rules it cannot be used for vacation. It is written in the San Juan School Board District handbook. Is there some other ruling that says otherwise? Because, I'd love to read about it and call our principal on it (although, I wouldn't make any brownie points by doing that). In our book it says that it is covered for religious events like wedding, funerals; or court requirements; or work related issues (like if you had to miss school for work-- I'm assuming this is for those famous Hollywood school actors).

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Well, I decided to just buy the AA tickets last night after an entire evening of research and stress. I hope I don't have buyer's remorse soon. Those MD-80s should be flying in November, right ?

I was afraid to lose the fare, and then if I let it go and DVC didn't have BCV available for two extra nights, then I would have been sad. So it's done. Now watch it go down. Oh well, it's done! I should be happy.

The AA flight leaves SJC at 9:00am and gets to MCO at 7:10pm. At least we will get to the resort before 9:00pm, hopefully. Usually we take the UA non-stop and get to the resort by 11:00pm!

Maybe I should buy trip insurance. Does anyone have any good experience with a trip insurance company?

Not too bad for the dates you are traveling. You know I got better fare by going on different days. We are leaving Thursday before Thanksgiving (which is half day at school) around noon and returning the Monday after Thanksgiving. So, gasp my kids will miss about 1 1/4 days of school (we have from Friday through Thanksgiving week off). On Monday... it will be minimum days week so, they won't miss much hopefully.

I've used trip insurance at www.insuremytrip.com But to warn you most policies don't cover for bankruptcy. They are great to have for loss luggage, delayed flights, illness, etc... We had a loss luggage issue in Europe last summer so, we were able to buy up $200 in clothes per day. That was nice. Our luggage did finally make it back to me about a month later. I've never bought for domestic flights but my friends bought it for their flight to Hawaii in October.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

[ Also, I only have 5-day hoppers for our full 5 days. Do you think we could get away with not having to buy any more park tickets?

Definitely... we are going in November 11 nights. I have plans to go to the parks 6 days out of the 10 days we are there. I have 4 days of scheduled breaks because there is so much do there. We love going miniature golfing at Disney's golf courses, we plan to go to the waterpark one day, also we plan to the Space Kennedy Center and then, one beach day on the gulf coast.

This year I'm excited because we bought annual tickets as we are going twice once in November and then, again in July. So, we'll be to go and come as we please at the parks. But normally, I'd be like you counting how many park days I have left and when I can use them.