Florida flights

[Keepyourginup]

Hi, I know there are some experts/Disney nuts on here so asking for advice. Been myself a few times but not for a while and last time not very organised with flights! Going in August 2022..so plenty of time to save/plan. Booking it separately and staying off site in villa (works better for our family dynamic). Just after advice on how and when to get the cheapest flights. Would obviously prefer direct flights but done indirect before and it was fine (only added 3-4 hours to the journey). Planning on doing 2.5 - 3 weeks this time so happy to go indirect for a decent saving. Would also consider flying to Tampa/other airport. Only 'must' is that flights must be from Manchester. How/when do I look? Can you join a 'mailing' list for when flights are released and is it always better to book flights as far out as possible??? Thanks in advance!

[Keepyourginup]

Anyone?

[amusedtodeath1]

Not sure anyone can tell you right now tbh. Maybe someone can tell you how it usually works, there are British Disney forums that will have loads of information for you.

At the moment though we don't even know if all the airlines will still be operating in 2022.

[HermioneWeasley]

I would use a travel agent like dial a flight, but you’ll need to speak to them closer to the time - about a year before travel

[Toilenstripes]

You will want to fly to Orlando as that’s where Disney is, unless you get a much better deal flying to Tampa.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

Flights are generally released 11 months in advance and you have access to all fare grades. It can pay to book later if you can be flexible on dates, airport etc but if you're booking accommodation then you're better off getting it organised on release. Some tour ops can sell out of date range flights but only if you book a package, I'm already booked for Florida for October 2022. Don't know anyone who sells flight only out of range though.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

You will want to fly to Orlando as that’s where Disney is, unless you get a much better deal flying to Tampa

Tampa airport is only 1h away from Disney so it doesn't even have to be that much of a better deal.

[Keepyourginup]

Thanks

[Wtfdidwedo]

Use Skyscanner and search by month instead of exact dates to get better deals if you're not tied to specific dates. You can also consider Fort Lauderdale as well as Tampa, but it is difficult to say in current times who will be flying where in the future. August flights will be out in September so you could use this year as a rough guide but again, it's very hard to judge anything at the moment! Flying via Ireland has been cheaper in previous years.

[Bellebelle]

We’ve been once and were meant to be going this July but have cancelled. Both time’s we found that flight’s were best price around 6 months in advance although TBH we probably only saved about £200 for the four of us each time. First time we flew into Orlando and out of Tampa as it was much cheaper and suited our dates. It was fine driving to Tampa although this time we were going in and out of Orlando as the flights worked for us. I think if you’re flying in or out of Tampa it’s worth trying to stay a night or so there as Busch Gardens are meant to be amazing.

We’ve flown from Manchester for quite a few holidays but not to Florida, we’ve gone BA from Edinburgh with changes through London which has always been fine. We did fly to another part of the US from Manchester a couple of years ago on Thomas Cook (I think, might have been TUI) flights - quite often find that you can get decent flight only deals with the package holiday companies.

There’s something called Jack’s flight club that track flight prices and highlight when flights are particularly low. They send you email alerts and while I’ve never used it they do seem to find some amazing deals.

[GreyGardens88]

I'm looking for June next year, Orlando - Miami - Sanibel trip x

[Biscuitsdisappear]

You could plan your holiday so that you flew into Miami, drove to Sanibel and then out of Orlando or vice versa. It would cut out a long four hour drive. You would not be charged extra for dropping the car off at a different place from the pick up. If you are in the last of 4 aircraft to land at Orlando it can take 2 - 3 hours to clear immigration if they don't have many staff on duty. I have also done it in less than an hour. I have flown into Tampa, been driving out of the garage in under an hour and then a 1hr 30 min drive to Orlando. Skyscanner, Kayak or other similar sites will allow you to set up a warning system when flights are at the price that you want. Join the Dibb, read the Dibb menu on the right side of the screen and take advantage of the help offered.

[SJaneS48]

Look at Skyscanner and Kayak for the cheapest flight options. There are sales obviously but from experience I’ve found flights cheapest on release - longhaul that’s usually 11 months before.

[Biscuitsdisappear]

I do all holiday arrangements diy. If you use a travel agent then they are going to make some commission out of you somewhere along the way.
Go on the Disney Information Bulletin Board and you will find a whole load of people more than willing to help you. Tampa airport is not as busy as Orlando and in my opinion has more to offer. In Tampa you can be off the plane and driving out of the garage in an hour. On a bad day in Orlando if 3 other aircraft land just ahead of you then you can spend 3 hours in the queue to get through immigration.

[Dowser]

We often used to fly into Sanford, that’s about an hour away also and not a bad little drive.