When looking to get to Florida and experiencing all that Walt Disney World has to offer, you have a number of options from Ireland; Dublin and Belfast serve Orlando airport (MCO) with non stop flights, while Shannon and Cork have connections to the US and UK and across Europe. Only Aer Lingus provides direct flights from Dublin, and several US carriers fly to the US for a one-stop connection.
Best time to book your plane ticket from Ireland to Florida
Based on many years experience, the best time to book your plane tickets is when you hit your target price. I have booked flights to Orlando months out, and as close as 3 days before leaving. However, the sweet spot I have found is about 6 weeks out from your departure date, ticket prices come out the best.
The other ‘best time’ to book is during airline sales; but be aware, an airline ‘on sale’ price may well be the same or as much as the ticket you were looking at a couple of weeks before. Some carriers are more guilty of releasing a very small amount of cheaper fares in order to advertise the ‘sale’, so stick to your target price when booking tickets.
Direct or indirect?
This totally depends on what your main priority. Some people may just want one single flight from Dublin or Belfast, direct to Orlando, but these often come at a price, either financially, or in the service you receive. Many people want just the single flight if going with children, toddlers or infants, so direct is the best option. However, in my experience, the cost of direct flights is often much higher than an indirect option through either the USA (and gain benefit of short US immigration in Ireland) or Europe. Also, the direct flights from Dublin (at time of writing) leave late in the afternoon from Dublin, arriving at 8pm in Orlando (very late!), and then return flight is not till nearly 10pm from Orlando (again, very late with children!).
My advice; if time and effort is what you need, go direct. However, note the late times of your arrival. If a better cost and better service is what you want, then look at the indirect options you have available.
Direct flights to Orlando (MCO)
I’ll preface this with my opinion on Aer Lingus transatlantic; I am not a fan. Having travelled on a huge amount of carriers to the USA, I have found the cost, service on board, food, and experiences to be quite poor and so rarely, if ever, opt or suggest for Aer Lingus transatlantic.
On the other hand, Virgin Atlantic direct flights from Belfast are excellent; their service on board is second to none, with excellent staff, and bags included in the price. I have never felt ‘price gouged’ by Virgin, while I always feel this from going transatlantic with Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus operates (at time of writing) nonstop flights from Dublin to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, leaving at 3.00pm and arriving at 8.25pm in Orlando. Return flight departs MCO at 10.15pm, arriving in Dublin at 10.15am.
Indirect through the US from Ireland
If the cost of a direct flight is too much (as it has been many, many times with Aer Lingus), I look at flights through a US city on the east coast, that connect to Orlando. This allows for a lot, lot more options as several US airlines fly into airports across Ireland. The main reason to go from Ireland to USA indirect is that you still do immigration in Ireland, saving time on the other end, though this does not apply from Belfast, only Dublin, Shannon, and Cork!
Best routes for connections through USA include (in order of preference):
- New York – JFK or Newark Airport – My favourite option for US connections is through New York. JFK is the better of the two airports and the more likely connection for through New York, but I am one of the few that likes Newark as well! Both airports have good transfer time.
- Philadelphia – One of my favourite airports to connect through; views of the city’s skyscrapers are excellent, it’s well laid out and easy to navigate! Very fast transfer times are possible.
- Washington – Any United flight I have taken has brought me through Washington Dulles. A nice airport for a stopover!
- Atlanta – A very busy and massive airport. It can be done but leave some time to change terminal. A short stopover is really not advised!
- Boston – Another possible stopover, but leaves quite a long second flight, and is not nearly as good as the New York airports.
Alternatively, flights through Europe are wide in variety; London and Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and much more have direct flights to Orlando. This does have the added time in Orlando to clear US immigration, but are a viable choice depending on your cost vs time view.
How much should a ‘deal’ cost to Orlando from Ireland?
The guide price I give to people getting to Orlando is about €450 to €500 per adult including baggage. You can get direct flights for this price, though they are a bit rare.
Indirect flights are cheaper though across much of the year; at time of writing, Aer Lingus are looking about €650 per adult direct! We have booked Virgin through Manchester, for 2 adults and one lap infant, for €903. Aer Lingus were €1500 by comparison!
So it all depends on what you want, if it is speed and immigration you want, you will pay more, but if you are flexible about how long and how you get there, a great deal can be gotten.
How should I find the best deal for flights to Orlando from Ireland?
We always use Skyscanner and Kayak to find out best flights, but we always compare the cost of booking direct with the airline, in case some issue comes up and you need to deal with the airline directly!
If your price looks high, don’t panic; look at alternative dates and consider stop overs to save you money, which can then be spent in Walt Disney World!
Disney From Ireland 