Frugal theme park fans who want to visit both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom on the same day can now find fast and cheap flights between Anaheim and Orlando that cost less than the cheapest ticket to both theme parks.
Breeze Airways will begin non-stop routes between John Wayne Airport and Orlando International Airport on Thursday, February 16 with one-way flights in each direction starting at $69.
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Once the introductory fares end, Breeze will offer flights between SNA and MCO from $119 to $199, depending on whether you want to bundle a baggage allowance or extra legroom in first class.
The addition of John Wayne Airport just 15 miles from Disneyland expands Breeze Airways’ national footprint to 34 airports – more than double what the fast-growing airline, founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, launched in May 2021.
The $69 introductory fares cost the same as a Disneyland ticket in 2011, and Breeze’s regularly priced one-way fares will cost you about as much as a daily ticket to any of the Disney parks on either coast.
The cheapest single park ticket to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure costs $104. The lowest priced Disney World ticket ranges from $109 to $124 – depending on the park you choose.
Disneyland and Disney World Annual Pass holders who want to visit both Mouse Houses on a budget are unlikely to find a cheaper flight than the “Get off the couch” Breeze deals which run until the end of March.
Before the pandemic, it was possible to visit Disney parks on both coasts “for free” – provided you had the ultimate golden ticket. Disney used to offer an annual pass to both coasts that could have brought the entry fee to zero — after paying $2,199 for the annual privilege. But the Premier annual pass that was good for all six theme parks in California and Florida was discontinued in 2020.
The new Breeze nonstop route between Disney’s coastal destinations focuses on Southwest – which serves both SNA and MCO, but not with a nonstop flight.
The purpose of the non-stop from Orange County, California to Orange County, Florida? Connect Disneyland and Walt Disney World, according to Breeze officials. The upstart’s 100th non-stop route fits the Breeze model of connecting leisure venues.
“I can’t think of a better way to commemorate this milestone than for the ‘Nicest Airline’ to connect two of the ‘Happiest Places on Earth’,” Breeze Airways president Tom Doxey said in a statement.
Another important factor for Breeze in choosing the new destination in Southern California: the SNA/MCO route was not served by a nonstop flight. Southwest flies the route for just $116, but with one or more stops. The newcomer will also compete against low-cost rivals Frontier, Spirit and Allegiant at SNA.
Of course diehard Mouseheads will only be a small part of the flyers on the new Breeze route. The low-cost airline will begin with a single daily flight in each direction — departing Santa Ana before 9 a.m. Pacific Time and returning from Orlando around 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
According to Breeze officials, Breeze plans to expand service at John Wayne Airport with its fleet of Airbus A220s and Embraer E-195s.