Here's what I get on the outbound trips, using your dates and times. All pricing is Main Cabin, because with 5 people including one toddler you do NOT want Basic Economy X 4 flights.
There are 2 options for PDX to MCO, both starting with a flight leaving at 1205 AM.
PDX - DFW - MCO
Flight 2227 - Lv PDX 1205 AM
Flight 2489 - 1 hour layover in DFW - arrive MCO 1101 AM - $645 each
Flight 2538 - 3 hour layover in DFW - arrive MCO 1254 PM - $558 each
Another option is to fly to Tampa and rent a car for the 90 minute drive to WDW.
There are 4 choices with Tampa -- 2 going through DFW, also on Flight 2227 at 1205 AM, and 2 through Charlotte leaving PDX on Flight 1929 at 1034 PM.
PDX -DFW - TPA
Flight 2227 - lv PDX 1205 AM
Flight 1351 - 1.5 hour layover in DFW - arrive Tampa 1053 AM - $488 each
Flight 2270 - 4 hour layover in DFW - arrive Tampa 107 PM - $427 each
PDX - CLT - TPA
Flight 1929 - Lv PDX 1034 PM
Flight 933 - 1 hour layover in Charlotte - arrive Tampa 933 AM - $425 each
Flight 2046 - 3 hour layover in Charlotte - arrive Tampa 1115 AM - $425 each
Regardless of the pricing shown, AAL should NOT upcharge you to change flights. You should pay no more than your original cost.
Thanks, yeah I see those too. Unfortunately changing the outbound flight only fixes half the problem (the needing an additional hotel night problem). Effectively it also decreases my available park hours too, as we originally were getting their at 5:30, with an anticipated "Be-in-the-park time" of about 8AM-9AM. Getting in at 11AM removes 2-3 hours of park time, and I still don't have an option for changing my flight going home to something that gets me back the depature day park hours, so I end up with a deficit of 8-9 hours in the parks on my schedule.
I can fix one flight, but it basically brings me down to the same problem: in order to fix the flights I either need to accept less park time or book another night in a hotel.
I am aware that this is not AAs fault, nor is it their direct problem. But I've encountered plenty of situations where people who have been inconvenienced by flight changes have gotten
something for their trouble, " a spoonful of sugar"? Sounds like that is not going to be my reality.
I think that's a little extreme. You can't always get what you want, but it you try, sometimes you get what you need.
I mean, maybe it's extreme? I value my time and my vacation fairly highly. Every hour of it means something, it is indicative of all my saving, my research and my plans coming to fruition. Knowing that I need to change all that because my flight disappeared is frustrating, and feeling "screwed" over because of things I can't control seems reasonable to me. None of the available changes accurately solve my problem without higher costs imposed on me. As a commodity experience, I am not able to find a comparable and equal cost solution to my needs, so these are the words I use to indicate that lack of choice.
And regarding letting you know, I think my OP pretty well indicated the specific advice I was looking for, regarding what I might be able to get from AA outside of a different flight. I did indicate that flights that fit my needs did not exist, I just as much assumed people would accept my assertion, or at least give me the benefit of the doubt, I didn't mean to upset anyone by not proving my muster in my OP. TBH I am still a little raw from this. My Husband and Parents are asking me every few hours "So, have you figured out our flight problem? Are we going to have to pay a bunch more?" and I don't think I have closed the Delta, AA, Alaska or Google Flights websites for more than a few hours on any of my devices since I saw the email Wednesday morning.
I really do want to make this work at the seat class and rate I paid for. I don't WANT to ask for something I didn't pay for or additional favors outside of what I have earned. I don't want to be that "speak to a manger" person. I just... I just want what I booked. After hours of research I know I am not going to get that. So I was just wanting to see if it is reasonable to look for other ways of making this work (since I feel I have to settle for what I feel is a less than alternative).
You guys have been pretty clear though that upgrades are NOT an option they will provide, and since something like that, or miles or whatever are the only things I can see that would really change how I feel in this situation... I guess, like I said, I am stuck. And that is fine, that is life and it is good to know how this stuff works because I certainly don't want to be the person calling customer service for something that I clearly can't get and seeming entitled and ending up on a "bad customer list".
I did use the customer service form email on their website, which they said has a turn time of 5 business days. I'd like to have a paper trail of what I have said and what AA thinks is best. I brought up (gently) that any sort of upgrade or mile bonus would make me feel so much better about the inconvenience, but If the see something I just can't see on my end, that I'd honestly really prefer to get my schedule back, but that I really do want to keep my reservation with AA. I used language that I gleaned from a consumer advocacy group. So when I hear back I will post what I said and what they replied with so people can see where I get.
I figure, there is nothing I can lose by asking for their help now, because what I have isn't what I want or need and what I can change to keeps the status quo.