Just Saved the Date!

[tammydel]

After much consideration I just called and saved the date (8/16/08) for the Southwest Splendors Tour!
I am so excited!!!
Now to keep my fingers crossed for those early booking discounts.
So everyone who goes from now until then PLEASE post everything that you can. I have to keep focused or I'll get weak and plan a trip to Disney World and spend all my Grand Canyon $$$!
Anyone else saving dates???

Tammy

 

[Pixmaus]

Did you call ABD directly or did you go through a travel agent?


Are there any benefits or drawbacks to calling directly vs. going through a travel agent?

TIA

 

[mwebsite]

Tammydel,
Why do you have to wait to learn about the early booking discounts, don't you know when you book early that you have one?

 

[tammydel]

I booked directly through Disney. I'm too much of a control freak for a TA. I really thought about it, couldn't do it.

Last year the early booking discount for this trip was $700, pretty significant. This year's discounts have not been released yet, so while I'm sure that I'll qualify for the early booking discount, I just don't know how much it will be.
$700 x 4 people= $2,800.

While I'm not counting on it being as much - I'm hoping it will be close.
Tammy

 

[Pixmaus]

That kind of discount would be great. I hope I get it too, I just booked the 'Coasting the Golden State' tour.
I'm already getting excited and it's still a little over a year away.

I agree with you on the TA. After my post, I figured out that it's just not in me to give up that much control

Anyway, thanks for the response!

 

[disneytraveler]

I saved Sept 8 next year for the Imperial Cities tour.

 

[tammydel]

I wonder how many people like us are booking this far out. Do you think it is a substantial percentage? I also wonder what the tour company's incentive for the early booking discounts is? Is it to insure they have enough people to run that trip on those dates?
Just curious.

Congratulations to everyone else saving dates. I hope we ALL get great early booking discounts.
Maybe I could still swing a Disney trip....oh someone stop me!!!!
Tammy

 

[Pixmaus]

Don't feel bad, Tammy.....I know exactly where you're coming from It's a good thing my poor hubby likes Disney, too.....

Well, here's hoping for good discounts!

 

[disneytraveler]

Although i am going solo ,it wont cost to much because i am going in the value season like this years trip to Italy.

 

[disneytraveler]

I wonder how many people like us are booking this far out. Do you think it is a substantial percentage? I also wonder what the tour company's incentive for the early booking discounts is? Is it to insure they have enough people to run that trip on those dates?
Just curious.

Congratulations to everyone else saving dates. I hope we ALL get great early booking discounts.
Maybe I could still swing a Disney trip....oh someone stop me!!!!
Tammy

I booked this far out lfor the Italy adventure . Would be nice if we got the early booking discount to. Will have to see when the prices and itinerary are mailed.

 

[wyblue]

I've booked for August 2008 for London/Paris. I want to give myself plenty of preparation time for our "trip of a lifetime"!

 

[Pixmaus]

Congratulations, the London/Paris trip sounds awesome.

I also liked the one in Germany that goes to the Fairytale castles

 

[dingoballs]

I wonder how many people like us are booking this far out. Do you think it is a substantial percentage? I also wonder what the tour company's incentive for the early booking discounts is? Is it to insure they have enough people to run that trip on those dates?
Just curious.

Congratulations to everyone else saving dates. I hope we ALL get great early booking discounts.
Maybe I could still swing a Disney trip....oh someone stop me!!!!
Tammy

We booked 2 ABDs this year and both offered the early booking discount. Our Spirit of America trip on 08/14/07 only had 21 people; not sure about our Southwest Splendors trip on 09/15/07.

My guess is that Disney will offer early booking discounts for those trips that have the lowest number of "save the dates" in order to fill up all of their scheduled trips. It wouldn't make financial sense to offer early booking discounts for those trips that have already been filled to capacity by people who are serious enough about booking the trip to send in a deposit before final pricing & details have been announced....

 

[tammydel]

.
My guess is that Disney will offer early booking discounts for those trips that have the lowest number of "save the dates" in order to fill up all of their scheduled trips. It wouldn't make financial sense to offer early booking discounts for those trips that have already been filled to capacity by people who are serious enough about booking the trip to send in a deposit before final pricing & details have been announced....

Oh no! Says the crazy over analyzer in me. Does this mean by "saving the date" so early, I have essentially lessened my chances of a great early booking discount?!?
Tammy

 

[wyblue]

Maybe it won't be that way...cause I'm pretty sure I'm going on one of the more popular trips by reading other posts. I noticed that they did offer an early booking discount on it for 2007 so I'll keep my fingers crossed for 2008.

 

[dingoballs]

Oh no! Says the crazy over analyzer in me. Does this mean by "saving the date" so early, I have essentially lessened my chances of a great early booking discount?!?
Tammy

Don't get bummed out yet though... based on the high number of trips this year that offered the early booking discounts, I'd say you have a good chance of getting one for your particular 2008 trip...

 

[ga9497]

My guess is that Disney will offer early booking discounts for those trips that have the lowest number of "save the dates" in order to fill up all of their scheduled trips. It wouldn't make financial sense to offer early booking discounts for those trips that have already been filled to capacity by people who are serious enough about booking the trip to send in a deposit before final pricing & details have been announced....

I agree, this is the first time they are doing this so maybe they are hoping to fill up some weeks where they won't have to offer any incentives to book

 

[MJGirl]

I've booked for August 2008 for London/Paris. I want to give myself plenty of preparation time for our "trip of a lifetime"!

You will totally enjoy the London/Paris Adventure ... If you want a feel for the adventure you can read my blog (see my signature for the link). I promise I didn't give away any surprises in it. They sometimes tweak the itinerary a little, but it is basically the same.

I agree, this is the first time they are doing this so maybe they are hoping to fill up some weeks where they won't have to offer any incentives to book

Last year, I considered the London/Paris after I booked my Med Cruise. I called ABD and they told me that I could reserve the dates I wanted with a deposit, but I could get a full refund up until 2 weeks after they notified me that they had released the prices. I decided to wait until the prices were released. I booked in October and was eligible for the early booking discount (I saved $500 a person). You had to book before December 2 to get the early booking discount. The December 2 date was stated on the website and was not limited to specific dates.

Regarding the question about booking direct with Disney versus a TA, I originally booked my vacation directly with ABD, but then transferred it to my TA so that I could receive their incentive as well. I had no problem transferring the reservation, and my final price didn't chane. I even transferred the reservation after the December 1 discount date!

I'm booked next year for the August 12, 2008 - Backstage Magic adventure. Can't wait. Disney sure knows how to treat you well!

 

[dingoballs]

Last year, I considered the London/Paris after I booked my Med Cruise. I called ABD and they told me that I could reserve the dates I wanted with a deposit, but I could get a full refund up until 2 weeks after they notified me that they had released the prices. I decided to wait until the prices were released. I booked in October and was eligible for the early booking discount (I saved $500 a person). You had to book before December 2 to get the early booking discount. The December 2 date was stated on the website and was not limited to specific dates.

I'm booked next year for the August 12, 2008 - Backstage Magic adventure. Can't wait. Disney sure knows how to treat you well!

That's great MJGirl. You'll enjoy the Backstage Magic adventure at DL. I'm sure Disney will have a number of surprises planned...

The early booking discount for 2007 did contain this fine print:

Discount is per person if booked by 12/2/06. The number of land packages available at this discount is limited.

 

[wyblue]

You will totally enjoy the London/Paris Adventure ... If you want a feel for the adventure you can read my blog (see my signature for the link). I promise I didn't give away any surprises in it. They sometimes tweak the itinerary a little, but it is basically the same.



Last year, I considered the London/Paris after I booked my Med Cruise. I called ABD and they told me that I could reserve the dates I wanted with a deposit, but I could get a full refund up until 2 weeks after they notified me that they had released the prices. I decided to wait until the prices were released. I booked in October and was eligible for the early booking discount (I saved $500 a person). You had to book before December 2 to get the early booking discount. The December 2 date was stated on the website and was not limited to specific dates.

Regarding the question about booking direct with Disney versus a TA, I originally booked my vacation directly with ABD, but then transferred it to my TA so that I could receive their incentive as well. I had no problem transferring the reservation, and my final price didn't chane. I even transferred the reservation after the December 1 discount date!

I'm booked next year for the August 12, 2008 - Backstage Magic adventure. Can't wait. Disney sure knows how to treat you well!

Your blog helped me make my decision...I followed it while you were there. It was great, thanks!!