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WDWmom08

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jun 12, 2008

• Jul 2, 2015

• #1

We decided to book the late July Costa Rica trip. Is there any benefit to booking directly with Disney over going through a travel agent? We will be flying on points. Also, we will be traveling with another family, is there anyway to 'link' the reservations?

 

Cousin Orville

Inventor of Air Cooling

Joined

Aug 27, 2000

• Jul 2, 2015

• #2

There is no reason to link reservations on an ABD as there might be in as WDW or DCL vacation.
There's no benefit with going directly through Disney. For me I like going through an agent for a multitude of reasons. (FWIW, I used to be the opposite). I like having an agent save me time and manage the reservation. But if for no other reasons, I'd recommend going through an agent if something goes wrong, you've got someone to help you out. Plus you'll get a bit of a discount/refund going through an agent like kevin - kevin@dreamsunlimitedtravel.com. Kevin has been very helpful to me over the years.
I haven't booked an ABD flight with points, but I believe you'll need to do that on your own. I'll be interested in what others may say about that as I'm about to do the same for my upcoming Ireland ABD.

 

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TXTransplant

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jun 28, 2012

• Jul 2, 2015

• #3

There are travel agencies who also offer credits toward your trip. Both Dreams Unlimited and Small World Vacations have them. I went with Small World because their credit was a little more ($400 on a trip that was just under $9k). It's not much, but I'll take it! You get your credit when the final payment is due (ie, you will owe the balance minus the credit).

 

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abbyjt

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jun 5, 2007

• Jul 2, 2015

• #4

Costco also gives you a rebate if you book through them. You don't get the personal service of the other agencies though.

 

paddles

Mouseketeer

Joined

Sep 2, 2011

• Jul 2, 2015

• #5

Costco has the most generous rebate which is about 8% of the ABD rate (you get them in Costco cash cards though). I book through Costco and then call ABD directly for all questions/requests.

 

WebmasterMike

When Yuba plays the Rumba on his Tuba...

Joined

Dec 3, 2007

• Jul 2, 2015

• #6

I book all mine with Kevin

 

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Bobo912

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 16, 2008

• Jul 2, 2015

• #7

When you call the number on the Costco website to book an ABD the call goes directly to ABD. You never speak to anyone from Costco. The only difference is the ABD rep knows you called the Costco number and will ask for you membership number so you can get the rebate.

 

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WDWmom08

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jun 12, 2008

• Jul 6, 2015

• #8

Once you book do you continue to 'track' the trip through Disney or the TA?

 

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Rapunzellover

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 3, 2014

• Jul 7, 2015

• #9

The trip is tracked through your TA. You only get the stuff for the trip sent to you if you book directly with ABD.

 

paddles

Mouseketeer

Joined

Sep 2, 2011

• Jul 7, 2015

• #10

Rapunzellover said:

The trip is tracked through your TA. You only get the stuff for the trip sent to you if you book directly with ABD.

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This doesn't apply for Costco. After booking, I work directly with ABD for everything (and as Bobo912 mentioned, when you call the Costco line, you actually get an ABD rep). Then the pre-trip "box" is sent to you directly from ABD.

 

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WDWmom08

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jun 12, 2008

• Jul 7, 2015

• #11

Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression from other posts that you were able to log on through Disney. I had read that you could see how many had booked your particular trip, the ages of the kids, and had read that people were watching their balance go down. So when we got the confirmation email (which was from Disney) I thought you used that # to create an account like on regular Disney trips.

 

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White Rose

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jul 8, 2003

• Jul 7, 2015

• #12

WDWmom08 said:

Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression from other posts that you were able to log on through Disney. I had read that you could see how many had booked your particular trip, the ages of the kids, and had read that people were watching their balance go down. So when we got the confirmation email (which was from Disney) I thought you used that # to create an account like on regular Disney trips.

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Personally we booked through our own TA, and I've called ABD to ask questions, and during those calls asked how many were signed up. I do not know of any way to track this online myself.

 

sayhello

Have Camera, Will Travel

Joined

Oct 28, 2006

• Jul 7, 2015

• #13

White Rose said:

Personally we booked through our own TA, and I've called ABD to ask questions, and during those calls asked how many were signed up. I do not know of any way to track this online myself.

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There is no online system to track ABD. Either you contact ABD, or your TA contacts them.

Sayhello