travel agency help

[AlexRenner]

My family wants to look at going through a travel agency when going to the parks this christmas. Does anyone have any good recommendations? Any tips?
We will be in the parks dec 24th to the 26th.
just looking to get the best deal.
thanks

 

[SuperDisneyDad]

The best travel agency for Disney, imho, is www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com. (They also happen to be a sponsor of this site). While I am not affiliated with them in any way, I have used them for many trips to DL, WDW, and DCL, and they have always been wonderful. After you book, they continue to search for lower fares and better deals, and will automatically switch you over if one is found. They are great!

 

[yaya74]

I have used DreamsUnlimited 10 years ago to book my honeymoon trip to WDW. DU was great. HOWEVER, it does not always give you the best deal under the sun, especially for trip to DLR. I was going to use DU to book my upcoming trip to DLR this time, but CostcoTravel offers a better deal.

So shop around if you want to get the best deal. DISboards is awesome too for telling you where to look for deals!

 

[MinnieMom13]

I've used three different groups to book my trips:

1. Costco--beats Disney's prices, most perks (includes a character dining)
2. AAA--tends to beat Disney's prices by a few hundred dollars
3. Walt Disney Travel Company (is this the name of the disneyland.com agency?)--let's you apply discounts until the package is paid in full.

 

[AlexRenner]

Thanks, I did look at the dreams unlimited site. I did like what I saw, but just wasn't sure. I also have membership to costco, so I'll have to take a look there.
does it matter for these places if we will be staying at pph? Will we actually notice a savings? Or is it generally meant for good neighbor hotels?

 

[dcraythorn]

Look at Get Away Today also.

 

[awdsmama]

May I ask - why does your family want to use a TA?

I love AAA for travel agency help personally.

However, when I priced my trip this past March, it saved me several hundred dollars to book the hotel direct (HOJO) and then do a Passport Plus package thru AAA...that gives you the parkhoppers,pin/lanyard/MTTMMentry/free parking and priority seating at 4 shows.....its like a mini-package for only buying tickets LOL. And I added on a CB.

I"m pricing a trip in May 2013 right now (staying at BWPPI this time) and again it's cheaper to book separately even w/ airfare this time.

 

[AlexRenner]

May I ask - why does your family want to use a TA?

I love AAA for travel agency help personally.

However, when I priced my trip this past March, it saved me several hundred dollars to book the hotel direct (HOJO) and then do a Passport Plus package thru AAA...that gives you the parkhoppers,pin/lanyard/MTTMMentry/free parking and priority seating at 4 shows.....its like a mini-package for only buying tickets LOL. And I added on a CB.

I"m pricing a trip in May 2013 right now (staying at BWPPI this time) and again it's cheaper to book separately even w/ airfare this time.

Well since my DM (disney mom?) will be doing all the booking, she mentioned to me that she wanted to save some money and go through a travel agency. So that's why I am asking around. I listen to the podcast mousetalgia and wdw radio show. So I hear them talk about some of their sponsors. But I want to hear from the crowd which ones to go to and what to say to do.

We will be staying at the pph so idk if going through them will necessarily be saving mone

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Well since my DM (disney mom?) will be doing all the booking, she mentioned to me that she wanted to save some money and go through a travel agency. So that's why I am asking around. I listen to the podcast mousetalgia and wdw radio show. So I hear them talk about some of their sponsors. But I want to hear from the crowd which ones to go to and what to say to do.

We will be staying at the pph so idk if going through them will necessarily be saving mone

You most likely won't save money using a TA - planning for DLR is easy *especially now that you've found us It's 99% of the time cheaper to book your hotel on your own *calling the 714 number for the hotel. Hang out here, we'll help

 

[Girimama33]

I don't know how old your Mom is, but if she is considered a senior, she will get a great discount on the PPH. If that were the case, I would book the hotel directly and use AAA for the tickets.
If your Mom's goal is to save some $, using a TA may not be the solution.

 

[Geemo]

The time we used AAA TA we WAY OVER paid! The agent didn't do a very good job for us. It was back in 2003.

I have used Disney Travel (area code 714) many times. Yes it is a few more $$. But at those times it was due to the ease of getting it done with little hassle.

Now I have time to make my own arrangements and save $$. It helps to off set the $$ spent while there.

If you have the time and can make your own reservations, unless there is a scream'n special somewhere, you will save money.

I also find it easier to make changes to reservations I make. Some of the TA have fees to change or cancel once the trip has been booked.

Get online together and see what you can find.

Geemo

 

[AlexRenner]

You most likely won't save money using a TA - planning for DLR is easy *especially now that you've found us It's 99% of the time cheaper to book your hotel on your own *calling the 714 number for the hotel. Hang out here, we'll help

I don't know how old your Mom is, but if she is considered a senior, she will get a great discount on the PPH. If that were the case, I would book the hotel directly and use AAA for the tickets.
If your Mom's goal is to save some $, using a TA may not be the solution.

Well hopefully this doesn't sound awful that I don't know how old (or young lol) my mom is. But I believe she is 62-63. Is that the age for senior citizen discount?
and so what the both of you are saying is that it is better to book the hotel directly and then buy the tickets separately through AAA or some other provider?
So its not necessarily the tickets that give you the bonus for staying on site its literally staying on site.
the main reason why my mom wants to stay on property is and I quote "I am old and I get tired. So I want a quick walk back to take a nap and come back easily whenever."
Which reminds me, to get a park view room in pph. The internet says its an additional $150 a night. Is that so or is there a "trick" to get a park view room cheap or for no additional costs? I would just love to view the parks at night with all the christmas decorations out.

Sorry for all the questions

 

[Geemo]

Disney's age for Senior Rates is the golden age of "60".

Call the hotel for rates.

Geemo

 

[lwilkison]

My family wants to look at going through a travel agency when going to the parks this christmas. Does anyone have any good recommendations? Any tips?
We will be in the parks dec 24th to the 26th.
just looking to get the best deal.
thanks

I have found that finding a Disney "specialist" works wonders!

I got a quote from the a few different specialist and they were way out of our price range. (family of 3)

I went to "expedia cruiseship centres"...they are the people that BCAA (or AAA in USA) use for their travel arrangements.

My person was trully wonderful. When we had a problem with our room reservation @ Hojo she called her contact there (the manager, Willy) and viola not only was our problem resolved we got our room upgraded!!!

Find someone that specializes and knows and you will save money and they will have little ways to get you through the process. Makes for a much easier vacation.

We have used her for 2 disneyland trips now and she makes it all so much easier!

good luck

 

[DisneyMomma81]

the main reason why my mom wants to stay on property is and I quote "I am old and I get tired. So I want a quick walk back to take a nap and come back easily whenever."

Many off site hotels are closer to the parks than the PPH or as close and a lot less.

 

[Mary09]

Many off site hotels are closer to the parks than the PPH or as close and a lot less.

Ditto this.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I also book DL through Costco because of the added 20 dollar gift card, character meals, lanyard and pin that are included with the package. Makes the overall price less expensive then most places. Also if you are booking for Christmas you might want to hurry and do that. It is really the busiest time of the year there and many going during the same time frame have had their rooms book for months. I'm going the week prior to Christmas and booked back in April.