Airfare cheaper through WDW w/package?

[kjs1976]

Just pricing out on the WDW website what a MYW package would cost. We added in airfare that only ends up being $209 booking the package and it is $359 on the airline website and on Orbitz. How could this be??? I repriced it and triple repriced it just to make sure and double checked for any errors and everything seems to be in there correctly. Any thoughts???? We always book airfare seperately, but I always check all options before booking anywhere. Thanks!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Yeah, I can't explain it, but we find airfare to be cheaper thru WDTC. I saved $100 per ticket (x4) on my upcoming trip vs the rate available to me on any discount site.

 

[skiingfast]

I would expect it to be cheaper through WDTC than the airline itself. Otherwise what insentive would a guest have to book through them.

However whenever I've checked it's not. I think it's because I live through a small airport w/ only 5 airlines or because I am on the far side of the country and WDW offers more to people in the East.

 

[ancestry]

Cool! I've never had that luck. Whenever I booked through them the airfare was exactly the same as it was showing on the carriers site.

 

[stacyalisa]

I booked us 5 tickets on Airtran through Disney back in March from Charlotte to Orlando for $69 each. $84 each on the way back. We've never flown before so I wasn't sure but the guy from Disney said it was great rates so I was

 

[dpmfloyd]

our trip back in january we found this to be the case too. IF you do book your airfare through disney, make sure to call them and ask for the flight confirmation info. this way you can contact the carrier directly and pre-pay for checked baggage...and pick your seats. Plus, it makes checking in at the airport that much easier - you can just use the automated kiosk, rather than waiting in line.

if you dont get the info, you'll have to pay extra for checked bags and you'll likely get stuck at the back of the plane :\.

good luck!

 

[nellyru]

in 2009 when we went, WDW prices were way cheaper than through any other site.

Hoping to get the same deal this time around!!
So far it seems to be the case, not an extreme amount of a difference, but any is better than none.
And I like the fact that it is all on one bill! DONE!

 

[Lewisc]

A lot of us can get competitive airfare to Orlando. Frequently a Disney package offers no savings if you include airfare. Disney sometimes has consolidator fare that's less then you can get on your own. Last year Disney had consolidator fares booked with Airtran that were at least $100 less then people could book on their own.

The fact that airfare isn't generally cheaper through Disney doesn't change the fact that airfare is sometimes cheaper.

An airline generally makes you deal with your TA. Disney may be unwilling, or unable, to accomodate guests who don't want to accept schedule changes.

 

[travelmom6416]

I always fly to WDW and compare the same exact flights WDW offers with the flights the airline offers. I have ALWAYS paid less through the airline. In fact, I get the better flights for our family without paying the WDW plus fees that they tack on for what they consider premium flights. I used to fly US Airways until they became outrageously high. Now I fly Air Tran. Same situation with both airlines. I do book 6 months in advance. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

 

[marciemi]

It was cheaper through WDW when we went last August as well. Not a huge difference, but think it worked out to be $174 per person rather than about $210 on the website.

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't know how much of a hassle it is to hand pick replacement flights in the event of a schedule change to a Disney-booked flight but stories abound about the hassles dealing with schedule changes to Expedia-booked or Orbitz-booked or Travelocity-booked flights.

Possible reasons:

1. The commission from the airline is small enough to begin with but each customer-agent interaction consumes more agent time and wages.

2. The travel agency may have taken a flight from its block booking or consolidator fare allotment for this customer and in order to rebook him upon his request there are no qualifying seats in the block booking and the TA has to book directly from the airline's more expensive inventory.

Specifically for Disney packages, the quality is definitely degraded if the guest has to accept a rebooking that arrives much later or leaves for home much earlier than originally booked, compared with booking airfare separately.

 

[marciemi]

Well, I booked through Disney. When I had issues (time changes and trying to get seats assigned), I called Air Tran directly. They were particularly rude and unhelpful each time. However, when I called Disney directly, they were able to take care of my issues quickly and easily (and much more friendly!). I think I'd rather deal with them in the future than the Air Tran folks!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

On-line best price found $200 X 3 of us = $600 NOT including tax & fees.

Booked a package thru WDW, same airlines/same round trip flight including tax & fees = $509.

Good advice to get your ressie # from WDW - once confirmed, using airlines webpage my ressie # and was able to prepay seating (we like to make sure we're seated together)

So even paying extra for seating our overcost is still less by booking w/WDW.

It's always a good idea to check it all out yourself before booking to make sure you'll getting the best bargin

 

[Bobo912]

A couple of years ago, a Disney CM told me airfare booked through them was cheaper because they buy in bulk, and the price she quoted me was the same as the cheap SWA ticket I had priced. I went with SWA anyway, since they are the only airline that flies non-stop from Nashville to Orlando. And now, SWA isn't as cheap as they used to be.