Bargaining?

[Neoshoegal]

I looked up the prices online with Virgin Holidays for a trip to WDW for June 2008. I know it's a bit too early propbably but I'm a manic planner. Prices are a bit more than what we'd want to spend for the time and place.
Is there a way to get them a bit cheaper? Can you bargain with them, or with a TA?

 

[spencem]

I don't know about Virgin direct as you will be dealing with a call centre agent who has very little authority, but you can certainly do a deal with a travel agent.

We got a Tomas Cook branch to price match a deal we had found online and saved over £300 per head over their broucher price, so they certainly can move quite a lot. We simply told the woman "you can take to booking now if you can beat this". Every time she tried the "we're better than them, so it costs more" line we simply got up to go. Amazing what the smell of cash can do for their ability to discount.

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I totally agree with this. I just said what is the best price you can do this for, and I mean the BEST price?
They offered us the same price and severely discounted our hotel to match it. We also got free DDP and transfers. It's always worth bargaining if they think they will secure a sale.

 

[wayneg]

What prices are they quoting for June 08? It is not an expensive month to go, just do a search for Virgin flight only for this June, every date available for around £423 adult and £353 child.
Are you wanting Onsite or Off? You should be able to pick up a good hotel like Courtyard by marriott LBV for around £25/ night and Full size car and Insurance for £170/wk.
How long for? I would say a 3 week holiday should cost around £2,500 all in for 2 ad +2 Ch.

 

[Neoshoegal]

We're wanting to stay at a Disney Resort this time, preferable Port Orleans for 14 nights. It's only for 2 adults, no kids.
On the Virgin Holidays site we're being quoted £1329p/p for flights and hotel which is more than I would like to spend.
I've also noticed they offer it with the DDP at £28 a night per person. At the current exhcange rate that's over $50! If we would book our package with Virgin Holidays, would be be able to buy the DDP direct from Disney to save quite a bit?
Thanks for the help everybody!

 

[Claire L]

No you can't buy DDP direct from Disney unless you book direct with Disney. Have you thought about a fly drive and booking hotel with Disney?

Claire

 

[wayneg]

We're wanting to stay at a Disney Resort this time, preferable Port Orleans for 14 nights. It's only for 2 adults, no kids.
On the Virgin Holidays site we're being quoted £1329p/p for flights and hotel which is more than I would like to spend.
I've also noticed they offer it with the DDP at £28 a night per person. At the current exhcange rate that's over $50! If we would book our package with Virgin Holidays, would be be able to buy the DDP direct from Disney to save quite a bit?
Thanks for the help everybody!

You can book yourself and save a little. Like I said putting it together for 2 weeks this June 2 flights would be around £846 and 2 weeks in POFQ on Disney.co.uk £1,232. Total £2,078 so around £600 cheaper than Virgin. You can add DDP with the hotel at £22pppn but you have to buy the 14 day Ultimate tickets at £165 each.
So I suppose booking yourself is like getting the DDP free.
Prices could vary next June but with US routes opening up next year I would hope flight prices coming down slightly not up.
Wayne

 

[Laurafoster]

I always book direct with Disney as i always seem to save quite a bit!

Try getting a quote with someone like dreams unlimited! They got me a great price and then emailed me nearer the time to advise me i could get free DDP too - they are really helpful! Then just book a fly drive or just flights if you dont want a car.

We got a deal at the dolphin hotel for $125 per night which far beat anything the TA's were offering us!

 

[carolfoy]

I'd be wary to think that US routes will open up any more, I don't expect that'll happen for 3 to 4 years, companies won't fork out for extra aircraft in an unstable market.
but I reckon Waynes advice on booking seperately is the way to go, don't forget you can get disneys magical express from the airport to save on transfer if you don't want to drive
and POFQ is great, I loved it, very tranquil

 

[Neoshoegal]

Thank you all once again for all the suggestions! I've received a quote from WDWVacations.com which seems reasonable, but since I asked for it we changed the dates and lenght of stay so I've asked for a new one. I'll ask a few others too.

 

[Cochise]

I'd be wary to think that US routes will open up any more, I don't expect that'll happen for 3 to 4 years, companies won't fork out for extra aircraft in an unstable market.
but I reckon Waynes advice on booking seperately is the way to go, don't forget you can get disneys magical express from the airport to save on transfer if you don't want to drive
and POFQ is great, I loved it, very tranquil

To add to Carol's reference to the open skies agreement, there is an opinion that Airlines such as BMI may drop their routes from places such as MAN in favour of possible slots at LHR. This is not going to happen prior to BA moving to T5 and probably more time after that whilst work on opening slots takes place. If Charters do not take up these routes there is a potential for some flight disappearing from Airports around the country. This may have a negative effect on pricing, something i hope doesnt happen but it must be considered.

 

[Groovee]

We found a price online and when I went into Thomas cook the manager phoned the area manager to book our holiday at that price as it saved us over £600 on the TC price. I would have just have booked online otherwise.

 

[carolfoy]

The trick is, is to get a price with the detail you like and call each of the following agents
Thomas Cook
Mytravel
Thomsons
First Choice
an independant agent under the consortium Worldchoice
an independant under the consortium Advantage

they all have different buying rates with differing airlines etc, they all have different levels of commission and over rider commissions, if, for instance the Advantage agent has to get x number of heads booked with Jetsave to gain an extra few % over rider they may even go as far as giving you nett rate for your holiday as they're more interested in the amount of heads booked.
Make sure you tell them the exact criteria - don't allow them to take all the parties names because you may find they'll hold flights on Galileo thereby pushing up prices for another agent or blocking them from getting availability. and tell them you want the BEST price