Best time to book a package?

[mommymanda]

Our most recent trips have been driving. We've also always booked directly through Disney. Travelled late August, and received the 'free' dining plan. I am thinking for 2022 we would book a package with flight/room/ticket from a travel agency/airline.

Pretending the past 12months won't change bookings. When is the best time to get a package deal/sale for August 2022?

Am I still better off booking each part separately? We have missed two years of travel, so saved a bit to splurge on flights. I still wouldn't want to feel that I've over spent.

 

[friedela]

Hi! We are just starting to plan our 2022 trip and we looked at the benefits of a package and they are pretty awesome. When you book a package through Disney your entire package is fully refundable 30 days + before you travel. You do have to leave a $200 deposit, but if you need to cancel your trip and you do so within that 30 days you get all of your money back. (I am not sure if that is true for flights too, maybe someone else can speak to that.)

Personally after pricing out the cost of doing a package and the cost of booking everything individually it works out to be pretty similar. The good news is that you can book a package and if a deal comes out, you can often times apply that deal to your package. So really, now is as good of a time as any IMO. Lots of flexibility with the packages and I've never seen flights so cheap. Happy planning!

 

[mommymanda]

Hi! We are just starting to plan our 2022 trip and we looked at the benefits of a package and they are pretty awesome. When you book a package through Disney your entire package is fully refundable 30 days + before you travel. You do have to leave a $200 deposit, but if you need to cancel your trip and you do so within that 30 days you get all of your money back. (I am not sure if that is true for flights too, maybe someone else can speak to that.)

Personally after pricing out the cost of doing a package and the cost of booking everything individually it works out to be pretty similar. The good news is that you can book a package and if a deal comes out, you can often times apply that deal to your package. So really, now is as good of a time as any IMO. Lots of flexibility with the packages and I've never seen flights so cheap. Happy planning!

Were you able to find Canadian flights through Disney? We wouldn't be going until August, so I know flights are not listed yet. Ive always booked the hotel and tickets directly with them and had no issues.
I just cringe when I see the flight prices on their own (we are a family of 5). I had been thinking of booking with Air Canada or Transat or such as it seems the prices packaged are better than adding flight alone.

 

[Frozen2014]

We've purchased a package already for August 2022, but it's just room + park tickets. We buy those from Disney directly. For flights, we book ourselves. We collect points and can sometimes apply. If flight cost are ok when they open up (around 11 months before), then we'll probably book flights then. The trip is far enough out that covid hopefully isn't an issue.

 

[hdrolfe]

I purchase flights separate from room/tickets. If I am doing a "just Disney" trip I book a package. If it's a cruise plus Disney, sometimes I do room and tickets separate. I have used a travel agent for the package but only if it will get me a better deal. Which doesn't really happen any more. I prefer to have control of things myself. It might be nice to have someone else apply discounts to my package if they get released or something. I think I usually just book when those are already offered. Any way! Rambling, sorry You can book when you are comfortable with the price and apply discounts when they come up, by calling to see if it's available.

 

[friedela]

Were you able to find Canadian flights through Disney? We wouldn't be going until August, so I know flights are not listed yet. Ive always booked the hotel and tickets directly with them and had no issues.
I just cringe when I see the flight prices on their own (we are a family of 5). I had been thinking of booking with Air Canada or Transat or such as it seems the prices packaged are better than adding flight alone.

No, we didn't do a package with Disney but I have found great deals on flights through Westjet. Also, Westjet has a master card that gives you a companion flight for $100, I think that is now free. It has saved us hundreds of dollars in the past.

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/rewards/rbc-mastercard/index

 

[mommymanda]

Thanks! I think I may just put my deposit down soon for room/tickets. In Jan or Feb I will switch around if discounts appear. Although we try to explore new resorts each stay so I may wait for POR to reopen...or maybe we will try the cabins.
I feel like I will end up pricing flights closer to the trip, than deciding to drive anyhow lol...that's what's happened every other time.

 

[OkanaganAmanda]

Thanks! I think I may just put my deposit down soon for room/tickets. In Jan or Feb I will switch around if discounts appear. Although we try to explore new resorts each stay so I may wait for POR to reopen...or maybe we will try the cabins.
I feel like I will end up pricing flights closer to the trip, than deciding to drive anyhow lol...that's what's happened every other time.

If you book through Dreams their agents actually LOOK for discounts for you and will upgrade you to an even better discount if one becomes available. We had booked in at what was a pretty good promo, and then months later got an email that our package was made even cheaper by an additonal discount. Worth their weight in gold (we have Elaine Edwards as our agent) and the prices are actually the same as what you would pay direct through Disney. Disney pays the agents their commission.

 

[2Lunds]

Were you able to find Canadian flights through Disney? We wouldn't be going until August, so I know flights are not listed yet. Ive always booked the hotel and tickets directly with them and had no issues.
I just cringe when I see the flight prices on their own (we are a family of 5). I had been thinking of booking with Air Canada or Transat or such as it seems the prices packaged are better than adding flight alone.

Have you checked Delta? We're in Winnipeg and Delta has been FAR cheaper than AC or WJ the last three times we've gone.

ETA: we have a WJ World Elite card and even factoring in the "free" companion fare (you still pay all the taxes and fees) it has still been significantly cheaper to book w/ Delta

 

[mommymanda]

Have you checked Delta? We're in Winnipeg and Delta has been FAR cheaper than AC or WJ the last three times we've gone.

ETA: we have a WJ World Elite card and even factoring in the "free" companion fare (you still pay all the taxes and fees) it has still been significantly cheaper to book w/ Delta

I will look into that. I love the idea of just paying everything up front at once...but would definatley prefer the option that saves us the most money.

 

[Sue M]

I always book air myself. Once Aug 2022 fares come out start tracking. I find waiting too long, fares go up. Have to find the sweet spot. Since you mostly drive starting to watch fares will give you a good idea of what to expect.
Consider booking pkg with a Disney specialist TA. They know when prices drop and will apply any discounts. And they’re the ones sitting on hold for hours! When WDW drops prices they sell out of discounted rooms pretty fast. So if you don’t know the day that happens you could be outta luck.

 

[musika]

Older information, but on our last booking they were able to convert my canadian discounted tickets into a package: (1) January 2020 Discounts | Page 33 | The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com

Ultimately it wasn't a huge cost savings but it was nice to get the discount card.