Best way to book trip???

[MeliKH]

Should I go through Disneyland.com (or phone) or AAA? Also, am I better off trying to combine my tickets and hotel or should I book them separately? Clearly, I'm new to this!

Thanks!

 

[specialks]

I booked through AAA this year just for the added perks and it cost me about $300 more than if I would have booked it separately. I will get everything separately next time but I wanted to get the added perks one time. I think AAA and Costco have better packages than disneyland.com but maybe there are better deals if you have an Annual Pass (which we don't).

 

[Hester]

Should I go through Disneyland.com (or phone) or AAA? Also, am I better off trying to combine my tickets and hotel or should I book them separately? Clearly, I'm new to this!

Thanks!

Well, it depends on your specific situation. Tell us more about your trip -- length of stay, where are you coming from, etc.

 

[MeliKH]

Coming from Northern CA - so we are driving. Staying 3 nights (DLH hopefully) & need a 3 day park hopper. 2 adults/2kids...just let me know what else you need to know!

Oh, what are the "perks" with booking through AAA?

 

[HydroGuy]

I have never seen a better deal booking hotel and tix together but I have seen worse deals. If you buy your tix ahead of time on the DLR website (or thru Ares for example) you can get a better price. When you buy the package it seems they charge you full price for the tix.

 

[LuLusApple]

Don't buy your tickets at the gate. Way less expensive to just buy them online at disneylands website. Easier too, if you get an eticket print at home, then just take it to the maingate and they will pop out a regular paper ticket.

I have never seen AAA beat DLs online ticket price. They are usually identical.
The perks you get by booking a package thru WDT or AAA are generally, a lanyard with pin for each ticket, a voucher book with coupons for PSeating at 4 shows, (value questionable) mickeys toontown morning madness voucher (fun)
and a discount card for specific food establishments 10%.
I think that's all. Oh with AAA you get parking too. Generally you will pay for this (package) with higher hotel and ticket costs.
Now sometimes costco has a character meal or gift card in their packages, that can be a bit more appealing but whenever I look it still appears more $ than booking seperate.

If you are staying offsite it's generally cheaper to book with the hotel itself. Hth

 

[QueenDoOver]

It actually depends. I have priced it out both ways many times. Sometimes the price difference is $300, but sometimes it is only $80. When you get ready to book, you need to price out the package, and then price it out seperately.
The perks are a little different at each place. AAA offers free parking, so if you are staying off sight, and need to drive, this is a value of $10 per day I think. Costco throws in a character breakfast for 4 and a $20 gift card. So that's about $110 worth or so, if you plan on doing a character breakfast anyhow.

All of them give you preferred seating, Toon Town entry, a lanyard, a pin, maybe a coin.
Sometimes a character call to the kids.

For me, if the price difference is $80, then it is worth it, provided I am very sure about my trip.

Otherwise, I much prefer the flexibility of paying seperately and when I want to for tickets, as well as being able to cancel the hotel at a late date without penalty. (sometimes I like to change)

 

[FourOrchards]

I have found this year for our trip it's going to be cheaper to book our hotel on expedia.com and buy our tickets there too. We are staying at the GCH...

We are not doing all the fancy upgrades so it's the cheapest way to go. 4 nights and 4 day hopper tickets. I did call the Disney booking place just to see if they could do better and they just couldn't.

It really does depend on what you want to do.

Tell us more about what you'd like to do.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I have booked separately for DLR several times, however this year we wanted to try staying onsite for the first time. We found that by booking through Costco travel we got the best deal, plus all the added perks. (free character meal, 20 dollar gift card, 3 free pins and lanyards, priority seating for Aladdin, tickets for Toontown morning madness and Disneyland luggage tags)