Best way to book?

[cheryterese]

Opinions on the best way to book a trip? Our past few trips have been off-site so I've done it myself, buying tickets from Undercover Tourist. Our next trip will most likely be a split stay with hopefully a deluxe room deal end of August 2017. We'll be flying this trip too. Is it best to book the room only through the WDW website and get tickets a little cheaper from Undercover Tourist, use AAA for all since we're members, do it all on the WDW website, use a Disney travel agent? Thanks!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We always use Disneys site. We book bounce back from the room for the next year.

 

[AngiTN]

I always use the Disney site, if we don't have AP I buy discounted tickets elsewhere.
I never use AAA (they have no partnership with Disney and offer nothing you can't get elsewhere)
If I had a trip that fit in a TA package I may opt to try that one time but so far, none of my trips fit the parameters for one

 

[tobikaye]

Resort:

• I book my room directly with WDW. I watch for the Special Offers for when I book. If I am booking before an offer is out, then I watch to see if I need to adjust my reservation.
  
• I would consider booking with something like Expedia, but so far I have not found a deal that worked for me. I also would consider renting points for DVC, but I usually need the flexibility for cancellations or changes to my reservation.

Tickets:

• If necessary for a special offer, I book through WDW.
• I have bought through Undercover Tourist with no issues.
• Next trip the tickets were purchased from Park Savers (7 day PH for price of 4 day PH). I will probably start here in the future for tickets only items.

Travel Agent:

• Most cannot offer any discounts that I could get myself.
• Most do not book ADRS or FP+ and if they did, I would rather do that myself.

 

[buzznina]

Best deals:
Renting DVC points - Studios ONLY - Most of the time you must book at 11 month mark, only one real bed (except OKW) possible no refund. We only did this once, cannot commit so early and REALLY want 2 beds

TA exclusive deal - beats anything you can find on your own and this includes stacking discounts. The only thing I have to have our TA for is if we want to change the dates of our reservation, all else we our in control of.

BB offers - But you have to do it while already on a trip.

WDW by doing both calling and online - I will see what I want online and then call to make the reservation. I have gotten different quotes from each a few times and will take the cheapest.

We live in Florida and get AP's using the monthly payment plan.

 

[Atlanta WDW Fan]

I like to book my self online. The Disney website makes it easy to compare deals, and I like the ability to "pay as I go" over time. For example, I booked our September trip last November. Paid the $200 reservation fee, and have been paying the balance down until it was zero. I also watched the boards very closely to get "Free Dining" and that helped us save money as well. I have looked at Undercover Tourist, and their prices seem good, but I have not actually pulled the trigger on that. I have good friend who is a TA and he also keeps an eye for me. So far though, I have been able to get just what I want, at comparable prices booking directly with Disney. The planning is a big part of the thrill for me though. That may not be true for everyone. Just my two cents. Good Luck!

 

[Babsy]

We usually book directly with Disney ourselves. After all, I am a control freak, especially when it comes to WDW. I have purchased tickets from UT and have been quite happy with the service and saved a few $$$.

 

[smallworldnh]

I have booked twice with a AAA travel agent and the last several times I booked on the Disney website. Like the OP mentioned, they usually can't offer you anything you can't do yourself and I usually book in September for the free dining as well! I booked my trip for next September on the Disney site in July and have until next August to pay it off so it's much more convenient for me!

 

[loves to dive]

I have an AP so no tickets but when I get tickets for my son he either gets them through the military with their discount if available or I get them through parksavers with their discount.

I shop around for the resort, if there is a general discount out I'll check Orbitz and Cheaptickets to see if they are offering a % off deal and if they have any of the general discounts available to stack on. If there is an AP discount for the time I want to go I'll compare it to the other deals and book the one that is better. I've been known to book something and keep checking and change it, I've already changed my upcoming Sept. trip 3 times and will continue to look for deals until the date I can't cancel without a penalty. I did rent DVC points once through David's but since I don't normally know I'm taking a trip until 3 months out at the earliest it's hard to find anything with them. That trip was my first split stay between POR and OKW on points and got me hooked on split stays. I do them every trip now. I've check with David's a few times for other trips but there wasn't anything I wanted since I only need a studio and like the Epcot resorts which are harder to get.

I don't book ADRs in advance, we tend to fly by the seat of our pant and just book them on the fly but if there is one I really want (GF tea I'm looking a you) I'll just book it myself on WDW's site.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Resort: We usually book a room only reservation. I prefer to use the Disney website and will only get a discounted room, never full price. We have had AP discounts, general public discounts and bounceback discounts through Disney. The bounceback discounts are usually the best ones, because they usually have the highest discount rate and the most availability. I have gotten a few AP discounts that were 37% off, the highest percentage I've gotten through Disney. We have booked two reservations through Orbitz and gotten rates as high as 37% off. Those worked out fine but I had to make sure I didn't plan to make any changes, since you can't make a change. We've also gotten two rooms with an exclusive travel agent deal. The rates have been great but the disadvantage to those is that they only offer standard view rooms.

airfare: We always use Southwest and I check for the lowest rates daily. It has worked out great for us.

tickets: It doesn't make a difference where you buy your tickets unless you are trying to book a Disney special offer which requires a ticket purchase. Then you would have to buy tickets through Disney.