Book AoA + tix via UndercoverTourist or agent?

[SlinkyDad]

I've been planning to book my first WDW trip in mid Jan 2020 trip for 3 adults + 1 princess-obsessed six year old via an agent. 6 nights, 7 days; Cars or Nemo suite. I like that Disney pays the agent's commission, not me, and that they earn it doing the legwork for ADRs, FastPasses, and pouncing on discount offers. As I've been researching, this sounded like there's no downside.

Well, I was surprised today by the agent I'd started speaking/emailing with, mentioning that the AoA suites have historically been exempt from room discount offers, so apparently the hair under $4600 for 6 nights @ Cars + 7 days base tix isn't likely to change. Meanwhile it appears I can book the same room + tix at UndercoverTourist for a hair over $4000.

I like the idea of someone - an expert, even - handling those reservations and saving me from spending morning hours on hold. But not to the tune of nearly $600... and I don't think I'm looking for much else from the agent. By now I've researched (way more than) enough not to be looking for much guidance on decision-making etc.

Registered and posted here for sanity checking. Is it true that I'm unlikely to get any discount on an AoA suite in mid-Jan? I'd assumed one was likely from seeing offers for the general public, and better offers for Visa cardholders (I've applied), but hadn't drilled down to whether some resorts were excluded.

And coming at it from the other side: if I book the resort via UT, I'm guessing that means I *wouldn't* be able to apply a later room or package discount if Disney offers one, right? I guess they could be cancelled and I could make a new one directly with Disney at that point... but wouldn't that also cancel the ADRs I'd made based on the original reservations via UT?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bjkandma]

When a discount is offered AOA suites are usually included. The Little Mermaid (standard) rooms are not included. Of course, with this being Disney, things can and often do change.

I would double check with Undercover Tourist. When I was interested in their rates (honestly, can't remember if it was room only, or package), they wanted full payment up front.

 

[Trevler]

The savings is probably in their ticket prices. Have your agent book you room only at AoA and then buy your tickets from UT. Thats what we do.

 

[amw]

The savings is probably in their ticket prices. Have your agent book you room only at AoA and then buy your tickets from UT. Thats what we do.

They offer savings on the room-only too. I had the sun discount booked for a YC standard view room with Disney direct. (Back in Feb for upcoming Disney trip) Double-checked with undercovertourist & YC garden view with sun discount was cheaper than my standard!

They are considered a wholesaler & only have so many rooms. You do have to pay full amount up front - but it is fully refundable up to the week before.

It’s worth comparing, and OP if a discount comes out, they can rebook. Their c/s is responsive. They have some discounts already on 2020 dates. You can book up to 364 days away online. I’m waiting for August to see how their rates compare to rack for next year.

 

[SlinkyDad]

Thanks all. Wonder why this agent thinks the suites are typically exempt from discounts - I was reading the same thing online, that the Little Mermaid standard rooms often don't seem eligible, but no mention of the suites being excluded.

I was about to observe that about $450 of the ~$600 overall savings was from the room... but then noticed I was comparing Disney's after-tax room price to UT's before tax. Oops, sorry about that! Before tax it's $24.50 diff per night, so the overall room diff must be more like $150-160... and I suppose that means the overall room + tix diff must be more like $300.

If all else were equal, $300 is still probably more than I'd pay to have someone else make the various reservations and such, but it's probably within the range where if I pull the trigger, I won't be haunted by a feeling of having significantly "overpaid." And if a room or package discount knocks that price down further, all the better!

amw, I think you're suggesting that even if I book through UT, a wholesaler, they can rebook later to apply the same Disney room/package discounts as an agent could (or as I could, if I booked directly with WDW)? That does make that route more appealing. If you rebook for say a 15% discount offer, I wonder if you end up paying exactly the same as if you'd booked the same offer directly with Disney, or if there's still a price advantage via UT (which is currently about 6% for the room in mid-Jan)?

 

[amw]

amw, I think you're suggesting that even if I book through UT, a wholesaler, they can rebook later to apply the same Disney room/package discounts as an agent could (or as I could, if I booked directly with WDW)? That does make that route more appealing. If you rebook for say a 15% discount offer, I wonder if you end up paying exactly the same as if you'd booked the same offer directly with Disney, or if there's still a price advantage via UT (which is currently about 6% for the room in mid-Jan)?

Im always on the hunt for a discount. I have a DD19 so we get charged an extra adult fee. In the past, we used a magical agency for deep discounts in August. So this has been my process:
— last Fall, 9 mths before our trip, I booked a discounted room with that Agency for yacht club standard room. They get convention rates but the discount was not as great as the past.
— in January, Disney came out with a fun in the sun promotion for summer travel. You had to book before April. Looking online, my reservation would have been a few dollars cheaper than my agency rate but there were no standard rooms left. I would have had to switch to Boardwalk. Not worth the effort to change.
— out of curiosity, I checked Undercovertourist. They had the same fun in sun promotion as Disney online with Additional savings on top. They quoted a garden view at Yacht for LESS than I was paying for Standard even with the extra adult fee. It was a no brainer. I upgraded my room for less & contacted the agency to cancel my booking. I did have to pay up front (I’m ok with that) and I made sure of the cancellation policy which is up to the week before.
— I kept on looking, but Disney did not release any greater discounts since that promotion.

My point is - don’t feel locked into prices. If you are ok being the one on top of discount releases. Just confirm the cancellation policy of any reservation. Chances are there will be some discount offer for the time you are going. If your room is available discounted - just cancel and rebook. They may be able to apply discount to existing but I’m not sure. You can always do an online chat with them first to confirm procedure.

Undercover is a room-only booking. They can add special requests to your reservation — but they won’t be handling other dining/fastpass reservations for you. That’s all online now anyways. I’m a bit of a trip control freak and prefer to do it all myself.

 

[amw]

I should also add that since it is your first time, you may indeed want to go through an agent that can help you with each step of the process. I forget how daunting all the details can be! And yes, it would be their job to be on top of discount releases.

That being said, it doesn’t sound like the agent you had was much of a Disney expert. Don’t feel obligated to go with them. Try to find one that really does focus on Disney. Dreams unlimited sponsors these boards and they are Disney experts. Don’t be afraid to shop around for an agent that is communicative and responsive.

Good luck and I hope you’re not too overwhelmed.

 

[SlinkyDad]

Thanks again, amw.

Yeah, there sure are an awful lot of details for a first-timer to digest, which is a large part of why I initially decided to go with an agent (who BTW lists extensive Disney experience and is within a Disney-specializing agency). But maybe one thing I'm learning about myself is that, as someone who almost always travels independently and enjoys researching and planning out all the details (since early teens, when my school teacher parents gladly handed much of the summer-vacation-planning duties), I may find it comfier to hold the reins here as well. I've already learned enough in recent weeks to have an internal debate whether to stay at Art of Animation or rent points for a 1 BR villa instead (nah, this is really for the kid, who'll go gaga for AoA's theming and also the Skyliner; we adults won't care as much as many would about the compromises), etc... enough to not feel particularly overwhelmed at this point.

And now I also know where to come with any questions!

 

[CosmicGirl]

You may have found your answer by now but just in case: ADRs are independent of resort reservations so even if you cancel your resort the ADRs will still be linked to your account. The only influence resort reservations have is that you're able to book the first 10 days of your stay 180 day out instead of having to do it one day at a time. This gives you an edge over offsite guests for the later days of your trip.

It's important to note that, as ADRs are independent of your resort reservation, you will need to cancel ADRs one by one if you need to cancel your trip for some reason. Cancelling the hotel will not automatically cancel your ADRs. This is an important detail if you want to avoid getting hit with a $10 no-show fee for each ADR.

FPs on the other hand are first and foremost linked to your tickets, so if you don't have tickets in your account you can't hold FPs. In other words if you were to book a package and cancel it to change to a resort-only reservation you would lose your FPs unless you add a separate ticket. Here the onsite perk is that you get access 60 days out instead of 30, as I'm sure you know by now. You can select FPs for as many days as your ticket is good for.