Book Holiday through Disney? or who else cheaper?

[Julia Ann]

So a couple of you have mentioned that I should price up our trip "through Disney" but, and sorry for sounding an idiot, which site would this be through and do they offer package or just hotel?

This is what we are looking at (at the moment as I have changed from off site with car to on site with no car!)

2 adults 1 child
17 Oct 2015 (having to look at 2014 prices at the moment-pref friday flight or thurs at a push as having to take DD out of school for a week before half term)
14 nights
Pop Century (or AoA but I know that will be more expensive)
No Car
Transfer from/to airport
Direct flight from Birmingham or East midlands (manchester at a push but this will push up cost of petrol to airport and car parking)

Our budget is 4K. Currently coming out at about 4,200 with Thomson (I do like the look of Dreamliner), will stretch the extra couple of hundred for the right holiday.

I'm a bit of a scaredy cat to book hotel and flight separate but if it saves a ton then maybe I will - I know loads do this maybe I can be convinced

 

[Elise79]

www.disneyworld.com is the main Disney site.

They do offer flight inclusive packages as well hotel only.

You might find Manchester flights cheaper overall as airlines tend to add supplements to the "regional" airports prices plus you will be landing at Sanford rather than MCO and will have to pay for transfers rather than being able to use ME.

 

[2Tiggies]

You budget sounds perfectly reasonable for 2 adults and a child.

How soon would you be prepared to book, if you only had to put a deposit down and could pay off the rest next August?

The free dining promotion comes to an end next week and based on promotions from previous years, it is not likely to come back for 2014 bookings. Free dining is offered with moderate (Quick Service, with the option to upgrade to regular DDP for a supplement) and deluxe resorts (regular DDP). When pricing up dining separately, unless you are going to be driving and eating offsite or prefer very light and simple meals, it often works out the same or cheaper to go with a moderate resort with food included than to add your own. How old is your child?

You could book your stay through Disney directly and add flights at a later stage if you find it too daunting, or book your own if you are confident doing that.

I agree with Tracy, I'd want a really good deal on flights or package to be persuaded to fly into Sanford because you then have to sort out your own transport from the airport. Not a problem if you are hiring a car, but all these little things add up and need to be accounted for.

I would also never work my plans around a specific airline unless I had miles or vouchers, or there was some very compelling money saving reason to do so. All the airlines will get you there. Some are a bit better than others but when you look at prices and there are differences of several hundred pounds for the same departure dates, suddenly an extra inch of legroom or a new plane doesn't hold the same appeal it did in a brochure or online advertisement

 

[orangetiggs]

We book with complete orlando always a few hundred pounds cheaper than disney

 

[flortlebap]

We found Disney the cheapest this time. Complete Orlando are usually good too, but for our trip to YC they were £300 more expensive! Most other hotels still came in cheaper through CO though so definitely worth a look.

Kenwood Travel sometimes have cheap deals too, as do Thomas Cook/Thompson depending on what you're trying to book.

We have booked tickets and hotel through Disney (or other company above ) to get free dining then booked flights separately as that was cheapest for us. Scheduled flights are released 330 days out but can be booked earlier as part of a package (but you do seem to pay more). Charter release much earlier. We found Manchester the cheapest to fly with a scheduled airline.

Happy planning. Oh and don't discount a Moderate to get free dining - it might be better than AoA with no DP!

 

[Elise79]

Just priced up 2 weeks on the Disney site. For 14 nights you can get:

CBR including 14 day tickets and QSDP for £2407.
POP including 14 day tickets for £1797.

With CBR you have most (if not all of your food included) and have a budget of £1590 for flights which should be doable. Especially as you wouldn't need as much spending money as food is mostly covered.

Pop seems expensive to me when you consider you can stay in a better hotel and get food for only £610 more.

 

[Julia Ann]

Thanks all I need to do some serious research.

2Tiggies the trip isn't til Oct 2015 but will be in a position to book By about Apr next year. Also dd will be almost 8 when we travel and we are not big eaters

You get charged by thomson for airport transfers also which I was surprised about.


Was looking at pop for bus convenience with the little one.

Appreciate all your help on this.

 

[Elise79]

Thanks all I need to do some serious research.

2Tiggies the trip isn't til Oct 2015 but will be in a position to book By about Apr next year. Also dd will be almost 8 when we travel and we are not big eaters

You get charged by thomson for airport transfers also which I was surprised about.


Was looking at pop for bus convenience with the little one.

Appreciate all your help on this.

Even if you are not big eaters you will not be able to feed 3 people onsite for 2 weeks for £600.

We stayed at CSR when DD was young and never had an issue with buses there. pOFQ is also good for buses.

Also Pop usually has the longest bus line at the end of the night

 

[Julia Ann]

Even if you are not big eaters you will not be able to feed 3 people onsite for 2 weeks for £600.

We stayed at CSR when DD was young and never had an issue with buses there. pOFQ is also good for buses.

Also Pop usually has the longest bus line at the end of the night

Thanks for the tips never stayed on site before ..or with kids so I feel like a newbie again

 

[edinburghlass]

Also remember quidco and/or topcashback if booking via Disney, I got back in cashback more than the £100 deposit for next year with quidco as they had an offer on at the time.

 

[flortlebap]

Can't you remove the airport transfer option from Thomson?

Magic Express is free for on site guests you book it direct with Disney. It linked my reservation through Expedia no problem!

 

[edinburghlass]

Not when flying in to Sandford

 

[foxxxy83]

Thomson only fly to Sanford. We are flying in there coz we want to fly Thomson Dreamliner again then hiring a limo (works out about the same price as a taxi!) If you're wanting free transfers (Disney Magical Express) coz you're booking via Disney website, be sure to fly via Orlando Intl (MCO).