Book on disney website? Expedia? Travel agent? Package or a la carte? HELP?

[lauris87]

Planning on booking a May 2013 Disney vacay... (can't wait!!)

I've been to Disney several times before, but never actually booked the vacation myself!

It's pretty overwhelming when you analyze all the different ways to book a vacation.... and just wanted to know what is easiest and most cost effective?

I've been a big Expedia fan in the past with other vacations... is it more cost effective to buy everything in one big package? (hotel, flight, and park tix?)

Or buy everything separately?
Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ashleyasiegel]

I use a TA to book my Disney Vacation for the simple reason of I like supporting TA's. Disney is expensive and might as well let someone make some money off me and it doesn't cost me anything.

Now the first trip I did book through the disney website myself and it was simple.

I book my flights seperately when I find a price I like.

I don't go to disney unless they have some sort of promotion so most of my trips are only booked a couple of months out. If you are for sure going to stay on Disney property then book what you want.

Packages have to paid 45 days before arrival but room only is only a one night stay and has a better cancel policy.

Tickets can be purchased from authorized ticket brokers for cheaper than disney gate. I would never pay for the dining plan. I have had the QS plan because it was free but I would never pay for it.

I would stick to either booking through Disney or an authorized TA. The price is going to pretty much be the same wherever you book.

 

[Marionnette]

Planning on booking a May 2013 Disney vacay... (can't wait!!)

I've been to Disney several times before, but never actually booked the vacation myself!

It's pretty overwhelming when you analyze all the different ways to book a vacation.... and just wanted to know what is easiest and most cost effective?

I've been a big Expedia fan in the past with other vacations... is it more cost effective to buy everything in one big package? (hotel, flight, and park tix?)

Or buy everything separately?
Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

A lot will depend on your comfort level. A TA is not necessarily going to find you the cheapest way to do it. They are going to find the easiest and most profitable way for themselves to book your vacation.

So, they're most likely going to book a package for you. And if possible, they will book your airfare, too. And talk you into travel insurance. All of those will add to their commission. They will not seek out tickets through Undercovertourist or re-book your airfare with Southwest if it goes down.

A TA will also retain control of the reservation. That means that any changes or additions to your reservation will have to go through them. You will have to rely on them to make sure that your DME packet gets to you and that your vacation vouchers get to you. If you want to add a day, change the dates or switch resorts, you will need to go thru them.

Cancellation policies are another big consideration. Disney packages can be canceled 45 days before arrival with no penalty. Expedia has a different policy. A TA may have their own policy as well.

Will you save money by going thru a TA? The answer is: Maybe. Sometimes a TA will offer an incentive to book through them. I've seen gift cards, stateroom credits and gift baskets used as bonuses that TAs offer to their clients as a hook to get them to book thru the agency. They will also be in your corner if something goes wrong during your trip. So,there are positives to using one.

 

[Firefly09]

I like booking everything directly. I've heard too many stories about trying to make changes to plans and vendor will only deal with the 3rd party agent (such as expedia, travelocity) if you booked through one.

I think if you read a lot of the posts on Disboards, you'll gain the knowledge you need to book the vacation whichever way you end up deciding to. Because even if you did go with a TA, you shouldn't rely on them to know everything and some posters have reported teaching their TA a thing or 2 or not if the TA isn't able to admit when they are out of their comfort zone.

 

[RitaE]

I've used a travel agent to book a Disney vacation and I doubt I will ever do it again.

We tend to fiddle a bunch with out Disney vacations, mostly because we book them 5 or 6 months out and then we change our minds on exact dates, or which hotel, or whatever. When you work through a Travel agent all the changes then have to be made ..... through the travel agent.

For us, it made everything a two or three day job when if I had control of that reservation myself I could have just went online and made the change or picked up the phone myself and done it within minutes. I found it really, really irritating.

Other people like using the Travel Agents because they don't want to mess with searching for new discount codes or whatever. I'm kind of a control freak about money though and I just found myself redoing all the work to check and make sure our Travel Agent reservation really was the cheapest.

So for us, it didn't work.

 

[lauris87]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful!

 

[arihillfarm]

A lot will depend on your comfort level. A TA is not necessarily going to find you the cheapest way to do it. They are going to find the easiest and most profitable way for themselves to book your vacation.

So, they're most likely going to book a package for you. And if possible, they will book your airfare, too. And talk you into travel insurance. All of those will add to their commission. They will not seek out tickets through Undercovertourist or re-book your airfare with Southwest if it goes down.

A TA will also retain control of the reservation. That means that any changes or additions to your reservation will have to go through them. You will have to rely on them to make sure that your DME packet gets to you and that your vacation vouchers get to you. If you want to add a day, change the dates or switch resorts, you will need to go thru them.

Cancellation policies are another big consideration. Disney packages can be canceled 45 days before arrival with no penalty. Expedia has a different policy. A TA may have their own policy as well.

Will you save money by going thru a TA? The answer is: Maybe. Sometimes a TA will offer an incentive to book through them. I've seen gift cards, stateroom credits and gift baskets used as bonuses that TAs offer to their clients as a hook to get them to book thru the agency. They will also be in your corner if something goes wrong during your trip. So,there are positives to using one.

Weighing in as a Disney specialist TA here. US airfare is not commissionable, even when added to a Disney package. A good Disney specialist TA will book the best package for your budget and traveling style, even if that means a stay off-property and suggesting UT or YES tickets, which I have done. I'd rather clients be able to go Disney and have a great time on their budget than not be able to go at all.

-Astrid

 

[Maddle]

A good Disney specialist TA will book the best package for your budget and traveling style...

-Astrid

I agree - a good travel agent will find the best fit for the client, not "the easiest, most profitable" for him/herself.