Book thru disney?

[daver]

HI Folks;

First time my family is going to Disney and I'm a bit (okay very) detail oriented. I already reserved my room fpr Feb but am now wondering.... are there really better deals out there than booking thru disney? I have the "comfort zone" feel about disney booking, and will bide my time to see if an "at par" deal comes around, but I have not found a website that offers any better deal than by booking online and getting it all thru disney ( room / dining/ park tickets).
Anyone shed some light on some outfit that can save money?

 

[DIS~n~JAN]

Hi, I too am thinking of booking directly with Disney. So far I haven't seen any better deals elsewhere, I just have done so much research and I seem to know way more than the travel agent I first dealt with! I'm still waiting for some kind of code or discount so I can book our trip in Jan 06, the only thing that has happened is West Jet flight has gone up $300 (that's my luck). As far as Disney, they told me the only thing I could do is block the rooms, wait until the end of June into July before they'll have prices for 2006. She did say the price increase looks like it'll be $5.00per night.
Good luck and let me know if you hear of any good deals!
Here is Disney's # in case you didn't have it already, it has saved alot of money in long distance.
1 800 828 0228

 

[hockey mom]

For hotel rooms your best bet is booking directly with Disney then watching these boards for any sort of discount rate and switch over.

For tickets it is cheaper to order from a company like "Ticketmania" than going through Disney.

 

[discruisnmom]

I too am planning to book thru Disney for Feb 2006. When I last called the 407 W Disney # (thanks for the tip on the toll free #) the CM told me that I could book now and when the rates come out then i'll be charged the difference. Last year when I booked they just wanted one night's stay deposit. I also feel better going thru Disney.

 

[tone.def]

The only thing I find about booking through Disney as opposed to using a travel agent is that Disney will make you book all your own Priority Seatings and chase for discounts on your own - they will not do that for you.

Booking through any of the online Travel agents such as Dream Come True Vacations or DU will cost you the exact same amount as booking through Disney and they will watch for "At-Par" specials or "codes" for you - if you think you're detailed oriented, wait until you meet one of them!

 

[DIS~n~JAN]

The only thing I find about booking through Disney as opposed to using a travel agent is that Disney will make you book all your own Priority Seatings and chase for discounts on your own - they will not do that for you.

Booking through any of the online Travel agents such as Dream Come True Vacations or DU will cost you the exact same amount as booking through Disney and they will watch for "At-Par" specials or "codes" for you - if you think you're detailed oriented, wait until you meet one of them!

Hi, thanks for the advice! Are you an agent? Or do you know a good one to get a price from? I have tried a couple places here at home and like I said before, they really don't seem to know a whole bunch, especially about WDW more about DL. Thanks

 

[tone.def]

Hi, thanks for the advice! Are you an agent? Or do you know a good one to get a price from?

Not an agent, but I used Dream Come True Vacations for my last trip and my upcoming trip. They are one of the few online TA agencies that have a Canadian agent on staff.

Even though I'm staying concierge this time around, my TA will take care of all my priority seatings if I ask her too.

 

[KatieKateKate]

Not an agent, but I used Dream Come True Vacations for my last trip and my upcoming trip. They are one of the few online TA agencies that have a Canadian agent on staff.

I used them too - becauase of the Canadian agent. Her service is excellent. I highly recommend them.

 

[shoots]

Hi,
If you want to book through Disney they will give you a room rate etc and add dining, but the rooms won't be discounted. I had a room on hold for late July, but when I asked about the CAA rates, they were much better. Then I decided to add the Dining pkg and Disney won't do that with a discounted CAA room rate. So.... I went with the $$ amounts to my local CAA agency and they got me the discounted room rate (as told on the phone by the Disney CM) and then they could add the Dining amount. It was a savings for me.
As for airline prices out of Buffalo, Disney was higher for a 1 stopover flight than I ended up with for a nonstop out of Toronto (near my house) even with the high CA taxes - flying with Skyservice (no onboard food, but hey, I can survive 2 hrs without food).

Good luck!

 

[mickeys_girl]

does anyone else know of any other disney travel agents that would be good for a canadian to use?

 

[Claud26]

I also booked with Dreams Come True Vacations, And the service has been great !!
she will do all the bookings for you, PS and look out for any specials/codes... who wants to get up at 6am or be on the phone while getting the kids ready for school....
However you are still booking your trip with Disney, your credit card will show WDW and not Dreams Come True... they get paid by Disney and not you.

Claud26

 

[TN Traveler]

Hi--I'm not from Canada...from Nashville, TN. Found your thread to be really interesting and had to respond. Hope that's ok!

I have been a travel agent for 10 yrs now. I book ALOT of Disney but am learning on this site that more and more people are booking direct w/Disney. I sold a NICE pkg to Disney for a family of 3 during Spring Break (March) of this year. They stayed 5 nts at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I upgraded them to a very nice Savannah View room, set up several advance res for them at different restaurants including their character bkft, a Cinderella Storybook meal and even included Limo service to pick them up at the airport and take them to their resort. In addition I had a surprise birthday balloon bouquet and picture of Cindy waiting for them in their room for the little girl that was turning 7 on the trip. All of this I did w/o compensation. I feel like I work really hard finding the best deal for my clients but as far as deposits go, our hands are tied. Call around for a Disney Specialist Agent and find one that will go the extra step for you. Remember tho, we aren't allowed to advertise the Disney logo or the fact we have been through College of Knowledge so you have to ask. Good Luck!!
Karen

 

[princess aurora]

I thought "discounts" and "codes" were only for people with Annual Passes. What's an avg. joe like me able to really get? I don't have CAA but didn't think they'd actually get you anything better than Disney. I've only ever booked directly with Disney for room/park tickets for the comfort level thing.

Oh I'm so confused. Rates, discounts, flights. I feel more behind now in knowledge than I did planning the trip we just took at the end of April.

 

[disney funseeker]

We have used Dreams Unlimited before and are using them again for this years trip. They are based in the U.S. but their knowledge and service is tops.

Haven't tried Dreams Come True Vacations. They sound like a good TA too though.

I would try one of the 2, especially if you're from Western Canada. As Dis~n~Jan mentioned, TA's here know more about DL because its closer.