Booking a trip youself

[LENNON500]

I have a really quick and sort of general question for the DIS community.
Most of us here are Disney veterans and pretty computer savvy.
Since the roll out of My Disney Experience, many people take care of booking their own trips now, online.
Personally, I still like booking through a travel agency, but I realize that so many people take it upon themselves now.
My question is, if you were helping out someone as far as how to navigate MDE, give advice on resorts, tickets, dining, etc., what do you think would be the most difficult thing for a newbie to grasp?
I have been helping out some co-workers and family with MDE and it seems like most people I work with find it to be a user friendly tool.
I'm curious to hear if you guys are hearing the same thing?

Thanks!

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, I've had 2 different friends plan first trips in the past year.
They asked me for advice on things to not miss, timing, etc but they both found using MDE very easy and did all their bookings themselves.
They didn't find anything hard to grasp. And neither of these were particularly computer savvy, just avg.

 

[xlsm]

I have a couple of friends planning first trips right now, and they're not having an issue with anything or finding MDE confusing or hard to work with. One is getting ready to make dining reservations, and she asked for some recommendations and I clarified a few things for her (no Beast at BOG lunch, things like that), but I try to remain pretty hands off outside of giving very basic information.

Most first time visitors I encounter don't want or need my level of Disney "know how", because it is overwhelming and doesn't really apply to them. They want to go to the parks, see Mickey and the castle, eat somewhere fun, and that's about it. Disney's website has plenty of information about things like that, and MDE is really pretty straightforward. Everyone I know that has used the system for the first time hasn't had any issues with it...and they often have more patience for glitches than all of us regulars do!

 

[Rusty2rules]

I have a question along the same lines. MDE is pretty straight forward and easy to use. But what happens when discounts pop up (i.e., free dining) after you've made your reservation on your own? I know places like Dreams Unlimited are on top of these things and apply them ASAP. I don't know if I would/could be able to do that if doing it on my own. Will Disney automatically apply discounts to existing reservations that meet the requirements?

 

[AngiTN]

I have a question along the same lines. MDE is pretty straight forward and easy to use. But what happens when discounts pop up (i.e., free dining) after you've made your reservation on your own? I know places like Dreams Unlimited are on top of these things and apply them ASAP. I don't know if I would/could be able to do that if doing it on my own. Will Disney automatically apply discounts to existing reservations that meet the requirements?

No, they don't, you have to call. Just like a TA does. It's super easy. May have a wait but otherwise easy.
Plus, if the room you have booked isn't available on the promo you can decide right then what your options are. A TA would have to get in touch and ask you, unless you've told them all the different options you are good with. You could even loose an option just by waiting.

 

[lizzilou]

This is my first trip as an adult. I rented DVC points and bought our tickets though parksavers. I've found it fairly easy to add everything into MDE, make ADRs and FP. Picking what I want to do has been the most difficult, not how to do it. I think MDE is really user friendly.

 

[LENNON500]

This is my first trip as an adult. I rented DVC points and bought our tickets though parksavers. I've found it fairly easy to add everything into MDE, make ADRs and FP. Picking what I want to do has been the most difficult, not how to do it. I think MDE is really user friendly.

That is really great feedback, thank you. "Picking what to do, not how to do it"

 

[Rusty2rules]

A TA would have to get in touch and ask you, unless you've told them all the different options you are good with. You could even loose an option just by waiting.

That's very helpful information, thank you.

Picking what I want to do has been the most difficult, not how to do it.

LOL I hear you there!

 

[Anal Annie]

I have a really quick and sort of general question for the DIS community.
Most of us here are Disney veterans and pretty computer savvy.
Since the roll out of My Disney Experience, many people take care of booking their own trips now, online.
Personally, I still like booking through a travel agency, but I realize that so many people take it upon themselves now.
My question is, if you were helping out someone as far as how to navigate MDE, give advice on resorts, tickets, dining, etc., what do you think would be the most difficult thing for a newbie to grasp?
I have been helping out some co-workers and family with MDE and it seems like most people I work with find it to be a user friendly tool.
I'm curious to hear if you guys are hearing the same thing?

Thanks!

While I've had my own frustrations with the MDE I still wouldn't send someone to a TA to plan a Disney trip. I think the biggest things a newbie doesn't quite grasp is that certain things really do need advanced planning (like certain ADR's) and then of course making sure you book your FP's as soon as you're eligible depending on whether they're onsite or off. I had a friend go for the first time this past fall during T-giving week. They were going to be off-site so not able to book FP's until 30 days. She forgot until I messaged her about it. I don't think they did a lot of TS meals so that wasn't a big deal for them to worry about. Their kids are older so not a great need for character meals or meet & greet things. I generally don't plan most of our ADR's too far out UNLESS we're going during a BUSY week or we want something hard to get like BOG or LeCellier or something (which is not usually every trip). But newbies can't grasp the need to figure out where to eat that far out. So I would just help them figure out some places to eat and guide them a little bit on which rides REALLLLLY need FP's and which ones are generally ok to do standby so I guess I give them sort of touring plan advice.

 

[LENNON500]

This is my first trip as an adult. I rented DVC points and bought our tickets though parksavers. I've found it fairly easy to add everything into MDE, make ADRs and FP. Picking what I want to do has been the most difficult, not how to do it. I think MDE is really user friendly.

Do you feel that MDE, or other Disney tools provide you with the information needed to find out what options you have?

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm doing it on my own this year for the first time. I was just really getting aggravated with the TAs I used in the past being really slow with response and I have learned so much through here and other sites I figured I could handle it. I've already changed my hotel on MDE very easily. Linked my UT tickets quickly and now just chomping at the bit to do more!

 

[LENNON500]

I'm doing it on my own this year for the first time. I was just really getting aggravated with the TAs I used in the past being really slow with response and I have learned so much through here and other sites I figured I could handle it. I've already changed my hotel on MDE very easily. Linked my UT tickets quickly and now just chomping at the bit to do more!

I think that's one of the best things about MDE; you can take control over your vacation.

 

[dan40]

I haven't had any luck getting my CBR reservation linked to the MDE app... apparently they can't find it in their system, so I'll try again later. As for booking my own trip, it's funny that you started this thread because with me, I looked on a lot of travel websites and got so frustrated that I called my travel agent, the same person who helped me on past trips, and asked her to look into some prices for me. Then I remembered the travel site that we used to book all of our SE Asia flights and hotels, which was a godsend. So I went there and booked my upcoming WDW trip by myself, without the help of my travel agent, and saved myself about $400 US. It's not difficult if you know where to go, and what to look for, and it also depends on if your dates are flexible. If you have set dates, the price could skyrocket, but if you have no dates cast in stone, then a difference of one day can save you a lot of money.

 

[lizzilou]

Do you feel that MDE, or other Disney tools provide you with the information needed to find out what options you have?

I'm not sure I can answer that since I've also received a lot of information here. Its hard to sort out what I learned from Disney or DIS.

I am glad I learned it all to do my own planning though. I feel like I can be more flexible if something comes up and we need to change our plans. I know what my options are.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

I've never used a travel agent, and we have always stayed off-site. However I am seriously considering one for our Trip in 2018. I have reached a point where I would rather let someone else spend the time on the phone making reservations for various activities. Although, my husband's employer provides a concierge service that has helped us make Disney reservations in the past. That is a fantastic perk! But it has to be a very specific request, not just a general "I want to do this in this time frame" scenario.

 

[dkrauss]

Great post..........I am in fact helping a noobie this day! What I've found to be the most daunting tasks are the ADR and FP processes. I started at the MDE page and worked from there.........My first timers tend to start too late in the timeline. The couple I'm working with now......are leaving in 9 days! They had no plan........no idea! ADR's are gonna be tough to get with good times.......and 7DMT is already unavailable for FP.

My advise to noobies is unless you have time to really do the research (at least 9 months ahead of time) or talk with a knowledgeable friend/family member..........use a TA for the first trip. Most TA's are well suited for dealing with the complexities of a WDW vacation.

Doug

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

MBs. It's hard for newbies to grasp that it's all about MDE and not about their MB, and that nothing is on their MB and they can use any MB they link to MDE. Disney doesn't do a good job of explaining that, either.

 

[LENNON500]

Great post..........I am in fact helping a noobie this day! What I've found to be the most daunting tasks are the ADR and FP processes. I started at the MDE page and worked from there.........My first timers tend to start too late in the timeline. The couple I'm working with now......are leaving in 9 days! They had no plan........no idea! ADR's are gonna be tough to get with good times.......and 7DMT is already unavailable for FP.

My advise to noobies is unless you have time to really do the research (at least 9 months ahead of time) or talk with a knowledgeable friend/family member..........use a TA for the first trip. Most TA's are well suited for dealing with the complexities of a WDW vacation.

Doug

Hi Doug....I've seen this too with so many people. They do not realize timing is the key and when they miss something they wanted to see, or can't dine where they wanted to dine, they are disappointed.

 

[BigredNole]

I would tell them that it is a complete job planning a Disney trip between ADRs 180 days out, planning FPs and which parks you are going to which days 60 days out, and being so regimented that it is almost no longer a vacation than it is Boot Camp. I think it is time to get rid of the whole ADR and FPs 60 days out nonsense. It needs to go back to show up and if there is room you are in.

I would definitely use a travel agent that searches for the best price for you all the time and not you doing that work.

 

[LENNON500]

I would tell them that it is a complete job planning a Disney trip between ADRs 180 days out, planning FPs and which parks you are going to which days 60 days out, and being so regimented that it is almost no longer a vacation than it is Boot Camp. I think it is time to get rid of the whole ADR and FPs 60 days out nonsense. It needs to go back to show up and if there is room you are in.

I would definitely use a travel agent that searches for the best price for you all the time and not you doing that work.

Disney calls that "taking control of your vacation" but it sounds like your argument is, it takes control and spontaneity away from a Disney World vacation.
I think you bring up great points though and I could see why a newbie would feel completely overwhelmed by the choices and deadlines.