Booking Advice needed please (but no rush....haha....)

[Eliza32]

Hi everyone

DH and myself are planning to go to WDW in September 2013. We have been several times before:
1991 Myself and my mum - stayed somewhere in Kissimmee
1995 Myself, DH, mum and dad - rented a villa
1997 Myself & DH - Days in LBV (Now a Radisson?)
2000 Myself & DH - Days in LBV (Now a Radisson?)
2003 Myself & DH - Fairfield Inn, Marriott Village, Little Lake Bryan
2007 Myself & DH - POP Century
2010 Myslef & DH - POP Century

So, having stayed on site, we're not going back off site!!! I read these boards practically every day and see so much about PINs and discount codes, but don't really understand how to get them?

We had free dining in 2007 when we booked through Travel City Direct (Excel) even though it wasn't offered when we booked, it became available later and TCD added it for us.

However, in 2010, same thing happened, not offered at the time of booking, but offered later, but TCD (by then owned by Virgin) would not add it FOC. They said we would have to pay full price.

I read on these boards that people get the free dining added as it becomes available if they book through Disney, but how do I go about doing that. Is there a specific website or phone number for those of us in the UK, or do I need to ring the US?? I'm OK booking room, tickets, car, flight etc seperately (have done this on previous trips) but need to know how to go about getting the best deal. I also read about people changing their booking to get better deals - how does this work. My past experience with UK travel agents is that they charge a whopping admin fee to change anything and everything!!

Any help you can give me on this would be very much appreciated.

 

[wayneg]

Sounds like you have been booking too early, I would not book until the free DDP is available if thats something you are wanting, its usually costly to add after booking.
Your previous visits are in value, Disney.co.uk don't offer free DDP in value resorts, they offer QSDDP in moderate and regular DDP in Deluxe. You might get free DDP in value by booking with Disney.com but they release a long time after UK site.
No details have been released for next year yet, I am just going on past years, we will know more in April hopefully.

For booking room, tickets & free DDP I use either http://www.completeorlando.co.uk/index.php or http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
If booking direct on the Disney site then go thru Quidco to get cashback.

Not sure about changing and admin fees, been to Florida 27 times, only change I have ever made is adding 1 day to an OKW booking, Disney didn't charge a fee just the extra night (incl free DDP) Just book what you want to start then they can't charge you any fees.

Not a lot you can do yet, most people are waiting for Disney to release next years prices.

 

[Eliza32]

Thanks wayneg.......I like to plan early so I know that we have what we want. I'd not pay for the dining plan in any of it's many forms, but if it's going for free..........

Can I also ask - can I buy Disney Gift Cards in the UK that are good to use in the parks?? We were maybe thinking of going for Food & Wine and I've read that you can use the gift cards at the food stands. It would also help me to save as I wouldn't be able to spend them here!!!

 

[wayneg]

Years ago travel companies used to give early booking discounts, free child places etc. Sometimes it was worth booking early, these days its more about booking at the right time, could be early could be later, you need to know a good price and buy as soon as you are happy with that price.
When Disney release next years prices that will be a starting point for many people planning next years trips.

I doubt you will be able to use UK gift cards, they will be in £'s not $'s
If you get free DDP you can use the snack credits for the Food & Wine festival.

 

[orangetiggs]

Alot of companies wont add the free dining if you have booked before it comes out, we booked in 2008 with virgin holidays and then free dining came out and even added tickets hey still could not get it free

I like to plan but you can still wait for free dining, we booked nov 11 for this nov and have free dining, we used complete orlando

It used to be in the t&cs that room and tickets need to be booked together