Booking advice

[swillis]

Hi everyone
I just got the "ok" from my DH to book a trip in June. This will be our first time staying inside the park, so I need some advice on how best to book this trip.
Is it better to book it directly through Disney, or through a travel agency like the one advertised on this website (I don't know if I'm allowed to say which one)
What has your experience been? Any info would be great.
Thanks in advance

 

[byoung]

If you have AAA, you can book with them, also may check out renting DVC points.

 

[jimmiej]

I rented DVC this past summer from a family in Massachusetts & saved 36%! We were able to stay at one of Disney's finest resorts (Beach Club Villas) at an affordable rate. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Check out the DVC boards here on the DIS.

I also used Dreams Unlimited for our first Disney cruise. I was very pleased with their service.

I prefer to book my WDW trips directly through Disney. I've been enough times that I "know the ropes", so to speak. Part of the fun of planning our trips is doing everything myself. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, use a travel agent who is knowledgable about Disney.

Have fun planning!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

If you change your plans or your mind a lot it is better to do it yourself. If a TA books they are the only person who can make changes to your ressies. It was an big ordeal for me in aug. Click on my name and view previous post if you would like to know. In all honestly I would probably use a TA again but I will make sure they have exceptional communications skills. This way I get what I want and not what I have to settle for. Best of Luck.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We personally only book straight through Disney CRO. Straight from the horses mouth, if you do not like that horse, just call back and talk to another. They are very knowledgable, never had any unfixable problems, and if you need to add or delete anything, just call back with your reservation numbers. You can obtain AAA discount with them, AP discounts also. To us a travel agent is just an extra person in the loop that I have to go through and sometimes they mis-give info and are sometimes slow on the draw and some are not very knowledgable about Disney vacatyions and things in the World.
We pick our times of years according to seasons, value season preferred and book the tough to come by reservations for dining only, Hoop Dee Do, others we go as we come or make them the day before from our resort. We do not like having all our dining agendaed out, too time restricted, got to be here or there. There is way to much to see and do in Disney and finding something that catches your eye and then having to jump somewhere else because of some ADR is not our idea of enjoyment. Too each their own but we like spontanity.

 

[aide4]

I book through Disney, that was you can make changes if/when necessary vs. having to go through a travel agent. Good luck!!

 

[TinksMagic54]

It depends on whether you want to plan everything down to the last detail, sit on the phone with CRO, sit on the phone to get ADR's etc.

Personally, I gather as much info from this board and plan the trip on paper, then I call (email) Small World Travels who has handled our last two vacations to Disney, and tell my TA what I want. When the days open up for the ADR's I don't worry about a thing and by the end of the day I have an email with all my requests. My TA has always been able to get the restaurants and approximate times I have given her without fail. But then again, this is my choice on how to handle the reservations, etc. I don't change my mind alot so that makes things easier.

One word of caution -- if you go with a TA, make sure you use one that is very knowledgeable in everything Disney!