Booking airfare through WDW website: doesn't honor discount

[WDW Fan since 1975]

I'm thinking of booking a solo trip, and I decided to go through the WDW site (taking advantage of the free Disney dining plan periods).

I choose the dates. Check.
I choose the hotel and room option. Check.
I choose the number of park tickets. Check.

When I go to choose airfare, I choose a flight TO Orlando that costs $80 more, No problem. Check.

When I go to choose the RETURN trip, it gives me an option for a HUGE discounted ticket (-$374). It fits in my plans, so I pick it. Check! Woo hoo I think.

The cost for my 3 night, 4 day stay? $492. WOW. MUST DO THIS I think.

I click on SELECT THIS TRIP or whatever it says, and the next page totals it all up and ADDS THE $374 back on. So my hugely discounted trip is back up to $866. (not including the $69 insurance)

I call Disney Travel. They can't explain it. They come up with the higher number. I call the airline that it's through, and they can't explain it since it's not part of their webpage.

WHY then, does it offer it to me if I can't take it? For less than $500 for 4 days (room, tickets, food, travel) I'd book it instantly. At $900, it's regular priced and I need to think if I need a Disney trip that bad right now.

Can anyone explain??

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

If Disney Travel can't explain what more do you need to know? It's their web site.

 

[WDW Fan since 1975]

I guess you're right - it's their site, they can do as they please... no matter how confused it makes me.

I think I need a trip more than ever now.

 

[CarrieR]

What is the cost of the trip without the airline discount? That sounds to me like some sort of algorithmic error that's spitting out a "fake" number on that page somehow... <$500 for that package including airfare is just not a "real" price, kwim?

 

[tjmw2727]

I like to book the room, dining and tickets with WDW and then the airfare directly through the airline.

It would have to be a huge discount to give up control of my airline reservation. I fly at least once a month and i feel having control of my reservation is important in cases of schedule changes, seat changes etc. This way you can go online and check and change if necessary.

I would check all the airlines that fly out of your airport and then book drectly with the ariline.

 

[DebbieB]

That has happened to me with Orbitz and Expedia. Find a great fare, go to book it and it says not available. I think outside websites are not always in sync with the airline and fares are not up to date.

 

[seashoreCM]

If the fare is lower when booking directly with the airline then book directly with the airline.

Actually I do not recommend using large online travel agencies like Expedia, Orbitz, etc. at all. If something needs to be changed, you often run into hassles.

 

[WDW Fan since 1975]

I think that somehow the website or system or whatever couldn't accept such a deep discount being offered by the airline... it would have actually cut into what WDW was charging for the room/park tickets!

So I decided to go with Plan B. I modified my get away to 3 days, 2 nights, and booked a flight on my own (yup, cheaper than what I could get on the WDW site.)

Interesting enough, the cheapest airline that accomidated my schedule (early on day 1, late on day 3) was USAirways. Not Southwest, not Airtran...

So I'm going back to WDW!