Booking direct through Disney query

[thestevied]

Hi guys, it's been a while. Surprise surprise we're thinking of booking to go again! Really looking at prices this time though and working out what's best. Booking direct through disney seems to be coming up as a good option, but I have a couple of questions that I hope some of you can help me with...

1) when you book through disney, do you receive everything (park tickets, flight confirmations, hotel reservation details etc) through the post, or is it all email and then collect tickets when you arrive at the hotel?

2) if the park tickets are waiting for you at the hotel, how can you make fp+ reservations if you haven't linked your tickets to mde?

Think that's all but I'm sure there'll be something else soon....

Thanks in advance.

 

[wilma-bride]

If you book a package which includes tickets you won't even receive actual tickets. Everything will be linked to MDE, and you will use your MagicBands as your room key, ticket, etc. When you link the reservation to MDE, it will recognise that you have tickets attached to the booking and will open up your FP+ booking window accordingly. I am not sure what happens in regard to flights.

 

[thestevied]

Thanks that's helpful. So I just need my reservation number from when I make the booking and then when I add that to mde everything (hopefully) should be there. That sounds easy enough. And then I guess we pick up magic bands at the resort. Thanks wilma

 

[FutureMrsF]

Hi

That's how we have done it.

We are going this May and have booked direct through disney, the reservation number worked ok in MDE and I was able to book all our ADR's at 180 days out, hoping fastpass will be as easy at 60 days out.

I can't say about the magic bands as we haven't been yet but have been told we will be given them at check in.

Soooo excited i haven't been for 14 years and it's our first time with our DD.

 

[thestevied]

Thanks futuremrsf. Would you mind letting me know when you receive tickets through the post? Flight details I mean. Have you been able to prebook seats on the plane?

 

[Elise79]

We booked my in laws a flight inclusive package last year. I called Disney and they gave me the airline booking reference and they could log in and book seats if they wanted (didn't bother as it was with BA and they didn't want to pay)

They just got a paper e-ticket with their package.

 

[edinburghlass]

Last two years I've booked via Disney then added my flights at a later stage during BA sale. I kept checking prices and once the flights were at a price, days and times I was happy with I phoned Disney and asked them to check the flights I wanted and they add to your booking for a £100 deposit per person. The price worked out either the same or about £10 dearer via Disney and it means you just need to pay a deposit to Disney until its time to pay for your whole holiday. For this years holiday I was given the BA reference at the time and as above I logged in to my BA account and can check in online, print out boarding pass etc.

 

[CAL2]

Hi, we always book everything through Disney U.K. We booked our hotel and park tickets first, with free dining, then at the 11 month return date we booked our flights, as you get a true price then and not a reserved seat price which is more expensive. dont forget to link your flight to DME if you need it.

We have no paperwork from Disney as yet but they do email all the ref numbers as soon as you book so you can link up your FP+ and dining res. In the past we have always recieved flight tickets through the post, along with paperwork, but our last hol was 2011 so things may have changed, really must ask Disney about that !

As pp has already said the magic bands are now the keys to your room, DP credits, plus you can also link your credit card to them if you choose too. U.K visitors dont get the magic bands until you book into your hotel where they then link all your info FP+ and res, I was told by a CM that you can request the colours of your magic bands before you arrive by phoning Disney.

ps you can pre book flight seats but B.A charge. when you get your flight booking number go onto B.A web site and click on manage my flight and follow instuctions. Dont know asbout Virgin.

cal

 

[wilma-bride]

U.K visitors dont get the magic bands until you book into your hotel where they then link all your info FP+ and res, I was told by a CM that you can request the colours of your magic bands before you arrive by phoning Disney.

No need to phone disney, you can request the colours and personalise the magicBands in My Disney Experience in advance before you travel. Usually available about 6 months prior.

 

[CAL2]

hi wilma-bride, thank you for the that

cal

 

[wifey]

Just wanted to say you can sometimes change your dates of stay or resort room reservation and Disney will give you an amended price total and possibly charge you a small amendment fee, we have done this a few times and they made adjustments for us that we were completely happy with like upgrading from a moderate to a deluxe and let us keep the free regular dining plan...so you still have options... but not sure about changes applying to flights however they will do their utmost to keep you happy.

 

[Petermgrady]

Going in September and booked with Disney. Linked my Hotel & tickets to MDE and pick the colour of my Magic Bands and it puts names on the inside for you.