Booking Disney Resorts with Orbitz?

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

We currently have a room booked with Disney at Grand Floridian Theme Park View... for $5600! I decided to look at Orbitz because I know they have the Disney resorts on there. If we booked through Orbitz we would save a considerable amount... Im just curious as to if there are any negative things if I book through them? Any bad experiences? I can still book theme park view... Can I still then call Disney to add on the dining plan? We are AP so no tickets needed. Can I still add the dining plan with AP if I book through Orbitz?

Do we still get all the benefits of booking through Disney if I book through Orbitz? It makes me a little weary... only because we have always just booked through Disney.

Thanks!!!

 

[jimandami]

I don't think you can add the dining plan with an Orbitz reservation, but you might save even more money on food if you forego the plan. Look at buying a TiW card. As far as negatives, the only other one I can think of is that you can't negotiate anything with Disney if you book through a 3rd party. For example, a couple people on the WL mess thread are stuck at that resort with the room credit because they booked through Orbitz or Hotels.com. If they had booked through Disney, they could have gotten moved or the room credit that many others received.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You cannot have a dining plan at all with an Orbitz or any other third party reservation. The only exception is where the third party is acting as a travel agency instead of a broker and has the ability to book a package reservation through Disney on your behalf (some airlines and discount warehouses do this). You can't book a package reservation through a third party broker; they only sell room-only reservations.

Notice that the third party sites treat every person beyond the first 2 people in the room as additional guests regardless of age, so even if you have two adults and two children they will try to charge you extra for the children.

The way around this is: book for the two adults only. Then call Orbitz and tell them you would like them to call Disney and add children to the room at no extra charge. The OP appears to be a couple without kids, so it won't apply to them.

You can add a DME pickup and return yourself online.

You can even attach the reservation to your MDX account, make sure you use the "Hotel Confirmation Number" and not the Orbitz reference number. And when you order Magic Bands be sure you change the shipping address to your own, because it will default to Orbitz' corporate address.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Thanks for the responses... we are die hard deluxe dining plan people... so Im not sure if that would work.

So I could still make FP+ at 60 days out with Orbitz reservation?

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

I don't think you can add the dining plan with an Orbitz reservation, but you might save even more money on food if you forego the plan. Look at buying a TiW card. As far as negatives, the only other one I can think of is that you can't negotiate anything with Disney if you book through a 3rd party. For example, a couple people on the WL mess thread are stuck at that resort with the room credit because they booked through Orbitz or Hotels.com. If they had booked through Disney, they could have gotten moved or the room credit that many others received.

Not sure if I understand... WL mess thread? Resort overbooked?

 

[MaleficentRN]

Thanks for the responses... we are die hard deluxe dining plan people... so Im not sure if that would work.

So I could still make FP+ at 60 days out with Orbitz reservation?

Yeah, if you are set on using the DDP, then this may not be for you. It depends on how much you would save, I guess.
I got a code for 30% off at Orbitz and then I went though eBates for 1% back so I added an extra day to my trip and was able to get a CL room at WL for $10 more than a standard room rack rate! They sent me a reservation code so I could link the Orbitz reservation to MDE. Not my time to use FP+, but I did make an ADR with no problem.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Not sure if I understand... WL mess thread? Resort overbooked?

Some people were unaware of construction at WL and were getting credits, unless you booked thorough a 3rd party.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It is NOT for you if you are very attached to DDP because you enjoy having it, but you could very likely save more with a TIW and the room discount.

You can't get DDP because it's not a package. WDW sells a block of rooms to a broker, and the broker resells them. You are no longer purchasing through Disney, and the broker can't sell packages.

A good amount of the common areas in the Wilderness Lodge, including the pool, are currently under renovation and they had complaints about the construction from some who had not been aware it was going on when they booked. Guest were moved or given credit unless they had booked through a third party.

So I could still make FP+ at 60 days out with Orbitz reservation?

Yes, if you link the reservation to your MDX and you also have valid park admission linked.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Ok one last question.

Can we put requests in for the reservation? Like if I bought with orbitz... Then called to disney to add room requests? ie building

 

[jimandami]

Ok one last question.

Can we put requests in for the reservation? Like if I bought with orbitz... Then called to disney to add room requests? ie building

I booked a stay through Expedia UK for a night at Pop in March of this year. About a week before my stay, I called the number listed for Pop (which is still a call center BTW) and put in a request for high floor, king bed. That request was granted.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

I booked through Orbitz on my last trip and saved a ton because it gave me an additional discount on top of what disney was offering. I only put in for two adults and called Disney after the reservation was made and added the kids. Orbitz charges for kids when they shouldn't so like the pp said you add the kids on with disney. You can link everything to my disney experience and add the the magical express and I think FP too. You will have to call orbitz after you book and get the disney conformation code which is different from the orbitz one. I also made requests which were granted. For us it worked out well and I would not hesitate to do it again but we do not do the dining plan. We always book room only and tix through undercover tourist. If it saved me a ton I would do it....

 

[DopeyDonald]

Just chiming in that I just booked with Orbitz a few minutes ago. I got the Wilderness Lodge for $206 (INCLUDING tax) with the discounted price + an Orbitz code that I was able to find on the internet with a few seconds of searching.

Everything looks to be fine - I am now going to try and link it up to MDE. We will see how it goes.

*Edited to add that Orbitz gave me a Orbitz Record Locator number and they also gave me a "hotel" confirmation number. I was able to plug that number into my MDE and it came right up! I am very happy right now.

 

[teentoddlermom]

Just chiming in that I just booked with Orbitz a few minutes ago. I got the Wilderness Lodge for $206 (INCLUDING tax) with the discounted price + an Orbitz code that I was able to find on the internet with a few seconds of searching.

Everything looks to be fine - I am now going to try and link it up to MDE. We will see how it goes.

We booked AKL with Orbitz and got a similar discount. Overall the standard room cost us around 174, which I haven't seen in a long time! Everything linked up beautiful with DME and MDE. I was able to stack discounts. I am not a fan of the DDP, I like TIW better. I also have an AP. The only drawback I can see with Orbitz is that you must pay all upfront, but it is fully refundable up to 10 days prior. If the OP is booking GF, the Orbitz discount could save her big bucks. Forget about packages and dining plan. Set it all up separately, and it is cheaper, especially with Orbitz. For now that is. (Just got back and loved AKL, btw)

 

[natb213]

I booked our upcoming trip through Orbtiz several months ago. The price was much better than Disney and I've had no problem linking everything up. We didn't want the dining plan so that wasn't an issue for us.

One thing that I have read about on this board is that Orbitz charges you for kids? I didn't know this.So basically did I overpay? I'm a little confused. Can someone explain that.

 

[msb578]

One thing that I have read about on this board is that Orbitz charges you for kids? I didn't know this.So basically did I overpay? I'm a little confused. Can someone explain that.

Unfortunately, you may have overpaid. I don't know if you can make a change to your reservation now, but what you want to do is: book the room for 1-2 adults only. After booking, call Orbitz and explain Disney's child policy. Orbitz will call Disney and add kids to the room for free. This worked for me (thanks to everyone's help here on the DIS). It's kind of weird that you have to jump through hoops like that, but it's worth it.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

I booked our upcoming trip through Orbtiz several months ago. The price was much better than Disney and I've had no problem linking everything up. We didn't want the dining plan so that wasn't an issue for us.

One thing that I have read about on this board is that Orbitz charges you for kids? I didn't know this.So basically did I overpay? I'm a little confused. Can someone explain that.

Yes, can you cancel and rebook? I made that same mistake and canceled and re-booked with just DH and I. Then I called Disney myself and had them add the kids which they did no issue. I dodn't have orbitz do it. Once that was all squared away I arranged ME. Not a problem. Very easy. Try to cancel and rebook then call Disney and add the kids.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Alright well since it was $3083 cheaper with Orbitz... We booked it !!

 

[vinotinto]

Alright well since it was. $3083 cheaper with Orbitz... We booked it !!

Goodness, that's a big difference! That pays for 12 days of DxDP.

 

[gdrj]

Goodness, that's a big difference! That pays for 12 days of DxDP.

Except you can't add dining plans unless booking directly with Disney.

I booked for last Easter through cheaptickets.com (An orbitz company). Definitely saved money. Once I had booked it was able to tie to everything through MDE. The only thing I had to do was call cheaptickets to get the Disney reservation number (not their reservation number). The first time I did it they knoew exactly what I needed and got me the info in seconds.

In fact I cancelled it and rebooked it because of an additional promo they had. When I rebooked and called for the reservation number I had to instruct the agent on what I needed and had to correct them when they gave me the wrong confirmation number. With all that said it was a significant savings.

Headed back to Disney in a week. This time my AP discount provided the best rates.

I have no problem booking through orbitz or similar. In regards to the "discounts" for visit issues or upgrades, they are typically far and few between. If I truly had an issue that did needed to be addressed, I know I would have it addressed. If you are looking for the "potential" upgrade or discount etc due to a construction/service issue, book direct and potentially spend 20% more.

For those who enjoy Dining Plans (not quick service plan) I would strongly recommend using TIW. We have found that we save more, don't spend as much (I dont really want or need dessert with lunch), and like use it in hotel lounges for snacks and adult beverages!

 

[Miranda]

I booked a stay through Expedia UK for a night at Pop in March of this year. About a week before my stay, I called the number listed for Pop (which is still a call center BTW) and put in a request for high floor, king bed. That request was granted.

Was it the Disney call center? I want to put a request for a king bed when we get closer to our trip to AKL in December.

The number listed for AKL on my reservation just shows "407-" (like, literally there is nothing after the dash)... am I correct in assuming that I can just call the Disney call center at 407-939-5277?