Booking your trip - TA? CRO? WWYD?

[pashari]

I've spent the past week scouring the web trying to find the best way to plan our WDW vacation. We are planning to go 05-06-06 to 05-13-06. We want to stay on-site at the Ft Wilderness Cabins.

I know what I want (lodging @ Ft Wilderness Cabins, Airfare, Car rental) and quoted the package thru the WDW website. I also rec'd a quote thru Dreams Unlimited which DID NOT include air/car rental. When I add the cost of air/car to the dreams unlimited quote, the savings over the WDW website quote was only about $100. So while I can save $100, I have the hassel of having to book our air and car rental separately.

However, I do want to try to get a number of specific character meals reserved which I understand Dreams Unlimited can do once we put down our deposit. From what I understand, these character meals (all princess ones for my 4 y/o princess ) sell out fast and most book these 6 months in advance. Would I have a better chance of getting these if I book thru the TA vs Direct with Disney?

I'm wondering if Disney gives a certain priority or certain number of seats to their TA. For example, when I went to try to book the trip thru expedia, they told me that there were no wilderness cabins available for my dates. Obviously there are since I have a courtesy reservation with Dreams Unlimited. So, would the same hold true for character meals???

Any thoughts/advice??? I really want to take my 4 year old for tea with Sleeping Beauty, and breakfast with Cinderella.

hugs -

lisa

 

[byoung]

Call Disney Dinning and find out.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I'm a bit of a control freak, so I say book it all yourself. I just feel better talking to each rep myself and booking things myself, that waw there are no mistakes made and if there are, it wsa my fault.

I used a AAA TA and I won't do it again. She was not familiar enough with WDW. I had to teach her things. I have heards that Dreams Unlimited is very educated in all things Disney, but again, I like to be in control.

I don't think that a certain number of ADR's are available to TAs, but I do know that there are only a certain number of rooms when there is a AAA discount rate. There are also only limited numbers for Expedia and other services like that, again control issues.

It is always best to do what you feel comfortable with, inorder to have tghe best trip possible. Enjoy planning

PrincessSuzanne

 

[nan1217]

Since you have so many questions, I would go through a TA like DU that specializes in Disney trips since they know more and are used to booking all of the things you want. They don't have special privileges for getting ADRs but they probably know the phone system and will get through quickly to increase your chances. I wouldn't tell your daughter anything for sure though because the CRTs are usually full but you could luck out on that. Also, a TA will keep an eye out for codes that may lower your rate so that's something else you don't have to worry about.