Can I save significantly by not using Disney.com?

[mjallemand]

To preface our trip is still a long way away. Like over a year away...but of course, I'm planning. Always planning.

Our last two trips (Nov. 2010 and Oct. 2012) were booked directly through Disney's website. We stayed at a value resort, opted for the Disney Dining Plan, and bought Park Hoppers both times, and we'll likely be doing the same again next time.

Is there any way to save a significant amount of money by using something other than Disney.com or are they generally the same as booking through some other means?

Thanks.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I have a,ways booked through Disney since it was so easy. Some other sites may have a slightly better deal but I do room and tickets through Disney and airline through Southwest. disney has never been able to offer me a competitive price for my Airfare.

 

[Dsnyfireman]

I tried a travel agent and it was WAY more money than booking direct for same trip! Haven't tried to many other online sites, I like knowing that I I have an issue I call disney and they fix it. As for flights we have found disney prices to be about the same as other places and direct from air lines for our flight out of portland Maine. May not always be the case for others but for us it is. Just like everything to be in one place and one call for Q's or issues. Disney has always been great about that.

 

[timmac]

Disney's pricing, in so far as the resort rooms goes, it basically fixed (with the possibly uncommon exception of rooms ending up on resellers, but I wouldn't count on that)... that is to say, when you book through a travel agent, you'll get the same price as through Disney directly. I believe there's a contractual obligation there.

What you could do, if you were so inclined, is to book room only through Disney, then buy your tickets through one of the legitimate resellers, like Undercover tourist (which, if you're subscribed to mousesavers, is about the best possible price). The cost difference isn't huge, but it's something. However, doing this precludes you from getting the dining plan.

 

[mjallemand]

Disney's pricing, in so far as the resort rooms goes, it basically fixed (with the possibly uncommon exception of rooms ending up on resellers, but I wouldn't count on that)... that is to say, when you book through a travel agent, you'll get the same price as through Disney directly. I believe there's a contractual obligation there.

What you could do, if you were so inclined, is to book room only through Disney, then buy your tickets through one of the legitimate resellers, like Undercover tourist (which, if you're subscribed to mousesavers, is about the best possible price). The cost difference isn't huge, but it's something. However, doing this precludes you from getting the dining plan.

You had me up until you said I would be precluded from the Dining Plan. The Dining Plan is awesome not because it's a good deal but because it's just convenient...one less thing to think about on the trip.

Looks like I'm sticking with Disney.com then.

And I forgot to mention, but APiratesLifeForMe2 reminded me: We generally book our flight via Southwest separately.

 

[Marionnette]

To preface our trip is still a long way away. Like over a year away...but of course, I'm planning. Always planning.

Our last two trips (Nov. 2010 and Oct. 2012) were booked directly through Disney's website. We stayed at a value resort, opted for the Disney Dining Plan, and bought Park Hoppers both times, and we'll likely be doing the same again next time.

Is there any way to save a significant amount of money by using something other than Disney.com or are they generally the same as booking through some other means?

Thanks.

Booking through a TA, instead of Disney, might get you a few extra perks. For instance, some TAs will send a cute gift basket to your room if you've book a pricey vacation with them. Or they may offer a Disney GC, special tote bag or some other incentive. I have never found it to be MORE expensive to book through a TA. Disney pays their commission, not the guest.

There are some TAs who specialize in filling convention rooms. Those rooms are usually at the Deluxe Resorts but they come at a steep discount. I could stay at the Contemporary for the rack rate that CBR charges if I could get away for the meeting that is scheduled later this year. Of course, this doesn't help someone who is looking at Value Resorts!

Then there is the possibility of renting DVC points. Again, this is more for the person who wants Deluxe accommodations at a Moderate Resort price. There are no DVC villas that can be rented as cheaply as the Value Resorts unless you're able to travel at the last minute and willing to take whatever is available.

AAA also offers discounts when it seems like no one else has something available. In the past, it's been around 10% off of the rack rate for the room. If you book a package through them, they also offer perks like a AAA Diamond Parking Pass and a discount card for select locations within the park.

Travelocity and Orbitz offer the same discounts that Disney has on their website (like free dining packages or fall room discounts). If you get a discount code from them, you can add it in when you make your reservation. You can also get a rebate if you go to ebates first and then use their portal to make your reservation at Orbitz or other participating travel website.

 

[mjallemand]

My girlfriend and I always lean towards the Value resorts simply because we're barely in the room to begin with, so why spend any more than necessary on it?

As far as we're concerned, it's a place for us to sleep, shower, and dress ourselves, but otherwise we're at Walt Disney World for the theme parks, (and other attractions) not to hang around the room.

That and I'm a cheapskate that doesn't make a whole lot of money to begin with.

 

[pjlla]

I booked my room at ASMu for this past May through a link here on the DIS.... hotelsbycity.com. I saved about $10/night over the price posted for the same nights at the Disney website. Plus at one point the Disney website showed NO occupancy when I needed to add a night (we had extended our visit by one night and didn't want to change rooms or hotels), but this website had a room available.

I also usually buy my park tickets through Undercover Tourist rather than Disney and often save a few dollars.... not a lot, but every penny counts!

I also book my airfare directly through Southwest.com so that I search for the best options (nonstop, early morning, etc).

It pays to check around.... Disney MAY have the best prices... but it may not. And in this day and age of easy searching on the net, it would be crazy to not look around for the best price..............P

 

[lucyem]

Before we owned DVC we always used a Disney specialist travel agent like Dreams Unlimited. We have never paid more through them, just the same. The convenience factor is that they watch the discounts and I don't have to. For me it is the backup in case I missed something. With WDW I would never try a non Disney specialist for a WDW trip. They will not necessarily know about discounts etc.

As far as tickets we normally buy our own and usually go through Undercover Tourist. The Mousesavers link in the newsletter gets you the best price. Recently I have been reading about Orbitz specials via eBates but have not been able to take advantage yet.

IME AAA can be a money saver (or not). Once again you have to do your homework. IME AAA has never been the best I could find for tickets etc though I had a friend once who did manage to get the best price through them for tickets.

A friend of mine went with her whole family recently. Her mom as a member of AARP found a bunch of ticket discounts through them that beat out anything else we could find.

The dining plan is a hot topic. You HAVE to run your own numbers but it is rarer and rarer for it to work out saving you money. If you have a bunch of kids under 10, eat a lot of character meals etc then it might work out. TIW is another place to save depending on your eating habits and number of guests with you.

Airlines are a whole other can of worms. I do not fly so thats not something I pay much attention to. I do know never buy flights direct through Disney, according to everyone on here you will usually be charged a lot more then booking yourself.

 

[arihillfarm]

Something else to think about is losing the "Magical Extras" that come along with adding tickets to a room-only to make a package. If you use those perks, consider the value of them versus buying tickets separately through UT and the savings there to determine the best deal for your family.

Also, I always look up flights before I call to add them to a WDW reservation. I have never had the same flight be any more expensive through Disney and adding flights to the reservation does streamline the process a bit in regards to ME. I find the best priced flights at the best time and then ask Disney for those specific flights and double check the price through Disney.

Booking with a Disney specialist TA should never cost you more than booking directly with Disney and often times, we can save clients money simply because we have ideas and options available that some people don't think about such as changing room categories or even resorts, not adding the hopper option until you get there and know you'll actually use it, suggesting ADRs to either save money if not on the DDP but still get similar experiences or to maximize savings if on the DDP, etc.

-Astrid

 

[mm1971]

To preface our trip is still a long way away. Like over a year away...but of course, I'm planning. Always planning.

Our last two trips (Nov. 2010 and Oct. 2012) were booked directly through Disney's website. We stayed at a value resort, opted for the Disney Dining Plan, and bought Park Hoppers both times, and we'll likely be doing the same again next time.

Is there any way to save a significant amount of money by using something other than Disney.com or are they generally the same as booking through some other means?

Thanks.

Southwest Airlines sometimes has some better deals that will save you money, but you'll need to keep checking back and it would have to be offered when you are going. I think some of the other airlines may have some discounts as well, but I think SW usually has specific ones. For example, a few years a go we got a "kids fly, stay and play free" promotion where we paid for the adults and the kids were included free. There was also another one more recently, but it was not during a time we could travel. I would certainly check around. Other than those types of package deals, I think only smaller discounts and promotions through Disney are offered. Things like room discounts and free dining.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Yes, there is a way to save a lot more money than on the Disney website.

Unfortunately, I don't believe it can be mentioned on this board.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I tried a travel agent and it was WAY more money than booking direct for same trip! Haven't tried to many other online sites, I like knowing that I I have an issue I call disney and they fix it. As for flights we have found disney prices to be about the same as other places and direct from air lines for our flight out of portland Maine. May not always be the case for others but for us it is. Just like everything to be in one place and one call for Q's or issues. Disney has always been great about that.

Your TA took advantage of you. Trips booked through TAs should cost exactly the same as trips booked directly. Either you TA broke Disney's rules and charged you fees that they're not allowed to charge and/or they upsold you on things you didn't need or want and/or sold you insurance that you didn't ask for. Occasionally a TA will offer a gift card or will have a conference block of rooms that they offer at a discount off the rates available directly through Disney but that's a BETTER net price than direct, not more.

I do book my flights myself. I have no idea if TAs can get better deals or not but they don't get commissions on flights and many do charge a fee for booking flights because of it. I've never asked my TA what she does in this regard because I like booking my flight myself. Flight prices can change quickly and I don't want to have to worry about the time back and forth communicating between me and my TA.