Direct reservations vs. discount sites

[MonorailMan]

I'm planning a WDW vacation in early fall, and the trip I'd like to make looks as though it's going to cost a lot more than I was anticipating. (You know me-I like the "deluxe" resorts. )

Here's my problem: I'm not a member of any travel service or club where you can wrack up the miles/discounts., so do you think it'd be better to contact the WDW reservation line directly, or to just book on someplace like Travelocity or Hotwire? The last time I called a Disney reservation line directly by phone was over 12 years ago. Are you able to talk down room rates if you tell them you'll be staying for 5 or 6 days?

Yadda yadda....

Thanks in advance.

 

[rosiep]

Ok son..time to do a little homework. First things seperately : airfare, hotel and tickets. If staying on site you'll find there is little to no discount rooms found online. If you're staying off site there is alot of discounted rooms to be found (hotel.com or gtahotels.com) Next, ask for a quote from Disney.
Go ahead and ask Disney about any discounts that might be available...it couldn't hurt as they usually do not offer suggestions unless you ask.

Also look into the DTD hotels..they have room service (my requirement ) and Mousesavers.com and such places usually have good rates through promotions. Sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already.

The only discount I found was when I booked through AAA. It was about $200 less than Disney quoted me or that I found on my own. You might want to look into a membership as it's cost might be worth the savings.

Good luck!

 

[Nauf]

I've had fantastic luck with travelocity for disney trips (great deals on combinations of air, hotel and tickets). When you buy your tickets through travelocity, they sell you something like a 4 day plus 2 free days (its always 2 free days) and that plus the discounted airfare sometimes adds up to a couple hundred bucks worth of savings.

One thing that might freak you out, though...you can't really do anything with the reservation beforehand because Disney will not have a record of it until just before you get there. The reservation is "owned" by Travelocity (whatever that means). In the end, though, they've always had it and I've never had a problem.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I know my company has an agreement with AA Vacations which guarantees discounts of 5% of hotel reservations and 10% on airfare, this includes Disney vacations (on site). I usually take the rates I get from them and bring it to my actual travel agent to match. She does without question.

 

[Sacto WDW Buff]

Where are you planning on staying this time? I'm thinking of staying in the BWV in the Epcot area. That looks like a fun place to stay.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I've used travel agents (and wasn't very happy with the end results) and booked myself. I seem to get a better rate doing it myself (and separately). I have (and even when I didn't live here, always have had) an AP and that can be really helpful!

As for BWV, they are not my personal favorite in that immediate location. I far prefer the BCV/BC over BWV/I. The beauty of Disney, eh? Something for everyone!