February 2014 Code watch

[taterheads]

I have always booked my rooms myself. I like having the control to change things when I want and not having to wait for someone else. I have inquired with a few and never been able to receive more of a discount than I could get on my own.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I agree. I have no idea why people use travel agents at (at least for Disney vacations). It just puts a third person into the mix and makes things take longer and more difficult in my opinion. You can get the exact same discounts they can. My philosophy is that no one is a better advocate for you getting your dream vacation than you are. Use online booking and if you have questions call Disney reservation hotline. The CMs are usually super nice. It's easy as pie and you have the peace of mind not worrying about if your TA is getting done what you really want.

 

[bfamily5]

I feel the same way about TA's...however, I am using one this trip because I won a gift card from a local agency and have to use them to get the $$ from it. It's a different dynamic though...and I don't like it, but I'll suck it up Just wondering how a TA ressie will work with MDE?

 

[terri33inne]

I'm using a TA for our next 2 trips. For our Sept one I wanted to see what the difference was, and I have a friend who just got into it so I wanted to give her the business. I've still booked all my ADR's... not b/c she won't or wasn't just b/c I like having that control.

For our Feb trip we're going with extended family, we need 2 rooms, some have AP's some don't, so I wanted a TA to work out all those details for me. I plan on making our ADR's once the 180 days open up as well.

I don't know if I'll use a TA again for just my daughter & myself.

 

[cassandraYL]

New here! I've been reading these forums for a couple months to try to learn the ropes. We've booked feb 8-14 at AOA suite. I was hoping for free dining or room discount. I'm a disney Visa card holder. We're getting 4 day tix with dining plan. Can anyone give me info about if either free dining or room discount will come out? If so when approximately? I've ordered the free DVD to help my chances. Anything else I should know or could be doing?

 

[LovinPooh]

I have been wondering bout the TA thing. If they are free then whats the catch? How do they get paid?

I have never used one. Its not that hard of a task to book the trip yourself. I dont mind callin to apply discounts. I m just on top of it when they come out. And adrs are part of the fun.

 

[LovinPooh]

New here! I've been reading these forums for a couple months to try to learn the ropes. We've booked feb 8-14 at AOA suite. I was hoping for free dining or room discount. I'm a disney Visa card holder. We're getting 4 day tix with dining plan. Can anyone give me info about if either free dining or room discount will come out? If so when approximately? I've ordered the free DVD to help my chances. Anything else I should know or could be doing?

Rumor has it the stay play dine discount will be released first week of october. Consistently every year there is a discount for this time frame. I saved $1800 with spd this year. Although free dining is the holy grail, i will gladly take the spd. Just keep your eyes peeled... and when the discount is released give disney a call and they will apply the discount.
Spd is adults at kids prices.
Happy planning

 

[taterheads]

New here! I've been reading these forums for a couple months to try to learn the ropes. We've booked feb 8-14 at AOA suite. I was hoping for free dining or room discount. I'm a disney Visa card holder. We're getting 4 day tix with dining plan. Can anyone give me info about if either free dining or room discount will come out? If so when approximately? I've ordered the free DVD to help my chances. Anything else I should know or could be doing?

If you are a Disney Visa card holder it should release to you more towards the last or second to last week of September. It is offered to Disney Visa card holders for a week or so prior to it being offered to the general public. It does look like it's going to be P/S/D. You should get it mailed to you but if not just keep your eyes open for it. BTW we will be your neighbor for your trip. We are AoA Cars Suite February 8-15. Maybe we'll run into each other

 

[taterheads]

I have been wondering bout the TA thing. If they are free then whats the catch? How do they get paid?

I have never used one. Its not that hard of a task to book the trip yourself. I dont mind callin to apply discounts. I m just on top of it when they come out. And adrs are part of the fun.

Disney pays them.

 

[Lei]

It's different for everyone. I'm also an anal planner (who doesn't here? ) and this isn't going to be my first visit. However, I'm from overseas and it'd be a major pain trying to be on top of it and call Disney to apply discounts when they come out, with the time differences and all, so I use a TA to be my extra pair of eyes and ears. She's from DreamsUnlimited, which is operated by Disboards, and she has been great! A good TA would act as your travel partner, as oppose to someone who controls everything. I feel that even with a TA, we're still very much in control over everything If you decide to use one, just ask and confirm a lot of things first before sealing the deal.

And yes, TA's ressies can be linked to MDE. In my case it was automatic

I have been wondering bout the TA thing. If they are free then whats the catch? How do they get paid?

No catch. They are paid by Disney everytime they make a booking. It's a commisioned work

 

[mommajo143]

Last TA question - if I book on my own & realize im not able to do it / I'm over my head can I then move everything over to a TA? I hated last year when things were messed up & I kept being forced back to deal with the TA but I also know I can't spend tons of time on the phone on hold because of my job...

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards ... 09/2010 CBR Pirate Room ; 11/2012 POR Royal Room ; Early 2014 CS in planning process'

 

[Koda]

Does anyone know if there is usually a minimum night stay for the stay, play, dine deal? We will be there 2/20-24 (4 nights).

 

[zy144622]

Last TA question - if I book on my own & realize im not able to do it / I'm over my head can I then move everything over to a TA? I hated last year when things were messed up & I kept being forced back to deal with the TA but I also know I can't spend tons of time on the phone on hold because of my job...

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards ... 09/2010 CBR Pirate Room ; 11/2012 POR Royal Room ; Early 2014 CS in planning process'

You can transfer TA within 30 days of booking if your trip is not paid in full

 

[taterheads]

Does anyone know if there is usually a minimum night stay for the stay, play, dine deal? We will be there 2/20-24 (4 nights).

I believe it's usually been a minimum 5 night 6 day deal in the past but I haven't seen this years pin code in person (as of yet anyway). It may be different this year though, you never know. Even if it is though, depending on your schedule, who makes up your party, and what resort you choose it may not cost must for the extra day. Hope the deal will work for you, I know a deal can make or break a budget!

 

[vacation_junkie]

Does anyone know if there is usually a minimum night stay for the stay, play, dine deal? We will be there 2/20-24 (4 nights).

3 night stay .. 1 day park ticket.

 

[catigger]

The DDP will cost you approx $37.77 per person per night at Pop (upgrade $58.66 adult DDP-$39.64 Adult QS plan=$19.02 + DDp initial cost $)

We are staying at Pop Century. Is it a better deal to upgrade to the DDP plan for three adults? We normally eat one sit down meal and the rest quick service.

Thanks!

 

[taterheads]

We are staying at Pop Century. Is it a better deal to upgrade to the DDP plan for three adults? We normally eat one sit down meal and the rest quick service.

Thanks!

If you only want to do one sit down you wont break even by up grading to DDP. In that case it would be chaper to do the S/P/D deal and get the adult quick service at a childs price and then just payout of pocket for your one sit down meal. Hope that helps. That is if you are staying more than 2 days.

 

[canlafre]

What is stay plan and dine?

 

[vacation_junkie]

What is stay plan and dine?

You pay Rack rates for your room
Adults pay kids pricing for Dining Plan and Park tickets

 

[clanmcculloch]

I use a TA every trip even though I an obsessive compulsive planning control freak. A good TA is worth her weight in gold. A not so good TA can ruin a vacation. It's worth taking the time to get recommendations for a good TA who will be responsive and efficient, and who will advise you based on your interests rather than her commission.

I book all my own dining with the exception of ADRs that have to be booked over the phone. I hate, hate, hate the Disney phone systems.

Here's why I like using a TA.

• I hate the Disney phone system.
• I hate dealing with misinformed CMs.
• I hate the Disney phone system.
• When new promotions come out, I don't have to worry about whether I'm aware of them the moment they come out or not (I typically am but I don't have to worry about it) because my TA EVERY.SINGLE.TIME has called to get the promotion applied without me having to do a thing, assuming it would save me money. I also don't have to sit on hold for hours (not an exageration, that's what happens every time a new promotion is released) because my TA does it for me.
• I hate the Disney phone system.
• My particular TA works for an agency that arranges group travel and has been able to get me a better discount that is available to the general public (unfortunately not happening this year, boo).
• I hate the Disney phone system.
• If any kind of problem comes up during my vacation, I can have my TA straighten it out while I go off and enjoy my day rather than wasting precious vacation time sorting it out.
• I hate the Disney phone system.
• I like supporting small businesses. It doesn't cost me a penny more to do so since her commission is paid entirely by Disney. My TA never tries to upsell me in order to get a bigger commission.
• I hate the Disney phone system.
• A good TA will send you reminders of deadlines that are coming up (ex. balance is due, ADR booking date is approaching) so you don't forget.
• Have I mentioned that I hate the Disney phone system?

 

[taterheads]

I use a TA every trip even though I an obsessive compulsive planning control freak. A good TA is worth her weight in gold. A not so good TA can ruin a vacation. It's worth taking the time to get recommendations for a good TA who will be responsive and efficient, and who will advise you based on your interests rather than her commission.

I book all my own dining with the exception of ADRs that have to be booked over the phone. I hate, hate, hate the Disney phone systems.

Here's why I like using a TA.

[*]I hate the Disney phone system.
[*]I hate dealing with misinformed CMs.
[*]I hate the Disney phone system.
[*]When new promotions come out, I don't have to worry about whether I'm aware of them the moment they come out or not (I typically am but I don't have to worry about it) because my TA EVERY.SINGLE.TIME has called to get the promotion applied without me having to do a thing, assuming it would save me money. I also don't have to sit on hold for hours (not an exageration, that's what happens every time a new promotion is released) because my TA does it for me.
[*]I hate the Disney phone system.
[*]My particular TA works for an agency that arranges group travel and has been able to get me a better discount that is available to the general public (unfortunately not happening this year, boo).
[*]I hate the Disney phone system.
[*]If any kind of problem comes up during my vacation, I can have my TA straighten it out while I go off and enjoy my day rather than wasting precious vacation time sorting it out.
[*]I hate the Disney phone system.
[*]I like supporting small businesses. It doesn't cost me a penny more to do so since her commission is paid entirely by Disney. My TA never tries to upsell me in order to get a bigger commission.
[*]I hate the Disney phone system.
[*]A good TA will send you reminders of deadlines that are coming up (ex. balance is due, ADR booking date is approaching) so you don't forget.
[*]Have I mentioned that I hate the Disney phone system?

Hahaha! Do you hate the Disney phone system?! Lol! Too funny!