First time booking questions

[MommatoLandE]

We are planning to book tomorrow and were planning to just book ourselves online when it opens. \We have 3 families going together and each are planning to book separately, but coordinating with room selection. Is there anything we should know beforehand? Are there advantages to using a TA or Costco? I've used a TA to book WDW once before but found I liked being able to handle it myself. I guess you could say I am a bit of a control freak.

Thanks!

 

[jdb in AZ]

We book WDW on our own, but use a TA for cruises, partly because she gives us a great on-board credit -- why pass up on free $$$$? Also, she saves us waiting(!) on hold for a lengthy period of time, and can block-book rooms next to each other. We still have control over our shore excursions and other activities.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Im like you, I am DIY all the way, Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris and random city breaks in Europe. Ive have bad experiences with TA and I feel more confident booking everything direct myself.

HOWEVER

I booked my first Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited, as they give onboard credit. I would not get onboard creit by just booking direct with Disney.

I am doing everything else myself, flights direct with the airline, pre and post cruise hotel direct with the hotel, I have my own travel insurance, transport from the airport to the port direct with the train company. For the port excursions I will be totally DIY.

 

[MommatoLandE]

Im like you, I am DIY all the way, Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris and random city breaks in Europe. Ive have bad experiences with TA and I feel more confident booking everything direct myself.

HOWEVER

I booked my first Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited, as they give onboard credit. I would not get onboard creit by just booking direct with Disney.

Yes, I saw that and thought about it! But it looks like the current offer is only good for travel through 12/2020 and we will be traveling in 3/2021. Thanks for the input!

 

[MommatoLandE]

We book WDW on our own, but use a TA for cruises, partly because she gives us a great on-board credit -- why pass up on free $$$$? Also, she saves us waiting(!) on hold for a lengthy period of time, and can block-book rooms next to each other. We still have control over our shore excursions and other activities.

Thanks! I am starting to think that too. Although I am having trouble finding if any are offering OBC for the 2021 cruises that start booking tomorrow.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

You'll get a Costco Shop Card for 8.5% of the base cost of the cruise if you book via Costco or transfer your reservation to them within 30 days of booking via DCL. If you're an executive Costco member, you'll also get a personal check for 2% of the cruise cost in addition to the shop card.

 

[Geomom]

Thanks! I am starting to think that too. Although I am having trouble finding if any are offering OBC for the 2021 cruises that start booking tomorrow.

I think that they probably just haven't updated their site yet. Dreams Unlimited has offered OBC the whole time we've used them, since we booked our first cruise in 2015. If you're in the US, they'll also mail you a pre-cruise gift as a thank you for using them for your cruise.

Before we started cruising, the last time we used a TA was in 1993 for our honeymoon. We started using one for our cruises to get the free money. It's also great to have the TA be the one calling in when you have a placeholder to use. Dreams Unlimited is email only, which works well for us, but not for everyone. All payments and any changes to the room go through the TA. You do the online checkin, booking excursions, etc.