How are you handling booking a new trip?

[mi*vida*loca]

For a few years now I had been planning on taking my son to WDW on a mother/son trip for his 21st birthday which is in March. Since Covid hit I said there was no way I would go to WDW with the limited experiences, mask wearing, social distancing, no fireworks, etc. Well I’m having a bit of a change of heart. My son really wants to go just for GE. And to have his first legal drink at Epcot and a night of drinking around the world on his birthday (we would actually arrive on his birthday and go straight to Epcot if it works out). I figure a little 3 night getaway could work, we would be focused on the GE and Epcot so we wouldn’t miss the night shows too much.

Now that I’m looking into booking a 3 night weekend I’m conflicted on how to book. I don’t want to rent points in case of anything happening (due to covid) and not being able to go so that’s out. I contacted my TA who has a nice deal for POP. My issue with the TA is I would have to buy my tickets separate since her room only is a magical deal and I can’t make it a package. I really don’t want to buy tickets through UCT and be stuck with them if this trip doesn’t work out. My issue is we usually don’t go on 4 day trips. We usually do 7-10 days so if I buy them through UCT I could keep them and upgrade later but I believe you can’t upgrade UCT tickets ahead of time, you have to wait until you arrive at the parks. This can be an issue in the future if we do a 7 night trip and I wouldn’t be able to book all FP+ (when and if it returns) for two people in our party. But if I buy directly through Disney (which I believe you can upgrade before a trip) it’s full price.

So I’m thinking a package directly through Disney is my best bet BUT it pains me to pay about $250 more total (unless a discount comes around later). The room is about 200 more and the tickets about $50 more when I purchase a package directly through Disney. But it guarantees me my money back if we do have to cancel.

What have other people done and am I correct on the UCT tickets not being able to be upgraded prior to arrival at Disney?

 

[sponica]

I've always booked packages, it generally provides the most flexibility for both components (in my opinion). Even if it means I'm overpaying, I don't have to stress about the "other stuff". Heck right now I have a deposit for a trip I don't even think we'll take (and my hotel is closed anyway).

I feel like I have heard that people have had some success upgrading tickets through the app, even if they were bought third party.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've always booked packages, it generally provides the most flexibility for both components (in my opinion). Even if it means I'm overpaying, I don't have to stress about the "other stuff". Heck right now I have a deposit for a trip I don't even think we'll take (and my hotel is closed anyway).

I feel like I have heard that people have had some success upgrading tickets through the app, even if they were bought third party.

I figured this would be my best bet. It also helps that I can book my package and make my park reservations now. If I had to buy the tickets upfront I would wait a few more months and risk park days getting filled up. His father wants to pay for part of the package as his bday gift but would like to make payments towards a package, not pay upfront either. Now to hope for a discount later!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My opinion is that resort discounts will be abundant for the foreseeable future. Obviously we won’t know exactly what that math will be until the spring 2021 discounts are released, but I’m going to ‘assume’ there will be some (really) compelling offers to continue to slowly lure folks back into traveling over time, barring some materially negative direction of the overall virus situation.

I’d be tempted to either wait until discounts are released to decide what/how to book, or book a package now (for max flexibility) to at least get something on the board, then adjust later.

While my kids are much younger, I do a lot of dad/son or daughter trips to WDW and I wouldn’t trade those trips/those experiences for anything. Your trip sounds fantastic. I can only hope that 11 years from now (yikes!) my DS will want to come hang at Epcot with me on his 21st!

Hope everything works out with your planning.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My opinion is that resort discounts will be abundant for the foreseeable future. Obviously we won’t know exactly what that math will be until the spring 2021 discounts are released, but I’m going to ‘assume’ there will be some (really) compelling offers to continue to slowly lure folks back into traveling over time, barring some materially negative direction of the overall virus situation.

I’d be tempted to either wait until discounts are released to decide what/how to book, or book a package now (for max flexibility) to at least get something on the board, then adjust later.

While my kids are much younger, I do a lot of dad/son or daughter trips to WDW and I wouldn’t trade those trips/those experiences for anything. Your trip sounds fantastic. I can only hope that 11 years from now (yikes!) my DS will want to come hang at Epcot with me on his 21st!

Hope everything works out with your planning.

I did a mother daughter trip two years ago when she was 12 and we had a great time. I’m really looking forward to this trip with my son. Even with the limitations I figure it’ll Be a fun story to tell his kids one day. “For my 21st birthday I was at disney world, in Epcot, having a drink with my mom, during a pandemic!” Lol.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I did a mother daughter trip two years ago when she was 12 and we had a great time. I’m really looking forward to this trip with my son. Even with the limitations I figure it’ll Be a fun story to tell his kids one day. “I was at disney world, in Epcot, having a drink with my mom, during a pandemic for my 21st birthday!” Lol.

The only truly important question here is where he is going to get that first drink.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The only truly important question here is where he is going to get that first drink.

We haven’t talked about that yet BUT I’ve been thinking about this myself. Hmm. I was thinking Germany? Mexico? He is in college and goes to parties so I know he’s had a drink before but I have no idea what he would actually like!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Now to decide if I want to do CSR instead of Pop. Decisions decisions !!

 

[olecow]

We recently booked a trip for the end of October and did it through Disney with their recent promotion. It was actually cheaper for us than just a room only reservation and tickets through Undercover Tourist. It wasn't a great deal cheaper, but cheap enough that the convenience of just booking a package through Disney, especially with the new cancellation policy, was a no-brainer for us.

 

[maltdizzy]

$250 isn't life-changing money, but it is a lot of money... it could buy as many as 4 or 5 drinks at Epcot. I don't think there is a wrong choice.

Being a March trip (Spring Break time) and with the uncertainty of the pandemic, I (personally) would book the package, with a solid refund policy, which you can still do through your TA. I know which agency you mean, but lately I haven't found agency exclusives for the dates we prefer to travel, so our cancelled 2020 trip and our make-up 2021 trip were packages, but I still used my TA. Her value as TA was proven to me this year; she handled all the heavy lifting of getting hotel reservations moved (twice!), getting discounts applied, etc., all knowing would would probably (and eventually did) cancel. I will definitely use a TA for all my trips in the future.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We haven’t talked about that yet BUT I’ve been thinking about this myself. Hmm. I was thinking Germany? Mexico? He is in college and goes to parties so I know he’s had a drink before but I have no idea what he would actually like!

Rope dropping Cava del Tequila sounds like a good plan to me. Nothing bad can happen from there, right?

Have fun.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

$250 isn't life-changing money, but it is a lot of money... it could buy as many as 4 or 5 drinks at Epcot. I don't think there is a wrong choice.

Being a March trip (Spring Break time) and with the uncertainty of the pandemic, I (personally) would book the package, with a solid refund policy, which you can still do through your TA. I know which agency you mean, but lately I haven't found agency exclusives for the dates we prefer to travel, so our cancelled 2020 trip and our make-up 2021 trip were packages, but I still used my TA. Her value as TA was proven to me this year; she handled all the heavy lifting of getting hotel reservations moved (twice!), getting discounts applied, etc., all knowing would would probably (and eventually did) cancel. I will definitely use a TA for all my trips in the future.

I’m debating on whether to book a regular Disney package with her or on my own. I’ll probably go with my TA. She’s gets a commission and she can do any changes or apply any discounts if possible for me.

 

[Farro]

We booked a package, picked hoppers in case they come back.

We booked GDT, going late April/early May. I wanted the package with tickets so I could make my park reservations now. Yes, there's a ton of time to make them still, but I was impatient!

I hope you guys have an awesome trip!

 

[MonkAdrianMonk]

I would stay with Pop, book the room through your TA, and buy the tickets directly from Disney. Even though that's $50 more, you have flexibility and you still save the z200 on the room.

 

[kwdw]

So - right now - you can get the room at Pop for $200 less through your TA with the same cancellation policy as booking direct with Disney? If I that's the case - yes - book the room with your TA! I personally have rarely seen that be the case - but hey - these are crazy times.

Now - I would stay tuned to Disney room/package discounts for March - because the chances of there being a discount for your trip dates in March is good. Offers from Disney for March will happen - that's a given.

For just a 3-4 day trip - (when not packaged) - just buy tickets direct through Disney - a little over 60 days in advance.

 

[Trip planner]

I also usually book a room through a TA and tix from undercover tourist but this time just opted for a package directly through Disney for ease of cancellation. I hated having to do this.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I booked room only myself for the first time. We have unused tickets in our account, but they are hoppers, so if hopping still isn’t happening in June I will buy base tickets and saved the unused ones.

I have always used a TA, but I want control over this one.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

So I went ahead and booked a package through my TA. I didn’t do the agency exclusive. I did 3 nights at CSR with 4 day base tickets. She said she’ll look out for any deals that get released. This will be my third trip booking with her so I feel comfortable going this way. Now to hope for a decent discount for the spring. I’m very excited!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

So - right now - you can get the room at Pop for $200 less through your TA with the same cancellation policy as booking direct with Disney? If I that's the case - yes - book the room with your TA! I personally have rarely seen that be the case - but hey - these are crazy times.

Now - I would stay tuned to Disney room/package discounts for March - because the chances of there being a discount for your trip dates in March is good. Offers from Disney for March will happen - that's a given.

For just a 3-4 day trip - (when not packaged) - just buy tickets direct through Disney - a little over 60 days in advance.

Yup. This agency buys blocks of rooms at a discount and offers them to their clients. You can get rooms for certain times going through October 2021 I believe.

 

[MonkAdrianMonk]

I booked room only myself for the first time. We have unused tickets in our account, but they are hoppers, so if hopping still isn’t happening in June I will buy base tickets and saved the unused ones.

I have always used a TA, but I want control over this one.

Don't forget to prioritize your tickets!