How do you book your trip?

[lilsweetpea]

I am curious as to how everyone books their trip? Please give as much detail as possible about how you book your trip, if you would do it that way again, and any feedback or lessons learned from booking your trip.

 

[Adam1217]

I go through a TA, I love her to death because she always gets me the best deals when I goto Disney World!!!! I would goto a TA but I would go around to the different ones in town and find the one that seems to know the most and is the friendliest to you!!!

 

[TheGoofster]

I used an on-line TA to help me get my reservation at the WL, but I will be doing everything else myself (I already made all my ADR's, I will be buying the park tickets myself, etc...) We will be driving, so we don't need to worry about plane tickets.

 

[Mickeefan]

I use Dreams Unlimited Travel. I have used them for my last several (6+) trips. I love my agent, Cathy. She responds to my emails promptly and makes my changed and ADR's for me in a timely manner. I have recommended and will recommend them to friends and family for future trips. I did book a short (2-night) trip in early May by myself, but I didn't need ADR's as it was a solo trip and I only ate 1 sit down meal.

 

[mariettadisney71]

I go online to disney.com and book it myself. I also do my own flights, however I have never found the airfare on disney.com any too cheap.

1. I first find the best way to get there from all the different airline websites and online travel sites (travelocity...., keep in mind that DME is only offered through a few airlines). Also try surrounding airports, certain airlines will be cheaper at diff airports. I save $150 per ticket by going out of a diff airport only a few more mile away, just in the opposite direction than my usual one.

2. After I found a descent flight and before I book it, I check to see is disney is available.

3. If all checks out I book everthing, if not I go back to step 1. with different dates. Flying not on weekends tends to be cheaper, if your schedule allows it.

Happy surfing.

 

[Crystal_27]

I used a Dreams Unlimited agent too (Barb). Having not been to Disney in 9 years, a LOT has changed, and Barb has made it so easy for me. She got all of my ADRs, and she has prepared an awesome itemized itinerary for us as well, listing the EMHs, ADRs, etc. She also has answered all of my questions about the hotel comparisions, DDP price comparisions, and has recommended activities suitable for my 3 year old. We probably could have saved a few bucks by researching prices every week and booking separately (tedious), but, for me, I love having a "go to" person at my fingertips. Also, DU also gave us a on-board credit for the cruise portion of our trip, so there is that additional cost saving. I'm quite sure that once my DD experiences Disney this year, she will continue to want Disney vacations every year, so I'm quite sure that we will continue to use DU as our Disney hookup.

 

[MelanieC]

I book the hotel through Disney and watch for AAA, Shades of Green Military, or AP discounts. We drive, so no airfare. I buy AP's from Shades of Green and get a DDE discount card.

 

[jpolak]

Belonging to DVC has really made it so easy.

 

[yesmylove]

We use a TA here in Toronto at Sears travel named Connie. She books all of our Disney trips and she is great. She does the airfare, hotel, and car. Sometimes we get our tickets from her, sometimes from the Disney store. Usually tickets for any of the parties we order right from disney. All of the ADR`s we make ourselves.

 

[fAnnF]

I'm too much of a planning freak, so I call myself for everything, I normally book room seperatly as I'm an AP holder, but for 1 trip a year I book a package free dining and the ticket to renew my AP.

 

[northie]

I book for myself now. I used AAA once and a TA twice. I like hunting for my own airfare, and I have an AP now, so tickets are not an issue.

The first trip I had priced out on my own on Disney's site, and DH decided he wanted to do it. I had us with Ultimate Park Hoppers (this was in 2002) and staying at AKL. DH went to a travel agent, she talked him into CBR (nothing wrong with it at all but I really wanted to stay at AKL!) and it wasn't until we got to Florida I found out he got plain Park Hoppers, not Ultimate, so the kid that was crazy for waterparks never saw one. I was so green I didn't even know we could upgrade them. The worst of it was because of the cost of airfare between what she got us and what I had found the stay at CBR with the wrong tickets was MORE than what I had planned at AKL with ultimate park hoppers!

Trip 2 I planned on my own, booking with Disney and it was GREAT! We decided that the little bit we were actually in our room we'd go for a moderate resort again, and since we had already stayed at CBR, we tried CS. Very nice resort with beautiful theming and great service, but of the two I like the tropical atmosphere at CBR more.

Trip 3 we decided to try AAA. We chose French Quarter because we had not stayed there before, and I felt like I was home. I fell in love with the resort! I was a nervous wreck until we got all our documents from AAA, because when I went to make payments, they took my cash (I was determined nothing was going to be charged on that trip) and scribbled a note on a paper for my agent, who was not there that day, that I had paid X amount of dollars on the balance. They weren't even going to give me a receipt until I asked for one (which was also a scribbled note on a piece of paper). The totals didn't even add up on what I had originally gotten and the paper she gave me. The agent wasn't very knowledgeable about anything outside of airfare and room rates (I even had to explain the difference between the types of park tickets to her), but luckily the Disboards helped me out on things like Candlelight Processional, MVMCP, and much more. Without this board I would have missed a lot of the experience of going at holiday time! So THANK YOU!

Trip 4 I used a Disney-specialized travel agent, Mouse for Less (that may end up as ****, not sure if I can say the name of another agency here?). It was a room only resort reservation, because I had an AP and I was taking my mom for her first-ever trip, and we kids chipped in on an 8 day park hopper for Christmas for her. I booked our airfare, and made all ADR's, although my TA Linda would have been more than happy to do so. To me, making the ADR's, getting the tickets for any special events and tours is just part of the fun of planning so I like to do that myself. Linda secured us an AP discount on the room (POR FQ) when the discounts came out. Pleasurable experience!

Trip 5 was booked as an adults-only trip, part of the bounce-back promotion with free dining when we were there on Trip 3, and I have all ADR's made. We have Backstage Magic Tour reservations and tickets for MNSSHP. and Pleasure Island tickets so we can go to the Adventurer's Club. I got a cheap airfare, but couldn't get tickets to go the day we had planned (none that day at that price) so I called Disney and they let me add a day on to the front of the trip. Even with the extra hotel night $$$ we ended up getting to stay a day longer for less money because the airfare was so good, and of course that added another days dining on for us!

Trip 6 was booked room-only by myself on Disney's site. Didn't care about dining plan because we're going on an adults-only quick trip for the Food and Wine Festival with sidetrips to ride Everest, the Mountains at MK, and ToT! We did make two ADR's, one at LeCellier and one at Chef Mickey's.

Trip 7 was booked as a package through Disney to get the dining plan. I'll save my one-day base ticket and apply to next year's AP. This was one of those "squeeze another trip in on the AP" trips. Am planning a resort day to resort hop and see the Christmas decorations, ending with dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe at 5 and then to MK for MVMCP at 7. Will do the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, and may do the Undiscovered Future World tour as well if we can fit it in, and I would like to do the free tour they offer in Morocco. We have never been in Morocco at the right time to do that, and it is my favorite pavilion. I have only begun to plan this one as I just got "orders from headquarters" that that week was clear on the vacation calendar for him so he could have that week off.

I really enjoy the planning almost as much as being there!

Sara

 

[Mousema]

I use a TA for the package, but book airfare myself. I make most of my ADR's myself, but if there's a hard one to get, my TA goes after it.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I book myself thru Disney Travel. We always get the MYW Package. If we're flying, DH takes care of the airline stuff, he books directly through the airline. We've never had a problem, even when we had to change our dates with 2 days notice because of a hurricane.

 

[disgram]

I voted the package, but when I think about it, I guess I do it myself! Used to be that I would call and make the ressies and get the park tickets at that time.
But now that I have learned to use the computer to some extent, (I can find any Disney Site there is now! ) I booked last year and this year's trip on-line. Got the tickets and Dining at the same time. I even paid the trip off on-line! I had to wait on the airline tickets until I couldn't stand it anymore and then booked them, also on-line.

 

[Barbers2005]

We book room, tickets and ddp through the WDW website. Airfare we book seperately b/c we can get it so much cheaper that way. Dh really has this down to a science.

First, go to the major travel websites (orbitz, travelocity, kayak, expedia) and search for the dates/times you want. Make sure you include other airports in your area- sometimes you can save a ton by driving just a little farther. Dh does this every other day or so for a month or two b/c by then one of the airlines will usually have a sale.

Once you find a flight that you like, check the price of that flight on all of the major websites and the website for the airline. Several times we've found cheaper prices by booking directly through the airline.

Check the airline's website for discount codes and do a websearch for discount codes ( ie. airline name+discount codes). If you have trouble using the code to book online, call the airline directly and be insistent. Usually they will not want to use a code if they're having a sale, but if the code doesn't say you can't use it with a sale they will honor it...eventually.

Sometimes dh drives me crazy with his maniacal search for the cheapest airfare, but he really does get low rates. Last year we flew from NY to Orland for $125 roundtrip- awesome deal.

 

[disneymom8589]

As a DVC member, I book the resort portion through them, but do the airfare, park tickets, etc. myself.

 

[GF Girl]

I have used MouseEarVacations.com for the past 2-3 years and I love them. Pam Schuck is the agent I have been dealing with and she is a god sent. She handles all the hotel reservations/applying discounts or packages when Disney releases them, handles ADRs, transfer, etc. Not having to worry about calling to get AP rates or AAA discount is a huge help! They handle everything for you.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I do it myself, room only since we have AP's

And I pick the dining and make the reservations

And I get stuck doing the driving...not too bad since it is 3 hours away

 

[Barbers2005]

I do it myself, room only since we have AP's

And I pick the dining and make the reservations

And I get stuck doing the driving...not too bad since it is 3 hours away

I'm jealous! Last trip we drove three hours...to the airport. Between driving, waiting at the airport, getting through security, flying and waiting for the bus to WDW it was almost 10 hours. Hmmmm...methinks we live too far from WDW.

 

[Tink3Belle]

Last two trips I used AAA only because of free dining and you need a package for that. Otherwise I booked my own airfare and car. Cheaper on my own vs. AAA.