How do you prefer to book your trip trough Disney?

[meloneyb21]

By phone or on-line. I prefer to book on-line, and I haven't had any problems, but I've been reading that doing it on-line may not be the best way to go about it. I didn't know there could be a problem with on-line since you see and do everything yourself. What do you think?

 

[matt&jakesmom]

I book our trips by phone to WDW. I like have the contact. Sometimes I get extra info from the CM's that I wouldn't know about it.

 

[*love*2*shop]

I actaullay prefer to use DREAMS UNLIMITED!!!

 

[drag n' fly]

We book through Dreams Unlimited. They do absolutely everything for you. A trip to WDW is approx 8000.00 for us and I prefer to have someone who knows what they are doing plan it.

 

[winterman]

We plan and get prices on line then when we're ready call and talk to a real live person. I like the personal contact and I figure it helps keep some people employed.

 

[my4kids]

We plan and get prices on line then when we're ready call and talk to a real live person. I like the personal contact and I figure it helps keep some people employed.

I do it this way too. I have an idea of what I want from looking online. i know what the online price will be for everything at my resort choices...but then I call and talk to a live person, that can make sure we have connecting rooms, building preference, etc. Depending on how good the persin is you talk to , sometimes they have helpful info.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I do it this way too. I have an idea of what I want from looking online. i know what the online price will be for everything at my resort choices...but then I call and talk to a live person, that can make sure we have connecting rooms, building preference, etc. Depending on how good the persin is you talk to , sometimes they have helpful info.

I just use the site for research and to look at all the pretty pictures.

 

[julsmom]

I book by phone. I feel like I know it is really 'done' if a real live person does it. I guess I don't fully trust the online way. I still don't feel like I trust it until I get my confirmation in the mail.

 

[meloneyb21]

Does Dreams Unlimited offer some type of discount? If so, which kinds?

 

[Disney Crazy Family]

We have used Dreams Unlimited for several of our trips and
everything is taken care-have never had a foul up and we
use debi as our TA

 

[meloneyb21]

We have used Dreams Unlimited for several of our trips andeverything is taken care-have never had a foul up and we use debi as our TA

Do you still get the fun stuff in the mail? Like confirmations and luggage tags, stuff like that?

 

[my4kids]

I got a quote from Dreams Unlimited, and it was actually a little higher than going direct. I could be wrong, but I think they only have access to a block of rooms for each resort to book. So by calling WDW direct, you might be able to get a better room or view or size room, and by going through DU they might be out of that type of room. I'm not sure that is actually how it works, but that is how someone explained it to me.

 

[deekaypee]

I'm a DIY kind of gal when it comes to Disney. Others might call me a control freak.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Phone is the best. And I also prefer not to use a TA - not because there aren't some good ones out there, but Disney makes it so easy that I just don't see the need for a go-between; I like that I can call Disney and make a change in an instant, and not have to wait for someone else to do it, relay information, etc., etc.

The reason phone is better than online is two-fold :

1) Disney's booking engine is notoriously bad. It won't help you get the best deal, it goes down a lot, and there are complications with payment that are very limiting because...

2) Money paid online is non-transferable and you can't add to it later.

What this means is, let's say you decide you need to change the dates of your vacation to a week earlier than you already booked. If you call Disney, no problem, they will simply take your previous deposit, apply it to the new ressie, and you are all set (providing there is availability, of course).

If you book online, however, you can't just call up and make a change. They have to refund your original deposit, and you have to pay a new one in the meantime (so essentially you pay a double deposit). I ran into an issue with this because they "lost" my refunded deposit once; it took three phone calls and several e-mails to get my original deposit refunded properly.

Doing it on the phone gives you more options, and there is less worry, IMHO. This is coming from someone who does virtually EVERYTHING online - bank, pay bills, etc. It's just easier to deal with Disney via phone, and the "on hold" music ain't bad.

NED

 

[LoriMistress]

I go throught different websites and try to get best deal for our vacation. Why spending hundreds of dollars more when that can be used for suvineers?

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I go throught different websites and try to get best deal for our vacation. Why spending hundreds of dollars more when that can be used for suvineers?

Out of curiousity, which sites do you find have the best deals? I've yet to find one at any site that can't be met or beat with discount codes, AP discounts, or even the standard AAA discount (which are great because you don't need to book through AAA - Disney takes your AAA code directly over the phone).

Or are these fares with airlines? I'm curious, because maybe I'm looking at the wrong sites! LOL.

NED

 

[rie'smom]

I book by phone because you can't apply AAA or AP online with Disney.You also can't find out if you have a pin code online.

 

[Kristina]

I just booked online at the Disney UK site and now I'm nervous! I hope I don't have any problems in the future. I knew that booking online was not the best way to go but this time around we could get free dining for next year since we live in Sweden and so I just went with it! There was an option where you could call up instead but I didn't realize it could effect our re booking options. I am most worried about the cancellation policy but hopefully everything will go smoothly. The price just couldn't be beat! Free dining for the duration, 15 nights and the Ultimate 14 day ticket ! I'm over the moon excited!

 

[resol37]

Heh. We just reserve our rooms at Shades of Green and then buy tickets when we get there (10% military discount and no tax).

Staying at a Disney resort just isn't in the cards for us financially (with the exception of the value resorts, but I always go with my family and we need more room than that).

 

[GC&S]

We also tried Dreams Unlimited twice - both times their quotes were higher than what we got on line from the Disney site. We tried a TA twice, the first one messed up our dates and didn't get us the right tickets. We had to fix the problem ourselves. Second time we had to cancel our vacation due to my mothers cancer diagnosis and immediate surgery - the TA could only get "some" money back. We called Disney and got all of our money back. So now I get all the pricing on line and call Disney and book ourselves. Then I only have myself to complain about!!