New Here with planning questions

[LionKingRules84]

Sorry I'm new here, though I've been lurking this board for weeks now I finally decided to join and ask for help since you all seem a very informed and helpful board.

Let me introduce my trip planning details first and then follow with my questions, feel free to skip the intro if you like:
So I'm planning a vacation for my boyfriend and I to go to Walt Disney World in Flordia. We plan on going late September this year. I have been to Disney World atleast 3 times, once in 1986(I was 2) again in 1991(I was 7) and again in 1994(I was about 10) I haven't been there since however due to tremendous bad luck in life with my family. My brother died when we were planning on our next Disney vacation and another mishap happened and now my family can't go for atleast 5 years. I however had the privalge of finding a boyfriend who is willing to pay for a vacation for the two of us, and he has never been to Disney world before and is about 8 years older than me and a manly man(he enjoys building things and is a civil Engineer). The catch is for me is it was suppose to be my job to plan the entire vacation. I've done a pretty good job I think at this point all I have to do is go and make the reservations but we keep hitting a road block everytime we try. I've been wanting to just book it online with Disney instead of over the phone because I'm afraid of giving credit card information over the phone(my family has gotten identity theft mostly from giving thier credit information over the phone). I don't want or need a travel agent because I pretty much know what I want to book but actually doing it is hard because we don't want to book it and find out we are stuck paying for this vacation and then something comes up.

My questions are:

Should I book online with Disney and get a vacation package or is doing the leg work for discounts worth it? See my boyfriend doesn't have time to look for things and I have a hard time finding them(discounts that is) and from what I hear the discounts aren't all that much, I'd much rather pay a little extra and get everything at once.

Also when I go to book the vacation it asks if I want vacation insurance for 119 dollars, is this worth it?

Also what is Disney's policy in cancellations? I had read something about 45 days is the cut off, if you don't cancel within 45 days of the vacation you are locked in and Disney takes the rest of the money for the vacation.

One Park question too, are the times listed on the DIS site for the fireworks, shows and parades for Septemeber accurate? I've been using it to plan what days we go to what park and if the times change there is a good chance it will change my whole itinerary.

Just trying to get some last minute details in so I can finialize this and start getting truly excited about going.

 

[magicaldisney]

Not a problem to book on line, but at least call and get all your questions answered first. Here's the number 1-800-828-0228.

I'm jogging my memory here, so maybe someone else can confirm or correct me....
If you book a room only reservation and buy tickets separately, you have up to 5 days before your trip to cancel. If you are within the five days, you loose the one nights deposit you made or maybe. If you book a package, then you have up to 45 days to cancel and I think you loose the same one nights deposit. (Please fellow disers, help me out here). I also believe that what you book will determine when you pay it off if paying installments.

There are usually discount codes that become available for either room only or packages. Even if you book now you can change to those discounts when they become available. However, there is a limited number of rooms available with those discounts, so you have to be on top of it and call right away. The last few years they have had free dining during the time you are planning to visit WDW, so maybe you would not that deal if they offer it again this year. Any discount is worth watching for. If you have AAA, you can get a discount with that.

I personally have never bought the insurance, but I know many who have.

The times listed here should be up to date. (We vacation in November so I haven't looked at them.)

 

[mdsouth]

Welcome to the DIS! You will find lots of wonderful people here willing to offer you advice.

I want to offer my sympathy to the loss of your brother. It must have been very difficult for your family at the time and still today.

I agree with the first poster, you should call Disney to ask questions then go ahead and make the reservations online. When you phone ask them why you seem to be having problems making the reservations online.
You should also verify the cancellation policy. I believe it is on the website and you can print it out. That is what I usually do. I am pretty sure you can cancel five days out for a room only reservation and get the full refund. The 45 days refers to the package. In the past, I once had to cancel a room-only reservation. I had no problems.

You may want to concider getting a room-only reservation for now and add the package later. That way you have a longer window to cancel. I would definitely watch for any codes or discounts during your time. Jump on them when you see one! Watch the Codes and Rates board == you can even subscribe to a thread for daily or weekly updates. There is rumors that around April 4-7, there will be the announcement of free dining available during the time you will be going. Lucky you! I would advice you to book a package and the dining then.

I am not sure the insurance is needed either.
Read over the policies and print it out to refer back to. I think I might add the insurance if I was buying the package. It would give you a little security.

Like you, I found that I really did not need to use a travel agent. I would recommend buying the Unofficial Disney Guide book, it has lots of great helpful ideas.

Take Care

 

[LionKingRules84]

Thanks for the info and help guys!

Only thing is what I meant by the discount question was I was mainly asking if doing the leg work for the discounts is worth it because I know I would have to check for codes every day till our trip to find them? If you can indeed add the discounts even after making reservations that's awesome I might do that if I come across some in my internet exploits.

I think I will reserve the hotel separtely, my boyfriend had mentioned that to me but I wanted to hear from you guys what I should do and what the cancellation policies were. Also I wasn't able to find a separete page for ordering Magic your way packages separtely, if anyone could give me a link that would be awesome!

I do have both the Unoffical guide and the Birnbaum guide to disney world and have read them several times. The Unoffical guide has turned out to be the most helpful.

I'm certainly hoping for that free dining plan, I didn't even know about it when I picked the time we were going till I came here. That would be a huge treat for both of us since we like to eat but aren't exactly rich and I find the Disney world prices for food a bit much. (I was actually going to fast while we were there but if we get free dining I wouldn't have to)

Thanks again for all your help, and sympathies too. Anyone else that can help or knows more please feel free to keep the help coming.

 

[Lrnl80]

Welcome Newbie,
I know you said you did not necessarily want to go with a travel agent, but I used to book my own trips, and I always just missed out on a code, or I did not want to have to call and wait on hold to apply a new one.

I now call my travel agent, I use Small World Vacations, and she automaticly applies any new codes or deals for me. At first the only she could find for me was with AAA, but a better deal came up and she applied it for me. Go on line and tell them what you want and see what they can do for you. It is no cost to you! Besides Small World Vacations, there are some pretty reputable ones out there. Dreams Unlimited I think is another one.
Good Luck,
Laurie: