Orbitz: tell me why i shouldn't

[msb578]

Well, I was putting in for fairly soon, 12/5-12/12 and chose POR, then priced it on Disney site apples for apples. Orbitz was $3041 with room discounted and their 4 day PH but give you 6 days. So put 6 days with PH on Disney site, came to $3095...

Are you searching for more than 2 people?

 

[teentoddlermom]

I am going in a month for the third time this year booking with Orbitz! It gets easier and easier. It has linked seamlessly each time, and the first 2 trips were perfect. The only disadvantage I can see is paying up front, but you get the ability to cancel within 5 days. I think its a sure bet, and I put it on my Disney Visa, and that adds to my rewards. It's a great new way to enjoy Disney. I am an AP holder and am always booking room only.

I just finished my Orbitz details yesterday.... seems like a simple,streamlined Disney deal to me! (kind of reminds of couponing, you can either pay disney price, or do a little legwork and get it cheaper if you want to) Anyway, booked Disney at the sale price, then Orbitz at 15% off, then rebooked Orbitz at 20% off.... THEN when I had my final rates booked, I canceled my Disney res that was already linked thru MDE-(I waited to avoid all the long hold times last week) THEN I linked my Orbitz res to our MDE....Seamless! We already had some tickets and dining linked, nothing was altered. So we saved bunch of cash(more snacks!) and got the exact same deal as before.
...also.... Orbitz has a very easy/fast cancel feature, so that part was also easy,and the charge was refunded FAST.

 

[Rustyroo]

Are you searching for more than 2 people?

Yes, two adults, two children...

 

[hsmamato2]

Yes, two adults, two children...

on Orbitz, you book for 2 adults,then call orbitz,and they call disney to add the kids for free- one more step, but less than 5 extra minutes- works perfectly.

 

[msb578]

Yes, two adults, two children...

Try just searching for the 2 adults. If you book that way, it will cost significantly less. After you book, you can call Orbitz to add on the children at no charge. It's a weird system quirk.

 

[Rustyroo]

That IS weird. Thanks guys. But kids are 8 and 9. They still add them for free?

 

[ericstac]

That IS weird. Thanks guys. But kids are 8 and 9. They still add them for free?

yes.. they added my 13, 10, 6 year old boys for us.. We booked our rooms then I got on chat with Orbitz and the rep contacted Disney and added them no problems at all.

 

[Rustyroo]

yes.. they added my 13, 10, 6 year old boys for us.. We booked our rooms then I got on chat with Orbitz and the rep contacted Disney and added them no problems at all.

Nice!! Thanks again, not used to using anything outside the "Disney bubble". Looks like it would save nearly $300 this way...

 

[WaterLinds]

It's true, you can't purchase the dining plan.

So, I'm wondering if maybe this has changed? I found the following wording on an Orbitz Disney vacation site: "As a Guest staying in a Disney Resort*, you're entitled to remarkable benefits like Extra Magic Hours, Disney's Magical Express, Disney's Complimentary Transportation, Disney Dining Plan - and more magic all around."

And Google turned up a few references to people calling Orbitz and adding a dining plan after making their booking.

I've got a quote from a TA for a S/P/D package that's pretty good, but Orbitz for room & tickets (their current 5 days for 3 ticket offer is cheaper than anything elsewhere) plus the cost of DDP added on top still comes out about $500 ahead.

I guess at that savings even if we can't book the DDP we would still come out ahead, so we will probably do Orbitz no matter what is true.

ETA: Found this on the Orbitz blog from September: "When you book your Walt Disney World vacation through Orbitz, consider adding the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package. That’s a fabulous way to control your food budget!) - See more at: http://www.orbitz.com/blog/2012/09/disney-insider-tips-for-saving-money/#sthash.bc26i3VL.dpuf"

So maybe it's a recent addition?

 

[amw]

ETA: Found this on the Orbitz blog from September: "When you book your Walt Disney World vacation through Orbitz, consider adding the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package. That’s a fabulous way to control your food budget!) - See more at: http://www.orbitz.com/blog/2012/09/disney-insider-tips-for-saving-money/#sthash.bc26i3VL.dpuf"

So maybe it's a recent addition?

Interesting. Has anyone done this? Wondering if Orbitz charges the same for DDP as Disney.

 

[WaterLinds]

All the anecdotes I've found so far are "I heard you could call and add it" or "someone else did it", so I haven't found an actual story from someone who has done it yet.

I was thinking I might try to call orbitz before I book to see if they can tell me if it's true how much it costs, etc. If I get any answers I will report back!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

That IS weird. Thanks guys. But kids are 8 and 9. They still add them for free?

Anyone under 18 can be added for no extra cost but you have to do it separately.

ETA: Found this on the Orbitz blog from September: "When you book your Walt Disney World vacation through Orbitz, consider adding the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package. That’s a fabulous way to control your food budget!) - See more at: http://www.orbitz.com/blog/2012/09/disney-insider-tips-for-saving-money/#sthash.bc26i3VL.dpuf"

Key word here is "package." If you just book a room it's not a package. If you book the room and tickets via Orbitz it's still not a package because technically you are still purchasing them separately. Disney will only allow you to get a dining plan with a package reservation, DVC is the only exception. I'd check to see if Orbitz was doing any sales by which they are acting as a travel agent and not as a reseller. It may require you to book a flight as part of the package, as well as a room and tickets. Many airlines do this as a package sale. but I wasn't aware that Orbitz did this.

EDITED. OK now I've read the link. The blog entry is a reprint from a September 2012 article by the Disney Moms Panel - not from this September. Not so sure about that as a confirmation, because the Moms Panel is wrong a lot.

 

[BabyPotatoHead]

I am nervous about booking on Orbitz with 2 adults and then adding the kids on. We have 3 kids, so I need a room for a family of 5. I have looked on the Disney website for POR-R and although the rooms there sleep 5, it says "This Resort is unavailable for the dates, party size or offer selected."

So if I book on Orbitz and then try to add the 3 kids will there be a room that sleeps 5 available? Orbitz is a great savings, so I want to take advantage of the current deal. I am using the promo code Review15

Our travel dates are March 21-28 2015.

 

[aaarcher86]

I am nervous about booking on Orbitz with 2 adults and then adding the kids on. We have 3 kids, so I need a room for a family of 5. I have looked on the Disney website for POR-R and although the rooms there sleep 5, it says "This Resort is unavailable for the dates, party size or offer selected." So if I book on Orbitz and then try to add the 3 kids will there be a room that sleeps 5 available? Orbitz is a great savings, so I want to take advantage of the current deal. I am using the promo code Review15 Our travel dates are March 21-28 2015.

Personal opinion - but since all the rooms at POR don't sleep 5, it's entirely possible there won't be one a all able when you go to add the kids.

If orbitz is free to to cancel you could give it a shot and cancel if there are no 5 person rooms available.

 

[WaterLinds]

So I had emailed Orbitz originally to ask about the dining plan, since the information they give is confusing. I got a response back along the lines of "your question is too advanced, you will need to call someone", and a phone number.

But before I got around to calling, we did the math and decided for us, the dining plan probably doesn't make sense (don't always get dessert, often drink water, DH & I might rather get an appetizer and share an entree, etc.). So I haven't called to check--but I suspect the above interpretation (that the information was wrong) is the truth.

However, the Orbitz deal saved us $450 off the best price I got from a TA (and those prices were already a few hundred less than booking through Disney). So that gives us some padding for our dining budget right there!

 

[5olearys]

I was trying to save a couple of $$ and originally bought 2 nights at PORR through hotels.com. I called Disney to ask about adding the dining plan. They told me they could NOT add the dining plan, but did I know that I had a PIN for a lower room rate through Disney that I *could* add the dining plan to? Now it's different dealing with every CM - but, obviously, this worked out WAY better for me. And I did not buy my tickets thru Disney, I purchased them from Undercover Tourist a while ago. So - room only and dining is available. Askif you have a PIN. You may get a better deal!

 

[Lalalyn]

I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on booking through Orbitz (and then cancel our room through Disney), but one more question. Who sends the magic bands if you book through Orbitz? Do you go into MDE and customize them like you would if you booked directly through Disney? And they still arrive before you leave?

 

[ericstac]

I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on booking through Orbitz (and then cancel our room through Disney), but one more question. Who sends the magic bands if you book through Orbitz? Do you go into MDE and customize them like you would if you booked directly through Disney? And they still arrive before you leave?

You link the ressie to MDE, customize your bands as normal. There will be a place to verify shipping address with the option to change it. Change it from orbitz addy to your home and you will get them shipped to your house.

 

[Lalalyn]

This is great! One more question. So I only book two adults in the room and then call Orbitz to add the kids. When I then go into MDE to buy tickets (I'm just going to buy them through Disney), will I be able to buy a child's ticket and do all of the FastPass stuff for that child? I guess I'm wondering how on MDE it knows kids will be in the room . . .

 

[msb578]

This is great! One more question. So I only book two adults in the room and then call Orbitz to add the kids. When I then go into MDE to buy tickets (I'm just going to buy them through Disney), will I be able to buy a child's ticket and do all of the FastPass stuff for that child? I guess I'm wondering how on MDE it knows kids will be in the room . . .

After you call Orbitz, and Orbitz contacts Disney on your behalf, the children will show up in MDE.