Really need some advise re resort and tickets

[bbrydon54]

I have already booked for 2nd week of July for myself, daughter and grandson for 7 nights on Westjet. Got the best price on airfare.
Now my problem is that I can't decide who to book through for a Value resort and MYW tickets. We have definitely decided to stay at one of the Value resorts. Is it possible to get a better price by booking through a travel agency here and paying in Canadian funds or booking directly with DW. I found the price was the same by booking on line with Small World Vacations as with DW direct. All of course in US funds. Has anyone found a better price here?
Also, has anyone experienced using the dining package with DW resorts. I understand you can only get this if you book directly with either SMV or DW, not with a Cdn. agency. Is it really worth it?
I think I really need to book the resort soon as I understand it gets really busy in July. Help!!
Thanks.

 

[MECH8T7]

First, welcome to the DISboards.

The price of accomodations will be the same whether you book through Disney directly or use a travel agent, Canadian or U.S.-based. Disney has offered some Canadian at par deals in the past couple of years, but there are none currently available but when those deals were available both U.S and Canadian-based travel agents could have booked it for you. However, if there are any discount codes, a travel agent specializing in Disney will likely tell you about any applicable discounts whereas the cast member at Disney's central reservations office may not advise you of the current deals. Right now, there doesn't appear to be much in the way of discounts available for anybody. If you are a CAA member, you may be able to get a modest discount. I'm sure whether a travel agent (other than CAA) could book with a CAA discount or if you could get it on your own through Disney, though I am sure others on the Canadian board will know the answer to this if you post the question (or see http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#AAA)

It looks like you are very close to being 90 days in advance of the start of your WDW vacation. As you will learn from these boards, at the 90 day mark, you can start making priority seating (PS) bookings for some of the character meals and other special events and programs at WDW (pirate cruise, grand adventures in cooking). One advantage of using a travel agent such as Dreams Unlimited is that they will book the PSs for you and may have better success than you would have in getting some of the harder to get PSs -- i.e., the character breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table. We used a Ottawa-based travel agent who purported to be a Disney specialist. They weren't bad but they did not book PSs for their clients.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[Debbie]

If you have CAA, just call Disney directly to book a room at the discounted (15%??) rate. For tickets, check Ticketmania (click here ). Or, some people have had good luck at Undercover Tourist If you sign up for their newsletter, you will current prices (and discounts). I haven't looked closely at the DDE, since I know that counter service is more than enough for our family-a sit down dinner every day would just be too much. And we find that we usually only eat twice a day, plus snacks when we are on vacation.

What was your cost on Westjet, btw?

Welcome to DIS!!! Planning is so much fun!

 

[CharlesTD]

Before we bought DVC we always booked directly through CRo at Disney it was much easier and there really wasn't any problems and sometimes they found discounts that TA's won't see.

 

[bbrydon54]

My total for the 3 of us was $1192. There was no difference for a 6 year old. Pays full price. The earlier you book the better. I got a price one day and booked the next and the cost had already gone up. There is sometimes a different price going and coming. Prices are one way and they change all the time. Definitely check out West Jet. They were the cheapest and I got a late return time on the final day so we have most of the day to just relax or shop. You arrive in Orlando about 8:30 pm, but you can get a look around the hotel and get your bearings and then get a good night's sleep before starting a busy day the next day.