Saving money when booking DW trip?

[MrsDe2008]

Hi...I usually book our DW trips directly through DW, but I was just thinking if I went to a travel agent if it would be cheaper. Have you priced both ways or just book directly throgh DW or only us a TA? Just wondering...

 

[TheShea's]

When we booked ours in January we did everything via WDW. A few days later I called AAA Travel (we're members) and had emailed the agent exactly what we had booked through WDW. Booking through WDW was cheaper by a few hundred dollars. I didn't shop around because I prefer to deal direct on most things. I called AAA since we're members and they're very quick to respond.

 

[ceecee]

15 years ago we called a TA and AAA for quotes at the ASMo, we had never been before. My friend told me about the disboards so I researched and did it myself. We saved $1000.00!!!! Then the next year I got some onlines quotes from two travel agents and both were higher. I have done it myself since then.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi...I usually book our DW trips directly through DW, but I was just thinking if I went to a travel agent if it would be cheaper. Have you priced both ways or just book directly throgh DW or only us a TA? Just wondering...

I've found the cost to be just about the same whether I booked the trip myself or did it thru a TA. The TA's often had additional incentives to book with them (welcome package in the stateroom and onboard credits when cruising, a nice "pre-trip" Disney gift and GCs when staying at the parks). Some TAs will also book your ADRs and keep track of any discounts that can be applied to your reservation. Having someone else worry about those details can be nice. And of course, if there are problems during your trip, a TA can work to smooth things over for you.

But you also give up control of your reservation when you let a TA handle it. So any changes have to go through them. And their cancellation policy can be more stringent than Disney's policy. It's a trade off.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Well, it really depends what TA you use. A lot of people on here talk about Magical Vacations, and if you're going during one of the times they have an Agency Exclusive offer, you can save way more than what you can booking yourself. I'm saving over 50% on my trip, and I know Disney never offers that.

 

[secretpantssam]

I have also priced out trips through Disney and AAA and found AAA to be much more expensive than booking directly through Disney. I also like to have control over everything so I like booking my trips myself.

 

[MichVick]

I don't find much difference in the line of pricing - however I prefer booking with a travel agent so that they can take of it if anything happens. For example - about 4 years ago, approximately three weeks before our vacation our flight home was cancelled and instead of going into panic mode - our travel agent had found another airline for around the same price (leaving a day earlier). It's nice to let someone else worry about the details so I can have peace of mind

 

[brymolmom]

I am a WDW TA...I can get you the same price that you can get booking directly. Any TA that gives you a different price is either intentionally 'up-selling' (I've had coworkers at my other job say that the hopping option 'came with' the package that they got) OR just not shopping around to find the best discount for your situation. We all know that a 30% room discount vs. Free Dining can mean different savings for different families and situations - And that one can save money over the other in certain circumstances.

 

[bigmochick]

Well, it really depends what TA you use. A lot of people on here talk about Magical Vacations, and if you're going during one of the times they have an Agency Exclusive offer, you can save way more than what you can booking yourself. I'm saving over 50% on my trip, and I know Disney never offers that.

How do you get "in the know" as to when they are doing the agency exclusive offers?

 

[Ginny Favers]

How do you get "in the know" as to when they are doing the agency exclusive offers?

Go to their website (google Magical Vacations) and add yourself to their mailing list. They also list their offers on the website; however, the one I took advantage of was never listed-- maybe because it was such a deep discount and sold so well with word-of-mouth, they didn't have to. I actually found out about it on this board.