Southwest Vacations - Too good to be true?

[Objectivity]

Not sure where to ask this question, but this seems a good spot and a search didn't really bring up anything recent.

We're thinking of booking a trip to Disney from Aug 24-31 for two adults and two children. Southwest Vacations has that week at Wilderness Lodge available with flight, seven-days deluxe dining and seven-days of tickets (not hopper) for $4700 and change, without insurance.

That price is significantly lower than what we can find from a travel agent, other websites and Disney itself. They say the rate includes free kids AND two nights free.

The only negatives I've found online so far are that Southwest Vacations are independent from the airline, reservations require paper tickets and customer service never answers the phone.


Does anyone have any experience with Southwest? Does this deal sound legitimate and safe? It's only good through mid next week so we'd have to decide quickly.

 

[park]

Not sure where to ask this question, but this seems a good spot and a search didn't really bring up anything recent.

We're thinking of booking a trip to Disney from Aug 24-31 for two adults and two children. Southwest Vacations has that week at Wilderness Lodge available with flight, seven-days deluxe dining and seven-days of tickets (not hopper) for $4700 and change, without insurance.

That price is significantly lower than what we can find from a travel agent, other websites and Disney itself. They say the rate includes free kids AND two nights free.

The only negatives I've found online so far are that Southwest Vacations are independent from the airline, reservations require paper tickets and customer service never answers the phone.


Does anyone have any experience with Southwest? Does this deal sound legitimate and safe? It's only good through mid next week so we'd have to decide quickly.

Interesting... I went to their vacations site and priced a vacation and it also appears alot cheaper. However, from what I can see, the tickets are not included. So maybe that is the difference?

Edit: I figured out how to add tickets, and for me in prices out to be the same as Disney plus an appropriate fare allowance for the airline, but my trip is November. Looks like SWA has the Disney Deals like Free Dining layered in there. Maybe you found a deal with SWA!

 

[emsstacey]

I just checked and for our October vacation... it's actually about $400 more. I got a great price on our airline tickets a couple of months ago and have yet to see them that low again.

 

[mejo]

Interesting... I went to their vacations site and priced a vacation and it also appears alot cheaper. However, from what I can see, the tickets are not included. So maybe that is the difference?

Edit: I figured out how to add tickets, and for me in prices out to be the same as Disney plus an appropriate fare allowance for the airline, but my trip is November. Looks like SWA has the Disney Deals like Free Dining layered in there. Maybe you found a deal with SWA!

I wonder how they can offer the free dining though without adding on tickets, I wondered if maybe the 2 day minimum ticket was included. I can't find that anyplace.

 

[Objectivity]

I wonder how they can offer the free dining though without adding on tickets, I wondered if maybe the 2 day minimum ticket was included. I can't find that anyplace.

That's where the savings seems to be on the trip I searched for. The cost of WL is the same as other sites I checked, the flights are the same price, the only difference is when you add options (you have to view all, otherwise it only shows three) there is one for deluxe dining and park tickets. The price for that for eight days is @$1700, only $200-$400 more that the cost of tickets alone everywhere else.

 

[Objectivity]

Interesting... I went to their vacations site and priced a vacation and it also appears alot cheaper. However, from what I can see, the tickets are not included. So maybe that is the difference?

Edit: I figured out how to add tickets, and for me in prices out to be the same as Disney plus an appropriate fare allowance for the airline, but my trip is November. Looks like SWA has the Disney Deals like Free Dining layered in there. Maybe you found a deal with SWA!

I went back and looked again after reading your message. It's Deluxe Dining with tickets, meaning when you buy tickets... Not with tickets as-in tickets included.

Disappointing. It was too good to be true.

 

[mrsdrake625]

I priced one out with the two free nights deal, almost the same as buying thru disney except with airfare included (yes, including park tickets). There were restrictions on trip length and I had to make sure I picked the right resort. Took a few tries.

That said I have never used this company so I would be curious to hear from anyone who has.

 

[park]

I went back and looked again after reading your message. It's Deluxe Dining with tickets, meaning when you buy tickets... Not with tickets as-in tickets included.

Disappointing. It was too good to be true.

Hey! It was worth a try.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I have used Southwest Vacations before. It was back in 2011 and we did have some really good savings. We were able to get free dining through them (as that was the promotion through Disney at the time) and we had significant savings on the airfare side...it was way lower booking through the SW package.

The only negative was that you don't get the package of vouchers, but not a deal breaker.

I wouldn't hesitate to book through them again, if that was the best deal going.

 

[LisaMc]

But I did use SW vacations to book a WDW vacay and it turned out great!

 

[tinka-belle]

SW Vacations is a third party company contracted by SW airlines to sell their vacation packages. They are also an authorized Disney World seller so can offer the usual public Disney deals.

Yes, sometimes they are a good deal and other times not, just have to price it all out. Free nights or % off are sometimes close to the same thing, just the semantics of advertising or their way of discounting the price. The Disney Magical Extras vouchers do not come with these packages, but if SWV saves you some money it's safe to book with them.

I always hated those separate paper ailine tickets with the vacation packages, BUT all tickets are E-tickets now, as well as E-documents.
Very easy with Southwest Vacations.