Tickets and Hotel

[nutshell]

Hello! Where is the best place to purchase hotel and tickets. The family will go to Disneyland in June. Should I use Disney's site, AAA, Costco, or somewhere else??? Thanks!

 

[Darkbeer1]

I like doing it myself, so tickets would be through something like Ares, Get Away Today or LMT. And then shop of the Hotel by itself, using the Hotel websites, and a search engine.

If you want to by a package, The Walt Disney Travel Company prepares and makes the packages for Disney Travel, AAA, Get Away Today and COSTCO, and many Travel Agents. The big companies like AAA, COSTCO and Get Away Today have their packages branded with their name, and get some extra things as usually a somewhat lower price.

But between using Frequent Customer programs for Hotels, Airfare and Rental Cars, I can usually save quite a bit, and also earn points for future savings.

Here is a good list of discounts for Disneyland.

https://www.mousesavers.com/disneyland-california-vacation-discounts-and-deals/

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I found the best ticket prices on getawaytoday.com
Can't help with hotel as I booked with credit card points although if you're thinking of the Grand Californian, dvcrequest.com has great prices.

 

[ParkHopper1]

"Best" place for hotels is direct with Disney. Least hassle, easy cancellation/change policy and you are not burden my third party restrictions or gotchas.

Same things with tickets IMO unless there is a good deal with AAA or Costco which are both very reputable resellers with little headache.

 

[Darkbeer1]

"Best" place for hotels is direct with Disney. Least hassle, easy cancellation/change policy and you are not burden my third party restrictions or gotchas.

Same things with tickets IMO unless there is a good deal with AAA or Costco which are both very reputable resellers with little headache.

Well, that is true with the Three Disney owned Hotels, but not with off-property/good neighbor Hotels/Motels/Inn, in which case, dealing with that Hotel directly is better than going through The Walt Disney Travel Company.

Tickets are tickets, if you are looking,make sure you are comparing correctly, such as a three day ParkHopper with one Magic Morning. Get Away Today (and others) deal with Disney, get a discount, and passes it to their customer. But the tickets are issued through the Disney system, as can be looked up at the Disneyland Ticket booths if there is an issue.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For off site hotels, sometimes you can find a deal by calling the hotel directly. Make sure you are calling the hotel front desk and not the toll free reservation number. Mousesavers.com lists good deals on tickets and sometimes on hotels, too. We always save the most money by booking everything ourselves and have never had any problem making cancellations as long as we abide by the hotel's policies.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I should add I have heard/read many complaints about Good neighbor Hotels booked through The Walt Disney Travel Company. And that is the fact that you get the basic rooms at the low end of the Hotel's Room list, the rooms that meet the description, but are in poor locations, etc. And this is typical of any third party booking. Hotels prefer to deal with their regular customers, and just signing up for the Frequent Stay program. They will upgrade you if a room is available, offer special perks like free Wi-Fi (Hilton does this).

I used to use things like Hotwire, but have found that being able to pick the specific hotel I want, get the points for the future, and the fact that most Hotels will know guarantee that booking directly with them gets you the lowest price. (There are exceptions, such as the Hotwire rate that you don't know the Hotel until purchased).

So like theluckyrabbit said, deal direct for the best service and best prices. Shopping on the internet is great, and many Hotels have different rates and packages, and you can find the best one if you belong to multiple groups, like AAA, AARP, or a corporate rate. Sometimes packages that include things like meals or other things....

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You can compare with Dreams Unlimited Travel (like booking through Walt Disney Travel Company, but they'll look for discounts for you). They sponsor this site, so consider using them.

http://dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/

 

[ParkHopper1]

Well, that is true with the Three Disney owned Hotels, but not with off-property/good neighbor Hotels/Motels/Inn, in which case, dealing with that Hotel directly is better than going through The Walt Disney Travel Company.

100% agree. Direct with any hotel is almost always "best"

 

[sharksfinatic17]

If you decide to get your tickets with Last Minute Travel, make sure you go to LMT Club or the tickets won't show up.

 

[Diszona]

If you decide to get your tickets with Last Minute Travel, make sure you go to LMT Club or the tickets won't show up.

LMT Club has the best prices I have seen, 5 day hoppers are $281 with a club membership. It is normally $50 to join but retaimenot.com has a code for a free membership plus $25 off your first purchase. As far as hotels, I have had good luck with Orbitz but as others have mentioned going directly to the hotel can often give better rates. For instance Tropicana Inn is usually around $150-180 for a room with 2 queen beds but if you go directly to their website and are staying 5 or more nights you can get $20 a night off their regular price which in June is less than $140 a night. Desert Inn in June has even better prices right now, in the $110-$120 range but those will change the closer it gets to summer. If you don't want to have the hassle of figuring out separate tickets and hotels, I have always had good luck with GetAwayToday and they will also price match other legit sellers if you call them and tell them you found a better price.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

If you decide to get your tickets with Last Minute Travel, make sure you go to LMT Club or the tickets won't show up.

Never heard of them, they are reliable?

 

[stazmatic]

Are the Disneyland tickets through LMT Club emailed or shipped?

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Are the Disneyland tickets through LMT Club emailed or shipped?

Emailed. Has a barcode and they scan them at the turnstiles and turn them into tickets

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Emailed. Has a barcode and they scan them at the turnstiles and turn them into tickets

You've done it? There are a number of reviews online which are not positive. Just want to be sure.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

You've done it? There are a number of reviews online which are not positive. Just want to be sure.

I have used LMTClub several times with no problems.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

You've done it? There are a number of reviews online which are not positive. Just want to be sure.

Yes, just did last month. Took about 2 days to receive the tix thru email and no problems at the gate. Going back in May and will buy from them again.

 

[Disney Dider]

How do you get 25$ off first purchase at lmt club?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I was able to purchase but the $25 coupon says for hotel stays & I bought tickets only.

 

[Diszona]

How do you get 25$ off first purchase at lmt club?

There is a coupon code you put in when you check out. LINKSHARE2016
According to retailmenot just says $25 off first purchase but I haven't used it. From what CyndiLouWho said it sounds like it can only be applied to hotel stays.