travel agency package or book directly with hotel?

[Kauinohea]

Wondering if more people use travel agencies and book packages or book directly with hotels and buy passes separately?

If you use a travel agency - which is the best one?

 

[Sienna]

I think it just depends. If you only need the hotel, a lot of times there are discount rates available (entertainment book, AAA, military, Costco, etc). Sometimes you get a good deal if you book an entire package. The key is to do your research and find the best deal for your particular travel needs. Maybe that's booking online, maybe through a travel agent, maybe calling the hotel. Maybe booking everything separately, or booking a package. I don't think there's one right answer that works for everyone.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Do you want the best price & not afraid of doing the work....then book separately...you'll probably save some money. If you want ease & know it's handled then use a travel company.
We also book thru Disney Travel directly. They're great to work with & they gave us the DL Hotel at the AP rates, even before I purchased an AP. They believed I would have them at check-in, so that was cool. Otherwise we never would have booked at one of the resorts, because we couldn't afford the prices that were showing. They quoted me the AP price & it was doable for us.
I read a lot on these forums that people use Costco & AAA so if you're a member with one of those, you could always look into packages thru them.
Good luck!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Ditto what Sienna said!



Our first big trip, we booked through Costco package. Went with on site, the hoppers, the little extras that you get with WDTC company (Costco books through them). Found out a little more, decided to add on some days afterwards at the HoJo at the Entertainment Card rate, and while at the park upgraded our tickets to APs. Next trip I booked through an offsite hotel site. Next solo trip I booked hotel through Orbitz. Next back to HoJo with the Entertainment rate. December we were back onsite b/c everyone else was so expensive it was worth it to just stay onsite with the AP rate. etc etc.

Since we have APs we haven't done a package again, because you have to get tickets, and we could get a better deal just getting the APs again (but next year there might not be a good deal like there was last Fall, so it's possible we'd do a package again and then just upgrade those tickets to APs...maybe).

I do generally have a hard time using a travel agency, because you don't have control over your reservation as much as you do booking directly. Costco was OK b/c you pretty much just communicated with Walt Disney Travel Company after you booked...but Expedia, etc, you have to go through them for changes, as far as I know. (and I'm not sure you CAN make changes with those agencies)

 

[Kauinohea]

Thank you for your responses!

Has anyone used Get away travel.com?

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't, but many people here have used them. They seem quite good.

 

[tasha99]

All separately for me except I do use a travel agency for my park and fly hotel stay in Portland since it's cheaper that way.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Thank you for your responses!

Has anyone used Get away travel.com?

I've used them three times before. They are good to work with and their customer service is really great. I can do better now for hotels and we have AP's now (just not activated, yet ) so doing a package does not work for us.

When we first started going I didn't know the names of the Harbor Hotels and we had never been before and we needed a suite since we had all 4 of our boys with us. We ended up in Orange at the Hilton Inn and Suites over by Angels stadium. I really liked that hotel and the breakfast was really great - but we had to drive and park every day and that is an extra $12 now. Our second stay was in Garden Grove at the Holiday Inn Express - I also like that hotel and stayed at it again the next time when we were there with a big group (12 people).

THEN, I found the DIS and have stayed at HoJo and will never stay where I have to drive and park again. I haven't tried any other Harbor Hotels - just Howard Johnson and since we are mostly off-season lovers the Entertainment rate works great for us and we love just walking over to DLR. No parking hassles, no Tram (although my kids think its a ride!) and we don't have to pay any extra money.

 

[prncssmel]

Thank you for your responses!

Has anyone used Get away travel.com?

I've used them three times before. They are good to work with and their customer service is really great. I can do better now for hotels and we have AP's now (just not activated, yet ) so doing a package does not work for us.

When we first started going I didn't know the names of the Harbor Hotels and we had never been before and we needed a suite since we had all 4 of our boys with us. We ended up in Orange at the Hilton Inn and Suites over by Angels stadium. I really liked that hotel and the breakfast was really great - but we had to drive and park every day and that is an extra $12 now. Our second stay was in Garden Grove at the Holiday Inn Express - I also like that hotel and stayed at it again the next time when we were there with a big group (12 people).

I was just going to suggest Get Away Today. They have good deals on hotels if you don't have a certain place in mind. We stay at the Staybridge Suites, booked through them, whenever we have a large group. Nice big rooms and a good breakfast. This time we are staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Garden Grove (I would love to hear more about it, Brady's Mom), booked through them.

One of my favorite things about Getaway is that you can still get the good hotel deal through them without buying tickets. We have AP's, so this is really good for us.

Otherwise, my favorite hotel by Disney is the Candy Cane Inn - so cute and the most amazing staff. And of course, everyone on DIS loves HoJo. Both of these places are best to book on your own.

 

[Brady's Mom]

I was just going to suggest Get Away Today. They have good deals on hotels if you don't have a certain place in mind. We stay at the Staybridge Suites, booked through them, whenever we have a large group. Nice big rooms and a good breakfast. This time we are staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Garden Grove (I would love to hear more about it, Brady's Mom), booked through them.

One of my favorite things about Getaway is that you can still get the good hotel deal through them without buying tickets. We have AP's, so this is really good for us.

Otherwise, my favorite hotel by Disney is the Candy Cane Inn - so cute and the most amazing staff. And of course, everyone on DIS loves HoJo. Both of these places are best to book on your own.

prncssmel - we stayed in a King room when just DH and I went for my 40th birthday and it had a King bed, desk, chair, recliner/type chair and was really quite comfy. We did have an ant problem in the first room we had (in the bathroom) so they changed our room for us without any trouble. We got there early (about 1 pm I think) and they let us check in right away. That was sooo nice. Their breakfast was better than continental - they have omelettes that are small and premade, sausage/bacon, toasters, yogurt, danish, cinnamon rolly things, cold cereal, milk, coffee, hot chocolate, that kind of stuff.

We stayed in the 2 Queen room the next trip and it was good, too. Although we missed the little bit of extra room that the King room gave us. Oh, and no "easy chair" in the Queen rooms. Same breakfast - my kids liked the cold cereal and the hot chocolate. They didn't really like the omelettes because they have American cheese in them and my kids hate that kind of cheese.

If it weren't for the driving and parking, I would stay there again. But, I am a converted "walk to DLR person" now and pretty much wouldn't change back if I didn't have to. LOL

HTH's
Shannon

 

[prncssmel]

prncssmel - we stayed in a King room when just DH and I went for my 40th birthday and it had a King bed, desk, chair, recliner/type chair and was really quite comfy. We did have an ant problem in the first room we had (in the bathroom) so they changed our room for us without any trouble. We got there early (about 1 pm I think) and they let us check in right away. That was sooo nice. Their breakfast was better than continental - they have omelettes that are small and premade, sausage/bacon, toasters, yogurt, danish, cinnamon rolly things, cold cereal, milk, coffee, hot chocolate, that kind of stuff.

We stayed in the 2 Queen room the next trip and it was good, too. Although we missed the little bit of extra room that the King room gave us. Oh, and no "easy chair" in the Queen rooms. Same breakfast - my kids liked the cold cereal and the hot chocolate. They didn't really like the omelettes because they have American cheese in them and my kids hate that kind of cheese.

If it weren't for the driving and parking, I would stay there again. But, I am a converted "walk to DLR person" now and pretty much wouldn't change back if I didn't have to. LOL

HTH's
Shannon

Thanks! We have a king room booked. I like walking distance; we usually do that when we fly. But since we are driving this time and getting parking on our AP's (or upgrading to premium if I can convince hubby!), we don't mind the driving.

Hey, you're from Orem. I grew up in AF.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Yep! Originally from Nor. Cal. But we have lived in Orem for almost 21 years. Since we can't move back, we feed our California addiction by trips to DLR and San Francisco. DLR for the Mouse and San Francisco for the food!

 

[pixiewings71]

I used to do packages, did that for our first couple of trips but after upgrading to APs we just do our own bookings now. Packages are great tho, you get a fun delivery from WDTC, you get freebies and if you prepay for character meals you get your vouchers too, it's fun to get the package.

 

[teatime]

I have done packages and have done buying motel, tickets and flights separate, I found its much cheaper to buy everything separate. thats the way we are going this time in August, we saved about 500.00

 

[mystic_path]

I purchase flight and hotel packages together. I find it much cheaper. Especially if you know what days the online travel agents lower their prices. Right now getawaytoday lowers theirs on a Wed. I personally love getawaytoday. Their prices are very decent and their customer service is exceptional.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I also almost always find it to be cheaper to book seperately. However if you want to take care of it all at once and know that everything is set just book a package. I would book it myself though...I dont need to use TA's anymore since it can all be done online in minutes!

 

[DizMe]

Usually book separately, both to save money and in case we need to make changes. I don't want to pay a penalty for that. However, we often do a modified package by buying a couple of things through AAA. This year it was hoppers and a character meal, which gave us some extras (free parking, discount card for DTD, etc). Now that we've all upgraded to APs, we wouldn't be going through AAA since there is no need to buy tickets.

I will say that if you only go once in a while, a package is very nice because it's all taken care of, you get a nice folder of goodies, and there are the little extras that are fun like pins and lanyards, commemorative coins, etc. If you go often, those things are kind of useless.

We almost always fly and I like to go through Southwest because again, there is no penalty if you make changes. The same is true, I've heard, for JetBlue. I checked the SW package and even with the DL promotions offered, I still got a cheaper deal by booking things separately on my own.

 

[Casken]

I have found that travel agents tend to give you the highest price available for flights, etc. I'm sure there are some good agents out there but the one I called quoted me flights that were $1000.00 more than what I found and booked. She did not even bother checking the airline that I booked with. Why because they have seat sales and are the best airline in Canada.

Anyways, if you don't mind doing the work yourself I highly recommend booking everything yourself. The web is a wonderful resource for finding discounts and because of that why bother with an agent. Mousesavers.com has a wealth of information that has helped me tremendously. But of course, to each his own. Some people prefer the help of an agent. I think it all depends on the person and where one is going. For me, I like the control of knowing I'm getting a great price on everything.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I'm really surprised that no one suggested using Dreams Unlimited Travel - they are owned by the company that owns and operates the DIS Boards - these forums we are all so addicted to posting on.

Highly reputable folks with an incredible amount of of both WDW and Disneyland specialists. They can help you do all sorts of things with your vacation. Just let them know what you want and they can help to make it happen.

My philosophy is that these folks have given us so much for free - we should try to support them back.