Travel agents/websites/e-newsletters for UK WDW deals

[elaine amj]

I have been looking into bringing my brother, his wife, and my niece to WDW for summer 2017. Since they live in the UK, we have access to UK deals as well as US deals. I'm used to going to WDW during US free dining in late August and would like to keep an eye on UK deals so that I can compare the costs between the two. They will not need flights as I will use my airmiles for them.

Are there any Travel agents/websites/e-newsletters I can follow to stay up to date? In the US, I subscribe to a travel agent e-newsletter and stay updated on any deals that Disney releases that way. Is there something similar in the UK? I am also Canadian and have been fruitlessly searching for a TA/website to keep me updated on Cdn deals so I don't know if there is a similar difficulty in the UK?

I'm not even sure what the best UK website is to keep an eye on. I usually find that booking direct with Disney (or through a TA) gives me the best prices and the most flexibility.

Thanks

 

[Elise79]

If you can sign up to the Disney UK newsletter they include the offers on there.

UK deals are released much further in advance than US deals. We expect free dining for 2017 to be released around the end of April for example (we don't know there will be free dining but historically thats what we get). In addition to free dining we have also had discounts on SSR & OKW of 25-30% which can be combined with free dining. Our free dining covers most of the year with the only black out dates being Easter and December.

Just be aware UK T&Cs are not as favourable as the US. The deposit is non refundable and if you make a change you can be charged an amendment fee. This is standard though for the UK travel industry.

 

[jon18uk]

www.disneyholidays.co.uk is the official UK WDTC site. Last year the offers were announced in early May and gave free QS dining with moderate, free regular DDP with deluxe or DVC villa, plus a $200 gift card for booking early. There is also usually a good UK discount on Saratoga Springs or Old Key West.

 

[elaine amj]

This is very helpful - thank you so much! Especially about the cancellation fee, something I am not used to here. That makes a difference since I wouldn't be able to switch to the US free dining deals without losing out on the deposit. That said, I can get UK deals for the peak summer season, which does make a difference as we may not be able to swing this during our typical end of August travel period.

Do you typically find UK deals are better/worse than US deals? I am used to staying at a Value with my family of 4 with free quick service (that I upgrade to regular DDP). I like the 14-day ultimate ticket that UK residents get and would love a super discounted stay at Old Key West or SSR. I can see a place like Old Key West being more comfortable for all of us - there will be 8 of us all together. (4 of us, my brother and his family, and my mother).

Also, what are the typical booking deadlines for UK deals? I don't anticipate being in the position to book this until the summer as we have a lot of things up in the air right now. My brother is applying for UK permanent resident status and I imagine it will be a few months before everything is finalized (they go for their family visa appt tomorrow ).

I signed up for the Disney UK newsletter - really annoying that they insisted on my ordering a paper brochure as well. I haven't discussed this with my brother yet as I want to see the plan take a little more shape before I bring it up. We'd like to pay for a chunk of the trip but have to see costs, etc first. Oh well, he'll be surprised to see a brochure show up at his flat with my name on it

 

[jon18uk]

Also, what are the typical booking deadlines for UK deals? I don't anticipate being in the position to book this until the summer as we have a lot of things up in the air right now. My brother is applying for UK permanent resident status and I imagine it will be a few months before everything is finalized (they go for their family visa appt tomorrow ).

Last year the free dining offer started late April/early May and finished in September i think. There was a $200 gift card if booked before July and $100 if booked July-Sept.

 

[elaine amj]

Thank you - again, super helpful!