Trip booking strategies

[buzz1523]

Is there any benefit with booking with certified Disney World Agent vs. booking the trip yourself? Do they get any specific perks or discounts that otherwise I wouldn't get when booking myself?

If I do decide to book myself - should I book directly through Disney World website or somewhere else? I hear somewhere that you can book through a site called "Get Away Today," but I'm not sure if that would be any different than booking everything at once directly through Disney? Any input?

It's been a while (since 2010) that I've been to Disney - so a lot has changed!

 

[snikki]

If you have a good agent they will keep an eye for discounts and apply them for you immediately. That’s a perk of not having to wait on the phone or deal with Disney IT when trying to change it. They also make some commission.

I only book with a travel agent that gets agency exclusives. I have at times booked with her before exclusives are released and once an exclusive is released she applies it. She’s also looked out for regular discounts and applied them.

 

[Kwami]

I use a travel agent for three reasons.

1. He calls Disney so that I don't have to. This is especially important when wait times on the phone are 1-3 hours.
2. He gets a commission, which means that some of my money is going to a normal person instead of to Disney.
3. He's a great guy that's fun to chat with!

But generally, you'll pay the same price either way. Agents like to tell you that you'll get future discounts when Disney releases them, but usually Disney sells out of those discounts very quickly, or they don't apply to your room, or the price that you paid is already lower than the latest price with the discount, or whatever. Sometimes it works out, though. I saved a bit on my latest stay at Caribbean Beach Resort when the fall discounts were released.

 

[DJFan88]

If you don’t pick the travel agent, do it yourself. Never heard of that get away thing and that would make me a skeptic. Likely is actually a 3rd party booking so like a travel agent, but probably hard to reach to do anything, if not just downright bordering on legit.
I book myself as I like the control, have done it for years, like to switch things all the time, and don’t want to have to rely on someone else to change anything for me. Also, what if I end up with a less than desirable agent that doesn’t do things quick.
That said —- if I was going to use a travel agent, I would make sure that they are one that “ specializes in Disney” and will have some sort of a distinction .

 

[buzz1523]

If you don’t pick the travel agent, do it yourself. Never heard of that get away thing and that would make me a skeptic. Likely is actually a 3rd party booking so like a travel agent, but probably hard to reach to do anything, if not just downright bordering on legit.
I book myself as I like the control, have done it for years, like to switch things all the time, and don’t want to have to rely on someone else to change anything for me. Also, what if I end up with a less than desirable agent that doesn’t do things quick.
That said —- if I was going to use a travel agent, I would make sure that they are one that “ specializes in Disney” and will have some sort of a distinction .

Thanks all! I am leaning towards doing it myself directly through Disney.

When I book through Disney online is there a way I can select a payment plan? I don't want to pay in full.

Also, are Park Hopper tickets back to normal now?

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

When you book a package directly with Disney a $200 deposit minimum is required. The package must be paid in full 30 days before arrival. Throughout that time you can pay as little or as much as you would like whenever you want until the package is paid off. Keep in mind that if you need to cancel and receive a refund the refund will be paid back in the way you made your payment. For example, if you pay the $200 deposit with a Disney gift card it will come back on that card so make sure to keep any empty gift card you may use.

Using a third party to book your room and/or tickets requires immediate total payment but you can usually get the room at a decent discount. For instance the time we want to go next year I found the same room (value) for around $30/night cheaper. However with times as they are now booking directly with Disney is the safest for cancelling, postponing or refunding.

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Thanks all! I am leaning towards doing it myself directly through Disney.

When I book through Disney online is there a way I can select a payment plan? I don't want to pay in full.

Also, are Park Hopper tickets back to normal now?

Packages on the website require only a $200.00 down payment and you have to pay it off before 30 days out. And Park Hopper is normal outside of, you have to wait until 1:45pm. Ha

 

[MississippiMom]

I hate to say "it depends," but it really does.

I have only been to DisneyWorld three times, and am currently planning #4. I love doing all of the research myself and determining what works best for our family. Due to a business-traveler spouse, our family vacations are sometimes centered around an out-of-town conference (this was the case for our first two trips to Disneyworld) and/or we have lots of hotel, airline and/or rental car points to burn through. (And that doesn't even include possible credit card cash back, perks, etc.) I'm not going to find a Disney specialized travel agent, who is going to want to spend time comparing the various points we have sitting out there or investigating my husband's possible conventions in the future. And even if one offered, I wouldn't let them. I like having the control over our vacation plans.

My sister-in-law is currently planning their #2 family trip to DisneyWorld and she gets completely overwhelmed by all of the properties, the park options, the grocery delivery services, etc., so she is, once again, leaving it to a Disney vacation specialist. (I have no idea which company.) I know they didn't love Old Key West's location the first time, so they are requesting not to stay there this time around. But, other than that, they are just going with the recommendations provided.

Good luck in whichever route you choose to book your trip. At the end of the day, you will hopefully enjoy your vacation.

 

[DSLRuser]

Always do it all myself because I know what's best for my family. We go so many times, it is rare I don't know more then the other guy....in the times that I don't know more.....sites like this fill in the gaps.

I like to fish for myself and eat for a life time.

 

[Dug720]

The biggest advantage to using a TA is - assuming it's a good one who's a Disney specialist - that they will watch for discounts and/or packages to be released and check to see if that benefits you and automatically make the switch for you if it does. Saves you from having to keep a watch on things, then wait on hold to change it.

You are still in charge of your ADRs, park reservations, etc. - the TA can help with those or you can do it yourself. I use a TA and still make all my own ADRs and park reservations.

Somehow a lot of people have gotten the idea that you can't do anything if you use a TA. The only things you cannot do yourself if using a TA are change your resort or room type (may not be an issue for you) or make payments directly.

 

[buzz1523]

Packages on the website require only a $200.00 down payment and you have to pay it off before 30 days before. And Park Hopper is normal outside of, you have to wait until 1:45pm. Ha

Is that just due to COVID? You have to schedule a certain time slot to enter any one park?

 

[Belle70]

I would recommend Dreams Unlimited Travel. They are the Disney travel specialists that sponsor this site. Though it has been a while since I've been to Disney, I was very happy booking with them on my last trip. I was able to get discounts applied when they came available, after I had originally made my hotel reservations and didn't have to sit on the phone. They also made my ADRs for me. I don't know how many discounts will be available in the coming months. Disney isn't releasing many, but any that come along a DU agent will try to get for you.

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Is that just due to COVID? You have to schedule a certain time slot to enter any one park?

The 2 pm is a covid deal. You can just show up to any of the parks you want to hop to, but not until 2pm. You have to have a park reservation to whatever park you choose in the morning, but WDW allows park hopping starting at 2:00pm, but they really start allowing hoppers in at 1:45pm. We park hopped almost every day in April.

 

[buzz1523]

The 2 pm is a covid deal. You can just show up to any of the parks you want to hop to, but not until 2pm. You have to have a park reservation to whatever park you choose in the morning, but WDW allows park hopping starting at 2:00pm, but they really start allowing hoppers in at 1:45pm. We park hopped almost every day in April.

Ok, let's say I want to go to Hollywood Studios for the day and then I want to park hop to Magic Kingdom to watch the fireworks or eat... I'll have to wait until 1:45 to get into MK Without a reservation for that day, correct? I wouldn't have to reserve for that night too?

 

[DJFan88]

Correct, you must at least tap into the park you did reserve first, then you may enter any park at that 2 pm time, providing it’s not booked to capacity, which rarely happens, but I’m pretty sure MK did on Oct 1st.
You must also have bought the park hopper add on option to your ticket

 

[buzz1523]

Correct, you must at least tap into the park you did reserve first, then you may enter any park at that 2 pm time, providing it’s not booked to capacity, which rarely happens, but I’m pretty sure MK did on Oct 1st.
You must also have bought the park hopper add on option to your ticket

Thank you! Am I able to book a specific park the day before (if capacity limits haven't been reached)?

 

[Scubadaddy32]

Thank you! Am I able to book a specific park the day before (if capacity limits haven't been reached)?

It all depends, booking a park reservation the day before is risky for most days. When we were down in April, we were there for 10 days and a few days we were thinking about switching one of our park reservations and none were available for the park we wanted to switch to. So we just went to our reserved park and then hopped at 1:45pm. The issue for us, we would have had to release our park reservation and then risk getting another park reservation. We weren't willing to do that. However, I saw that they now put a modify park reservation button on the app. So things are changing constantly.

 

[buzz1523]

It all depends, booking a park reservation the day before is risky for most days. When we were down in April, we were there for 10 days and a few days we were thinking about switching one of our park reservations and none were available for the park we wanted to switch to. So we just went to our reserved park and then hopped at 1:45pm. The issue for us, we would have had to release our park reservation and then risk getting another park reservation. We weren't willing to do that. However, I saw that they now put a modify park reservation button on the app. So things are changing constantly.

Are there any rumors that as time goes (possibly into 2022) that these park reservations will go away and you will be able to go to parks freely pre-COVID?

 

[Debbie Jean]

Are there any rumors that as time goes (possibly into 2022) that these park reservations will go away and you will be able to go to parks freely pre-COVID?

Doubtful. They seem to be here to stay. You can make park ressies into 2022. Seems Disney likes having a method for assessing and dispersing crowds between the parks. Helps with staffing, is my guess.

 

[hou2009]

Be mindful that deposit, payment due date, and cancellation policies differ if you book room-only vs. a package. Disney will push you to book a package, even if you request room-only over the phone. Even if they add "free luggage tags" or "free mini-golf" to your hotel reservation without telling you, it becomes a package. So do your research and be aware when booking, if you desire room-only. I like room-only because while the deposit is higher, cancellation is more flexible, and you pay the balance at checkout, like a normal hotel. And then I buy tickets from undercover tourist. Also it's happened in the past that discounts only apply to room only reservations.