Trip Planning 101 - help please

[megandgarr]

Hi all,

I was hoping to get some advice from all of the seasoned WDW travelers. I am going to be planning my second trip to WDW for some time Oct 2009 (that is so far away). It will be 3 families traveling together. Our last trip was in 2004 and we went through a travel agent. We are regular Disneyland travelers (usually 2-3 trips a year) so when we go there, we usually book a room only, then purchase park hoppers whenever we find a good special. We always drive so airfare is not an issue.

I am trying to find out the best way to plan a WDW trip. Would it be best to reserve a room only rate for the length of our stay through the resort itself, then purchase hopper tickets separately, or do a package? And if we do a package, would you recommend we go through a travel agent or the disney planning company (not sure of the official name)? I kind of like the idea of a package, because lets face it, it is a lot easier to make payments toward the vacation than it is to put the money in savings and keep it there.

Also, when we went in 2004 our package included our room, plus unlimited access to all of the parks from the time we checked in until closing on the night we checked out. Is there such a thing anymore, or do you have to buy hopper passes for a specific number of days. We would be looking at 7-8 days in Oct 09.

Any and all suggestions would be much appreciated!
Thanks!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I think the easiest thing to do is reserve your rooms now... you'll have to book them as "room only" at the 2008 rate and pay a one night deposit per room .... then when the 2009 rates and packages come out I would change those room only reservations to packages with tickets and dining. That is the easiest way to do it. Good luck!

 

[NJBILL]

You have plenty of time to plan..that being said. you need to decide how comfortable you are with the planning process..for me.. I always do everything myself with no TA..takes a lot of reserach & time..but i enjoy the process and it keeps me connected to the trip throughoout the year..some people HATE planning and want a TA to everything.... Also,traveling with 3 families will pose its own internal challenges,such as agreement on what to do,where to stay,when etc... That part is going to be the hard part..not planning the actual trip...Good Luck..

 

[rwdavis2]

As everyone said, book the rooms now. You can add packages later when the prices come out. As for a group:

• Don't plan on doing everything together. Plan on splitting up.
• See what the other families like to do.
• Dining arrangements (ADRs) for that many people, everyday, could be a major problem.

 

[gamamalovesdisney]

I would go ahead and do the package before the rates go up. Also, I would use a travel agent to save you a lot of time and headaches.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

I recommend a travel agent. It sounds like a lot of planning, and I love having someone help with that. I used Kelly through Magical Travel for my upcoming trip and I absolutely love her.
Last week she called me just to tell me that she called about the newly released discount and that she had called for me, but my current discount was better. I had no idea she was calling! What a sweet thing to do. I now know this is her common thing to do. She wants to get people the best deal.
There is no fee to use Magical Travel and she even did all of my adr booking for me. I am very impressed with her service!!!

 

[snykymom]

I would go ahead and do the package before the rates go up.

You can't book a 2009 package now. You can only book a room now for 2009. The systems do not let anyone (through the web, TA or Disney reservations) book 2008 packages for a 2009 date.

 

[mickeynut1]

Keep in mind that if you book room only now (before the 2009 prices come out), you will be charged 1 night's room rate (per room) at the current 2008 peak or holiday rate....then your ressie will be adjusted accordingly when the 2009 prices officially come out. As far as your ticket question.....the "length of stay" tickets good from the time you check in until midnight of the day you check out is a thing of the past, but you would only have to buy as many days as you need/want for your party as the number of nights you stay has nothing to do with the number of park tickets you get. You would also have to add (and pay for) the hopper option if you choose to park hop.

 

[megandgarr]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have a few more questions if you dont mind answering.

Is Magical Travel a travel agency, or is that a Disney owned package service, and how do I contact them?

Also, if I decided to go through that service, would I first be able to call the hotel myself right away and book my room for the week we want to stay (paying one nights stay at the 2008 rates), just to make sure I have a room?

And then when the 2009 packages become available for booking, could I then contact Magical Travel to convert my room reservation to a package through them, or are those 2 different animals all together? I kind of like the idea of them checking for new and better discounts that could be applied toward the package (although I would probably be checking on my own as well). Sorry, more questions...

When you book through Magical Travel, how does the funding part work? Do you pay a deposit and then pay toward your balance monthly, or do you just pay a deposit and then pay the balance right before travel?

Also, from what I have read it sounds like the 2009 rates come out mid August. Is that when I would be able to begin booking an Oct 2009 package?

As far as planning with the two other families goes, we have decided we will each stay at the hotel of our choice instead of trying to agree. If we end up at the same one great, if not, that is ok too.

 

[skipperkim]

How many are in your group? If there are more than 8 you qualify for a Grand Gathering, a lot of nice extras. I personally prefer doing things myself, so I know how to blame when it goes wrong.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have a few more questions if you dont mind answering.

Is Magical Travel a travel agency, or is that a Disney owned package service, and how do I contact them?

Also, if I decided to go through that service, would I first be able to call the hotel myself right away and book my room for the week we want to stay (paying one nights stay at the 2008 rates), just to make sure I have a room?

And then when the 2009 packages become available for booking, could I then contact Magical Travel to convert my room reservation to a package through them, or are those 2 different animals all together? I kind of like the idea of them checking for new and better discounts that could be applied toward the package (although I would probably be checking on my own as well). Sorry, more questions...

When you book through Magical Travel, how does the funding part work? Do you pay a deposit and then pay toward your balance monthly, or do you just pay a deposit and then pay the balance right before travel?

Also, from what I have read it sounds like the 2009 rates come out mid August. Is that when I would be able to begin booking an Oct 2009 package?

As far as planning with the two other families goes, we have decided we will each stay at the hotel of our choice instead of trying to agree. If we end up at the same one great, if not, that is ok too.

Magical Travel is an Authorized Disney Travel Agency...they are privately owned but they are all certified by disney to sell Disney trips. I will PM you Kelly's contact info.

It is best to have her book your room only and let her know what you want for a package. Then when they release them she does all the changing over of everything and lets you know that it went fine.

You will pay to Disney but through Magical Travel. (You can pay a little every month or all at the 45 day package date...doesn't matter) I made a deposit with Kelly, then I made 2 big payments. One in early June and the other a few days before my 45 day pay-off date. After every payment Kelly has e-mailed me the recipt from Disney. She will be getting my travel papers in the next few weeks and then will send them out to me.

I really loved having to not call and wrangle for dining reservations. I said "I would like XXX restaurant for 6 of us on the 24th between 5 and 6pm...closer to 5 is better..." and 2 days later she e-mailed me my times and I was not at all disappointed...that was 10 meals worth! She booked my fireworks cruise when I was at work and would have missed the chance to get it (she called at noon and got the last slot!!) AND she has worked really hard to help me get a special cake for my son's 15th b-day.

I really can not say enough great things about her! She has made a complicated trip so easy. I threw her a few curve balls accidently and she has been amaxing!!!