What's the best way to book a group for 2007

[HookedonDCL]

Has anyone booked 8 or more cabins and received a group discount? We have a group of friends and family wanting to cruise during Thanksgiving 2007. I would like to book these as soon as the dates are released ( my understanding in September or October). Also, if you were to do this looking for the best rate, would you book directly through Disney's group booking or use a TA? One more question, I compared prices for 2006 for the first week in April (our schools spring break) and Thanksgiving week and it's 2500.00 more for this week than it is for April. I was looking at two cat 9's with three in one room and two in the other. Is it always this much higher? Ok I lied I have a few more question. Do you know in advance when they will release 2007 dates? If you fax a request how is that handled? Do you know the cost of the rooms before they book the rooms for you? I apologizes for the many questions. Thank you in advance for any help. You all are the best!!!

 

[Joan1]

Disney does not allow group discounts on holiday sailings so you won't be getting an additional discount on top of the early booking

The rates for 2006 were out in October of 2004 so I would imagine that the 2007 prices will be out around the same time

If you go through a travel agent they will take care of everything for you, so if you don't mind giving up control of your reservation it's a great option. It definitely is stress releaver not having to worry about it

If you decide to go with a travel agent you can use many of the ones listed on these boards

wdwvacations.com
dreamsunlimited
allseasontravel

and I am sure there are more

 

[HookedonDCL]

Thank you Joan, I didn't know that but it makes sense in a business point of view. Do you know if the week before Easter would be considered a holiday sailing? Like if you got off the ship Saturday and the next day was Easter? Also, what kind of savings do you get with a group?

 

[Buddy Bear]

I booked a 2006 date on September 29, 2004 the day the 2006 rates came out and got a very good rate.

If someone is going to be on either the Wonder or Magic before the end of the year, but after the 2007 rates are released they can book all the rooms and get a $200 per stateroom onboard credit; otherwise I would check with a TA like the ones frequently mentioned on this board.

BTW...we booked this Thanksgiving and it was about $1,500 more than we are use to spending in July or August.

 

[mketting]

We booked 6 cabins with Dreams Unlimited. I checked 7 different TA's and Disney directly. We got the best price by far from DU. The nice thing is our reservations are linked but each of us has our own Reservation # etc. and can each pay for our cruise as we want and will all book other things individually. We were able to all pick our own cabins and we will all be seated together for dinner.

We have 6 cat 11 cabins in late April 2006 and the cost for all of them was under $15,000.

Sue Ellen at DU is very helpful.

 

[StuartMI]

You should talk to Dana @ MICDAN.COM - 1-800-385-8233. We've got 4 rooms booked with her for 07/08/06 Eastern Cruise and sofar the DCL price has gone up about $7000 for those four rooms alone!

Lots of people on here will vouch for her, too - not just me.

<- Obligatory dancing banana.

 

[Joan1]

Thank you Joan, I didn't know that but it makes sense in a business point of view. Do you know if the week before Easter would be considered a holiday sailing? Like if you got off the ship Saturday and the next day was Easter? Also, what kind of savings do you get with a group?

Yes the week before and during Easter are considered holiday sailings and group discounts are not available on those either. Disney also has listed most of the summer dates as blackoutdates and did not offer any group discounts for this year or 2006. Also presidents week is not available for group discounts

I have been looking at dates that group discounts are available and so far that is what I have come up with

As to what kind of savings will depend on when it's booked. What I was told is that a if a date was held, say in September 2004 for a sailing in 2006. The rate is locked in on the price it was at that time so it doesn't increase as the ship fills up. In addition there is an additional per room discount of anywhere from $25 to $100 depending on the sailing date, number of nights, etc. You also get an in room gift or a cocktail party

We booked 6 cabins with Dreams Unlimited. I checked 7 different TA's and Disney directly. We got the best price by far from DU. The nice thing is our reservations are linked but each of us has our own Reservation # etc. and can each pay for our cruise as we want and will all book other things individually. We were able to all pick our own cabins and we will all be seated together for dinner. We booked for late April 2006

This is great when you can get it but when group discounts are not available, such as holiday sailings, all agencies will have the same price and it comes down to service.