What's the low-down on TCD? and other stuff....

[PoppyAnna]

I'd like to get a cheapy trip booked next year.
I would like to get it in around the two grand mark staying on property whatever is the cheapest, I'm guessing Pop or All-stars. We would like to ditch the car and do the Disney parks at a slow pace covering more with lots of water parks days (the kids love TL) and hotel pool time.

We just came back and paid a premium with VH, I'm not saying I wouldn't go with them again but we blew the budget. We've decided we'd like to go back often and from next year will be rescricted as eldest starts school so prices will rise and we have much less choice of when we can go.

So off I go to investigate other carriers and these chaps seem cheap, you don't seem to be able to ditch the car though. Do disney transfer you from the airport if you're staying on property regardless who you booked through? If so, what do I have to do?

And if not TCD, who else for a gal on a budget?

On another note - was does everybody do about school holidays? I see members here with multiple trips booked, and some for 21 nights plus.....do you take your kids out of school? My parents loved their club med in the 80's and used to take me out of the last week of school every summer as it worked out a fourtune cheaper - my mums argument was that it was all prize giving and sports days!!! I rambling now, but I am interested as I have all this to come.....

 

[castanea1985]

Hi PoppyAnna,
Having had nearly 15 years of my DD / DS being at school (shes now 20, and just booked to go to Florida with her BF, DS is 15), we know the problems of having to go in school holidays. My DH is a University Lecturer, so even when the kids are completely out of education... we're still limited!
We have only taken the kids out of school for a week at max, and like you have said, it is always the week just before the summer break.
My DD and her BF have just paid just over £500 (pp) for a holiday in September, and the same one when we are going in July would have cost £870 (pp). They really wanted to come with us, but simply couldn't afford it.
Not fair at all!
Tracy

 

[paulh]

have always found that there are people who think if your going to florida it has to be VIRGIN.To be fair to us all we nead is a flight the first day is all traveling due to the 9 hour flight.you dont have to get a car if traveling into mco
if using a charter flight into sanford use a town car or limo hire, we use quick silver tours get a 30 min grocery stop included.If you try a sheduled flight into MCO try a 1 stop works out cheaper than direct,as i said earler first day is all traveling.Plus you will get magical express if staying onsite.This can be booked cheaper if direct with disney.com or a usa TA like dreams.To cut room rates look for codes ect or wish for the free dinning to come again for next year
To me the flight is a taxi and the cheaper i can get it the more i can spend when i get there or go 2-3 times in a year.
Paulh

 

[fuse04]

Hi, we just got back from WDW and did not have a car but we did use virgin economy with transfers. If you stay at WDW resort you can book Magicial Express for free (I think). However we did moderate last year and deluxe this year and it will be difficult to go back now...also did a DVC tour which is not helping!!

Re school...always a sensitive subject. We just took out DD (9 yrs) out of school for two weeks and we did so last year. Education is not just about being in the classroom, Hannah is a average student but has learnt about other cultures, transportation, currency and last year swam with dolphins. The headteacher is of the same mind...luckily! Hannah has learnt an element of independance and confidence as well.

Also the weather would be far too hot for us in the summer and of course there is the finances.

Good luck
Rob

 

[Alibaba]

Hiya
We have booked our last 2 trips with tcd, and found them absolutly spot on, also a work colleague has booked with them and is going in three weeks, and has booked transfers with them from Sanford to Animal Kingdom Lodge, so this is available for you, i think you need to phone the customer services rather than book online for that though, Also with regards to taking your children out of school, when i was younger i always had a week off before may half term as there were 4 children mum and dad couldn't afford school holiday prices, and also weather was too hot in spain them for kids, this never did us any harm, our education never suffered.
Ali

 

[Joanne UK]

We went with TCD in Feb and found them excellent. We booked over the phone and didn't have a car. We were taken to POP from Sanford on a coach.

Everything went smoothly - no complaints at all, would definately recommend them.

 

[crabbie1]

I'd like to get a cheapy trip booked next year.
I would like to get it in around the two grand mark staying on property whatever is the cheapest, I'm guessing Pop or All-stars. We would like to ditch the car and do the Disney parks at a slow pace covering more with lots of water parks days (the kids love TL) and hotel pool time.

We just came back and paid a premium with VH, I'm not saying I wouldn't go with them again but we blew the budget. We've decided we'd like to go back often and from next year will be rescricted as eldest starts school so prices will rise and we have much less choice of when we can go.

So off I go to investigate other carriers and these chaps seem cheap, you don't seem to be able to ditch the car though. Do disney transfer you from the airport if you're staying on property regardless who you booked through? If so, what do I have to do?

And if not TCD, who else for a gal on a budget?

On another note - was does everybody do about school holidays? I see members here with multiple trips booked, and some for 21 nights plus.....do you take your kids out of school? My parents loved their club med in the 80's and used to take me out of the last week of school every summer as it worked out a fourtune cheaper - my mums argument was that it was all prize giving and sports days!!! I rambling now, but I am interested as I have all this to come.....

Hope you had a fab time .Bet you feel sad now its all over but you have the right idea by looking for next year.My DD started school last september and although she is only 4(nearly 5) she is allowed 2 weeks out of school as long as she has good attendance throughout the year.But,my DH is at university doing his nursing and he only has 3 weeks togeather in July/August.So we have had to go then this year.We normally go November as the weather is still in the late 70-80's(though chilly at night) and paid around £3000 with the dining plan and tickets staying a week at pop and a week at CBR,So I would of thought you will get a good deal for around the price you want to pay staying at pop.Try looking at Kingdom magic for your disney package and then book flights with whom ever comes up the best.If you have virgin miles join the FFclub and use the miles plus money option and see how much the flights are with that.I know when I looked last year at first choice just out of interest(I think I looked August time) going in the september for the 3 of us it was quoting £980 for 2 weeks at pop(that was without passes and dining though)but a great deal.Good luck.When are you thinking of going?

 

[Leiamichelle]

hi thier sorry needed to say dont fly with TCD very very bad planes and customer service is very very bad, put it this way 2yrs ago we flyed with Tcd and we were left stranded in disney with no hotel room. my dd was 5 at the time she was very upset...
thanks to the nice staff at disney after 2hours they found us a room but at a diff hotel, we were just glad we got a room.... we tryed to get hold off the TCD staff but we could not get hold of them so we give up.... anyway sorry
just thought u needed to know

 

[paulh]

TCD used to trade under the name of liberty travel, they were bad then but seam to have goten a little better
Paulh

 

[tink too]

We went with TCD in Feb and found them excellent. We booked over the phone and didn't have a car. We were taken to POP from Sanford on a coach.

Everything went smoothly - no complaints at all, would definately recommend them.

That's good to know, as the website doesn't offer anything but car hire!

Did you use TCD transfers or Disney's Magical Express to get to Pop Century?

 

[Joanne UK]

We used TCD transfers.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

School holidays are very difficult.
We have been the last 2 years in August, 6 weeks off makes it the obvious choice, especially as my wife is a teacher.
To be honest July/August is not the best time to go for us as Joshua struggles with the heat a bit, however after next year (we go at Easter), we will probably have to switch back to summer as Julie is having problems getting the time off for a 3 week Easter break.

During holiday periods prices are generally more expensive and Florida is generally more busy.
Many people take their children out of school, to be honest it all comes down to personal circumstances.