When should I book?

[bcball]

We are going to Disney in May 0f 2010. When should we book rooms?
Will there be any specials after Christmas or should I go ahead and book now?

 

[tone.def]

Go ahead and book now. Your Disney Travel Specialist TA will be able to apply any discount released if applicable to you.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Mousesavers.com

All the specials will be on there.

Phone and book any time. I would not book with a TA just go directly with Disney.

If you have CAA you can always get that discount.

If you do book with a TA ask if a code can be applied if it comes out. Some cannot. I booked with Marlin Travel who uses Air Transat. I had to wait until the January offer came out to book as they will not apply new codes to current bookings. As well the dining plan has to be paid in full on booking rather than 45 days prior to departure. Not very impressed at all.

Next time I will go back to booking myself like usual. Only reason I used a TA this time was to redeem my Airmiles for Marlin travel vouchers.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

We are going to Disney in May 0f 2010. When should we book rooms?
Will there be any specials after Christmas or should I go ahead and book now?

We've booked through Mousesavers before with great success. They will apply any discounts that are annonced even after you book your trip. I can imagine it would be necessary to book this early, but just in case some very special deal is announced, I guess it's better safe than sorry

 

[connorsmom911]

If you're doing it on your own, book now and then watch for codes to come out. I'm already booked for my next trip Apr 29, 2010. Have been for over a month now, but I was lucky enough to get an e-mail pin code for 35% off CBR, which was where I was planning to stay!

 

[fivebyfive]

If you do book with a TA ask if a code can be applied if it comes out. Some cannot.

Actually, it's only TA's who don't book through Walt Disney Travel Company directly who cannot apply a discount code if one comes out.

Chances are any 'regular' TA (i.e. Marlin Travel, Sears, Carlson Wagonlit etc) will book through a Canadian Tour Operator such as Air Transat, Nolitours, Air Canada Vacations etc. However, a Disney Vacation Specialist knows to book through Walt Disney Travel Company directly, as that way you can apply any discounts.

Side note - it's the Canadian tour operator who doesn't allow you to change the price, not Disney. Disney will allow the tour operator to change the pricing AFTER discounts come out, it's the tour operators choice not too, as they don't want to give back money after they have it.

I suggest booking with a Disney Vacation Specialist. And to book now, as you can begin making dining reservations as of now for May!

 

[gilsan]

You should check out the WDW site. Make an account, and price out your trip, then save your trip. I did this a couple of days ago and today I received an email with a pin.

Save 20%* at Disney Value Resorts,
30%* at Disney Moderate Resorts
or 40%* at Disney Deluxe Resorts

For stays most nights 1/3–1/6/10,
1/10–1/14/10, 1/18–2/11/10,
2/15–3/27/10, 4/11–7/1/10, 7/5–10/7/10, 10/11–11/23/10 and 11/28–12/16/10.

A number of people in the resort forum are reporting receiving a code after saving their search. I had already received a PIN earlier this year for the spring, but is nice to have this one for a possible fall trip

There does not seem to be any expiry date or does it appear to be limited to the USA.

 

[tone.def]

Mousesavers.com

Phone and book any time. I would not book with a TA just go directly with Disney.

If you have CAA you can always get that discount.

If you do book with a TA ask if a code can be applied if it comes out. Some cannot. I booked with Marlin Travel who uses Air Transat.
<snip>

Next time I will go back to booking myself like usual. Only reason I used a TA this time was to redeem my Airmiles for Marlin travel vouchers.

Why pay long distance on the phone?

And why book with a TA who's not a Disney Specialist? You had a bad experience with someone who doesn't even know Disney and didn't even book with Disney. Give a real Disney Specialist TA a chance, you won't regret it!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Actually, it's only TA's who don't book through Walt Disney Travel Company directly who cannot apply a discount code if one comes out.

Chances are any 'regular' TA (i.e. Marlin Travel, Sears, Carlson Wagonlit etc) will book through a Canadian Tour Operator such as Air Transat, Nolitours, Air Canada Vacations etc. However, a Disney Vacation Specialist knows to book through Walt Disney Travel Company directly, as that way you can apply any discounts.

Side note - it's the Canadian tour operator who doesn't allow you to change the price, not Disney. Disney will allow the tour operator to change the pricing AFTER discounts come out, it's the tour operators choice not too, as they don't want to give back money after they have it.

I suggest booking with a Disney Vacation Specialist. And to book now, as you can begin making dining reservations as of now for May!

Thank you for clarifying that for me! It's been a baffling how it all works as it's the first time booking with a TA.

The difference with us is we redeemed Airmiles for Marlin Travel vouchers. Therefore she could not book directly with WDW unless we wanted to pay it full and wait for Marlin to give us a cheque back at a later date.

However we booked 7 nights at a mod with the dining plan and 7 day base tickets. Total cost would be around $2700. With our Airmiles redeemed for Marlin travel vouchers it's costing us $1200 total. The trade off was less flexibility.