Where Do You Plan/Purchase Your Trip?

[BigRed7399]

We are planning our second trip to Disney , so I am still new to the Disney Vacation thing. For our last trip, I went online to Disney's main page and booked our trip.

How does everyone else do it? We are staying on Disney property, getting the Dining Plan and obviously need tickets.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[powellrj]

Back in the 80's when we first started going we always used travel agents, but after getting burned by one, I started planning my own trips. I just decide what I want and call Disney directly. We have AAA and they always apply the discount.

Hop around the DIS boards and mousesavers for codes and discounts and its really easy to do it yourself. If you know ahead of time what you want, you can pretty much do it with one phone call!

 

[BigRed7399]

What do you mean get codes and discounts?

 

[powellrj]

here is a link to different discounts on rooms mousesavers is showing now.

http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#roomonlycodes

Here is a link to the DISboards codes and rates page.
http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93

 

[Missin'Disney]

While it may be "easy" enough to find codes and do your own research many people just don't have the time or patience to do so. You can become pretty savvy through many hours of online hunting, but some people aren't prepared to deal with the numerous phone calls to Disney to get everything straightened out. And unless you have free long distance, planning can get pricey

In this case, a Travel Agent who specializes in Disney is the best bet, b/c they don't charge you for their services, Disney actually pays them a commission for selling the trip, so you are getting the expertise & service for free: Something to think about!!

I actually speak from experience b/c I do WDW planning & consulting. If you need a hand, feel free to PM me or drop me a line @ Lisa@wdwtravels.com
I would love the opportunity to help you plan your next trip and you won't feel so overwhelmed by the whole planning process.

Have a magical time whatever you decide to do

 

[Elmo888]

You can add a code when it comes out to your already booked reservation if it applies and one is available. Sometimes, codes will sell out for a certain type of room...if you are flexible, you could change rooms/resorts to get the code...so it helps to stay on top of the codes...I just use the mousesavers.com discount page as my home page while I'm waiting for a code.

I usually call to book so I can ask questions. Also, I am not sure that you can "decline travel insurance" online any more (you could and then you couldn't and then who knows). So, you have to call to get that off of your bill (if you want travel insurance, there are less expensive ways). Also, I like to call because you can give a room request, and I am not sure that you can online.

And here's the toll free number 877-939-3732 (if that isn't valid, try asking for the toll free number on the resorts board).

 

[rt2dz]

I always do it myself. It doesn't take much time to hunt and peck for discounts (Mouse Savers, WDW Info [here], and All Ears keep everything very up to date). A quick glance at one web page and I'm off!

I do it via phone. It generally only takes one phone call. Maybe a second or third to get ADRs if I book before my window or a code comes out after I book. No phone call is very long. Whose cell phone doesn't offer free long distance? Plus, we now have unlimited long distance on our land line. DH also has VoIP for work which also includes free long distance.

I prefer phone so I can ask questions (Is there any discounts on this room during my visit?) since sometimes things like manager specials pop up and those are not advertised anywhere! Also, sometimes you miss the pin code they send out. Disney will not offer discounts, you must ask. Another reason I like the phone is that when you book via phone you get more lenient cancelation procedures than if you book via internet.

I never use a TA since I'm dependent on them to make changes and they have to help other customers too. Not to mention, they have lives of their own--they might be on vacation when something comes up and the TA helping them will most likely help their customers first. Sometimes there are limited rooms and if they don't get to me right away, I might miss something. I also find that cutting out the middle man just saves time and I never have to worry if they did it or got it right, referring to ADRs here. I have nothing against (good) TAs, they're just not for me in regards to booking a Disney vacation!

 

[Lesley Mahler]

We just went for the first time in June and I used a TA...we are going again in July 2009 and I will be booking it myself...calling Disney direct. Like a previous poster said, you have to go through them to do everything and I didn't realize that at the time I booked. Disney can't even pull up your reservation until you actually check-in...that was scary. If you have a question and you call the TA and they don't know, then you have to wait and they have to call Disney and call you back...too much middle man for me!! Plus, they don't always know the right answer and they don't always call to find out the right answer, we got stuck with the wrong tickets b/c of this...and I had no way of know my TA was sterring me in the wrong direction. Sorry for rambling...but I will be calling Disney direct as soon as the rates come out to book our 10th anniversary trip for July 2009!!!