Which Travel Agent to use???

[Summer-Caitlin]

I am hoping to go back to Disney Aug/Sept/Oct 2010, I am pretty flexible for when we should go, so whichever works out cheaper!

Anyway I have spent ages looking around onine for quotes and I thought I got a good deal on Disney UK, especially with the extras, however have recently been scared off this option due to a recent post about flight prices. I didn't expect to have to pay over £500 each for flights! So I have seen on TCD they have a pretty good deal, including free dining, but they don't seem to need me to book theme park tickets, I thought I couldn't have DDP unless I did?

I looked on the Virgin website and they are much more expensive than TCD, so am a bit confused about this.

My head is spinning with travel agent quotes and I am today calling back Thomson for their quote too.

So can anyone recommend a TA and the cheapest month/weeks to go in August/September/October, is there a huge difference? I can't understand why I have so many different prices and with all these TA's merging I don't know what airline flies for what company either!!!

We are hoping for 2 weeks at POFQ with DDP (upgrade from QS), transfers (no car) Wouldn't mind going during Food and Wine Festival but not essential

Any help would be great

 

[wideeyes]

If it was me I would book a room, ticket and DDP package with Disney UK and then look at booking flights separately, if you go in September you should get good prices on flights, VA don't release their flights till 11 months in advance and whenever I have booked with VH before VA flights are out I am paying much more so now I will wait till VA flights come out, I think you should easily get flights for less than £500 per person for September if you book direct, I've seen them for about £350 for September.

 

[Chilly]

That is interesting that you can get free DDP with TCD without buying park tickets, might check that out.

 

[Lizzybear]

If it was me I would book a room, ticket and DDP package with Disney UK and then look at booking flights separately, if you go in September you should get good prices on flights, VA don't release their flights till 11 months in advance and whenever I have booked with VH before VA flights are out I am paying much more so now I will wait till VA flights come out, I think you should easily get flights for less than £500 per person for September if you book direct, I've seen them for about £350 for September.

I agree with this. We're doing Orlando in October as part of a longer US trip this year and we booked our Disney package with Disney UK then flights with Continental: Into New York out of Orlando was £330pp but it was the same price to go to and from Orlando.

 

[Dave_uk]

If it was me I would book a room, ticket and DDP package with Disney UK and then look at booking flights separately, if you go in September you should get good prices on flights, VA don't release their flights till 11 months in advance and whenever I have booked with VH before VA flights are out I am paying much more so now I will wait till VA flights come out, I think you should easily get flights for less than £500 per person for September if you book direct, I've seen them for about £350 for September.

Can I ask where you found those flights? Do you know if they are booking for sep 2010?

Thank you !!!

 

[starrysky]

Try www.netflights.com they are pretty good and I would say booking seperate flights/ accom etc you will on average save money.

We saved alot of money for our trip this year aug/sep and flying from scotland as well Disney only offer flights from Glasgow at certain times of the year

 

[Elise79]

We saved alot of money for our trip this year aug/sep and flying from scotland as well Disney only offer flights from Glasgow at certain times of the year

Thats because they use Virgin flights and they only go from Glasgow at peak times.

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Thomsons got back to me and they quoted £2700 which is quite a bit more than I expected. I think booking with Disney UK might be the way to go. I am just worried that the flights might be really expensive, but I could always use this year as a guide.

Thomsons tried to warn me off TCD saying that he wouldn't trust them if they are so much cheaperI probably would have gone with TCD if I could get the hire car taken off, I think it would cost us about £2-300 extra for something we wouldn't use.

I do like the idea of booking direct with Disney though, there are a few perks, I think the Sea Raycers swing it, absolutely love them!

 

[wicket2005]

TCD are part of Virgin's company now and use their planes and times you would use with Virgin Holidays. I have booked with TCD for next year as they were the cheapest.

I would use whichever is the cheapest for the holiday you want and compare it to DIY.

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Just had a quick look at flights for this September and they are coming up really expensive for a direct flight from any London airport (live in Scotland) checked Expedia too and those flights are scarily expensive I am not particularly fond of indirect flights as I am not the best flyer anyway, once I am down I would rather it stay that way! Am I looking too early for this September to get a decent price?

 

[jackieleanne]

Virgin usually has a sale October/November time for flights for August/September I know a few people and have seen some myself for these times at around £350. As others have said TCD are part of Virgin so I wouldn't be worried about booking with them. Although I would still think that you have to get tickets for ddp as you do with Disney themselves so would be concerned about getting there and being told it hadn't happened. September 2010 flights usually released about 11 months before so October 2009.

In terms of flights for this year you would be looking to late rather than to early as because it is now so close you may get a few good offers but as a lot of flights are booked up etc there is demand. If going direct best to look out for VA/BA etc sales.

 

[tracipierce]

Thomsons tried to warn me off TCD saying that he wouldn't trust them if they are so much cheaperI probably would have gone with TCD if I could get the hire car taken off, I think it would cost us about £2-300 extra for something we wouldn't use.

I think you can get the hire car taken off with TCD if you call them. I've booked twice with them and have been told that the hire car could be taken off. That was before they were owned by Virgin though so not 100% sure its still the same. Give them a call and see what they say

 

[Lizzybear]

Can I ask where you found those flights? Do you know if they are booking for sep 2010?

Thank you !!!

I'm not Claire but I think she means for this year as that's when her next trip is, September 2010 haven't been released by VA yet (VH flydrives might be, not sure, they're likely to be much more though) You're probably best leaving it until nearer the time, at the earliest this October when VA release the flights for next September

 

[starrysky]

Just had a quick look at flights for this September and they are coming up really expensive for a direct flight from any London airport (live in Scotland) checked Expedia too and those flights are scarily expensive I am not particularly fond of indirect flights as I am not the best flyer anyway, once I am down I would rather it stay that way! Am I looking too early for this September to get a decent price?

I know what you mean flights direct from soctland are a nightmare. We flew with Flyglobespan from Glasgow to Sanford so it cost for transfers. Not a bad flight though plus it was direct. This year we are staying in Disney so have booked with BA yes expensive but we only do one flight to london heathrow and then transfer to gatwick so that we can use magical express.

 

[starrysky]

Thats because they use Virgin flights and they only go from Glasgow at peak times.

That makes sense now same reason we could not book through VH for the dates we wanted.

 

[Howellsy]

Just had a quick look at flights for this September and they are coming up really expensive for a direct flight from any London airport (live in Scotland) checked Expedia too and those flights are scarily expensive I am not particularly fond of indirect flights as I am not the best flyer anyway, once I am down I would rather it stay that way! Am I looking too early for this September to get a decent price?

You are unlikely to find cheap flights if you're looking at this September; I got mine for £350 return from Gatwick to Orlando International (direct) from September 2nd-16th.

Generally in September/October time you'll probably get flights for £300 return at the cheapest, though the price will decrease if you fly indirect, and depending on which day you are flying - I find that Sundays and Wednesdays are normally cheaper

For my September trip, I booked the hotel and tickets direct with Disney UK and the flights with Continental, although it's a codeshare with VA, and got the best price doing that. However, if you see a cheaper deal in a travel agent, then go for that

Hope you hav a good trip whatever you decide!!