Who do you book with?

[xxxxvickyxxxx]

Hi everyone been pricing up this years Orlando holiday for May and getting lots of different quotes. We like to book packages that way we can pay them off as theres always something else that needs sorting somewhere . Does anyone have somewhere they recommend for booking packages? there are 4 of us (family but all over 18) two hotel rooms and flights from Manchester with a car for 10 nights. Last 2 times we've booked with Virgin but there prices have gone alot higher than previous. Any help would be great!

 

[orangetiggs]

we always used to book with virgin holidays but have now found its much cheaper to diy. we have booked our hotel with free dining with disney uk and will book flights seperately.

Last year we saved around £800 for the two of us on our trip compared to a package. this year we have a two bed villa with free dining at saratoga springs for around £2000 cheaper than what virgin are quoting

 

[wicket2005]

I usually price diy up first but then book a package up as it works out cheaper for us for the hotel we require. Last year booked up for this year with Travel City Direct which was substantially cheaper than Virgin but staying in a better hotel.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

We booked our May holiday last June. I went to about three different travel agents looking for a cheap package(having been lots of times before, iknew roughly how much to pay) but they were all much more expesive than previous years, the company we went with last time had now become the most expensive.
After lots of trawling through the internet, and hours of disscusion wigh DH we finally got (what i think) a GREAT deal. We first booked our flight online with Virgin the morning the flights became avaliable,as soon as i had done that i phoned up Disney and booked the rooms and DDP through them. The whole thing was stress free and very straight forward.It worked ot nearly 20% cheaper than what i was being quoted by the agents!

Another advantage of doing it this way was a few weeks ago i was looking at Disney hotels through Disney for a friend and a noticed that The Beach Club (where we are staying) like for like was £500 cheaper!!!! So i phoned them straight up and they cancelled my original booking,re-booked it at the new price,and got a refund
At the moment Virgin have got a sale on,so it might be worth checking them out! Gook Luck

 

[wayneg]

I have more or less given up looking at packages now, I still check Virgin but they are way OTT. For August 3 weeks at OKW they want £6,000 for 3 of us before adding tickets and car hire.
To book 3 weeks at OKW with Disney.co.uk it costs £2,100, no way does it cost £3,900 for 3 economy flights.

Also doing DIY it alows you to book any misprices you see. For last August we got Biz class flights for £475pp instead of the £1,700 they were after the correction. For this August I have 3 nights booked at Royal Pacific with a misprice.
You might have more chance in May but August packages are not really an option for us.

 

[disney_princess_85]

We've booked Virgin flights and we're going to book 15 nights at SSR (+ free DDP) with Disney UK. If we'd booked a flight-inclusive package with Disney UK, it would have cost us £660 extra- EACH!

The main advantage of booking a package is that you can pay it off gradually. When booking flights, most airlines require the payment upfront.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Most of our holidays have been traditional fly drives with Virgin, booking accomodation seperate, often not taking the 'free' car and booking our own seperate.
Generally over the years haven't really paid over the odds as we have tried to go when prices are slightly lower, ie choosing the lowest price band at Easter or summer - which are the only times we can go.

Problem now is mainly for our son's comfort and health, Premium Economy is realistically our only option. This naturally bumps the price right up.
For next August's holiday we were going to book flghts with Virgin Atlantic but were dissapointed with the Miles & Money prices. So instead booked flights with Major travel, mainly because we had other financial committments and we didn't want to pay for the whole holiday there and then - especially as we have cancelled 2 out of the last 3.

So PE flights booked for late August when the prices drop slightly, no problem taking Joshua out of school for a few days, villa is booked for part of the holiday independantly, just need to sort out car hire when hopefully prices fall later on, and first 3 nights hopefully on site at Bay Lake Towers renting points when the 7 month window is available.

 

[xxxxvickyxxxx]

thanks everyone Iv had a good look around and priced it up separately but its no cheaper than other prices Iv had. The best so far is actually with First Choice so Im going to have another look ready to book next week!

 

[wicket2005]

Fantastic look forward to hearing that you are all booked up. Have you checked Travel City Direct - Owned by Virgin so Virgin flights. I think you can ring up for quotes on non 14 day holidays. They were half the price of the same holiday with Virgin when I booked.

 

[fuse04]

we always used to book with virgin holidays but have now found its much cheaper to diy. we have booked our hotel with free dining with disney uk and will book flights seperately.

Last year we saved around £800 for the two of us on our trip compared to a package. this year we have a two bed villa with free dining at saratoga springs for around £2000 cheaper than what virgin are quoting

Same yere did diy for first time with help from folk here and saved £2,000 over virgin. Have DIY again this year and saved over £2,000 again (1 bed villa at OKW, free dining, and flying BA). DIY might seem daunting but it is very simple and enjoyable

 

[wayneg]

Same yere did diy for first time with help from folk here and saved £2,000 over virgin. Have DIY again this year and saved over £2,000 again (1 bed villa at OKW, free dining, and flying BA). DIY might seem daunting but it is very simple and enjoyable

£4k saving in 2 trips Rob, the 1st round of drinks must be on you in August

Our trip last August was 24 nights, incl 7 nights Disney cruise, Biz class flights, OKW, Dining Plan, Full size car with insurance, 3x 21 day Disney tix. paid under £6k(£2k pp) I reckon a TA would have charged me around £12k for similar package
Doing DIY is not just pricing separate then getting quote from TA for a package, you have to buy all the separate parts at the right time, when they are at their lowest, then the DIY is a lot cheaper than a package. For this August I started looking Sept last year, still not got everything booked, it takes time and patience, if you don't have that then a package could be the best option. I am expecting to pay around £4,500-£5k, Virgin want over £7,500 incl tix & car.

 

[disneycat_f2008]

We usually book a package (not been brave enough to do a diy yet) i usually spend about 2 wks searching around everywhere to book but this time of year is good to book as they usually all have sales on.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Just looked back at our Virgin flights i booked for May the morning they were released (11 months). We paid £1,900, 2 adults,2 children, econ, all taxes and charges included. They are now £3,800

 

[disneycat_f2008]

I've actually found however much I would love to travel with virgin again we may be traveling with someone else, as I have been looking at package deals this morning & have that Thomson & First Choice have come out over £300 cheaper than virgin which is alot of money.

 

[Goofysmate]

Always booked with Virgin & never had any problems . So for us it's better the devil you know then the one you don't.

 

[Sarah84]

My first trip back in 2005 was booked through Virgin holidays but when I finally book to go back it will be DIY as it works out quite abit cheaper

 

[higgy66]

Last year I looked at DIY but couldn't bring it in cheaper than a package with Virgin. I have 2 young girls so the child prices make packages worth it sometimes. However, if we were all adults I would definately do DIY.