Who would you book with?

[jenseib]

AAA or Disney?
Both are the same price with the discount code. I don't need any parking passes that AAA offers. So which would you go with? My AAA is not getting back with me promptly, and I could switch. I just don't know if it will benefit me to do it with her in the long run or do it with Disney?

also can some one refresh me on the cancelation policies. I am booking the trip now to insure we have a room, but we may have to cancel if in the long run if it doesn't work out . (my DH is a farmer and sometimes doesn't know till last minute)

 

[crzy4my2]

I can't give you advice on which is better. This is our 1st trip. we booked with a travel agent and she said that if there ends up being any other discounts or codes, she would apply them. I can say that I called Disney once to ask some ???'s and once I was going to book with them, they were SOOOO unbelievably RUDE. I said forget it and went with the travel agent.

 

[stitchlover]

The big reason I decided to book directly with Disney is control. If you book through a travel agent Disney will not talk to you about your reservation. They won't even confirm to you that you HAVE a reservation. I like the comfort of knowing I can call and take care of any situation. We had two changes last week (changing to a Bunk Bed Room and adding airfare) and they were both at times the TA would not have been open. One was 9:45 at night when DD announced she wanted to go with the bunk bed option and the other was Sunday morning when airfare suddenly dropped $70 a person. I wouldn't have been able to get an immediate response on either of those requests if i had gone with a TA.

So for me it's all about CONTROL!

 

[wrighter]

Ditto, stitchlover. Why use a middleman when you can go straight to the source?

 

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

Definately Disney, although we have used Dreams for the first time with this booking nd have gotten AMAZING service!
We used AAA for our Hawaii cruise booking and it has been nothing shor of a nightmare, and the trip has not even begun!

 

[jenseib]

Well I know AAA can't get me a better rate at this point.
What exactly is Disney's cancelation policy? I don't remember what AAA's was last time, but I know there insurance was cheaper for us. But not by much.

 

[jenseib]

The big reason I decided to book directly with Disney is control. If you book through a travel agent Disney will not talk to you about your reservation. They won't even confirm to you that you HAVE a reservation. I like the comfort of knowing I can call and take care of any situation. We had two changes last week (changing to a Bunk Bed Room and adding airfare) and they were both at times the TA would not have been open. One was 9:45 at night when DD announced she wanted to go with the bunk bed option and the other was Sunday morning when airfare suddenly dropped $70 a person. I wouldn't have been able to get an immediate response on either of those requests if i had gone with a TA.

So for me it's all about CONTROL!

what airline did you go with?

 

[SGMCO]

Last year was our 1st WDW Trip that I planned myself and I went
directly thru Walt Disney Travel Company. I was very easy.
I have already planned this years trip thru them also and
love the fact that I am incharge of my own decisions without
anyone trying to change my ideas.
Our last trip turned out perfect and I know this one will also.
I know every detail of the upcoming trip because I did it myself.
I would highly recommend it.

 

[crzy4my2]

OK..stupid question. we booked with a agent through Magical Journeys. Is Magical Journey's Disney run or is it not affiliated with them?

 

[jenseib]

I think I did have alot of control last trip with AAA though. I told her exactly what I wanted, she told me the price and booked it. Then i did all my ADR's and everything myself pretty much. But I got a much cheaper price goin through her. This time I won't though.

 

[tooh8ful]

We haven't even left yet and I'm already starting to plot my next trip . I remember hearing once that an advantage to booking with a TA is that you can make payments. Can you NOT do that with Disney? I booked with a TA this time and wasn't crazy about it. I would have much rather booked directly w/Disney but I really REALLY liked being able to make payments until it was completely paid for.

Could I still do that w/DIsney?

 

[stitchlover]

Airline? American Airlines

Payments...Yes, you can make payments with Disney. They require a $200 deposit within 14 days of making your package reservation. Room only you are required to make the equivalent of one nights stay within 14 days. Package you can pay on until 45 days before arrival. Room only you can pay off when you check in.

 

[Creekermom]

We used a Disney TA from Small World Vacations and they are listed on Mousesavers.com

Our TA is Annette Fayonosky and she has been a GEM!
Small World Vacations came highly recommended from another family who used them 4 yrs ago. They are great with communication and they are Disney affiliated as I too had to have $200 down and had 45 days to pay for my trip.
I made all of my ADR and picked what and when I wanted to do it.

Put it this way, the day I had to pay my trip off my TA was on Vacation and she brought her PDA or something and took my CC info over the phone.
That is service, I also had her cell phone for when she was on vacation... can't get much better than that.
I always get a response with in a day if not sooner. If I ask her to call me she will. EASY AS THAT.


Check it out, PM me if you have any questions.
Small World is who we will go with next time and hopefully that will be next year!

 

[jenseib]

Airline? American Airlines

Payments...Yes, you can make payments with Disney. They require a $200 deposit within 14 days of making your package reservation. Room only you are required to make the equivalent of one nights stay within 14 days. Package you can pay on until 45 days before arrival. Room only you can pay off when you check in.

I have heard that 14 day thing before as well, but it isn't true. I asked and they will only hold the package for 24 hours and then you are required to make the 200 dollar deposit in order to keep that package. I have asked a couple of times and never once has a CM said you could go for 14 days before making the deposit. (I think with AAA you can though)

 

[GofFreak]

I reccomend going to the source. Disney all the way

 

[PhantomCrux]

I booked out first trip through AAA and had no problems. Booked all our ADR myself and had no problems.

Our upcoming trip in December I booked with Dreams Unlimited and have loved it. Just let our TA know what we want to do and when and he has taken care of everything. Even sends out emails with a count down update and pictures, and just sees if we have any questions.

I can understand going straight to the source, but I kind of like having someone take care of stuff for me, and look for the extra discounts if they pop up.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

We used a Disney TA from Small World Vacations and they are listed on Mousesavers.com

Our TA is Annette Fayonosky and she has been a GEM!
Small World Vacations came highly recommended from another family who used them 4 yrs ago. They are great with communication and they are Disney affiliated as I too had to have $200 down and had 45 days to pay for my trip.
I made all of my ADR and picked what and when I wanted to do it.

Put it this way, the day I had to pay my trip off my TA was on Vacation and she brought her PDA or something and took my CC info over the phone.
That is service, I also had her cell phone for when she was on vacation... can't get much better than that.
I always get a response with in a day if not sooner. If I ask her to call me she will. EASY AS THAT.


Check it out, PM me if you have any questions.
Small World is who we will go with next time and hopefully that will be next year!

We used Small world Vacations for our last trip too and will use them for our next trip. Our TA was awesome - got back to me with 1-2 hours with all my questions.

 

[crissichef]

I would book with Disney direct...you can get whatever info you need here on the DIS boards........we are like a BIG group of travel agents that have been there millions of times in all, maybe even billions !!

 

[ScrappinGran]

I booked for Sept. 2008 2 weeks ago. I got quotes from Dreams Unlimited, Disney and AAA. Thanks to this site and what I learned from last years trip, I knew exactly what I wanted. I saved $911.00 booking with AAA, plus the local AAA office is less than a 10 minute drive away, The TA was very informed. I know that's not the same as having her cell phone #, but I am comfortable with her and the AAA price beat the other 2 quotes.

 

[siskaren]

I have heard that 14 day thing before as well, but it isn't true.

According to the WDTC Terms and Conditions: "A deposit of $200 per reservation will be due and must be received by Walt Disney Travel Co. Inc. ("Disney") within 14 days of booking the reservation or the reservation will automatically be cancelled."

Since this is coming straight from WDTC, I don't know why CMs would be saying it has to be made within 24 hours. :