My family is planning a summer vacation to Dinsey World next summer what is the best way to do it, book it ourselves or go with a travel agent?
2007-09-04 07:30:10 · 16 answers · asked by Moni 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Orlando
No need for a travel agent. It's a waste of money. Here is what you do!
1. Go to your local book store and pick up Birnbaum's Official Guide to Disney World 2007. Thumb through it and check out the resort section of it. Plus, this book gives you everything you need to know about the park!
2. When you find which hotel you like, go to www.disneyworld.com. You can book everything there. From your resort and ticket packages, to your airline tickets (well it will re-direct you) and transportation from the airport (if you are flying).
With disneyworld.com, it allows you to even set up payment methods where as long as you pay your full balance 45 days prior to your trip, you're good. They do not care when you pay or how much as long as you meet the deadline. This can be very convenient.
All in all, with the internet and Birnbaum's...travel agency's really are not needed for this trip. And if you have any questions, I'd love to help you out with anything. It's always nice to get advice when you're unsure.
Hope everything works out great! We love the place and will keep going back!
2007-09-04 09:09:41 · answer #1 · answered by stlcardsedmonds15 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never used a travel agent and don't see any reason to. Look at the Disney website and choose your resort, once you have your dates call Disney and book everything but airfare through them. They are going to be the same price if not lower than a travel agent with exception to AAA who will offer specials once in a while. You can check with AAA for specials and book with them if they have anything that beats Disney, but call Disney and ask about specials. Book your airfare on-line using one of the discount websites like cheaptickets.com
Remember a travel agent needs to make some money off the deal so they will makr up prices. AAA is often given a block of packages at a discount and once those are gone its regular price.
2007-09-04 08:23:14 · answer #2 · answered by steven v 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Book either through Disney Travel Service OR AAA. Been there 7 times will be 8 by next summer!
Get one of the planning videos so that you know what you want to do and see.
2007-09-04 07:39:20 · answer #3 · answered by professorc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would book yourselves, when i booked with a travel agent they didnt even tell me about the Magical Express.
Best bet -to know all your choices- and this is what i do now, is go to www.disneyworld.com and choose all your options and get a quote. Either continue booking online or what i like to do is call Disney and have everything you want all figured out. Make dining reservations asap, use the disney website to see what parks have extra magic hours and plan accordingly.
Have fun!
2007-09-04 09:53:14 · answer #4 · answered by sprinkles 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start now by looking at disney.com and once you've got your plan together, either book the trip online or give Disney a call. You should also keep an eye out for specials that airlines and travel companies will run on trips to Orlando. Right now, Southwest Airlines is running a special for trips to Walt Disney World.
2007-09-04 08:20:46 · answer #5 · answered by Chad 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'd suggest booking it yourself online. This site has some great Disney deals and tickets for places like Universal. Try iBtraveling and you'll find something there, I'm sure of it. I usually do. After you book something using your credit card, just restart your computer to be safe everything is erased upon start up. Have fun! Good luck!
2007-09-04 07:35:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Disney international has 4 parks and a pair of water parks on a similar time as Disneyland purely has 2 subject parks. you may pass the coastline in Florida as one greater day.. Clearwater coastline close to Tampa is a proper coastline and not too a techniques faraway from Disney (one million hour and half-hour to 2 hours--could be an all day adventure). you in addition to mght produce different hotels interior of reach.. you have conventional Orlando motel which has 2 subject parks.. conventional Studios and Islands of adventure. The Downtown Orlando area is likewise a large place to have some exciting, The Disney international subject Parks and the ought to do record: Magic Kingdom is the terrific park, in case you question me. It grants the terrific Disney feeling and it has the terrific rides. AT Magic Kingdom journey Splash Mountain, area Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean journey, and vast Thunder Mountain Railroad. I additionally think of (even although those at the instant are not thrill rides) you're able to journey the Jungle Cruise, and Buzz Lightyear's area Ranger Spin. Watch the main highway electric powered Parade and desires evening superb at evening. do no longer forget approximately to get a dole whip from Aloha Isle close to the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean journey. At Epcot... journey attempt song, Soarin', and venture: area. stroll around all the international and adventure distinctive subculture multi functional place. attempt nutrients and beverages from all international huge too. They even had stay song from international locations final time i replaced into there. Watch IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at evening. At Disney's Hollywood Studios... journey the Tower of Terror (The Twilight Zone) interior the Hollywood Tower lodge. additionally journey Rock n' curler coaster, Toy tale Mania. I pay attention the large movie journey is large too. you should visual show unit Fantasmic! at evening.. what a large instruct. attempt to consume on the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. At Disney's Animal Kingdom... journey Kali River Rapids, day trip Everest, Dinosaur, Kilimanjaro Safaris. Watch the pageant of the Lion King and the A computer virus's existence play. consume on the Rainforest Cafe.. large nutrients and a large place. do no longer pass away Downtown Disney out of your trip.. that's a blast too. in case you like water parks Disney has 2 water parks (Disney's snowfall coastline and Disney's hurricane Lagoon). To get to Magic Kingdom (as quickly as you're parked), I propose using the Monorail.. and then on the previously the boat. Monorail is large exciting. wish this permits.. Have a large trip :D
2016-10-09 22:48:23 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been to Disney so many times that I have honestly lost count. I know the parks just about as well as my own home. And I still use a travel agent, for every trip I take. A few years ago I found a travel agent that specializes in Disney and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me as far as traveling. It makes things so much easier for me to plan, but yet I am still involved.
My agent is an online agency, but not an online discounters(like Expedia and Orbitz) these are two completely different things. First of all, an agent will not cost you more to book with. If you plan to stay onsite, which is what I recommend, you are going to get the same price with Disney as a travel agent. But here are the benefits. First, if you have ever worked with Disney, you know how many mistakes can be made. I worked with them years ago and it can be a nightmare, they haven't really changed since then. They still make just as many mistakes. Now that I use an agent, there are no problems, if there is, she takes care of them. And I can assure you, she has done several things during these past few years that would have never been done had I booked directly with Disney. She is able to get more than I can because of how much she works with Disney.
She also books all my dinings and any recreation or tours I do. When you get one of Disney's meal plans, you may have every meal planned, so it can be a lot of work. Everything is then typed up and ready for me when I leave for my trip. I have a schedule she has written and I just follow it.
She also has all the knowledge that you can find online and in books, but it doesn't come from a 100 sources, it comes from someone that visits Disney often, is in direct contact with Disney and knows just about everything there is to know about Disney. If you get a good agent, they will be honest with you, there is a difference between an agent that is there for their client and one that is there for the money. I like using her because if I have a question, for example about a new package, I send her an e-mail and in a few minutes I have a response, an accurate response, that is priceless. Sure, you could book the trip on your own and then search through guidebooks, online sites, ask friends and other people on the internet, but you will likely get different answers from each source. Then you have to take the time to go through all the different answers, then research which ones are correct, which are not, etc. It is a lot easier just to be able to send off an e-mail and get the correct information at one time.
Can you book on your own, absolutely, do I recommend it, not really. If you plan to do everything seperate, stay off site, etc. you could book yourself, this is the only way you may save some money. But I recommend an agent because they will help you get the most out of your trip. You can be involved as much or as little as you like in the planning.
As far as booking with sites like Expedia and Orbitz, this is something I feel strongly against, for several reasons. First, I have found that these sites actually run higher when booking Disney hotels, not by much, but definitely not making it worth booking through them. And second, there are just so many mistakes with these type sites. You may arrive at your hotel and discover your reservation was never made, generally they won't do anything about it. I've read so many cases where this happened, and even knew some people that experienced this. They may have the wrong dates, room, hotel, etc. You can just run into a lot of problems. Then, when you discover the problem, you try to call and get it taken care of and it can be almost impossible to get a hold of a human and the problem taken care of. It can end up being hours on hold. I just feel these sites are a waste of time and cause a lot of problems and headaches. I know several people that tried using these type sites for different things and different reasons, and several of them (more than it should have been) had problems, some of them having more serious problems where they ended up having to pay for everything again.
As far as which agent is the best, everyone will have their opinions. Some people love AAA, I've not had the best experiences with them. There are many agencies that will book Disney, but not nearly as many that specialize in it. If you don't get an agent that specializes in Disney, you may find you are doing more work than if you booked it on your own (my experience with AAA) Finding an agent is really a personal experience, I have tried some of the popular companies online, one of which my agent is affiliated with, as soon as I booked my first trip with my current agent I knew that she was going to be the best for me. I found her reponses to be more timely, with good information, friendly, etc. The best thing to do is ask around and see who pops up the most.
My agent always runs the same prices as Disney when I book my trips. In the end it probably ends up being less because agents can usually provide tips and info to help you save money in different areas. I think a lot of people are misinformed or think that an agent will cost more, but that really isn't the case. Not only do they not cost more, but you usually will get adivce on how to save money, and tons of information.
Sorry this is so long, but I just want to give you a complete answer. My recommendation is to find an agent that specializes in Disney, you won't regret. A good agent that specializes in Disney is a priceless asset to have for the planning of your vacation!
Hope this helps!
2007-09-04 07:43:57 · answer #8 · answered by tech_fanatic 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
book through expedia but book as early as you can. in expedia you can choose to stay in walt disney world resort or off site like in universal orlando, you can view properties, compare prices, and get the best deaL! have fun!
2007-09-04 09:15:50 · answer #9 · answered by EventNewYork 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your not familiar with the area at all, go through a travel agent, they have great packages available with ideas for things to do that you may not discover yourself. Or consult a travel agent, and then book it yourself.
2007-09-04 07:33:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋