Disney experts...

We're planning our 1st family trip to Disney for this April.

I bought the book ("Unofficial Guide"...), got the free DVD, customized maps, have the "important" websites bookmarked and I don't know where to begin.

It's all so overwhelming!

So here's my question: Should I just use a travel agent (who's a Disney specialist) or is it cheaper/better to book this on my own?

TIA

Re: Disney experts...

Honestly, I 've never used a travel agent for Disney. DH and I always book on our own....
I've never found a problem with booking on our own - check the website often for package-deals. Disney encourages u to book the room with tickets (hopper passes are a MUST!) for the best deals.

As far as details - what do u find the most confusing? The Unofficial Guide Book is very helpful for honest advice. I highly suggest making all your dinner reservations in advance - you'd be surprised how long u have to wait without reservations! Look into the Dining Plan if you plan on traveling with children - that may be a better $$ saver.

DH and i are now DVC members and frequent WDW often, so feel free to FM me with any questions! I'd love to help if I can! Good luck!

Re: Disney experts...

I've used themagicforless.com. It wasn't any cheaper, but she did set everything up for me. Seriously just use the unoffical guide. put everything else down. It's not that difficult.

IN order decide:
When you want to go
What hotel you want to stay at
What kind of tickets you want (I reccomend park hopper for all days, although you can sometimes minus one day and look at hotels or downtown disney on your arrival or departure day..I also recommend that one person in your group gets an annual pass to get a discount on your room)
What events are going on that you want to see. Schedule them,
What restaraunts you want to eat at. Call 1 407 WDW DINE to book.

The most difficult thing for me is always juggling the nighttime shows and dinner and making sure I see all of the nighttime shows and fireworks

Re: Disney experts...

I found it quite overwhelming at first too(I was also trying to put everything together in less than 2 months so maybe that was why). I did some research myself and ended up using small world vacations(I can recommend an awesome agent from there if you go that route.) I booked my own airfare. The Unofficial guide is helpful- I liked it for reviews on restaurants and the attractions not to be missed.

ETA: My package w/the disney agent and me booking airfare came up almost $500 less than when I got a quote from my local travel agent.

Message edited 12/28/2007 4:38:37 PM.

Re: Disney experts...

Thank you all! I'm going to request a quote from AAA and start there.

We definitely want a moderate+ resort, the dining option (just the basic one) and park tix.

Do we need park hopper passes with a 2 and 4 year old? I just can't see us doing more than one park a day with the kids.

We're driving down (another post altogether ), so airfare's not a consideration.

I'll start perusing the "book" for more tips and I'm sure I'll have many questions!

Thanks again!

Re: Disney experts...

We are going end of Sept/beginning of Oct and I have booked two disney trips with DH before (this is our DD's first trip). We booked thru AAA and I am watching to see if any codes come out that will be a better deal than what AAA offers. If a better code comes out AAA will switch our arrangements to that deal.

I use these sites to help me plan.

For discount codes ways to save:
Mousesavers

For planning info - i.e. menus etc. they have the menus for every sit down and counter service restaurant at WDW
allearsnet

For questions -
disboards

Message edited 12/29/2007 11:54:20 AM.

Re: Disney experts...

I booked once through Magical Journeys - they were great because they kept an eye out for better deals. We made a couple of changes and there were no problems.

Children under three are admitted free. You probably don't need park hoppers as long as you coordinate your park days and park dining.

My favorite moderate is Port Orleans Riverside - the have 2 dining options, great pool area, a fun lounge where they have a sing along piano player perform (he's FUN FOR ALL AGES!) and they have a boat to Downtown Disney.

They have a photopass feature where you can pictures taken at various locations in the parks that are linked to a card the photographer will give you. When you get home you can order prints or a cd of all the pics they took of your family. If you order the cd in advance, you get 20% off. The prints are expensive and add up quickly so the cd is worth it. If you decide not to order the cd you have 30 days to get your money back.

I also find a lot of information at www.intercot.com it's like LIF except it's almost all disney.

Message edited 12/29/2007 3:25:36 PM.

Re: Disney experts...

My family of 6 adults just traveled to Disney this past July. We purchased the resort, parkhopper pass and dining option through AAA. They had the best prices. We flew down on JetBlue and rented a minivan on Priceline.

I also thought it was a bit overwhelming, but this is what we did to make it easier:

1. Pick what parks you want to go to on what days. We stayed at a wdw resort, so planned our parks around magic hours. we picked which rides were important to us at each park and made sure to get fast passes for those rides first. we also chose restaurants either at the park we visited that day or at a nearby resort and made reservations in advance. I also thought it was hard coordinating dinner with the shows since we typically eat late, but it all worked out.

2. Get the dining option! it was well worth it!

3. It sounds like you will have a car. I found it much easier to have our own car than to rely on disney transportation. Get to the parks when they open!

Have fun!!!

Re: Disney experts...

Earlier this year we planned an impromptu but very large family trip to Disney because of a family member that was losing his battle to cancer. We booked only a couple of days before we left and did it directly through Disney, only to realize after that AAA offered a much better deal. We were able to transfer our package to AAA and get the deal. Point of the story: definitely check with AAA.

Oh, and get the meal plan—that was a home run!

Re: Disney experts...

Thank you all so much for your advice! This is great information!

We're definitely going to check out AAA (this weekend!). They have a promotion going on now. In case anyone else is interested:



LATEST OFFER:

January is Disney Month at AAA Travel
The best time to make dreams come true.

Book a Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining, Magic Your Way Package Plus Deluxe Dining, Magic Your Way Premium, or a Magic Your Way Platinum package through AAA Vacations® for travel 3/1/08 – 5/31/08, and stay in a Disney Value Resort, Disney Moderate Resort or Disney Deluxe Resort and receive a certificate valid for a $25 Disney Gift Card!

Or stay in a Disney Deluxe Villa Resort and receive a certificate valid for a $50 Disney Gift Card.

Plus, these exclusive AAA Vacations® benefits – the AAA Vacations® Diamond Card, Disney’s Story Time experience, and convenient AAA Diamond Parking – are also available with these packages. But hurry, this offer is only available during Disney Month and you must book 1/1/08-1/31/08!

To book your next magical Disney vacation, visit your local Disney Day:

Saturday, January 5, 10am – 3pm Nassau: 229 Seventh Street, Garden City

Thursday, January 10, 9am – 5pm Brooklyn: 2334 Ralph Avenue, Mill Basin

Friday, January 11, 9am – 5pm Queens: 186-06 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica

Saturday, January 12, 10am – 3pm Suffolk: 729 Smithtown By-Pass, Smithtown

Re: Disney experts...

Posted by My2Boys

Thank you all! I'm going to request a quote from AAA and start there.

We definitely want a moderate+ resort, the dining option (just the basic one) and park tix.

Do we need park hopper passes with a 2 and 4 year old? I just can't see us doing more than one park a day with the kids.

We're driving down (another post altogether ), so airfare's not a consideration.

I'll start perusing the "book" for more tips and I'm sure I'll have many questions!

Thanks again!

Message edited 12/31/2007 2:04:09 AM.

Re: Disney experts...

We booked our last 2 trips to Disney through AAA - they definitely had the best prices at the time.