Benefits of booking with Disney directly?

fmingo36

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Researching a Disney cruise for next year and seems booking directly on their website is more expensive than booking through other travel sites.
Just wondering if there is any benefit to booking directly through Disney.
Also if the prices drops-does Disney credit you for the price change if you book through them?

Thanks!
 

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
Be careful when looking at other travel sites. They often show you pricing for the cruise fares BEFORE taxes and port fees are added. Disney's website shows you prices that include taxes and port fees. Disney does not allow other travel companies, groups, or sites undercut their prices by grabbing blocks of rooms early then doling them out. There's not block pricing or anything like that.

When you book direct thru Disney you are booking thru Disney's travel company. Any commission dollars for your booking go to their company. If you book thru a travel agent or other travel site the price will end up the same and those commission dollars Disney keeps if you book direct go to that agency or company. Doesn't cost more. Many travel agents do offer onboard credits ($ to spend on the ship) as a thank you for your booking but they give that to you out of their money. If you will be a first time cruiser not using a return cruiser onboard booking you will almost certainly not get any of these thank you bucks from Disney. They don't do that. I stop short of saying "not gonna happen" in the minuscule off chance that Disney runs a promo. I don't recall anything of the sort but I'm no expert.

I book all my cruises thru a Disney-specific agent/friend. The service is a wonderful asset to have and it doesn't cost anything more than I would pay Disney. Many of the Disney-specific agencies/agents are other Disney fans like me so, in a small way, I feel like I'm paying the Disney love forward and helping a fellow fan get back to their happy place, too.

Prices with Disney's cruises start low(er) and go up as rooms fill. Its supply & demand. As supply goes down the price for the demand will go up. Summers & holidays show this the fastest and most blatantly. If sailings aren't selling well Disney may offer discounts to entice more bookings. I'd venture to say that more often than not these discounts don't release until after the paid in full date and the penalty phase has begun. There are circumstances where penalties are waived and discounts applied but they are not typical. Florida resident discounts are the only ones I know that do this. Disney does not automatically price adjust existing bookings when they roll out discounts. It's up to the guest to stay informed and evaluate their circumstances and applicable penalty fees if switching to a discount fare. Usually you aren't just applying a discount. It's canceling a booking with penalties then rebooking under the discount offer. Many agents do keep an eye on the discounts and keep clients apprised to what's out there. Sometimes its worth switching but not often. Not all agents do. That's where its worth your due diligence to find a good agent who is on their game and knows their stuff. ;)

Again, I'm no expert but this is the way I understand this stuff to work. I always watch and assess.

If you have other questions feel free to ask. :D
 

fmingo36

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks-I'm not a cruise newbie. I have cruised many times before but never with Disney. I just can't understand why reliable online travel sites (Priceline, Expedia) would have such a difference in prices. Almost $50 a person for the same room.
 

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
Thanks-I'm not a cruise newbie. I have cruised many times before but never with Disney. I just can't understand why reliable online travel sites (Priceline, Expedia) would have such a difference in prices. Almost $50 a person for the same room.
I'm not sure. Try following the booking process as far as possible to see if the number changes. Does it list out or break down the price so you see a line up for tax and a line item for port fees? I've never tried booking thru those sites.
 

MaryJaneP

Well-Known Member
We enjoy many of Sweetpee's posts and find them very helpful. If not officially an expert, we find her information extremely knowledgeable. Long post short, pricing is something she rarely is inaccurate about. We have also heard of the pseudo-savings that other sites tout but that somehow disappear when all is said and done. Book direct or through a travel agent that doesn't play these pricing games. Our advice, don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
 

Bolna

Well-Known Member
On my last cruise the taxes were adjusted and those were credit back to me by Disney automatically, even though I had booked through a travel agent.

However, it might be different if there is a real price adjustment. But then, Disney very rarely ever lowers their prices for any of their cruises.

My recommendation would be to book with a travel agent that give you an onboard credit (different agencies vary with what they offer there). And then there is also Costco which appears to be popular because you get a gift card from them, but I live in Europe, so that gift card is of no value for me.
 

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
We enjoy many of Sweetpee's posts and find them very helpful. If not officially an expert, we find her information extremely knowledgeable. Long post short, pricing is something she rarely is inaccurate about. We have also heard of the pseudo-savings that other sites tout but that somehow disappear when all is said and done. Book direct or through a travel agent that doesn't play these pricing games. Our advice, don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
Wow! We'll thank you!

I asked my husband if he's ever played with pricing on the big box travel sites like Travelocity, Expedia, etc. when I read this thread initially. He said he's never seen it truly be cheaper. A few years back, I think it was right after we started cruising, Disney did something with the pricing or maybe it was leveling the playing field on the commissions. It was something that spurred a lot of discussion about pricing and making it so the super agency/companies couldn't edge out the smaller agencies. Of course they won't be allowed to undercut Disney. Disney would lose all kinds of money that way. Personally, I think that all travel stuff where taxes & fees aren't dependant on location of the guest/customer should have to display pricing at the complete total the way airlines have to. No surprises that way. I appreciate that this is how Disney does on their website. It feels like full disclosure up front.

I try to read a lot on multiple sites and I know people who are super duper knowledgable about pricing and how Disney operates. We like to cruise multiple times a year so I try to always stay up on what's what. The best thing ever is to know the right people and places to ask questions. I'm never afraid to ask a question. I admit I don't know everything. When I'm wrong that's good because it's an opportunity to learn.

I hope I don't come off as a know-it-all. Those people annoy me. I don't want to be that person. If I am please someone ding me on it. Please?! K???
 

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
On my last cruise the taxes were adjusted and those were credit back to me by Disney automatically, even though I had booked through a travel agent.

However, it might be different if there is a real price adjustment. But then, Disney very rarely ever lowers their prices for any of their cruises.

My recommendation would be to book with a travel agent that give you an onboard credit (different agencies vary with what they offer there). And then there is also Costco which appears to be popular because you get a gift card from them, but I live in Europe, so that gift card is of no value for me.

I was going to mention the popularity of booking with Costco. We don't have a Costco near us so we aren't members. Also people used to (don't know if its still a thing) get into the Target Red card for some benefit that enabled them to buy Disney gift cards at like 5% off or something. Other than that people seem to seek agencies who give onboard credits.
 

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
Hello,

As a man who works in a concierge company, I can tell you that certain consolidators and selected travel agencies.. usually do have a up to 10% discount rate (not instant, they work as "rebate" from DCL to the concierge/consolidator company).
This money is usually offered as "incentive" as onboard credit for the end point clients by many of them(consolidators) as well.

Of course, not all companies offers this.

Also like sweetpee said, you can get some discounts with certain cards that offer onboard credit bonuses.
 

ginadee

Well-Known Member
Funny I came across this. I was going to ask what was the benefit of booking with an agent? I looked all over online and all the prices were exactly the same. I booked through Disney.
 

EOD K9

Well-Known Member
The nice thing of booking direct is that you don't have to worry about a middle man. On the other hand, relatives of mine just booked the same cruise my wife and I are going on through an agent on this site. The upside of that is that I gave them the info and the agent (bless her) took care of the rest. She also got my relatives on board credits. They now start a few dollars ahead before they step on board. That would not have happened if they went direct. There are pros and cons on both sides.
 

MarieTA

New Member
Unlike a good travel agent, Disney doesn't automatically adjust your reservation if prices drop. This is where using a reliable travel agent experienced with DCL could save you money, in addition to providing an onboard credit. Don't forget the $50 obc for paying with a Disney Visa.
 

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
Unlike a good travel agent, Disney doesn't automatically adjust your reservation if prices drop. This is where using a reliable travel agent experienced with DCL could save you money, in addition to providing an onboard credit. Don't forget the $50 obc for paying with a Disney Visa.
I really wished you could get the disney Visa on other nations :(
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
Agent all the way.

Most give you a portion of their commish back to you in the form of inboard credits.

I would never recommend booking through a large generic site like expedia when you can get a dcl specialist who will work with you one on one... And they will basically PAY you to use them.

A good ta will exceed Disney in consistent contact, making bookings on your behalf, have reviews or references on excursion and room info, and help guide people new to dcl

If you are talking to someone who is just going to take your reasie and then leave... Change unless they are giving you all the credits back and you don't want/need hand holding
 

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