Planning for 2021

Yk96 · 1 Mar 20, 11:06 AM

I'm the designated planner for our trip. I've researched for the past year and have noticed virgin prices with flights, hotel, dining and tickets is over Ł6000. Whereas booking separate with wdw for everything bar flights is 3941, at the moment. I am going to look during free dining and get it cheaper, if not book anyways. Flights will be via skyscanner.
When would you book ESTAs and insurance? Would you book via virgin or DIY? Any other ideas I'm happy to hear.
Thanks in advance

Lostbrain · 1 Mar 20, 11:30 AM

We did a DIY trip in 2018. We have travel insurance from our bank and so that was already in place. ESTA I think we sorted a couple of months out.
Flights were the biggest ball ache, many months spent on skyscanner. In the end a dibb forum tipped us off to a really good deal for our dates.

**disneymummy** · 1 Mar 20, 06:09 PM

I like to do estas at least 6 months in advance and I buy insurance as soon as I start booking. I’m planning for 2021 too roll on April.

itz_baseline · 1 Mar 20, 06:19 PM

Probably need to provide more info before people can comment on if they would book with Virgin or DIY. Basically you are banking on your flights being cheaper than Ł2,050 if you book DIY, but you don’t say if that’s 2 people or 4 people for example, of it that’s in school holidays or out of school holidays.

Gbnomore · 1 Mar 20, 06:23 PM

We’re planning for next year. Planning a split stay between Disney and Universal so it hasn’t even occurred to me to consider a package tbh. Holding off to see if there’s any free dining and then will book accommodation.

Rawhide · 2 Mar 20, 12:19 PM

I was costing 2021 based on 2020 prices. I usually DIY as I’m all over saving money, but Charter Travel were in the same ballpark for everything - flights, Villa, tickets & car. So, we went with them - much less hassle for me and no worrying/juggling dates of flights/villa availability.

It’s the first time it’s happened. A week after we booked, VirginHolidays then said they would have beaten the price for a like for like holiday (which it would’ve been with the exception of DC tickets).

Moral of the story is - DIY isn’t always the best/cheapest option.

love2plan · 2 Mar 20, 05:35 PM

I usually always do DIY but I wouldn’t be averse to booking through a TA if the price was right, we’ve just always found DIY cheaper. The only thing is if you book your accommodation through the WDTC then you need to be sure you can get the flights too - we had a nightmare changing our room reservation last August when flights worked out much cheaper to go a day later ☺️

Yk96 · 2 Mar 20, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by itz_baseline

Probably need to provide more info before people can comment on if they would book with Virgin or DIY. Basically you are banking on your flights being cheaper than Ł2,050 if you book DIY, but you don’t say if that’s 2 people or 4 people for example, of it that’s in school holidays or out of school holidays.

It's for two people. September 2021. Should have stated that, sorry.

1 Mar 20, 06:19 PM	#4
	1 Mar 20, 06:19 PM itz_baseline Excited about Disney
itz_baseline Excited about Disney Join Date: Mar 17	Probably need to provide more info before people can comment on if they would book with Virgin or DIY. Basically you are banking on your flights being cheaper than Ł2,050 if you book DIY, but you don’t say if that’s 2 people or 4 people for example, of it that’s in school holidays or out of school holidays.

2 Mar 20, 12:19 PM	#6
	2 Mar 20, 12:19 PM Rawhide Very Serious Dibber
Rawhide Very Serious Dibber Join Date: Jun 10	I was costing 2021 based on 2020 prices. I usually DIY as I’m all over saving money, but Charter Travel were in the same ballpark for everything - flights, Villa, tickets & car. So, we went with them - much less hassle for me and no worrying/juggling dates of flights/villa availability. It’s the first time it’s happened. A week after we booked, VirginHolidays then said they would have beaten the price for a like for like holiday (which it would’ve been with the exception of DC tickets). Moral of the story is - DIY isn’t always the best/cheapest option.

2 Mar 20, 05:35 PM	#7
	2 Mar 20, 05:35 PM love2plan Trying for More Ears
love2plan Trying for More Ears Join Date: Jul 19	I usually always do DIY but I wouldn’t be averse to booking through a TA if the price was right, we’ve just always found DIY cheaper. The only thing is if you book your accommodation through the WDTC then you need to be sure you can get the flights too - we had a nightmare changing our room reservation last August when flights worked out much cheaper to go a day later ☺️