Tactics for booking free dining 2020 please

[Quensabob]

We booked last year for this year within an hour of free dining being released with WDTC,then booked our flights sepratley 1 month later,Disney did ring us in august to see if we needed to book our flights with them!

[tracey1302]

Originally Posted by chippyminton

I’ve previously booked through Walt Disney Travel Company at the tail end of the free dining offer, and booked flights independently, staying at POR.

One of the kids has just suggested that we have an opportunity to go around 10 July 2020, so before English school holidays start.

Any advice about the best way to book such a trip. Happy to book through WDTC and hold out for flights, but also wondering if a package is the way to go?

I know we don’t have a crystal ball to predict free dining but is it usually available for these dates?

Thank you

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If free dining is offered this year, it will likely be available for these dates

For this year, our cheapest options were:-

Orlando Attractions (Ascot Travel). They beat Disney with cashback for us this year so we've booked with them. Their customer service is absolutely sensational. Cannot recommend them enough.

WDWTC - A good rate and it's quite fun to book direct . Make sure you book with cashback as they pay out early and you can therefore knock it straight off your balance. Also good as no amendment charges.

Charter Travel - This was for a package but was still a good £300 cheaper than VH for us.

VH always release free DDP early (and if I recall got into trouble for doing so this last year) but don't be lured in until everyone has released their prices. In my experience, they are always way more expensive because they release early and they know everyone wants to get booked ASAP.

I know others have had good deals through VH but that's never been my experience.

[Miller1982]

Originally Posted by tracey1302

If free dining is offered this year, it will likely be available for these dates

For this year, our cheapest options were:-

Orlando Attractions (Ascot Travel). They beat Disney with cashback for us this year so we've booked with them. Their customer service is absolutely sensational. Cannot recommend them enough.

WDWTC - A good rate and it's quite fun to book direct . Make sure you book with cashback as they pay out early and you can therefore knock it straight off your balance. Also good as no amendment charges.

Charter Travel - This was for a package but was still a good £300 cheaper than VH for us.

VH always release free DDP early (and if I recall got into trouble for doing so this last year) but don't be lured in until everyone has released their prices. In my experience, they are always way more expensive because they release early and they know everyone wants to get booked ASAP.

I know others have had good deals through VH but that's never been my experience.

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Hi, Which websites do you use to get cash back for booking disney? We have always booked with Disney Direct but if we can get cash back that would be a bonus

[darbs]

Originally Posted by Miller1982

Hi, Which websites do you use to get cash back for booking disney? We have always booked with Disney Direct but if we can get cash back that would be a bonus

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Quidco offer cashback, not sure of the rate though.

[mg1502]

Originally Posted by darbs

Quidco offer cashback, not sure of the rate though.

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Just a warning, we booked our holiday to NYC through Top Cashback and didn't get the cashback until 6 months after our holiday.

We booked for Disney this year through Virgin Holidays, and because we have Virgin Atlantic accounts, we were able to get a 7% discount on the total cost. This was a better discount % than the cashback sites were offering. It's free to sign up for a VA account, so could be a good option for saving.

[TigerLily8]

Originally Posted by mg1502

Just a warning, we booked our holiday to NYC through Top Cashback and didn't get the cashback until 6 months after our holiday.

We booked for Disney this year through Virgin Holidays, and because we have Virgin Atlantic accounts, we were able to get a 7% discount on the total cost. This was a better discount % than the cashback sites were offering. It's free to sign up for a VA account, so could be a good option for saving.

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Beat me to it!

We booked with VH this year as they were coming out the cheapest - it was a very welcome bonus to get through the booking process and find out we could get another 7% off on top of an already great price. Really handy little tip! Doesn’t sound like much but 7% can be a lot in the world of booking Disney holidays :-)

[SquishTheWhale]

I agree on the 7% flying club discount! Makes VH very affordable.

I priced up the Disney hotel/tickets/free ddp etc and then got a quote from Virgin with all of the above plus flights.

If flights come in under £500pp for direct, seats, luggage etc then for me that's a good deal and worth booking the package. Obviously that £500 figure will vary depending on time of year- have an idea in your head of what you think is a good price for flights!

[simdon]

Does the 7% virgin discount apply for hotel only bookings

[TigerLily8]

Originally Posted by simdon

Does the 7% virgin discount apply for hotel only bookings

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I think it has to be a package?

[juliebissett72]

Originally Posted by sha9

We also book hotel and tickets with Disney then source flights elsewhere. Just so you know, if you’re just moving dates with Disney there’s a £50 amendment fee payable at the time you make the change. Disney only ever waive that fee if the cost of your booking goes up.

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I’ve read some people get around this by only booking a room & ticket for one guest initially then if they are holding out for a cheaper room type (or might change dates) and the option to do so comes up, downgrade the room and add all the other guests at the same time so the price(extra added tickets) goes up.No amendment fee. If you decide not to change your booking just add on the extra guests at any time and the price still goes up avoiding it. Genius really.