Discounted rooms...help :)

[alliekat]

We have done Disney many times and for the most part booked through the Disney Travel Company or AAA, but it's been many years since we have done AAA. We are considering a mid-August trip and maybe a few days in early November. There are no discounted room or package rates for those days yet and I am getting itchy to book at least the August one. So what should I do? Does AAA always offer a discount? What is the advantage of using AAA? I am pretty much a control freak when it comes to planning, but I have heard so many fantastic things about Magical Journeys and I am wondering if it's time to let go and let them help me out. As with all of us I am looking for the most affordable thing to do and I don't want to miss out on the best value available to me especially if it turns up after I have booked. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

[brownie]

Use Magical Journeys. There may not be discounts available now, but if one becomes available, they'll work to have it applied to your reservation. A lot less hassle for you and you don't have to wait to book.

[minnie04]

Use Magical Journeys. There may not be discounts available now, but if one becomes available, they'll work to have it applied to your reservation. A lot less hassle for you and you don't have to wait to book.

I agree totally!!! Magical Journeys is the way to go hands down. They are quick at finding exactly what you want and like the other post said when the discounts come out they are automatically changed on your reservation (love getting those emails). I love using them. Plus if you wait for summer rates or even November rates you might not get the room or resort you want. So book now for both and if anything you can always change it down the road...

[disneymom15]

Magical Journeys is the only way to go, in my opinion! You won't regret.

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

Yep, go with Magical Journeys.

[disneynarula]

I felt the same way as you several years ago. You won't regret using MJ.

If anything MJ gives you MORE control of your trip. I found my MJ agent to bemore helpful and available for questions that the people who answer the phone at WDW travel.

About ten years ago, before I starting using MJ,It took me several phone calls and several hours of my time to get a discount applied to my room when I booked through WDW travel. It was a huge hassle!

A MJ agent will do it automatically as soon as a discount becomes available. They do all the work for you.

On our last trip my husbands work was paying for our hotel room as part of our moving overseas package. We were able to get 10 nights in a hotel and wanted to use them towards a disney trip. We had to have the room charge listed in a particular way with everything itemized since our park tickets could not be part of our stipend. To further complicate things it was during a pay for four nights get three nights free promotion. Our MJ agent was very helpful in this regard. We were able to work things out with her over the phone. No waiting on hold with annoying music in the background.

We are planning our third trip with MJ next winter!

[Sylvia]

Another vote for MJ.

I was a control freak. For years, I did everything myself. At times it was frustrating.

But, a few years ago, I decided to "take the plunge" and I've never regretted it. I have a triple-A card, I'm an annual passholder, and I'm also a Federal employee, so there may/may not be discounts available. Thanks to MJ, I don't have to keep track myself, and I always have the best room rate available.

[CleveRocks]

if you wait for summer rates or even November rates you might not get the room or resort you want.

I just want to make sure the OP realizes that if the trip will ONLY happen if there is a discount/promotion, then it will do absolutely no good to make reservations now in hopes of taking advantage of a discount later. No advantage whatsoever.

When a special discount comes out, you can apply it to your existing reservation only if the offer is still available. Once enough rooms in a certain resort in a certain category are sold, Disney closes the discount.

In other words, if you have an existing reservation and it just so happens that, for your dates, your room category at your resort is sold out, then Disney will not be offering a discount on those rooms.

What I'm trying to explain is that having a pre-existing reservation gives you no advantage for snagging a discount versus somebody who does not have any reservations yet.

Here's how I advise people: if you will definitely be staying at Disney on specific dates at a specific resort no matter what, then make your reservation as soon as possible; but if you will only be staying if there is a special discount, then there is absolutely no advantage to booking the room before the discount is announced.

But if the discount is still available for your dates, for your room category, and for your resort, then yes, absolutely, you can very easily get discounts applied to your existing reservation. For first timers, I absolutely agree that it is a winning strategy to book the trip with a Disney specialist travel agent (NOT with just any old travel agency that has a Disney sign in their office or on their website).

[Dopey's Girl]

Another vote for Magical Journeys. They are the best! I won't even consider booking without Wendy anymore!

[alliekat]

Thank you so much for all your input. You all make Magical Journeys sound fantastic. I feel much better hearing your testimonials.

[amorillo]

yes. another crazy, obsessive planner here. had to do everything myself.... even with all the great comments i was hearing about MJs i still couldn't give up that control. well, several years ago we did a huge family trip... and i took the plunge. needless to say MJs Terrisue was amazing! handled all my questions, changes, etc. and i haven't looked back since! give them a try.... i don't think you'll be disappointed!

[Disney4]

Yep, go with Magical Journeys.

I wrote the book on control freakishness.

Now, I kick myself for not having listened sooner to the advice on using MJ.

Every trip booking has been flawless, saved me more money than I could have done myself and I can book it and forget it.

[MrPeetrie]

I wrote the book on control freakishness.

Now, I kick myself for not having listened sooner to the advice on using MJ.

Every trip booking has been flawless, saved me more money than I could have done myself and I can book it and forget it.

I, too, am a control freak when it comes to booking WDW vacations. (Not other things, but I do obsess a bit regarding planning a Disney vacation.) But I've read so many positive posts on this thread alone regarding Magical Journeys that I actually contacted them. Someone from Magical Journeys responded very quickly. I am treading cautiously, but am very optimistic about this pending relationship. I will let you know how the process works out.