why is expedia cheaper than going thru disney

[albianne]

I went to the official DL site and logged in as an AP holder, the price it gave me for a standard view room at the DL hotel for Oct. 29 - Nov 4 was 1440.00 total then I went to the expedia site and their rate turns out to be 1170.00 what's up with that? Also expedia shows vacancy at the paradise pier for those dates but the disney says no vacancy. What is the best way to get a decent rate?

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't know for certain, but I would guess that Expedia buys in large volume, and does not make as much per reservation.
I have not bought a vacation from Expedia. So can't comment on how it works, and the plus and downsides to it.

 

[abby]

I've used expedia for hotels and it works great. Last time I book through them I was confused because the hotel I wanted told me they were full. When I asked the folks at the hotel they said expedia pre-books a number of rooms so when the hotel runs out sometimes expedia still has rooms there.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I think everything is cheaper than booking through Disney. Check out getawaytoday. They have awesome deals, and you can book hotel only.

 

[Captjackson]

We've gone through Travelocity and Expedia. Sometimes Travelocity is better, sometimes Expedia is. Then again, sometimes we've gotten a better rate going directly through the hotel. Our motel on our next DLR trip was booked through Getawaytoday.com.

 

[Amy&Dan]

For Disneyland I have always booked through Expedia (except if I am using DVC points) with great, and yes, cheaper results. For WDW I always use a Disney specialist TA like Dreams Unlimited with great results and lots of TLC. But even Dreams has never been able to get me as good of a deal at DL as Expedia has. And I have also had an AP at DL off and on for three years and never gotten an AP rate that was any better than Expedia. Expedia does block large blocks of rooms at Disneyland hotels (on and offsite) and you can get some really good deals.

 

[stampinshauna]

I've also heard that you have to pay the resort fee upon check in if you book through Expedia (I don't know this for sure but will find out in December when I stay w/ my Expedia booking at Paradise Pier). There may be added fees (check your terms & conditions). However, they do buy blocks of rooms and can sometimes sell them cheaper.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I've also heard that you have to pay the resort fee upon check in if you book through Expedia (I don't know this for sure but will find out in December when I stay w/ my Expedia booking at Paradise Pier). There may be added fees (check your terms & conditions). However, they do buy blocks of rooms and can sometimes sell them cheaper.

Yes that daily resort fee is added and not part of the package price. However, I have always just gotten a bill for the total of all the daily resort fees and any other incidentals I have done at the end of my stay. Its just been charged to the cc I give them at check in. Now it may be different now. Also, if you chose to not give them a cc at check in I can see them making you pay it right then.

 

[mystic_path]

Yeah Expedia probably does purchase in larger quantities allowing the rates to be cheaper.

Its like tickets, you can get tix through the disney site, but can get them cheaper elsewhere. Disney will give you deals, but not the best ones. Its where they make their profits.

If your planning a disney trip, remember to have a look at Travelocity their prices I found far exceeded Expedia by a great amount. Once I found travelocity, I havent even gone back to look at Expedia.

 

[rosiep]

I think everything is cheaper than booking through Disney. Check out getawaytoday. They have awesome deals, and you can book hotel only.

When you booked thru getaway..did the price include resort fees? I have reservations at PPH and was wondering if I'll have an additional charge.

 

[birdmom]

Wow this is my first time on the Disneyland board and this is all good stuff, thanks guys I am going to be up all night comparing prices!

 

[woody73]

Check the refund/change policies of each one.

Woody