I agree that you check out gemut.com (gemutlichkeit travel). They have gotten me the best deal over a number of trips. Also for some reason I have gotten an upgrade on the car everytime I have used them. I have talked to Bob Bestor there.

I didn't know that Neuschwanstein was the model for the Disney castle until I started researching our trip to Germany and started hearing about all these people wanting to visit because it was the "Disney castle" - LOL. I've been to Disneyland many times, but never paid much attention to stupid Cinderella or her castle.

I have pretty much always been interested in Mad King Ludwig though, so I thought the castle was great :) We saw other castles in Germany - actual fortifications which were very cool. Neuschwanstein is just something else entirely.

Never been to Linderhoh, but have been to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, which are right next to each other. Excluding the time it takes to get there, you could probably easily see them both in half a day. There is a nice area to walk around and hike, though, which would take longer.