What are the advantages / disad. of using a TA?

[JulieAnne]

Can I do the same with both?

Thx

[tone.def]

I book with with a TA.

Why I don't book through CRO? I once called to get some price work-ups done for me and ask some questions. While I know not all CM's are as curt as the one I got, I found they want to spend more time making the sale than spending time answering queries.

I also like not having to be up at 7 a.m. to make dining ressies nor do I want to be up calling CRO looking for codes or specials before they're all gone. I like the idea of having someone else do this for me.

I'm not a morning person and I don't want to stress about being on hold for 20 minutes trying to get into a character breakfast or signature restaurant.

I like someone who can make recommendations about some things I might like to try and "hidden jewels" or "jems" to see and go to that I may not find on my own and more then likely I wouldn't have been told by CRO in their 10 minutes phone call when they get all snotty when you don't even want to put a package on hold becuase you're not sure about dates.

That's why I book with a travel agent - the price is exactly the same, but one I get advice and service with.

[Grumpy92]

TA knowledge of WDW is very spotty. Some are great and will book you into the resorts well. While others seem to have no basic knowledge at all. Cant tell you how many guest we had arrive at FW who thought they were going to be at a hotel/WL only to find they had been booked into a cabin or worse yet a campsite (they had no camping equip).
I always book through CRO.

[tone.def]

Cant tell you how many guest we had arrive at FW who thought they were going to be at a hotel/WL only to find they had been booked into a cabin or worse yet a campsite (they had no camping equip).
I always book through CRO.

OMIGOD! I would die of I was told I was booked at the Wilderness Lodge and it turns out I was actually camping...

My experiences had been pretty good with a TA with respect to restaurant and resort recommendations as well as booking and recommending tours. I guess I'm lucky?

[Luv2Roam]

I use to book myself through CRO until a unpleasant experience. I switched to DU and always had great service, and poor dagny did all the work for me! :sunny:
The downside is if you get a unknowledgable TA. (Which there is nothing to say you won't have the same trouble with CRO.)

The main point to keep in mind is one you will read often here. Guests book through TA and want to check on or modify/cancel a res. Everything needs to be down through the TA.

So, the TA owns the res and controls it. That can be good, and that can be bad -- depending on how smoothly everything runs and the agent/CRO.