Travel Agent vs. DIY

[JustAKid]

I'm not quite sure this is the place for this, please move to a new home if necessary...

Can anyone who has booked both ways tell me which they liked better, either going through a TA or just booking the pieces seperately yourself and creating your own package?

Also, will a TA book an off-site hotel/timeshare condo/private home for you?

 

[Sweets156]

I booked with Triple A one trip and the Walt Disney Travel Company this coming trip. I've never not used a TA. With that being said, I can tell you I prefer The Walt Disney Travel Company over AAA. The reason I like to use them is because some questions can't be asked or verified online, if I do it by myself I would worry I didn't do everything I should've done. But if you're confident, go for it! But to me the TA's are there to help you (at no cost)!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

booked our first trip with a TA - never again. It was such a pain for me to have to call her when we wanted to make an ADR. I like doing it myself much better

 

[TheDisney411]

I'm not quite sure this is the place for this, please move to a new home if necessary...

Can anyone who has booked both ways tell me which they liked better, either going through a TA or just booking the pieces seperately yourself and creating your own package?

Also, will a TA book an off-site hotel/timeshare condo/private home for you?

A travel agent can book anywhere you want, but you don't need a TA to book a Disney vacation. There's nothing a travel agent could book having to do with Disney and I can't do myself and "own" my reservation.

 

[Chellymouse]

With the need to make dining ressies, having a plan to fit your needs I wouldn't bother with a TA. We haven't used one in many, many years and you are way better off on your own. If you are looking for an on-site villa rental, check out DVC Dave's. We booked direct through WDW for many years prior to our becoming DVC members. There are plenty of money saving tips, including grocery delivery service, off site stroller rental, ect that makes staying onsite less expensive. There is so much info on the DISboards that you should not have any trouble booking yourself and not incurring any fees.

 

[JustAKid]

booked our first trip with a TA - never again. It was such a pain for me to have to call her when we wanted to make an ADR. I like doing it myself much better

Really? Even with the new online system?

A travel agent can book anywhere you want, but you don't need a TA to book a Disney vacation. There's nothing a travel agent could book having to do with Disney and I can't do myself and "own" my reservation.

Yes, I know one doesn't need a TA to book a Disney vacation, and that I could do it all on my own, which is why I'm wondering which one was prefered by those who have done both.

 

[Cinderella909]

booked our first trip with a TA - never again. It was such a pain for me to have to call her when we wanted to make an ADR. I like doing it myself much better

I've done both ways. I've used TAs and did a package plan but booked my own ADRs. Sometimes, a TA can save you some money, and sometimes I can find the best deal. Just depends on how much one likes to pre planning for a trip. If one uses a TA, then any changes to the reservation needs to through the TA. I've always done my own ADRs, regardless if I use a travel agent or not.

Really depends on how much research and planning you'll like to do.

Enjoy! Karen

 

[chartle]

A travel agent can book anywhere you want, but you don't need a TA to book a Disney vacation. There's nothing a travel agent could book having to do with Disney and I can't do myself and "own" my reservation.

This!

Some will say that "well the TA will track any special deals and make sure I get them". If you are on this board and check out the Codes Forum or whatever its called you are going to find it out as soon or even before a TA.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I've done both. I'll never use a TA again. I know more about the ins and outs than most travel agents, and I like having ultimate control of my reservation.

 

[blueiis99]

We have done both. Tried a Disney TA company both time ( meaning they only do disney vacas). I was very displease with using a TA. We ended up changing a lot of the things I specifically asked for and she did not provide. I always plan a year in advance so I made sure I left her plenty of time to get the ADRS that we wanted. She also was snotty to me. ( I was always polite and pleased and thank you'd her to death). And only when DH addressed changes or issues was she polite and obliging. I will do it all myself now with Disney themselves, using the boards as guides and a wonderful source if info. Jmo

 

[fordpony92]

I've done both. I'll never use a TA again. I know more about the ins and outs than most travel agents, and I like having ultimate control of my reservation.

This!

Our first trip we booked through a TA but after that we learned how easy it is to book ourselves and have done it that way since.

 

[momofboyz3]

My vaca is finally paid for! Woohoo! I debated & debated... Booking myself or using a TA. I even asked my FB friends for help (before I knew about this). Someone recommended a TA they knew. So I emailed her & ended up using her. If I was to do this again I WOULD BOOK MYSELF! I hated emailing her to make a payment. She is not a whole wealth of info, you all have been more helpful. I booked all my own ADR. She did not inquire if I wanted a special room or if we were celebrating anything. Everyone is different. I like to have control so I probably should have done my own booking. But that's just me.

 

[TheDisney411]

Really? Even with the new online system?

Yes, I know one doesn't need a TA to book a Disney vacation, and that I could do it all on my own, which is why I'm wondering which one was prefered by those who have done both.

I've booked with TAs and I prefer to OWN my reservation and be able to make changes to my reservation so I book all of my own trips to Disney. That's the reason I prefer to not use TAs - apparently you totally missed that in the first response.

 

[JustAKid]

I've booked with TAs and I prefer to OWN my reservation and be able to make changes to my reservation so I book all of my own trips to Disney. That's the reason I prefer to not use TAs - apparently you totally missed that in the first response.

Indeed I did. I thought you were saying that the reason you had never used TAs we because you prefer the control of the details yourself. It wasn't directly said, and I didn't understand that you had once used a TA. Furthermore, I thought perhaps you were under the impression that I, like many others, was unaware that one doesn't need to have a TA book their vacation!

Sorry for the misunderstanding, and thanks for your response!

 

[CerysG]

We booked our first trip with CAA and I did most of the research etc. and told the TA what I wanted booked. This time I'm just doing it myself as it's just easier.
I guess if you had a really good agent who knew lots about Disney you might want to your frist trip with their help.

 

[patty57]

I haven't used a TA in many years. I enjoy the planning and research of all our vacations, including WDW trips. It's so easy to do everything online...okay usually it is. Sometimes the WDW site isn't so easy to deal with.

 

[alc571]

booked our first trip with a TA - never again. It was such a pain for me to have to call her when we wanted to make an ADR. I like doing it myself much better

I agree. I'll never use a TA again. We book flights direct with the airline, a car direct with the rental agency, and Disney direct with Disney. It's just easier. Also, our TA never mailed us our Mickey Mail which was so disappointing for our first vacation to WDW.

 

[ibrokeitmommy]

I would not use a TA again. Ours did nothing I couldn't have done myself. I thought with it being our first trip she would have hints and extra info and nope. All I received were emails with links to disney, which some didn't even link right. I did all my wn ADRs, which I chose to, and on the emails it was even stated i might want to make my own. she did nothing out of the ordinary. All it did was create a middle man because our reservation is thru their company now instead of myself. She was very nice but I just don't feel like there was any help in using her.

I guess it depends on how much planning you want to do on your own. I'm sure not all agents are the same and companies differ. Maybe if I had used the company that disboards recommends I would have been happier? I don't know, I just know I don't see the need for one for myself. The planning is like a hobby and I would prefer to just do it myself next time.

 

[JustAKid]

Did any of you who did both find that you saved/spent more money one way in comparison to the other?

 

[ibrokeitmommy]

Nope. It was the same price as when I priced it myself. I think a dreams unlimited might get some special deals, but I'm not sure. The company I used did not.