Question in regards to Fairytale Dreams & Destinations

[mermaid&cinderella]

Was the quote for the exact same stateroom category that they priced out for you?

Exact same, everything was the same, and booking it online I got a room credit which Sharon could not give me because it was a book online deal.

 

[tamarabannon]

We use Christine (Teena) and LOVE her. SHe's amazing, honest, quick to reply. I love that we can just go and relax and we know everything is taken care of for us.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

what is the benefit of booking with FTD over booking it yourself directly with Disney? I have always wondered. Thanks!

 

[yosh12]

The benefit of FTD&D is that they do all the booking for you. Also if after you have booked and a deal comes up and is applicable to you they automatically apply it to your package (major savings sometimes). Also they look after all your dining reservations if you are on the dining plan (no waiting on the phone to make your own). You can make any changes and they will do it for you no problem.

I have used Christine and she is awesome. Have recommended her to many people and they have all been very happy.

 

[Susan2771]

what is the benefit of booking with FTD over booking it yourself directly with Disney? I have always wondered. Thanks!

Well I do not work for FTD but I am a travel professional so I could provide a response in general. To book with a travel agent means you are working with a travel professional and it is one stop shopping that is a time and money saver. Our professional knowledge, experience and of course suppliers that we deal with is invaluable to a client and I know my clients appreciate the personal service that is offered. Travel Agents know all the ins and outs of putting together a travel itinerary whether it is to Disney or the South Pacific that suit your needs and what you want for your trip because every traveller is unique as is every vacation dream and budget.

A travel professional is your advocate before, during and after your trip. The internet is not your advocate should something go wrong and with worldwide events taking place and mother nature, things often goes wrong these days. If something goes wrong with the vendor during a client’s trip whether it is to Disney World or to anywhere in the world I am available for my clients 7 days a week to help deal with issues as are many travel professionals. For myself and many travel professionals that I know that work in agencies, our service doesn’t end once the documents are in your hands. We are there for when a client has a situation during a trip. Often when a situation occurs with a flight, hotel, excursion, transfer, clients will hear “that isn’t my problem” or “I don’t deal with those issues”, when they are onsite and in the situation dealing with the person at the counter. Awesome. At our office clients get a 1-800 number to our office that can be used anywhere to contact us and we will happily and quickly work on our end to get a hold of the right person on their end to rectify the situation. We are also there to answer often the dozens and dozens of questions that pop up during the planning process and after the trip is booked and you are always dealing with the same person who cares about you and your trip.

Travel professionals aren’t there to take away control of your booking. Travel professionals are there to work with you and for you when it comes to booking your trips especially one that involves Disney! I know that I am just as excited as every client that I have served about every aspect of their upcoming trip and I am there to deal with the aspects of the trip they don’t have time for like ADR, dealing with changes like price adjustments, booking BBB reservations, spa reservations, golf reservations etc that they don’t have the time to deal with. Time is money and with one email or phone call to their travel agent, they know it will get done. It’s all part of service to a valued client. I know for myself and many other travel agents and travel consultants, we all want our clients to get the best value and experience, and the client can just concentrate on enjoying the trip and the magic.

Hopefully some other travel professionals here on the board will add to my post because I am now off to work!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Well I do not work for FTD but I am a travel professional so I could provide a response in general. To book with a travel agent means you are working with a travel professional and it is one stop shopping that is a time and money saver. Our professional knowledge, experience and of course suppliers that we deal with is invaluable to a client and I know my clients appreciate the personal service that is offered. Travel Agents know all the ins and outs of putting together a travel itinerary whether it is to Disney or the South Pacific that suit your needs and what you want for your trip because every traveller is unique as is every vacation dream and budget.

A travel professional is your advocate before, during and after your trip. The internet is not your advocate should something go wrong and with worldwide events taking place and mother nature, things often goes wrong these days. If something goes wrong with the vendor during a client’s trip whether it is to Disney World or to anywhere in the world I am available for my clients 7 days a week to help deal with issues as are many travel professionals. For myself and many travel professionals that I know that work in agencies, our service doesn’t end once the documents are in your hands. We are there for when a client has a situation during a trip. Often when a situation occurs with a flight, hotel, excursion, transfer, clients will hear “that isn’t my problem” or “I don’t deal with those issues”, when they are onsite and in the situation dealing with the person at the counter. Awesome. At our office clients get a 1-800 number to our office that can be used anywhere to contact us and we will happily and quickly work on our end to get a hold of the right person on their end to rectify the situation. We are also there to answer often the dozens and dozens of questions that pop up during the planning process and after the trip is booked and you are always dealing with the same person who cares about you and your trip.

Travel professionals aren’t there to take away control of your booking. Travel professionals are there to work with you and for you when it comes to booking your trips especially one that involves Disney! I know that I am just as excited as every client that I have served about every aspect of their upcoming trip and I am there to deal with the aspects of the trip they don’t have time for like ADR, dealing with changes like price adjustments, booking BBB reservations, spa reservations, golf reservations etc that they don’t have the time to deal with. Time is money and with one email or phone call to their travel agent, they know it will get done. It’s all part of service to a valued client. I know for myself and many other travel agents and travel consultants, we all want our clients to get the best value and experience, and the client can just concentrate on enjoying the trip and the magic.

Hopefully some other travel professionals here on the board will add to my post because I am now off to work!

I used to be a travel agent. Was a Disney specialist too!

I just hear all these things about Fairtale and I was wondering what/why.

Personally I still prefer to make my own reservations because I find that the online dining booking is fast and easy. If the time I want isn't available, I get to choose the next best time.

Plus by being on the Dis you get to hear about lots of the discounts out there. I am more than happy to just do it myself.

Now the airfare on the other hand..thats a different story. LOL

 

[DaniB]

what is the benefit of booking with FTD over booking it yourself directly with Disney? I have always wondered. Thanks!

The benefit of FTD&D is that they do all the booking for you. Also if after you have booked and a deal comes up and is applicable to you they automatically apply it to your package (major savings sometimes). Also they look after all your dining reservations if you are on the dining plan (no waiting on the phone to make your own). You can make any changes and they will do it for you no problem.

In addition, we had the situtation last year where I booked 8 days for our vacation. After a month or two of researching on DIS I realized we needed more days! Disney's website insisted CSR was sold out during our trip. I phoned our TA asking what-to-do as I didn't want a seperate ressie at a different resort.

Karly spoke with Disney and was able extend our trip at CSR by 2 days!! Can't do that on your own!

Personally I still prefer to make my own reservations because I find that the online dining booking is fast and easy. If the time I want isn't available, I get to choose the next best time.

Plus by being on the Dis you get to hear about lots of the discounts out there. I am more than happy to just do it myself.

I agree that DIS will know the discounts before the official word. But I love knowing that I don't have to worry about it. Just wait for the e-mail from FTD&D saying it was applied to my reservation on the same morning it become official!

As for the 180-day ADRs - I really appreciate that Karly books them that morning for me. I have 5 kids to feed breakfast & get ready for school in the morning (not all mine), 3 of which arrive as early as 5:30am. I just don't have the time to get online at 6am to book my ADRs. I make sure Karly has a list of where I want to eat & when (including 2nd and 3rd best times) and she does it for me.

Afte the initial 180-day ADR booking date, if I change my mind - I can make all the changes I want. Cancel and book to my hearts content!

 

[lisalonglash]

In addition, we had the situtation last year where I booked 8 days for our vacation. After a month or two of researching on DIS I realized we needed more days! Disney's website insisted CSR was sold out during our trip. I phoned our TA asking what-to-do as I didn't want a seperate ressie at a different resort.

Karly spoke with Disney and was able extend our trip at CSR by 2 days!! Can't do that on your own!

I agree that DIS will know the discounts before the official word. But I love knowing that I don't have to worry about it. Just wait for the e-mail from FTD&D saying it was applied to my reservation on the same morning it become official!

As for the 180-day ADRs - I really appreciate that Karly books them that morning for me. I have 5 kids to feed breakfast & get ready for school in the morning (not all mine), 3 of which arrive as early as 5:30am. I just don't have the time to get online at 6am to book my ADRs. I make sure Karly has a list of where I want to eat & when (including 2nd and 3rd best times) and she does it for me.

Afte the initial 180-day ADR booking date, if I change my mind - I can make all the changes I want. Cancel and book to my hearts content!

That's how I feel too. Just knowing that they will do everything they can to save us as much money as possible, book ADRs/special events if we like (and yes, we like!) and booking with a Canadian TA makes me happy

We research and book every other kind of trip we take ourselves (we travel to Europe fairly regularly), but when we're going to Disney, we trust only FD&D to ensure our vacation is as cost-effective and smooth as possible - and they always make sure our trips are wonderful, so our continued trust is well-earned

 

[RadioMom]

I've used Fairytale Destinations three times and have referred them to so many people I've lost track! I appreciate the time and the knowledge they offer. I'm not spending any of my time trying to book dining reservations, golf reservations or anything like that. But mostly, I really enjoy knowing that every details is taken care of by someone who lives and breathes Disney and knows what they're talking about. That's a confidence you can't put a price on! They're all Disney, all the time!
I'm sure Sharon will be great at whatever she choses! But when it comes to my family's Disney trips, Fairytale Destinations will always get my business!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

The benefit of FTD&D is that they do all the booking for you. Also if after you have booked and a deal comes up and is applicable to you they automatically apply it to your package (major savings sometimes). Also they look after all your dining reservations if you are on the dining plan (no waiting on the phone to make your own). You can make any changes and they will do it for you no problem.

I have used Christine and she is awesome. Have recommended her to many people and they have all been very happy.

I never wait on the phone.....its all done online now. I love doing my dining reservations myself, because if what I want on a particular day or time isn't available I am able to decide right there and then what I want and maybe change something else to accomodate. I wouldn't want to give that power to anyone. But I am a bit of a control freak

 

[tone.def]

I never wait on the phone.....its all done online now. I love doing my dining reservations myself, because if what I want on a particular day or time isn't available I am able to decide right there and then what I want and maybe change something else to accomodate. I wouldn't want to give that power to anyone. But I am a bit of a control freak

See, I have no time for this and I am a bit of a control freak. I work on a computer all day, the last thing I want is to see another monitor when I get home. I say what I want or don't want and let the FDD team have at it. I've NEVER been disappointed.

 

[laura001]

See, I have no time for this and I am a bit of a control freak. I work on a computer all day, the last thing I want is to see another monitor when I get home. I say what I want or don't want and let the FDD team have at it. I've NEVER been disappointed.

I totally agree! On top of that, even if you have them book everything for you, you can still book your own dining if you want to. You still get the benefit of booking through someone and can be a control freak if you want.

 

[tone.def]

I also want to add to this is that I've been one of those poor souls on vacation somewhere in the past when a tour operator goes under (in Honduras April 2009 when Conquest vacations went under). Because I had booked my vacation through an Ontario storefront travel agency, TICO - which is the governing body for the travel council in Ontario picked up the tab for all the bills and we were flown home at no cost. All those who were from Alberta, Manitoba (and other provinces aside from BC and Quebec) who booked themselves through Redtag or Expedia, etc had to settle up a hefty bill with the resort as Conquest neglected to pay them and would have to file a claim with their travel insurance or credit card when they returned home.

Due to that, I will ALWAYS book all my vacation through a storefront travel agent, regardless of where I am going. Not that Disney is going anywhere any time soon, but who knows what happens with airlines and bulk tour consolidators.

 

[fivebyfive]

If my favourite waiter stopped worked at 'Ohana, I wouldn't stop going to 'Ohana and follow said waiter over to Captain Jack's.

Just saying.

 

[minnie56]

I am a travel professional and here are my thoughts...
If someone isn't terribly Disney savvy and/or it's a first trip I think booking with an agent is absolutely the way to go. We can guide them to the right fit for them as far as resort stay, explaining and adding park tickets, what else to see whilst there and do the legwork for dining after consulting what the tastes are in the group. There will also be a perfect present from-me-to-you awaiting your arrival at your resort, be it flowers in Disney mugs or cookies and milk.

That said..around here, most folks are pretty Disney smart and can easily take care of what suits their needs. I think there is no right or wrong..it's what meets ones requirements.

 

[VeroBeach]

If my favourite waiter stopped worked at 'Ohana, I wouldn't stop going to 'Ohana and follow said waiter over to Captain Jack's.

If the food and atmosphere and location were identical, would you consider it then?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

But when my favourite chef (TJ) moved from Ohanas to 1900 Park Fare, I did change my ADRs to follow him!

I just wanted to add that I have had two TERRIBLE experiences with CAA Travel and would never consider booking with them again. In one, (for Disney) despite my repeated calls, they missed an important deadline, and in the other I just couldn't get a call back to get things confirmed (and this was for a major trip to New Zealand). They are good for helping with car trouble, but their travel services are absolutely appallingly bad.

Teresa

 

[minnie56]

Have never booked with CAA and I do not work for them..but I am sure not all agents with CAA are bad. Often the service and experience are relative to the expertise and knowledge of the agent that you choose to take care of your vacation plans! There are great and not so great travel agents out there all over sadly...

 

[Susan2771]

I'm sorry Teresa to read about not just your 1 but 2 bad experiences with CAA Travel. Like Minnie said though, you can't paint all travel professionals with the same brush and there are many that will go above and beyond.

I am not familiar with the setup at CAA and if the agents there deal 100% strictly with travel or if they also service clients from the other aspects of CAA and what they do. I would suggest the next time if you decide to use them again and when meeting with them for the first time, I would spend a couple of minutes qualifying your agent and finding out their level of experience with the destination you are travelling too and ask what suppliers they deal with to that destination. If you aren't comfortable with what you are hearing, then ask for a recommendation in their office to deal with someone who is knowledgeable in that product or destination.

 

[laura001]

I never wait on the phone.....its all done online now. I love doing my dining reservations myself, because if what I want on a particular day or time isn't available I am able to decide right there and then what I want and maybe change something else to accomodate. I wouldn't want to give that power to anyone. But I am a bit of a control freak

Hmmm....well...you can have the best of both worlds. Use your TA to do all the grunt work and if you don't need help with park planning or dining....do that part yourself!

That way if a better price comes out for your vacation you know it will be taken care of for you, any of your questions can be answered and best of all....you get to share the excitement of your magical trip with someone else that also has the "pixie dust" feeling! How much better can that be! (that was not a question, but a statement)