mproca,
All I can say to you is "Thank the Heavens above that you found these boards b-4 you booked with an agent."
Here's my testimonial:
My DH, DD, & DS and I went on our 1st WDW trip in June. In January, my husband committed to taking this trip. Not feeling confident about my own travel planning skills (ironically, I didn't want to mistakingly lose $$$), I decided to call a family friend who was atravel agent. She gave me the "best" package for our budget:
$1000 Airfare $250 ea. from KCI to MCO on American Airlines
$2000 Kingdom Tours package (including 5 nights @ AS Sports, 6 day Park Hoppers, rental car for 6 days & the "Flex features" and trading pins)
So far I've spent $3000 and we haven't eaten or bought souvies yet.
Other costs included @ $800 in food and souvies. Total cost of trip was a little under $4000.
Not a horrific price, but I now know that I can do better on my own.
I had already booked w/ TA (w/ a $300 depostit) when I found DIS boards!
inkbounc
Here I found out about hotel discounts (I'm a teacher so I could have stayed @ S&D at an excellent rate)
websites for cheaper flights and tricks for saving on park passes.
Now, I'm determined (actually obsessed) with planning my next trip at a much cheaper price. By 2003 (next trip date)
I'll be a master at catching the best deals.
Hope you get enough feedback from everyone that gives you enough confidence in planning your own trip.
**In TA's defense... I don't feel as if I got "rooked"; I knew she would be making money off of my lack of initiative to plan on my own. She also was able to catch that Kingdom Tours went under right b-4 my trip and the agency rebooked w/ Fun Jet at the agencies expense. I'm not sure if they
had to do that. Heard that other people had to repay for rental cars, ect. when they arrived in Orlando.**