Originally posted by FoodLover
Actually, this is not necessarily true.
The gifts come from two sources.
The first and most common source is the travel agent's own pocket. Essentially the agent is spending part of her commission to purchase the in-stateroom gift for you, as a thank-you for your business.
In this case it could be argued that you're "paying" for this because the agent could have rebated you that $10-$25 the gift cost, instead.
The second and less common source of gifts is Disney. Larger agencies that do a lot of business with Disney qualify for various promotional items that Disney supplies and pays for. Some of these items are very nice (beach towels, photo albums, picture frames, etc.) Disney doesn't offer these all the time, but if you watch for promos, you may be able to nab a nice giftie that way.
In general my priorities are getting a good fare and great service. But in-stateroom gifts can be nice, too -- and they don't necessarily mean you're paying any more.
Mary
MouseSavers.com