Agent or self?

[mommymanda]

Planning ahead here.

Last time we went to Disney was 2007. Just DH, DD and myself. We booked through an agency and they did everything including our meals.

Prices and deals were much better than, and this time I'm thinking of booking it all myself through the website.

I think I can handle the meals, and seems easy enough to book the vacation package. Its flights that worry me.

Is it better to book with an agent and let them do it all? Are they able to find better deals than the website themselves, or do they just book through Disney anyhow?

Besides less stress, what benefits are there to an agent?

 

[lynypixie]

Self! At least you have control over your things. A friend booked with an agent to end up doing everything by herself anyway.

 

[KNovacovschi]

I would book yourself if you like to plan everything yourself. I went with a TA for our trip last year and regretted it. The TA was a nice guy but everything had to be done threw him. He essentially owned the reservation. I booked myself this year & has been less stressful. I can make any changes I want by myself, when I want & not have to wait for the TA to do it. I didn't find that the TA found me any better deals then what is offered on the disney website. The price was exactly the same if I had booked it myself. But everyone has their own reason to use a TA and only you can decide if using one is right for you or not. Good luck in whichever you choose.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[minnie mum]

Book it yourself and book your flights separately through the airline website. You'll get just as good a deal doing your WDW reservations yourself, and will probably get a much better deal by checking the various airlines and making your own flight bookings. TAs do not get any comission for doing airline reservations and will usualy charge a fee for doing so. (Although I don't think they charge to make airline package vacations.)

 

[Sue M]

I. Do both. Sometimes myself, sometimes TA. But I always book lights myself. I monitor kayak.com for flights.

When I use a TA, it's always from a Disney Specialized Agency. I would not use a regular agency.

I find it pretty convenient. They know, and are on the phone the moment discounts come out, getting you the deal. To make payments all I do is send TA an email.
I never feel I'm not in control using a TA, in fact I find it easier because there's no waiting on hold, and save myself long distance charges to Disney, cause all I have do do us send an email if I want to make any change.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

I would do it yourself. Up until everyone started posting about the Free dining at WDW, I totally thought TA's were a dying career field. With so many booking options these days, I would rather read the fine print myself and know what in getting into.

 

[chrispeto]

My first trip to Disney I went through an agent. But I have been booking my family trips myself for last 18 years and I have gotten some amazing deals over the years. I go through the WDW website or I call them direct. The website post deals for the general public. The cast members at Disney were also very helpful as well.

 

[disneyworldfamily]

We went with a TA this time and we did not have a good experience at all. We ended up having to do everything on our own and we were the ones telling her about new discounts that were released. Not cool. This is just a few of the headaches we dealt with.

I think if you don't mind not having control over the reservation, and can find a TA that is all about Disney and really dedicated and loves his/her job, then go for a TA.

If you think you can handle making all arrangements on your own and would prefer to own the reservation yourself, then don't go with a TA.

We will be booking on our own for the next trip.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

Definitely on your own. Our past trips we've used a friend of ours who's a travel agent - we make all the plans and she books it, basically (although we do our own ADRs). Pretty much just so she can make a commission. This past trip we needed to fix some things she got wrong, and because the travel agent owns the reservation instead of you, it's a huge pain.

Also, since she booked through a wholesaler instead of directly with WDW, we didn't get the package with the coupons and free Disney Quest, etc that they were giving out - not a big deal, but still wouldn't have happened booking on our own.

This year we're definitely booking it ourselves, 100%.

 

[letsgo!]

Even though we've been to Disney a few times, I have always booked my trip through a TA (Disney specialist) For me, personally, I don't have the time to worry about making meal reservations or checking on discounts. Our TA is AWESOME...and automatically applies any discounts that are available, as they come available. We give a preferred time for meals (and which restaurants we wanted to eat at) and she has always been able to get us in to where we want, when we want (mind you, we usually book at least 6 months out)

 

[alc571]

We went with a TA this time and we did not have a good experience at all. We ended up having to do everything on our own and we were the ones telling her about new discounts that were released. Not cool. This is just a few of the headaches we dealt with.

I think if you don't mind not having control over the reservation, and can find a TA that is all about Disney and really dedicated and loves his/her job, then go for a TA.

If you think you can handle making all arrangements on your own and would prefer to own the reservation yourself, then don't go with a TA.

We will be booking on our own for the next trip.

This! Our TA for our October trip was awful! And she was a "Disney expert"! We used a company that specialized in Disney vacations - and I was emailing her with deals. Also, the didn't book flights and rental cars, so we were on our own for that anyway.

I compare a million travel websites when we are booking. We have always found the best deals on Expedia.

 

[Canadian Girl]

We use CAA to book the room and tickets. I book the flights and usually book the restaurants myself. Works well and any perks that come along are applied.

 

[suziespice]

I booked with a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations.. I find it was still very useful for me to have done the research, as she missed discounts (I ended up using a CAA discount..that I had to keep reminding her about). I also booked our meal reservations ourselves because she admitted that she calls in after 7 am, I just did it myself online at 6 am and got what I wanted. It depends on how much control you want over the situation and how much time you have to commit to research!

 

[Skjhjb]

Last year I booked through CAA. I was happy we did, as POLY hadn't been on my radar, and at her suggestion (and $200 cheaper) we stayed there instead of GF.

For our 2014 trip I am using a local travel agent. cAA was too far away for me to just pop in for things, and this agent is just 5 minutes away. Plus, when I went in today to tell them my plans, the gal who helped me spent a year working at Epcot in the Canadian pavilion. So she should be right on top of things... Although she was sure there was an age limit for POR Murphy beds and suggested two rooms at POP instead. I'll be insisting on POR though! She also couldn't see why I wouldn't want park hoppers....but it just isn't worth the extra $$ in my mind. We're quite content with having to stick to one park for the day!

 

[minnie56]

Well for me a TA-but then I 'am one' LOL so I guess I am doing it both ways!

Really, it depends on whether you have the time and whether you enjoy the planning process. My Disney clients are busy and happy for me to do the legwork.

 

[Disneylover99]

If it is your first trip to Disney and you really don't know anything about dining, tickets, resorts, etc.....then a TA is great.

But if you know Disney and you frequent these boards, then you should definitely book it yourself!

 

[Aliceacc]

I always use a travel agent. I figure it's good karma...someone else is making a commission off my trip at no cost to me. And there's an extra set of eyes looking for discounts.

For two trips I used AAA, and always felt as though I knew more than the agent I was assigned. (I had to explain to him what a PIN code was when I got one.)

Last year we switched to a Disney Certified travel agent, and she was fabulous!!!! She had some great suggestions, and was on the phone at 7 am to call in our ADRs as I was on my way to school. (She got us every single one we wanted, all within our desired time frame.)

I could certainly book it myself, but we're using Tracey once again... I see no reason not to. I don't anticipate making many changes (except for the PIN I'm praying we get) so the whole control issue doesn't really apply to me.

 

[suziespice]

just an FYI, I used a travel agent that specializes in Disney trips, but used the CAA discount through them.. you don't have to book the CAA discount with CAA!

 

[Aliceacc]

I believe anyone can use the CAA/AAA discount for room only, but only a CAA/AAA agent can apply it to a package.

 

[kiford]

We use CAA to book the room and tickets. I book the flights and usually book the restaurants myself. Works well and any perks that come along are applied.

So do we. Usually we leave the booking of flights to them unless we are booking on points but I always book restaurants myself and any special tickets like Cirque du Soleil or MVMCP if I can buy on-line. CAA can also offer a special viewing area for members for fireworks but not on MVMCP so we haven't been able to take advantage of that. In future, we might have them book some other special events for us like Keys to the Kingdom tour, or Wild Africa Trek, or something else if it's not quick and easy to do on-line. Anything that requires me to be on the phone, coordinate between places or events (like transportation), or anything that has multiple parts or is complex I leave to them.

Same for DCL cruises. They book the cruise, transportation, flights (unless points), hotel and we book ship excursions and other items ourselves. On our last Med cruise we had them also book excursions for our pre- and post-cruise time based on their recommendations (which were good).

Occasionally, there have been some minor errors in the package we get from Disney or DCL and I just e-mail the TA and they take care of it. I feel that I get the best of both worlds. Some of the stuff I care about controlling I do myself and control; messy or time-consuming stuff they take care of.