Anyone book through a TA and then decide you wanted to keep the reservation?

[Bella2000]

If I book through a TA and then decide I don't want to utilize them for whatever reason do I need to totally rebook or can you take your reservation back over?

I decided that I would try a TA for DCL. I am now second guessing a third party relationship and wondering whether the initial savings are worth it. It's nothing bad that they have done at all. It's little things and I'm not sure whether this is the nature of this type of travel now.

I totally appreciate the ability to keep a low overhead by solely communicating via email but other than to take my deposit I've never heard back from the TA. If I am honest I felt like the TA was an order taker more than anything. There is nothing wrong with this especially if you are getting significant saving. I'm pretty easy - I pay and don't really ask many questions unless they are contractual (but that's my work hat on). I did not think an "order taker" TA would be an issue so honestly I am so surprised that it bothers me. Because there is no communication - verbal or otherwise I don't have a sense of this person and I'm finding that I am worried that they are capable. The company is reputable so I'm not worried about that just I have no sense of the individual. That said they have no sense of me or my family. If there is an issue that they need to speak for me as the contact with DCL how will they handle it?

So, I just wondered whether most of the TA's are primarily email with minimal contact now. I don't need a best friend or lots of chitchat, I'm feeling like I should perhaps just handle it all myself. I can make my payments directly or speak to Disney directly especially if I'm never going to deal with this person again.

 

[webray]

My TA takes the payments, tells me what I need to know, forwards all correspondence from DCL to me in a timely manner.

I used a TA for cruising..simply because the price is so much better.

Other than that..a castmember from DCL isn't going to do anything more (and probably less) for you that a TA would or would not do.

 

[my3kids]

If your TA will answer the questions you ask, and you don't "need to chit chat," then why are you worried? If they are reputable, then everything is fine. If I'd booked with a TA on the corner, they wouldn't be calling to chat or check in with me either.

If you aren't asking them questions, then how do they know you want to hear from them? I'm not sure what any TA would correspond with a client about except payments, documents and such.

If you send it back to DCL you'll pay the price the TA paid for the reservation....whatever discount you received was off their commission.

 

[DrCavin]

You have to book through someone, at the very least through DCL which like the previous poster said isnt going to do much besides "place your order".

I don't know what more you want from a TA, but if the one you have is not giving you satisfactory service then not sure what options you would have to switch to another.

 

[ivanova]

To answer you question, no you cannot just "take back" the reservation. You would have to cancel with the TA and rebook either with another TA or directly with DCL at whatever the going rate is (so possibly more expensive).

 

[Bella2000]

To answer you question, no you cannot just "take back" the reservation. You would have to cancel with the TA and rebook either with another TA or directly with DCL at whatever the going rate is (so possibly more expensive).

Thank you for answering my question.

I was trying to be objective vs. subjective asking the question and instead I was not clear based on the responses. I travel for work - I use TA's and book myself. I have a family member who is a TA. I should have just asked what is the level of service I should expect from a cruise TA as I have found it different with this TA. I have used Disney specialist for WDW in the past. My communication with her was email and phone. Significant dates that were due I track however every TA I've dealt with has notified me about them as well. I've rec'd info on special events, upcoming info and changes relative to my stay. I wondered whether the level of interaction with a cruise is different by the nature of the activities. My cousin thinks I should get a different TA and I am trying to understand what is a proper expectation. I've booked directly with DCL and WDW so I know the level of service that they provide.

 

[Buddy Bear]

To answer you question, no you cannot just "take back" the reservation. You would have to cancel with the TA and rebook either with another TA or directly with DCL at whatever the going rate is (so possibly more expensive).

I don't necessarily agree with that. I booked a 7-day cruise for Nov 2005 while on the Magic last August. For whatever reason I decided to move the reservation to a TA that I had heard very good things about.

While in the middle of a lengthy conversation with that TA they said they could move the reservation back to DCL although that was an extreme case and they didn't really want to do that unless absolutely necessary. I think this was a shallow gesture since it was made with the mindset that I wouldn’t want to move the reservation back if I committed to giving him the reservation.

The bottom line: I have asked numerous people why I should use a TA and to this day no one has come up with a good reason except for the cost savings.

In reality, I saved $100 by moving the reservation, but I wished I hadn't. No TA will ever give me the same "warm fuzzy" that I get from a Disney Cast Member so this is the last time I move a reservation.

 

[my3kids]

You can ask the TA to release the booking back to Disney...but again, you would pay the full fare on the existing reservation. DCL isn't going to give you the cut the TA did.

 

[mmouse37]

What you can expect depends a lot on what kind of TA you booked with. There are TA's out there they will communicate regularly and then there are agencies that are strictly e-mail only like cruisequick.com I knew exactly what cabin, ship, date, etc. for my cruise so I did not not need someone holding my hand through the process. I had price quotes from other places and when their quote came back it was significantly lower, so I booked with them. Before I booked with cruisequick I read the fine print that said they ONLY communicate via e-mail and that their service was primarily for people who were sure about what they wanted and needed little contact. After the deposit I have not heard from them and don't expect to until final payment is due and/or I got an upgrade or the cruiseline had a problem....other than that I really don't expect to hear from them. There are cruise TA's that you can call anytime you have a question, but I basically use a TA only for cost savings as I do most research on all my cruises....non Disney as well.....instead of relying on a TA.

 

[Disneefun]

I don't know how far off your cruise is, but keep in mind that with a cruise, unlike a land vacation, there is very little else to be worked out other than your initial booking. You can't make shore excursion reservations until close to your sailing date, you can't make spa or palo reservations until you board (unless you go with REAS or concierge) and there's no need to book shows, etc. With a land vacation, you might deal more with your TA to get show tickets, dining reservations, rental cars, attraction tickets, etc. All that means you might be talking more to your TA. With a cruise, until final payment is due, there's really nothing to talk about. So this may be the difference you're experiencing over what you're used to. I use a TA to book my cruises and, unless I need to make a change or ask a question, I don't hear from her until final payment is due and then I get a reminder about a week ahead of time.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Another thing to consider is if the TA has a cancellation fee. I've used the same TA for 4 years now. When I first started using her, her company didn't have a cancellation fee. I booked our Nov 2005 cruise through her last June and at that time she told me as of 2004 they now have a $50 cancellation fee. When I spoke to her a few weeks ago to make a payment on our cruise she told me that her company increased the fee to $75.