anyone (like me) use a travel agent?

[airhead]

I know lots of you here plan everything yourself ,I'm just not
confident about doing it! I keep saying I'm going to,but when it comes right down to it,I don't think I have the patience to look up codes and keep calling back for better rates. Has anyone booked with an agent and got code prices?

thanks!
airhead

 

[Nolcrest]

You may want to book thru Dreams Unlimited if you really want someone else to watch out for codes. I wouldn't go to a travel agent otherwise. I don't find them to be really that knowledgeable for the most part.

 

[eller]

I agree, Dreams is the way to go. We have used them for four trips and will continue to us them for up coming trips.

I don't want to call across the country everytime I want to book something or make changes. I just email Regina and she handles it all.

Life is sweet!

Lori

 

[TreeOfLife]

I guess once you feel more confident you'll go it alone.

Normally people book through a travel agent the first time or first few times they travel. It used to be a brutal, rude awakening to realize what you overpaid when you learned to break down the cost of your trip!

The travel industry is certainly going through a transition, being it a fact that airlines and travel businesses are catering more and more to the self-sufficient traveler. And it isn't that hard to do it all by yourself, you just spend time researching. Some people describe it as a drag, but it is actually fun to me. Not insulting anyone, I think they say that to promote fear and encourage dependence on travel agencies, if you ask me...

In my experience, most travel companies did not research all the areas I could. They have a subset of alternatives and scoop one out of there for the customer. So doing it on your own exposes you to more alternatives.

But, living in a democratic society if after considering all the facts you still go for an agent, hey it is your buck and your decision! Just do what makes you feel most comfortable, in the end it matters more than anything else.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Personally for me I prefer to plan myself, I have had several bad experiences with travel agent's in my area. However, if I was just starting out I do believe I would try Dreams Unlimited because I have always read only glowing reports about them. And some of there people are online here and are very helpful.

I would definately only use a travel agent that specialized in disney and was a frequent traveler of disney themselves so that they truely understood, exactly what you need in you planning help.

MKY

 

[tnkrbell]

Airhead, you can do it!! Youll save money!! Tell me when you are going Ill help ya!!!

 

[eller]

With Dreams you don't have the expense that you do if you make all the calls yourself. You can still plan everything yourself. You just don't have to get up at 4am (West Coast time zone here) to get your PS for Cinderella's Royal Table -- somebody else does it. I've always gotten all my PSings.

Everytime I've emailed to check and see if a new code changes things, my Dreams Travel agent has beaten me to it. I *know* I would be spending more if I made the calls myself.

I'll email my TA with all the PSings I want and she makes them.

I will never understand why people think that doing it themselves saves them money. Don't misunderstand, if I were using a local TA, I would know more that s/he and be spending more, most likely, but with Dreams I know I don't have to worry.

Just my 2 cents.

Lori

 

[ga9497]

We use ourlaughingplace.com
They are very efficient, always keep up on the codes and discounts and automatically change our reservation to the lower rate at that time.

They make all of the long distance calls, e-mail us itineraries, mail us all of our confirmations and anything else that they receive from Disney for our reservation and get back to very quickly to answer any question you may have.



edited to remove a link to a commercial site

 

[TreeOfLife]

I do save money booking on my own. Here is how:

1. I book early. I get online daily, so clicking here and there to locate the sites where the codes "gather" is no sweat.

2. Using a cell phone, the long distance calls are not a concern, anytime.

3. Using vacation planners and the experience of others help you figure out your strategy.

4. I DO NOT PAY COMISSION. Nobody gets a share of our savings through our research either, but us.

5. Booking separate components does save you money. If you want a tour or a restaurant and are a member of DS or AAA there goes $10-$15 off here and there. DS Club has its own 800 number for members only and exclusive to handle reservation issues, so no worries there either.

6. IT IS FUN. I am going to be researching what is going on at all times anyhow, I do not book and forget about it till the day before anyhow. I know what my family likes and wants and we plan accordingly, with lots of room to change our minds whenever we feel like!


Having used travel agencies before, I realize I do save money booking on my own, since nobody else gets paid for my choices. And that money comes along on vacation with us

But hey, being a travel agent is a noble job like any other. Some people like to change the oil in their car, others prefer to take it to a shop. You do save money when you learn to change your own oil, though

 

[figmentvi]

I used to book all of my own trips and now I use Dreams Unlimited exclusively. They do an excellent job and will hunt down the best prices for you. Not all travel agents will do that.

 

[JESW]

We go through a travel agent. I give her all the information and she books it all - including the flight numbers! I hate the hassle of doing it myself. When the TA does it I get all the confirmations so I know it's a go.

I went through the Disney site last trip and put in all the same requests and it came back $2 over what the ta quoted me.

Another good thing, she called a month before our trip in Nov. (must have been when codes came out??) and said that if we changed our room from water to standard view we could save $1500. Mmmmm, let me think about that for all of 2 seconds! (One time we had a water view at the YC and it was one of those tiny ponds on the side!)

We use a ta out of Acton. If you are interested I can give you her name and number. We have used her 2 or 3 times so far and I'll probably be calling her again soon. They send your entire package out so you don't have to worry about going to pick it up.

Jill

 

[eller]

For those that want to plan (and that's me, too!) doing all the research yourself is a great way to spend time and know what the best deals are and when they are good.

I would never argue that booking everything seperately saves money. And you are right about the TAs getting a commission, but (at Dreams) that commission is not part of what you pay.

Example: You and I book the same resort at the same rate. We are both paying the same amount. The difference is that my TA and Dreams will get about 10% of the money I'm spending straight from Diseny (not out of my Diseny money).

The one time I can say that I'm greatful that I was working with a TA was the time that I email AKL concierge for a quote and the quote that came back was wrong (too low). If I had been the one handling it we would never have gotten the lower rate, but working with a TA, she talked to numerous people all the way to the manager of concierge services at AKL to get the rate. Having someone on your side when dealing with Disney is a great option.

Like I said earlier, I plan my whole trip, I just let someone else do the work and get the commission from Disney. Might as well keep the money moving!

Knowledge is the key! Our first few trips (without knowledge) led us to spending (way)more money then we do now, TA or no TA.

Lori

 

[Elk34]

I booked a week at WL through Travelocity and saved $900 over what DTC quoted and about $500 less than Dreams. However, I have to admit that I am a little concerned with booking online etc. I have confirmation numbers etc. but I am old fashioned and would rather have gone through a real person. But the money I saved is just too good. Has anyone ever had a problem or known of a problem with using Travelocity.com?

 

[Kimickey]

I've heard wonderful things about Dreams Unlimited and will try them someday. My family uses Mouseearvacations.com and have used them for two years now. Our travel agent is Vickie and she is the WOMAN!!!

Planning your vacation depends totally on you and if you have the time to take care of every little detail. Our family is not as fortunate as others to take the time to make every detailed plan, I wish we did. The little planning that we do is really fun, plus I know we would probably save some money.

 

[eeyore0062]

I LOVE making my own arrangements, and having final say over everything, but if I were to use a TA, I would only ever consider Dreams Unlimited!

 

[ead79]

I have used Dreams Unlimited several times and have always been incredibly pleased with them. I like to plan some aspect of my trip myself (I always choose my own resort, restaurants, etc.), but they will make your priority seatings for you (saves me the trouble/time). As said above, they will find the cheapest code rate you're eligible for and apply it to your reservation. They do not charge ANY extra at all than if I booked it myself. I believe that they make their profit from Disney directly. I would never pay extra for a travel agent's services since I have been to WDW 11 times and know lots about my options and what I like, but since Dreams is free for me and helps convert my ressies to lower rates when possible, I love using them. Two thumbs up!

 

[goofy4tink]

On my first venture into all things Disney, I went thru a TA. She seemed to know what she was doing (seemed being the operative word here). She asked me about any dining plans. I told her I would like to do CRT. No problem says she. Well. Time passes. About 7 weeks before we go, she calls me to tell me.."I tried to get your CRT booked, but it was sold out already." She had called a WEEK late. I again used her to book my airfare for my upcoming trip. Messed that up. When Delta changed the flight I was on (having heard about it on these boards, not from Delta) I called Delta directly. Changed everything myself. TA must have been listed on the original booking. She sent me a new itinerary. Only thing was..she had my new flight as the one that was being cancelled and the old one as the one I was on now!! So.....While I love being on these boards, basically having no life according to my dh and ds, if I were to use a TA in the future it would be DreamsUnlimited. Sorry this got so long. I'm vented out, thank-you all very much for listening. I am capable of learning, albiet slowly. Our last trip, for two families, I did all the planning myself. I saved us all money and we had a terrific time.

 

[airhead]

You guys have definitely given me something to think about.
I've read a lot of very good things about Dreams Unlimited,but like elk34 mentioned,I'm not real comfortable planning my trip
online. I guess I also like to have my flight booked for me. The
TA I used last trip(11/2000) was great! But,he's not there anymore!
JESW from Acton,MA : Yes! I would like your TA's name &number!


airhead

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey airhead...I notice you don't ask for my TA's name Ah well. Have a great time planning. I also don't like to book my air on-line.

 

[jiminyfan]

I have no idea why anyone would use any travel agent other than not wanting to do a few calls and research themselves.

And if the travel agent requires you do give them the codes, why use them. They get commissions and etc off of you and you are doing all the work. save the little extra $$ and do it yourself.

I have never gotten a better deal from ANY travel agent to WDW than I could do myself.

In fact, I have saved a friend over $1800 on a 5 night trip just recently over a travel agent price and got him a Savannah view at AKL to boot.

Read the boards visit the code websites and make your best deal. Then contact travel agents and see if they can beat your price (WITHOUT GIVING THEM IT OR ANY CODES - let them EARN their commission). If they beat it, great - if they don't you proved to yourself tht you can do it and it is not that hard to do.