AP Rates and Travel Agency

[seashoreCM]

Are there travel agents in the Orlando area who, if you book with them, give you a better chance at the AP rate compared with making your own reservation directly with WDW?

That is, are there some travel agencies who monitor things and the instant the AP rate is announced for a date period, have a stack of their clients' pre-made ressies ready and start phoning WDW right away to convert them to AP rate?

Which means, even if I myself learn when the AP rate comes available, I am in direct competition with travel agencies for getting my request in quickly before the allotment runs out?

 

[Bella2000]

I guess the short answer is yes? I used to book all of my own reservations - check boards for AAA, Disney Card, AP etc rates and I've done this for years - call as soon as the lines open to change/book update my reservations before anyone be it travel person or non called. I believe the travel agents do the same thing - calling CRO or WDTC - we do only they have more reservations to fill.

Last year with our second WDW trip that year I used an agent who is not in the Orlando area but specializes in WDW, who does the same thing and it was much easier on me as each code came out she compares her clients and updates the reservations.

 

[off2disney]

I just booked my rezzies with "Your Magical Journeys". I had emailed them for a quote and asked about codes and discounts. I suggested I might get a AAA membership because I don't have Disney Club or Annual Pass discounts. Debbie told me to hold off, that if I made my rezzies now and paid the one night deposit, I would be in their system to automatically convert to the lower rate (subject to availability for my dates). She said instead of the $133 a night it would probably be discounted to $85-$90 a night (plus tax). She said they did this all the time for their clients. I read about them on Mouseplanet.com. Their address is:
guestservices@yourmagicaljourneys.com (Debbie is listed as an "Orlando Specialist")

 

[Bella2000]

Yup, I use them as well. Jean is wonderful. If you are anal like I am it's very difficult to relinquish control but I'm never going back to the old way again.

 

[JulesMom]

We have used Dreams Unlimited several times and been pleased.

They will make all your PS and keep an eye out for better rates.

 

[Mamu]

I wouldn't think of using anyone but Dreams. They are a great company to do business with, plus the help you get the best deals.

 

[cindyfan]

Yes, you probably are in direct competition. But you are in direct competition with all of us that are looking for the discounts.
I too am looking for AP rates.
But I did go with Magical Journeys this time......Karen was awesome. She was able to find a better rate for me when I thought I had exhausted all my options!
But the up-side for you is that they will be making only one phone call and end up taking the time of only one CRO......as opposed to if all their clients were trying to call all at once!!!
So if you look at it that way.......your call should get through quicker!

Just a quick note about Magical Journeys vs. Dreams Un.....
I know ALOT of people swear by DU and I have heard people rave about them. But when I tried to get a quote...I told them I had DC, AAA and AP and that my trip covered two different season rates (arriving during peak and changes to regular during our stay). She came back with a quote for RACK PEAK RATE for the entire stay.!!! I kinda felt insulted....I already had ressies that were cheaper by just splitting the stay and using DC.

But when I checked with MJ....she did awesome for me....saved me an additional $120 in addition to the $$ I was saving using codes, etc.
So my cost using MJ = $880 vs. the quote I got from DU = $1330

 

[ga9497]

we have used ourlaughingplace.com for our last few trips and I have to say it's been so relaxing not worrying about codes. My TA looks for any kind of discount for me, applies it to my reservation and then calls me to let me know what the new rate is.

I don't feel stressed if I can't get to the boards to see if any have been released.

I also have used them for all of my travel even non disney trips.

 

[Jenn9]

Another vote here for Magical Journeys. Karen has helped me plan 2 trips and I highly recommend using her. She saved me over $900 on my first trip compared to what I had booked with a AAA agent She has already lowered my rates 2 times on my existing trip and will lower again if AP rates are released. Plus she is always courteous and prompt with all my emails and questions.

 

[patsal]

My vote is for Dreams--everything is painless, and they work so hard to do it all for you!

 

[seashoreCM]

A few more questions that maybe some insiders might know about...

Do travel agencies split your resort ressie for you if they find a lower rate available for only some of the nights? One time I started with a 7 night ressie and later found the AP rate available for just the first 3 nights. So I made a second ressie (by myself) for the first 3 nights and modified the first ressie (originally made by myself) to be just the last 4 nights. If I remember correctly I got Dreams Unlimited in on this and when all was said and done I think I had 4 different ressies although some nights still did not have the AP rate.

Is it easier for travel agencies if I made several short ressies, like 2 nights each, rather than one long one to make conversion to the AP rate easier? Paying a separate deposit on each one is no problem.

Are there some nights that don't even have any AP rate rooms when the AP rate is announced? Or is it just that as soon as an AP rate room opens up due to someone's cancellation, minutes later a call comes in to claim it?

Is it common to have all the AP rooms go within the first two hours or something like that? Just like the airlines where some choice dates sell out of low fares 331 days in advance?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[ga9497]

As long as you let your travel agent know what you would like to do and that you don't mind paying different deposits then you should fine.

I had 3 reservations over New Years and my ta had no problem at all making them that way so that I could get the best discounts available.

I had a AAA discount for a few nights, A code discount for a couple of nights and an AP for the last 2nights.

 

[Bella2000]

Yikes..sounds pretty complicated to track for yourself never mind for an agent. Where you are staying and when you go would play a factor I'm sure since busy time you have more volume and competition for rooms. I've found discounts on Home Away from Home at some resorts aren't there immediately like the others probably because they aren't released from DVC yet or my selection is one in demand. I've found the rates do go fast. Now that more people are familiar with using codes they go faster. I can't imagine Disney cares how you book, they just want you to book, but don't you run the risk of having to change rooms or do you have them link the ressie? I've found that sometimes I know the codes better than the CRO which considering all of the codes available and that many handle CRO and WDTC that makes sense. With Jean I would just give her the days I want and discuss with her alternatives if my choices didn't work. I trust her to find them for me and if she can't she'd look at alternatives. I'll never book separate from her unless something bizarre happened and she told me to do it.