Benefits to using a travel agent?

[DakotaRose]

I don't get it, and I'd like some feedback.

Trip A I booked thru a local TA. He got me a package including air which was gave us a slight discount off booking it myself, but he doesn't book any dining and couldn't get us the Water park option, so we had to do that ourselves. Saved $330 on a $6000 trip.

Trip Z I'm going thru a Disney specialist TA. She has quoted me $300 off rack rate with free dining at one deluxe, or straight rack rate with no dining at another deluxe. And I'm on my own for finding airfare. So booking thru a travel agent will save me $300 or nothing at all depending on the resort we choose.

I expected more after the local guy got a little uppity about how much better/smarter it is to work with a TA.

 

[bbak3030]

I used a TA because she sat on the phone for hours to add free dining and she also booked all of my dining. Those are the 2 things I didn't want to have to do myself. Price was the same as booking through Disney.

 

[4under4]

I'm a control freak... I could never turn my planning over to anyone.

My understanding is that TAs can not get you any better deal from Disney than you can get yourself. In which case, if it's not full service, then why bother?

The CMs at Disney travel will spend hours on the phone with you too.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Up until my upcoming trip I always booked everything myself through the Disney Travel Co online.. And was happy to do it that way.

This time I've booked with a wonderful travel agent (online) & am very pleased . The reason -- a price I could never access otherwise. I've been able to book all my own ADRs (my choice - I enjoy the planning) and will be making my FP+ selections this weekend! My agent has been awesome with every change I've requested (& there've been a few *blushing*) he acts quickly & as efficiently as I would myself He keeps me informed of things like pool Refurbs/monorail schedule changes and the approach of my "dates of action". I have a new found appreciation for travel agents because of this experience!

I like knowing that I have options... No great deals, I can book myself. -- a deal to be had & I'm fine with booking with my agent/agency to access it

 

[OKW Lover]

Using a good, Disney specialist TA can save you a ton of money. A good TA will find you the best deal available, not just the one you might have read about. A good TA will also continue to check for new deals and rebook you to save money if a better deal comes along, all without you having to do anything.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I think the benefit of using a TA for Disney is usually for people who don't want to plan the trip and/or don't have the time to do so. I also think a lot of first timers like to go to a TA because they think they are getting expert advice and probably don't know (or don't have time to do the research themselves) that all of the information (and more!) is available online.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I'm a control freak... I could never turn my planning over to anyone.

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bluezy]

I used to book everything myself. Then one year I had a lot going on at home so I used an Earmarked Disney TA to take care of my room reservation. This allowed me not to have to worry about finding the best deal and then continuing to watch the deals for the next 6 months to make sure something better didn't come along (and then having to sit on the phone for possibly hours to get the better deal). I liked knowing someone else was taking care of that for me. I've used the same TA for every Disney trip for the last 10 years. I just have her take care of the room/package reservations.

One year I realized about 2 weeks before our trip that we were booked for the wrong dates (totally my fault -- I had looked at the wrong year when I gave the TA the dates so we were "off" by a day PLUS I had only told her to book us for 6 nights when I really meant to book 7 nights. Not sure how I didn't notice the wrong dates on the paperwork and e-mails I received.). We just happened to get free dining for that trip. The deadline for booking under the free dining promo had long passed when I realized the date mix-up. I called my TA nearly in tears and told her about the mistake. I knew we were probably going to have to book a room-only reservation for one day of the trip (either at the beginning or the end) and probably not have free dining for that day. She listened to my hysterical babbling and then said, "Hang up the phone, go pour yourself a glass of wine, and I'll take care of this." And even when I said, "....but we'll lose the free dining for a day....and what if the resort is sold out and we can't get a room there for one night...." She said, "I'll call you back in a little while." Five minute's later the phone rang. She had taken care of adjusting the dates *and* extending free dining for the extra day. I don't think that would have happened if I had made the reservation myself. And that is why I will *always* book the room/package through her even though I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself (and have in the past).

 

[4under4]

The reason -- a price I could never access otherwise.

I would love to know if this is true. I thought that TAs did not have access to any Disney offers that were not available to the general public????

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I would love to know if this is true. I thought that TAs did not have access to any Disney offers that were not available to the general public????

I'm using an agency that has several agency exclusive offers per year. They book directly with Disney Destinations (The Disney Travel Company) through their group sales division.

The Agency books blocks of rooms (& park tickets) at the convention rate, then passes along the savings to their customers. I have a 3 deluxe resort split stay booked with park tickets. The Agency has thrown in a "fun day" at either BB, TL, DQu or a round of golf - on them! They are hosting an evening with Anna & Elsa at a private Agency guest function one evening as well.


My Magic Bands are customized, my ADRs made & all FP+ will be done this weekend. Everything is in my Disney account and on my MDE - I can access & change it anytime I want.

So yes... to answer your original question - it's true.

(And as far as savings or deals go... this one saved me in the 50% off rack rate range )

**edited** DQ to DQu = Disney Quest!! LOL...

 

[DakotaRose]

A few replies mention significant savings. What do you call "significant"? To me, 5% isn't a significant savings. Ten percent or more is. But to save only $300 and have to give them my money seven months in advance, I'm not convinced the. TA is an advantage.

The previous poster mentions saving almost 50% off rack on rooms. It seems too good to be true. . What do you typically save, dear readers?

Guess I will ask for quotes from a couple other places.

 

[mgsquared]

I'm using an agency that has several agency exclusive offers per year. They book directly with Disney Destinations (The Disney Travel Company) through their group sales division.

The Agency books blocks of rooms (& park tickets) at the convention rate, then passes along the savings to their customers. I have a 3 deluxe resort split stay booked with park tickets. The Agency has thrown in a "fun day" at either BB, TL, DQ or a round of golf - on them! They are hosting an evening with Anna & Elsa at a private Agency guest function one evening as well.

My Magic Bands are customized, my ADRs made & all FP+ will be done this weekend. Everything is in my Disney account and on my MDE - I can access & change it anytime I want.

So yes... to answer your original question - it's true.

(And as far as savings or deals go... this one saved me in the 50% off rack rate range )

I'm curious as to who you use and wondering if we used the same (although I got no free day at DQ ).
I have, for fun, tried to get the same deal my travel agent got me with a ton of different combos such as using a pin Disney sent me, ebookers/expedia from Europe and calculating less for food without free DDP, etc. etc. i have read SO many blogs on saving at Disney, subscribed to mousesavers.... I have tried all i can. For the life of me I cannnot reach the same price the Disney travel agent did and I am really really glad I asked for a quote!

It is so convenient too. We were given a 7 day courtesy reservation to think it over. We also now have someone on top of all the deals and promos that will apply anything worth applying to our reservation or rebook.

It doesn't cost anything to use the travel agent and I am planning the trip myself otherwise. I got my Disney code from the agent and signed up on the my disney experience site. I have simce been doing my ADR's, etc.

So why wouldn't someone use this awesome service? I, for one, am a believer!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I'm curious as to who you use and wondering if we used the same (although I got no free day at DQ ). I have, for fun, tried to get the same deal my travel agent got me with a ton of different combos such as using a pin Disney sent me, ebookers/expedia from Europe and calculating less for food without free DDP, etc. etc. i have read SO many blogs on saving at Disney, subscribed to mousesavers.... I have tried all i can. For the life of me I cannnot reach the same price the Disney travel agent did and I am really really glad I asked for a quote! It is so convenient too. We were given a 7 day courtesy reservation to think it over. We also now have someone on top of all the deals and promos that will apply anything worth applying to our reservation or rebook. It doesn't cost anything to use the travel agent and I am planning the trip myself otherwise. I got my Disney code from the agent and signed up on the my disney experience site. I have simce been doing my ADR's, etc. So why wouldn't someone use this awesome service? I, for one, am a believer!

I knew I should have abbreviated Disney Quest - DQu !! but I got so wrapped up in my post I forgot to go back & edit!

So.. no free day at the DQ sadly - I will have to buy my Blizzard like everyone else... lol!

 

[Aliceacc]

I work full time as a high school math teacher. As much as I love Disney planning, I'm not available at 7 am to call in our ADRs; I'm on my way to school. I can't stop during my day to catch deals when they're released; I have to be on my way to class at or before the ringing of that bell.

At our 180 day mark, she was on the phone at 7 am. We got all the ADRs we wanted, including BOG and the Dessert Party.

Last spring, when the summer special was released, I checked my email at 10:30 (in study hall, after I had taken attendance and sent those who wanted to go to the library.) I found that our travel agent had applied the discount to our reservation, changing it from the Beach Club to the Yacht Club because of availability,and saved us just over $1000. (She also let me know she could change it back if we really wanted the BC, but the savings would be only about $200 because there were no standard or garden view rooms available with the discount.)

She has offered valuable suggestions as to how to plan a 3-household family reunion.

Could I have done all that myself? Sure. But not as early as she did it, and possibly without the same results.

Finally, I believe it's good karma. Someone else benefits from my trip, at no cost (and plenty of benefit) to me.

 

[DisneyWitch]

I agree with the previous posters in support of TA's. Finding a good one can make all the difference in your trip. Unfortunately, not every TA is a good one! I've heard of horror stories of TA's who forget their clients, have horrible communications, etc. A good TA is worth their weight in gold...a bad one can destroy your vacation.

Full disclosure - I'm NOT a travel agent, but I have worked with my current one for 5 years. She's saved us a TON of money and her honesty, communication and knowledge have been invaluable to us. If you want her name and agency, please PM me - I don't want to turn this thread into an advertisement board.

I would suggest finding an "EarMarked" TA - they are the ones who work with Disney exclusively, they have to attend special training and seminars, and are in the know of upcoming events and discounts. They also get advanced notification of schedules and promotions, even before the public. Look for recommendations and do your research like you would do with any service professional.

I can't imagine going to WDW without my TA. She was up at 5am on a SUNDAY to get my ADRs in, including Be Our Guest dinner; she provides us with HONEST assessments of events so we don't waste our money; she spends time with us to make sure our vacation is as wonderful as we want it. She also gives us the option of planning as much - or as little - as we want. We have saved thousands of dollars by using a TA, and it costs us nothing.

Using a TA has made a real difference in the quality of our vacations. It's not for everyone, and some people prefer doing all the planning rather than handing it over - which is totally cool. As a working professional, I don't have the time or energy to get up at the buttcrack of dawn to get reservations, or monitor every WDW site to figure out when discounts are going to be in play.

Whichever way you choose to go, I hope it results in the best vacation ever!