Book on my own or with and agency?

[mkylovr]

I know i can book my trip directly through disney but i was also thinking of going through a travel agency. What are your thoughts of going through an agency?

Thanks

 

[RFrank9504]

booking with a TA takes the fun out of it-just my opinion-relax all you TA lovers!!! It all depends on if you're a planner or not. I LOVE planning myself. Some people like another person taking care of all the details it really depends on who you are. For us-our whole family get involved. We sit and talk and play online, make itineraries and the kids get involved picking restaurants and helping with the resorts. Its a hobby of some sort.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Last year we booked through our local AAA agent, and I must say... I was not very impressed. Seemed like I knew more about the resorts and the special promos than my agent did. Could have been just that agent, but still I was not impressed. I received a few extra perks, but did not use them.

This year, I had fun entering a bizillion different scenarios on Disney's reservation site. Ultimately, I booked using Disney's site. Easy, quick, painless. And since I was my own travel agent, I was quite impressed

 

[Alesia]

booking with a TA takes the fun out of it-just my opinion-relax all you TA lovers!!! It all depends on if you're a planner or not. I LOVE planning myself. Some people like another person taking care of all the details it really depends on who you are. For us-our whole family get involved. We sit and talk and play online, make itineraries and the kids get involved picking restaurants and helping with the resorts. Its a hobby of some sort.

I've never understood the idea that using a TA means that you can't plan everything yourself.

I planned every single minute detail of my vacation. But my TA made all the phone calls for me. I didn't have to stress out about getting up at 5:30 to get my CRT ADR. I also didn't have to pay the phone bill. My agent was also constantly on the lookout for better deals, including pin codes that were attached to my name.

I highly recommend Dreams Unlimited.

 

[dawnbu40]

I love using Disney Travel online and doing it all myself! When I booked through AAA I thought it was more hassle then it was worth!

 

[my3cinderellas]

I will have to agree i love doing it myself.......

plus to me its cheaper...........

 

[zigfam4]

This was my first WDW vacation and I booked it through MouseFan Travel. It was no extra cost and they did all the ADR's, hotel ressies for me, etc. I got every ADR I requested and I didn't have to do any of the work They saved me a lot of time and headache that I personally didn't want to deal with. With all of that said, she even sent me a gift bag of goodies with my Magical Expess tickets and airline tix. In it she included two autograph books for my two DD's along with a waterproof backpack which we'll happily use on our upcoming vacation. For the simple fact that it didn't cost me a dime, I would highly recommend them. I hope my email doesn't get pulled for recommending someone!!?!?!

 

[moxiecola]

Our first two trips to Disney I used an agent (the first one being my cousin and the second It's a Small World). This was because I was new at the whole Disney experience and didn't really know where to begin. Now I do it myself. I love doing the planning and booking it makes the build up to the trip so much more exciting.

 

[Demi_8]

We have our first trip coming up this summer and I used an agent (Small World). I have done a ton of research and probably could have done it all myself, but figuring it was our first trip I did not want anything to go wrong. I was counting on the free dining promotion and wanted to make sure I could reply on an agent to be on the phone the minute it was announced. They will take care of all my ressies at the 90 day mark. I am busy at work and don't have time to wait around on the phone. Perhaps on our next trip I will try doing it all myself if I have more time.

 

[lizgonzalez623]

If you are doing the Dining Plan, I would say do it yourself. I asked Disney reps about this and they said whoever books it has to make any changes and make any reservations. I decided to book it myself because I like the idea of calling in for changes like if we decide to add the park hopper. Also, it gives us freedom to pick the restaurant we want on the day we want. I had gone to our AAA rep and they said: Don't tell me what days you want at each restaurant because I will just book whatever is available.
I wasn't too happy with that response. Also, they kept going on and on about all the perks we would get if we went thru them.... we went 2 years ago, booked over the phone and got the same perks.

 

[dbarker]

I use a TA who is also a fellow Diser. I make all the plans, she makes all the ressies.

Why, you ask... for convenience. I work out of town alot, in remote areas. I do not always have internet access. My TA is able to make all my ressies at the correct times, and I don't have to worry about it. I've been extrememly pleased w/ my TA. This is not the first time I have used her, and I will continue using her as long as she is a TA.

 

[Alesia]

If you are doing the Dining Plan, I would say do it yourself. I asked Disney reps about this and they said whoever books it has to make any changes and make any reservations. I decided to book it myself because I like the idea of calling in for changes like if we decide to add the park hopper. Also, it gives us freedom to pick the restaurant we want on the day we want. I had gone to our AAA rep and they said: Don't tell me what days you want at each restaurant because I will just book whatever is available.
I wasn't too happy with that response. Also, they kept going on and on about all the perks we would get if we went thru them.... we went 2 years ago, booked over the phone and got the same perks.

I can't believe that a travel would say that.

My Dreams Unlimited agent got all of the restaurants we wanted at the times we wanted. She also made quite a few changes.

 

[starrynyt]

I know i can book my trip directly through disney but i was also thinking of going through a travel agency. What are your thoughts of going through an agency?

Thanks

I have done it myself in the past but ran into a Disney travel agent, that is all she plans, one day at a local McDonalds. I have used her for 2 trips now and she is really good. It is all stuff I could do but she doesn't cost me any more because disney pays her not me (and I still get the same discounts) and she spends all the time on the phone with them for dinner reservations, making payments and reminds me when the payments are coming up. Also she does a great little calendar with the park times, our reservations, parades/fireworks and it is just an easy thing to take with us.

If you want her information send me a PM and I will send it back to you.

Thanks,

 

[tweedlemom]

One of my best friends has been our travel agent for 12 years and has booked all of our trips for us. I can't imagine booking a trip without her!

 

[momma2kiddos]

I used Small World for our first trip this year and she made everything PAINLESS for me. I loved it!

I am now "earning my ears" to specialize and book Disney travel and if I don't have my "ears" by then, Small World gets my business!