Booking a Disney Trip with a Travel Agent?

[mamattorney]

I saw a post yesterday about a travel agent for an Orlando trip and I was curious what, if any, benefits there are to booking with an agent vs. on your own.

I usually book cruises through an agent because they offer on board credit as an incentive, but never thought of doing it for a land based vacation.

Thanks!

 

[china mom]

I think this sums it up. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world-travel-agent.htm

 

[imthemamahere]

I think it all depends on the person/situation. To some degree, it's what you're comfortable with - some people like having a local person to speak with about issues that pop up.

Some (though probably not the people who come here to these boards!) don't know about the discounts and where to find them - so the travel agent is their "sale price" agent as well.

Some travel agents likely throw in little perks that others enjoy. I'm sure someone who uses a non-Disney travel agent can shine more light on just what that might be.

Me, personally, I like to book directly through Disney. I browse the website to get prices, do my research into any discount codes, then call and speak to a Disney Travel agency person. They're always super-nice and very helpful. Plus, I've had the number (plus the dining and play lines) memorized for years.

 

[imthemamahere]

I think this sums it up. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world-travel-agent.htm

Ah, shining more light, quicker than I could type.

 

[china mom]

Keep in mind that if you do use an agent, you are not paying them. The commission comes directly from Disney.

I am an agent and I am an independent contractor for a national agency. We sometimes offer incentives (like free luggage). We also offer a preferred parking area so you don't have to take the tram if you drive.

I do often have a members discount that I can apply but often there is no such incentive. I am still new and have only booked a few trips and run a few more quotes than that. Whenever I do this, I always run the same trip as thought eh person booked it themselves and compare to my quote.

So far, I have had two clients who did not save any money with me (but benefited from my expertise), one saved $52 and one saved $300. No one has ever done worse with me than they would have done on their own.

I am not saying this to steal business from Dreams Unlimited because this is their site and frankly, they are better than me since I am so new. I am explaining this to encourage people to use agents like DU.

If you book a trip and then a promotion is put out that would save you money, agents get eh information rich away and can/will/should have the discount applied to your trip. If you have booked it yourself, you will not be notified of discounts and would have to keep an eye out for them yourself.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

It really depends on your situation and the agent.

We booked our honeymoon through a travel agent on our first ever trip to Disney without either of our parents. My parents always book through the same agent since they have been vacationing. I found out later that if I had booked myself, we could have had an absolutely incredible stay for the price that we paid. Not that our honeymoon wasn't awesome, but we could have had a nicer room and just gotten much more for our money. My agent just booked rack rates and basically told me ADRs are near impossible to get. She booked a couple, but it was really a pain to coordinate for that after what I know now.

Had I done our honeymoon, we could have gotten ADRs easy for BoG and anywhere else we want to go through the cancellation thread here, and the resort would not have been rack rate....because I have yet to pay anywhere near rack rate since planning my own.

I find that planning our Disney trip is part of the fun. I find it almost as fun as the trip, as does my wife. So I suppose if you don't have time to plan on your own, an agent is your only choice, but if you do have the time, I recommend doing it yourself.

I will add, there are travel agents that specialize in Disney vacations, and some that are just better at it. Just with technology the way it is, anyone can easily look up ADRs and FP+s themselves without needing a third party.

I will also say, though my wife loves planning, she likes to plan FP+s and stuff. If she and I booked the same trip, mine would probably come out hundreds cheaper than hers. That always frustrates her so she makes sure booking things that cost money is my job.

 

[DisneyAnytime]

I LOVE planning my Disney vacations, however, I couldn't live without my TA. For our upcoming trip, i was just waking up when I got an email from my TA describing how she had saved me $$ and gotten us an extra day park ticket FREE! (We already had everything booked)

This was because she knew a discount was being released on that day and was up and waiting for the phone lines to open to snag the best deal for her clients.

Disney certified agents are better informed about the unique aspects of Disney travel. They are required to take classes, visit Disney, and stay on top of all the latest news and changes.

If you are a Disney Newbie, a travel agent is the best way to get the most out of your experience. If you are a Disney Veteran, a TA can make your trip seamless and watch for all the best deals and discounts for you while you are at your day job to pay for the trip! LOL Also, a GOOD travel agent will give you honest opinions and feedback to help you manage your expectations and are good sounding boards for questions like "Would it be possible to ________ and ___________ on the same day?" etc.

Bottom line: I love my TA and wouldn't ever book a complicated vacation without her! (Complicated = more than booking a room)

 

[rbrbnd]

I booked on my own but didn't realize a new discount came out until about 3 days after. By that point my room was already "sold out" at the discounted rate. An agent would have caught it on time and applied the discount. I always use an agent now.

 

[lpoeppelman]

I have been a travel agent for over 20 years and the only benefit in my opinion is for their expertise. But... the agent actually has to know what they are talking about or it is not a benefit. I ashmedly sold Disney trips years ago (before kids) and never really knew much about it back then. That has changed after countless trips.now through the years. Today, one service I provide to clients is that I make touring cards for them... an itinerary designed specifically for their family needs. This is an added service that is free with purchase. So, depending on your agent they may also give added bonuses that is entirely up to them. I do it and I know many others that do this in the form of Disney gift cards.

If you are someone who really likes to be hands on with your travel (and many of us diser's are) than I do not think you would enjoy the process for your wdw vacations...maybe other trips that are new destinations.

 

[avery619]

I've spoken with TA's that had blocks of rooms available that Disney did not have available. The promotions were about the same (maybe a little better) during the same time period. When I checked on Disney's website for the room it was sold out, but the TA had availability. So if you really want to stay at a particular resort and it looks like it is sold out through the Disney reservations, you might want to try a TA.

 

[rapunzels]

I plan all of our vacations, including Disney. I enjoy it, I like it, I want to be in charge of it. If I want to change something, I don't want to have to call my middle man (TA) to get it done... TA's are great for people that NEED a TA.... but for me...any perks they could offer could not outweigh the joy I get out of planning my Disney family trips. That's a small part of the fun.

 

[Aliceacc]

I've read thread after thread recently about the difficulties of getting particular ADRS--- the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party in particular.

And of people who missed the immediate release of the summer deal, and as a reult missed the best deals for them.

Both times, I emailed my Disney Certified travel agent with my requests. Both times, I checked my email from my 3rd period study hall at about 10:15 am.

The first time, I was happy to see I had all my ADRs for our upcoming trip, including BOG and the Dessert Party(both for 11 people.)

The second time, I was delighted to find that our travel agent had booked the discount and saved us $1000. We were originally booked at the Beach Club, and there were no discounted Garden View rooms there. So she took a chance and booked us at the Yacht Club, saving us the $1000. Had I not been OK with the change, there were plenty of non-discounted rooms at the Beach Club we could have booked.

Could I have tried at 4 pm when I got home from school, as I was getting dinner ready and helping my youngest with her homework? Sure, I guess. And maybe I would have gotten exactly what I wanted. And dinner and homework would have waited. Instead I sent an email at 5 am, when it was convenient for me, and the arrangements were taken care of for me.

I leave for work at 7 am. I'm in the classroom for a good part of the day. (Even that 3rd period study hall doesn't come with phone access, so I can't call Disney.) Working with our travel agent means I can get all my requests met, and someone else will do all the "leg work" while I'm at work. And it doesn't cost me a dime.

I don't miss the independence, since everything I want is communicated to my TA via email and taken care of. I plan like crazy, and Tracey makes sure that all that I've planned actually happens. I don't spend any time on the phone with Disney, she does.

I realize it doesn't work for everyone, but working with Tracey H at Dreams Unlimited has been wonderful for us!!!

Also, for what it's worth, someone else gets a commission off my trip at no cost to me. It's an easy way of "paying it forward" that happens to benefit us.

 

[lpoeppelman]

I've spoken with TA's that had blocks of rooms available that Disney did not have available. The promotions were about the same (maybe a little better) during the same time period. When I checked on Disney's website for the room it was sold out, but the TA had availability. So if you really want to stay at a particular resort and it looks like it is sold out through the Disney reservations, you might want to try a TA.

I agree with this as an added benefit. TAs have access to multiple vendors who have space blocked that they can use to book wdw vacations.

 

[sethschroeder]

Don't forget though that if your TA is sick or out of the country there is going to be an issue getting things changed. When you book you have ultimate control but when a TA books you loose some of that control to make changes without them.

I prefer to do it all myself and do the research myself. With so many great resources online I feel you have a more well rounded view and ability to find just a million ideas compared to what even the most vertern disney expert would know.

 

[dramadrew]

I have found having a TA has been useful. The only negative aspect is being a proactive person so sometimes I would find out things before them or I would wish they would notify me about the status of things. But they were always there when I had a question, answered in a timely manner. They created a itinerary for me, called for all my ADRs, up to date with discounts, put special notes about my honeymoon for the hotel and restaurants, and I will soon be getting the Disney welcome packet, along with their own suggestions.

 

[pixistix]

Don't forget though that if your TA is sick or out of the country there is going to be an issue getting things changed. When you book you have ultimate control but when a TA books you loose some of that control to make changes without them. I prefer to do it all myself and do the research myself. With so many great resources online I feel you have a more well rounded view and ability to find just a million ideas compared to what even the most vertern disney expert would know.

I am a TA for a large company so when I'm out sick (like I am today!) there are 9 other people on my team that are happy to help change a reservation. But if it's a one-man operation I could see it being a problem.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Wendybird55]

I think it depends on the TA and you. If you are someone who enjoys vacation, but really doesn't have the time or interest in planning then a TA may be helpful.

Over my many years going to Disney, I've found that TA's really can't get you better prices on Disney trips. Disney prices are Disney prices. They may know of special offers and better ways to book a trip to save money, but to be honest, you can do the same research online and ask CMs at Disney when you call to book.

I would be careful however that all "Disney Travel Experts" may not be that (no offense to those agents that truly know "their stuff")

I know of someone who claims to be a Disney travel expert and solicits booking Disney trips for others on the side and I know much, much, more about Disney than her. Her friend is a Disney travel agent and I guess she took a quick class and now she calls herself a Disney travel expert as well. But funny, when she goes away to Disney with her family, I know more about what she should do then she does. I've found better ways to save money and know more about the new things that are happening from reading these boards than she does. Basically she can book your resort and restaurant ADRs if you want. I can do that online. Plus when she booked our family Disney cruise (yes she's a family member) she messed up on some things so I was unable to book the interactive video experiences for my son in advance and by the time I had the resources to do so from my trusty travel agent it was too late and they were all booked up.

If you are a planner and have the time and inclination to do your own research then you probably are the best person to book your Disney vacation. If you are not a planner and don't have the time or patience to do so then use a TA, but do some research and see if you can get any recommendations so that you can choose the right TA.

 

[Neebieneedshelp]

I've read thread after thread recently about the difficulties of getting particular ADRS--- the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party in particular.

And of people who missed the immediate release of the summer deal, and as a reult missed the best deals for them.

Both times, I emailed my Disney Certified travel agent with my requests. Both times, I checked my email from my 3rd period study hall at about 10:15 am.

The first time, I was happy to see I had all my ADRs for our upcoming trip, including BOG and the Dessert Party(both for 11 people.)

The second time, I was delighted to find that our travel agent had booked the discount and saved us $1000. We were originally booked at the Beach Club, and there were no discounted Garden View rooms there. So she took a chance and booked us at the Yacht Club, saving us the $1000. Had I not been OK with the change, there were plenty of non-discounted rooms at the Beach Club we could have booked.

Could I have tried at 4 pm when I got home from school, as I was getting dinner ready and helping my youngest with her homework? Sure, I guess. And maybe I would have gotten exactly what I wanted. And dinner and homework would have waited. Instead I sent an email at 5 am, when it was convenient for me, and the arrangements were taken care of for me.

I leave for work at 7 am. I'm in the classroom for a good part of the day. (Even that 3rd period study hall doesn't come with phone access, so I can't call Disney.) Working with our travel agent means I can get all my requests met, and someone else will do all the "leg work" while I'm at work. And it doesn't cost me a dime.

I don't miss the independence, since everything I want is communicated to my TA via email and taken care of. I plan like crazy, and Tracey makes sure that all that I've planned actually happens. I don't spend any time on the phone with Disney, she does.

I realize it doesn't work for everyone, but working with Tracey H at Dreams Unlimited has been wonderful for us!!!

Also, for what it's worth, someone else gets a commission off my trip at no cost to me. It's an easy way of "paying it forward" that happens to benefit us.

Can you please give me your TA's info. I tried to Google it and there are hundreds of similar results. Thanks!

 

[Sunshinegrl243]

I think it all depends on the travel agent you choose. You need to ensure that your styles mesh well together. A few months ago I was posting on here about my experience with a TA - and looking back, I don't see how she really benefited us at all. I did all of the follow-up (prompting her to look into discounts I found out about on the DIS boards) and she still didn't get all of our reservations correct. Very frustrating experience. If you have ANY experience with Disney trips, I would book it yourself. Besides, the people on the DIS boards are so incredibly helpful!! They can answer any question that might come up.

 

[photogineer]

This is my first year using a TA and it's a friend of mine, so I know she knows her stuff. She is a certified Disney TA and knows all the tricks for discounts and ADRs and everything. In fact, I came back from a cruise a month ago to a voicemail from her explaining which discounts she snagged me while I was out of touch. It's great, and she gets paid by Disney as some of the PPs mentioned. She also handled all of my ADRs, I woke up to a voicemail about those all being set, including the Chef's Table at V&A! She is all set with out FP+ picks for when that goes live in 34 days as well. It's been fantastic, I get to do all the research and fun planning and just let her deal with reservations and phone lines and muckity muck. I can definitely recommend it if you think you'd like the more hands off approach (or if you have a schedule that dictates it), but absolutely get one that specializes in Disney, I can't stress that enough. A generic travel agent will just get you rack rates and maybe ADRs if you're lucky.

Adam

P.S. I'm not sure on the rules advertising travel agents so I haven't posted the agency/agent I used here, but I'm happy to share information by PM if there is interest (that's allowed right?)