Booking abd with ta

[meajuly5]

What are the advantages to booking an abd with a TA over booking direct? Are there incentives similar to an on board credit? (Aside from the convenience of having someone coordinate flights). Is there much pre- trip coordination to be done on an abd?

 

[Tozzie]

What are the advantages to booking an abd with a TA over booking direct? Are there incentives similar to an on board credit? (Aside from the convenience of having someone coordinate flights). Is there much pre- trip coordination to be done on an abd?

Some Travel Agents give incentives or gifts for booking with them for me the biggest advantage to booking with a Travel Agent is the convience. I had a trip canceled a few years ago and had to scramble to change the trip and the flights and it was hard. I book with a travel agent as they will take care of all of that for me if it should happen again or situations like this year, I knew I couldn't be on the phone early Wednesday morning, since the dates were on the ABD website the night before I emailed my travel agent on Tuesday night and she booked it for me Wednesday morning. I have a great agent and she is just a peach, I book everything with her now it is so much easier especially with work.

 

[margie100]

I highly recommend using http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/reservations/abd_input.cfm

The offer discounts, and Kevin is very, very helpful. (I love being able to email him. The one time I booked ABD directly I had to call them any time I had a question.)

 

[Computer Magic]

A TA knows the tips and tricks. Last year I went on a DCL, I called around looking at different TA options including Disney direct. I found a DCL TA expert that knew information that even Disney direct booking didn't know.

This is my second ABD trip and first with DreamsUnlimitedTravel Kevin. I figured he would know more about ABD then anyone else since he deals with it everyday. I will surely test his knowledge with my questions over the next 512 days.

 

[Happy99]

we chose to book with a TA for different reasons

We have a TA that we have worked with for 8 years and is a Disney Specialist and she has proven herself time after time with applying any discounts to WDW vacations (before we purchased DVC), etc.

The benefits for me is that I have one person I can call instead of getting 20 different people at WDW, ABD or DCL if I have to call with a question. Also I can email my TA and have an answer in a short amount of time after I send it

It doesn't cost me any extra and if someone can make a little money off a vacation that I book at no extra charge why shouldn't I let them have the booking? My way of contributing to the economy a bit. Take that with a discount that I cannot get from ABD directly and it is a win win situation for me

It doesn't hurt that they offer onboard credits for DCL and they offer a discount on ABD vacations. If I booked my ABD directly I wouldn't get a discount. Booking through my TA I can get a discount, the amount is based on the cost of my vacation and it is taken off the balance due and my TA has been on a few ABD's herself and knows the ins and outs of it

I think I can name my TA here, if I cannot it will come up with **** instead of their name so here goes. www.smallworldvacations.com

Good luck with your decision

 

[Computer Magic]

It doesn't cost me any extra and if someone can make a little money off a vacation that I book at no extra charge why shouldn't I let them have the booking?

That's a good point. I use to book all our WDW trips ourselves. I enjoy all the planning and booking ADR is easy. Being on Disney sites I've met people that are Disney Travel Agents, so I allow them to book my trips. I do all the work but send them the dates. This gets them paid, yet I don't pay more.

 

[Cousin Orville]

This is my second ABD trip and first with DreamsUnlimitedTravel Kevin. I figured he would know more about ABD then anyone else since he deals with it everyday.QUOTE]

Agreed. I use Kevin from Dreams, too and Dorothy from Dreams for my cruises. They've always been very responsive and professional. Plus, these boards are supported by Dreams.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I think it varies greatly from one travel agency to another, and even then it varies from one travel agent to another. I used a highly recommended travel agency for my last trip, and my individual agent was not a lot of help. I still had to book my own airfare, and I felt I spent more time taking care of issues myself.

Having said that, I believe there are some truly outstanding travel agents out there. If you go that route, definitely get some recommendations of individuals within specific agencies and then see if you can request that person to make your arrangements.

 

[meajuly5]

Thanks all. I have booked trips on my own and have used TA as well. I appreciate the insight as I was unsure if there were discounts when booking through a TA for an abd available and if you would need to go through a Disney specialist to get those discounts.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Thanks all. I have booked trips on my own and have used TA as well. I appreciate the insight as I was unsure if there were discounts when booking through a TA for an abd available and if you would need to go through a Disney specialist to get those discounts.

Dreams Unlimited Travel is offering a booking discount.

You can see the scale here:

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/abd/specials.htm'

There is no cost associated with using Dreams Unlimited Travel.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

I can be reached at Kevin@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com

 

[west&east]

Costco Travel is offering $700 per reservation for the Austria trip we are looking at. (4 people= 2 reservations) It comes in the form of a costco card after the trip is complete. We easily spend over $3K at costco per year so this is a no brainer. When I called costco travel, it connected me directly to ABD, and they provided the details.

Our usual DCL TA, Small World offers $400 per room. I don;t know that the services I will need from them is worth the difference. I am fine booking my own airfare especially since we will probably use miles/ points. Doesn't ABD take care of everything else?

 

[sayhello]

Costco Travel is offering $700 per reservation for the Austria trip we are looking at. (4 people= 2 reservations) It comes in the form of a costco card after the trip is complete. We easily spend over $3K at costco per year so this is a no brainer. When I called costco travel, it connected me directly to ABD, and they provided the details.

Our usual DCL TA, Small World offers $400 per room. I don;t know that the services I will need from them is worth the difference. I am fine booking my own airfare especially since we will probably use miles/ points. Doesn't ABD take care of everything else?

It depends on what you mean by "everything else". They will book your hotel room for pre- or post- days, but only if you book the hotels ABD offers. If you want to stay anywhere else, or for more days than ABD offers, ABD won't handle that. Nor will they book activities for you for those pre- or post-days.

Sayhello

 

[west&east]

It depends on what you mean by "everything else". They will book your hotel room for pre- or post- days, but only if you book the hotels ABD offers. If you want to stay anywhere else, or for more days than ABD offers, ABD won't handle that. Nor will they book activities for you for those pre- or post-days.

Sayhello

Does Small World do that for you? Would they be knowledgeable about
the European destinations even for the new destinations? Thanks for any opinions. I don't think I'd mind planning a few days on my own.

 

[Bobo912]

Costco Travel is offering $700 per reservation for the Austria trip we are looking at. (4 people= 2 reservations) It comes in the form of a costco card after the trip is complete. We easily spend over $3K at costco per year so this is a no brainer. When I called costco travel, it connected me directly to ABD, and they provided the details.

Our usual DCL TA, Small World offers $400 per room. I don;t know that the services I will need from them is worth the difference. I am fine booking my own airfare especially since we will probably use miles/ points. Doesn't ABD take care of everything else?

If you don't use points/miles, ABD will book your flights if you you want.

 

[sayhello]

Does Small World do that for you? Would they be knowledgeable about
the European destinations even for the new destinations? Thanks for any opinions. I don't think I'd mind planning a few days on my own.

I'm not familiar with Small World. Sorry.

Sayhello

 

[Tozzie]

Does Small World do that for you? Would they be knowledgeable about
the European destinations even for the new destinations? Thanks for any opinions. I don't think I'd mind planning a few days on my own.

I don't know about Small World but I am going on the ABD Scotland Trip this year and then going to London for 3 days on my own and my travel agent booked my hotel for me in London, she travels frequently and was very knowledgeable about what I wanted and where I wanted to go and I got a hotel close to the sights I want to go to . As for dreams unllimited you would have to ask Kevin if they can do that.

 

[Happy99]

Costco Travel is offering $700 per reservation for the Austria trip we are looking at. (4 people= 2 reservations) It comes in the form of a costco card after the trip is complete. We easily spend over $3K at costco per year so this is a no brainer. When I called costco travel, it connected me directly to ABD, and they provided the details.

Our usual DCL TA, Small World offers $400 per room. I don;t know that the services I will need from them is worth the difference. I am fine booking my own airfare especially since we will probably use miles/ points. Doesn't ABD take care of everything else?

Have you asked if SW will match the Costco offer? worth asking. Costco is a huge company that can probably afford to offer more while smaller agencies cannot

The thing I don't like about Costco is that you never get the same person and you never get a personal experience plus the wait you sometimes have when calling. Some people are ok with that I prefer to have an agent I can build a relationship with as I have with my SW agent and I would continue to use them.

I am not sure about services and are you referring to services that Costco can offer or SW can offer? I would still go with SW but I have worked with my agent for eight years and may have a different view on it than someone that hasn't built a relationship yet.

 

[Bobo912]

Have you asked if SW will match the Costco offer? worth asking. Costco is a huge company that can probably afford to offer more while smaller agencies cannot

The thing I don't like about Costco is that you never get the same person and you never get a personal experience plus the wait you sometimes have when calling. Some people are ok with that I prefer to have an agent I can build a relationship with as I have with my SW agent and I would continue to use them.

I am not sure about services and are you referring to services that Costco can offer or SW can offer? I would still go with SW but I have worked with my agent for eight years and may have a different view on it than someone that hasn't built a relationship yet.

When you call the Costco number to book an ABD you are connected directly to ABD. Once you've booked you just call the regular ABD Concierge Team number that appears on your reservation, if you need further info, want to make a payment, etc.. You never speak to anyone at Costco. You don't get the services of a travel agent. It's exactly the same as if you dialed the number on the ABD website to book, except that you provide your Costco membership number and receive a Costco Cash Card.

 

[west&east]

When you call the Costco number to book an ABD you are connected directly to ABD. Once you've booked you just call the regular ABD Concierge Team number that appears on your reservation, if you need further info, want to make a payment, etc.. You never speak to anyone at Costco. You don't get the services of a travel agent. It's exactly the same as if you dialed the number on the ABD website to book, except that you provide your Costco membership number and receive a Costco Cash Card.

Exactly. So the decision is about what the services of a TA are worth to you, and that is certainly an individual decision. We went with Costco because will receive $2100 total for our three reservations, and I do enjoy researching and planning a bit on my own.

 

[Bobo912]

Exactly. So the decision is about what the services of a TA are worth to you, and that is certainly an individual decision. We went with Costco because will receive $2100 total for our three reservations, and I do enjoy researching and planning a bit on my own.

I book with Costco too. It's a significant rebate and I shop at Costco two or three times a week. You only have pre and post tour days to research and the small amount of free time during your tour and the adventure guides will help with that part. But a good TA could probably be helpful if something goes wrong.