Booking through a TA vs Disney

[bukosluvswdw]

I called a travel agent and Disney on a vacation package and they both were the same price. If all things being equal who should I book through? Disney or Travel Agent?

Thoughts?

 

[twokids0204]

I called a travel agent and Disney on a vacation package and they both were the same price. If all things being equal who should I book through? Disney or Travel Agent?

Thoughts?

I prefer to book through Disney... it gives you control over future changes.

 

[BrightI's]

I prefer to book through Disney... it gives you control over future changes.

This.

When you book through a TA, they are the ones that own the reservation, not you. If you are someone that prefers to be hands off, then a TA would be a good option for you.

For someone like me that has to be in control over changes and just calling to get info, I always book myself.

 

[Nadjalu]

I prefer to book thru Disney.

That said, if you are a newbie and have no clue then you need help....desperate help, because there is so much you need to know.
It is unlike planning any other vacation.

But PP are right, I like being able to control my stuff. Going thru an agent is to hard and puts more stress in the mix.

ie....can't get ahold of the TA, TA isn't familar with all things WDW, changing adrs at a moments notice....etc.

All these things are so much easier if you do them yourself.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Cut out the middle man. Book directly with Disney.

 

[lindym]

Book thru a Travel Agent who specializes in Disney. If they are really good, they will let you know what parks on what days, first couple of things to do, schedule of parades and fireworks, make your ADR's , etc, etc.
You will get very personalized and customized service!!!!!

 

[danceintherain]

I used a TA for my honeymoon, and I think I frustrated myself and her more than anything else. As soon as a discount came out I would call or e-mail and say "Did you know about this?" "What's our new quote?" It was fine...but I'm too much of a control freak.

That said, I would use one again. It's entirely possible that I'll book my next trip through a Travel Agent, because I might be in South Korea when I start booking it. Then I can just e-mail back and forth, and won't have to deal with international phone call charges, being on hold, and the time change. We'll see though...I might just book online.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Direct, no TA.

 

[sdwrdt]

Am I reading it correctly that my PIN codes have to be done either on the phone or through a ta and NOT online?

 

[d1gitman]

Direct, always, and my wife used to manage and co-own a TA.


We do our airfare direct with teh airline as well.

 

[morecowbell]

The only trip I don't use a travel agent for is to Disney. TA's offer no better deals than going direct and I have control over my reservation if I need to make changes.

 

[danceintherain]

Am I reading it correctly that my PIN codes have to be done either on the phone or through a ta and NOT online?

I did receive one pin this year that had a "book online" option, but it was the only one I had ever seen like that. Basically, if there's no link in the e-mail, then there's no way to add the pin on a reservation on the internet.

 

[pixiepirate]

In 2008 we booked our trip with a specialized Disney TA because we had heard they had the best information on deals, etc. Turns out I had more information than she did. In fact, if I hadn't read somewhere (probably DIS) that we were suppposed to have yellow luggage tags for the ME I would never have known that the TA never booked it for us since she insisted the castle tags they sent were the only ones we needed. Luckily we had just enough time to get ME booked and the tags in hand. I have booked 2009 and ujpcoming 2010 trips online and everything has gone smoothly. This time we even booked our ADRs online. Took a bit to figure out the system but we got all the times we wanted.

 

[scjo68]

I always book it myself because I am a control freak and if I need to make changes I can do it myself. THe one time I used a AAA agent, she had to make changes for me, I couldn't do it myself.

I will suggest that anyone who chooses to use a TA should please make sure they are very experienced WDW planners. It is shocking how much bad information TA's have regarding WDW. I've read a lot of that here. WDW is a destination that requires unique planning, so anyone who wants to depend on a TA to "handle everything" really needs to be sure the TA knows about WDW specifically.

 

[lblume91]

I have used AAA for our last 3 trips because their rate was $200-400 cheaper than booking direct. The only thing they do for me is the actual booking though. I make my own ADRs.