Booking through Disney or a TA?

[dangler]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has booked directly through Disney or uses a travel agent. Are the prices comparable? Our TA uses World of Vacations and I got a quote on the Disney website and the difference is about 200.00.
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[MECH8T7]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has booked directly through Disney or uses a travel agent. Are the prices comparable? Our TA uses World of Vacations and I got a quote on the Disney website and the difference is about 200.00.
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks!

We used a TA but they were booking directly through Disney CRO. The cost would have been the same as if I had booked it through the Disney site myself.

The main advantage is that, on the day that the discount codes were released, it was my TA that was on the phone with Disney to try to get the code applied to my existing reservation. It worked out great. When I decided to use a TA, I didn't know about Disney's 1-800 numbers. So, at the time, I thought another advantage was saving on the long distance calls to Florida to make any changes to my reservations. However, next time, I think I might try to book through a TA that will also book PSs for you.

 

[dangler]

Thanks for the reply! I will definitely ask my TA about a PS.

 

[mdennylusk]

We done both, booked ourselves and booked through a TA. I definately preferred booking through a TA. She was fantastic. We gave her a time frame as to when we wanted to go and she searched through a 2 week period to get us the best pricing. She's also a "Disney Expert" (I know that's not the right term), so she's had all the training through Disney and has been there herself quite a few times. She gave us lots of pointers and tips on how to save money, places to eat, etc. Plus, it was nice to have someone else handle all the details. We just picked up our tickets and she had everything we needed nicely organized in a little folder with all important information highlighted for us and some coupons for other stuff in the Orlando area. It saved us a lot of stress and aggrevation of trying to co-ordinate flights, tickets and the hotel room. We were able to spent more time planning what we wanted to do and get really excited about our trip.

We've already given her the dates that we're considering for our next trip so that if she does hear of any deals, she can let us know.

 

[tinkerbeth]

We always use Susie from Small World VAcations. SHe has worked miracles for us getting rooms that weren't available by calling back every day. We also last time had an autographed picture of Buzz for my son which I think was her doing. If you pm me, I'll give you her email address.

Beth

 

[kellyla]

I book thorugh my sister(she usually gives me part of her commission in a discount,hey I do all of the work)I also have her do my PS's.

 

[tone.def]

I found working with an online TA super-beneficial because at the time I was on night shifts and we communicated by email which was perfect! I never got a phone call waking me up or I didn't have to wake up to call her.

Rumour has it - the online agency Dream Come True Vacations has taken on a Canadian as an agent to target our market and stay on top off all deals special just to Canadians... I saw her picture on their FAQ page and I get their newsletter. She wrote a bit in it about the cost savings in flying out of U.S. airports and about how Canadian airlines are going to raise prices because of a lack of competition now with Jetsgo gone.

 

[DIS~n~JAN]

Hi, I was wondering where you found the 1 800#'s? Please let us know if you still have them. Thanks
Opps, this is for Mech8T7

 

[marylou]

Has anyone on this board used them before? They are actually the best price I have found for the cruise I want including CAA and they give an onboard credit and discount. I am worried about losing the whole deal through a "Jetsco-type" incident. Or should I book Canadian because of the TICO

 

[tone.def]

Dream Come True Vacations is offering a rebate on their cruises... Did you get a quote from them too?

I think I may even book my first cruise ever because getting money back from an agency is golden to me! I'll put it right back on my credit card towards paying for my trip.

I don't mind booking through these online companies as opposed to a TICO walk-in agency in Ontario because I can purchase travel protection insurance with my Disney packages and can feel secure that I would be taken care of. I may have to book a new flight if that was ever to happen again... but that's what insurance is for... right?

 

[MECH8T7]

Hi, I was wondering where you found the 1 800#'s? Please let us know if you still have them. Thanks

1 (800) 828-0228 and 1 (800) 421-3732

 

[DIS~n~JAN]

Hi again MECH8T7,
you have just made my day, I have been booking a vacation with Disney and always having to call them for whatever reason. Paying $ to be put on hold has made my vacation more expensive!!!haha. These #'s are greatly appreciated! Thanks again

 

[Dolphin_Girl008]

Has anyone on this board used them before? They are actually the best price I have found for the cruise I want including CAA and they give an onboard credit and discount. I am worried about losing the whole deal through a "Jetsco-type" incident. Or should I book Canadian because of the TICO

I've used DU twice before and am using them for our May trip. They're great!

 

[mom_rules]

Also used DU-saved a bundle. They have an excellent team to work with.

 

[Polynesianfan]

ooppss ! double post by mistake

 

[Polynesianfan]

Hi everyone on this thread !
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am a TA and a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge (CDK).
About 80% of my business (a stay-at-home-mom with a home office) is Disney...maybe because that's what I LOVE to sell.
I book PS's, I create itineraries, I apply discounts when they are posted, I book directly with CRO in Orlando and I have connections at the Toronto WDW Parks & Resorts office (I get a head's up on new events, rides, discounts, etc.)...and I'm covered by TICO.

Please try and keep some business in Canada for TA's, we have extensive knowledge and in's and out's on discounts too ! (and your covered under TICO if you use an Ontario based agent)

Thanks everyone,
Sandra

 

[mom_rules]

Good to know-seems Canadian TA Disney Specialists are hard to come by!

 

[TA Mom]

Another Canadian Disney Specialist here! Be sure to call your local agencies and see if they have a specialist. There are a lot of us around and we know Disney.

 

[madonna31]

I totally agree with Susan to please try and keep some business in Canada for TA's. I had no choice but to go through a TA in the United States for my honeymoon to WDW, since I knew more then TA's in my area about Disney. I decided to go back to school to remedy the situation and become a Disney Specialist travel agent myself. Please check out my home page to learn more.

My engagement ring is Mickey Mouse. So it's probably not a surprise that I strictly sell and specialize only in Disney travel. If I sold other areas of travel, there is no way I would have the time to devote to my Disney clients like I do.

I book my clients directly through CRO/Disney Travel Company. Number one reason being if you go through a tour company such as World of Vacations, not only is it more expensive, but through a tour company, there is no way to obtain room discounts, nor make a room request and the like.

Be CAREFUL some TA's will book through a tour company simply because they pay more commission then Disney does!

I strongly suggest that you book through a TA for your upcoming Disney vacations for a number of reasons:

1) Let the TA make all the phone calls to Disney for you.
2) Let the TA handle all of your PS's for you
3) Let the TA worry about room requests for you
4) Let the TA ask 'where your tickets are'
5) Let the TA coordinate flights, transportation and more

In a nutshell, let them do their job. You wouldn't get someone else to do your job on a day to day basis, so why should you do a Disney Specialist's job?

I set my clients up with a package that includes the Disney park maps, a passport holder, resort info, Disney trivia, a packing list and more. I guarantee you that you won't get this extra stuff when you book through Disney directly. Nor will you get the same special treatment.

I also want to recommend that if you decide to book through a TA, make certain that you do your homework:

1) Make sure that your TA is indeed a Disney Specialist (normal TA's won't know about discount opportunities such as an AP rate)

2) Make sure that your TA is a TICO agent. Forget the Jetsgo fiasco - I know of a friend who had to buy a $700US ticket on his way home from Las Vegas because he lost his plane ticket that he booked through Expedia. He's out that $700. Had he booked through a TICO agent - he wouldn't be.

3) It's not a bad idea to check the agent's IATA/TIDS number. You can do that here: Check a Code

Hope that helps!

 

[Polynesianfan]

Hey Madonna31...or should I say Esther31 (your Kaballa name) ...am I the person you referred to as Susan?