Booking through WDW Vs. an Authorized Agent

[Twice_as_Nice]

My husband and I are looking at booking a trip for our anniversary and for the first time we are thinking of going through an authorized agent rather than directly through Disney.

I noticed on the agency's website it says the offer is not a Magic Your Way package and therefore doesn't include the MYW benefits. What does this mean? If you book through an agent can you still use the magical express? Can you still get the Extra Magic Hours?

 

[dansdad]

My husband and I are looking at booking a trip for our anniversary and for the first time we are thinking of going through an authorized agent rather than directly through Disney.

I noticed on the agency's website it says the offer is not a Magic Your Way package and therefore doesn't include the MYW benefits. What does this mean?

It means you won't get the little, and I mean little, extras that you get when booking a MYW package. Such as luggage tags, voucher for free tokens in your resort arcade, mini golf coupon, a couple free Disney Quest entries and I can't think of anything else.

If you book through an agent can you still use the magical express?

Yes, EVERYONE that stays at a Disney owned resort receives this perk no matter how you book.

Can you still get the Extra Magic Hours?

Same as above, EVERYONE staying at a Disney owned resort receives this perk no matter how you book.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

It means you won't get the little, and I mean little, extras that you get when booking a MYW package. Such as luggage tags, voucher for free tokens in your resort arcade, mini golf coupon, a couple free Disney Quest entries and I can't think of anything else.




Yes, EVERYONE that stays at a Disney owned resort receives this perk no matter how you book.



Same as above, EVERYONE staying at a Disney owned resort receives this perk no matter how you book.

Awesome. I thought so but I wasn't sure after I saw the fine print. Ya those "extra's" won't be missed. LOL

 

[StirlingSilver83]

For our trip in April I debated on going through our travel agent or just going through Disney. When I got the price from the travel agent it was the same exact price that Disney was giving me. We booked our trip last year through Disney and honestly I hated like I wasn't in control of my whole trip and I had to depend on someone else for things. This year I booked our trip through Disney and it was much better for me because I had control and I couldn't make payments right online and I didn't have to drag the kids to the travel agents to pay for things and it was just a lot easier.

 

[Abbyroad05]

I couldn't imagine not using an agent. We have used her twice now and she handles everything. And you do get the luggage tags, voucher for game room tokens, Disney quest coupon,etc. it could be depending on agent/agency for that stuff I guess. But I loved not having to worry. We told what we wanted to do, where we wanted to eat and she handled it all. No stress!! Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[dansdad]

I couldn't imagine not using an agent. We have used her twice now and she handles everything. And you do get the luggage tags, voucher for game room tokens, Disney quest coupon,etc. it could be depending on agent/agency for that stuff I guess. But I loved not having to worry. We told what we wanted to do, where we wanted to eat and she handled it all. No stress!! Good luck whatever you decide!

No, it's not depending on the agent. You only get those things if you book a package, whether via an agent or Disney direct. The OP stated that the agency special they were looking at was NOT a Magic Your Way package so they would not be getting those extras.

 

[Abbyroad05]

No, it's not depending on the agent. You only get those things if you book a package, whether via an agent or Disney direct. The OP stated that the agency special they were looking at was NOT a Magic Your Way package so they would not be getting those extras.

Got it.

 

[cmorris303]

We booked through a TA for our last trip. This was strictly because they were offering a deal that saved us so much money staying at a Deluxe. I still booked our reservations and fast passes, just because I enjoy doing it. She took care of setting up Magical Express and adding people to rooms and adding additional rooms and all of that stuff.

 

[bumbershoot]

So it's a TA that doesn't sell packages. Are you getting anything from the TA that you wouldn't get directly through WDW? Is that the reason you're considering it?

 

[Sue M]

I've done both, booking myself thru WDW, and using a specialized Disney TA. I love booking thru my TA. I never feel I don't have control over my res. Booking is super easy, I just email her, she does the rest. No long distance calls, slow web site, long waits on hold. Just a quick email. Same with payments. Send TA an email and it's done. Couldn't be easier.
If I have a question she gets back to me promptly.
I do prefer to make my own dining & FP reservations.

I would never use a generic TA for Disney.

 

[Sue M]

For our trip in April I debated on going through our travel agent or just going through Disney. When I got the price from the travel agent it was the same exact price that Disney was giving me. We booked our trip last year through Disney and honestly I hated like I wasn't in control of my whole trip and I had to depend on someone else for things. This year I booked our trip through Disney and it was much better for me because I had control and I couldn't make payments right online and I didn't have to drag the kids to the travel agents to pay for things and it was just a lot easier.

It sounds like you just used a generic TA. When using a specialized Disney Authorized Vacation Planer all you need to do is send them an email to make payment. No dragging to agency to make payment.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

It sounds like you just used a generic TA. When using a specialized Disney Authorized Vacation Planer all you need to do is send them an email to make payment. No dragging to agency to make payment.

Yeah I used Triple A Travel Agent when I booked my trip for 2014 and I found it a little bit of a hassle

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So it's a TA that doesn't sell packages. Are you getting anything from the TA that you wouldn't get directly through WDW? Is that the reason you're considering it?

If it's an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, they do sell MYW packages, however, it sounds to me like the OP may be booking a reservation through an agency that works with group bookings, as well, for further discounts. If this is the case, you can purchase a "package", meaning you can add tickets and sometimes dining to these group bookings as well, however, when doing bookings through Disney group sales, those "packages" work more like a typical room-only reservation and will not include the MYW package inclusions as others have mentioned (special luggage tags, discount vouchers). As a resort guest, you will still receive all the other perks - 180+10 ADR's, 60 day FP+, Magic Bands and Magical Express.

 

[plainoldt]

yikes, I booked through a super fabulous agent who did EVERY thing for me and there was no hassle at all. In fact the opposite of a hassle. She went so far as to send me maps of each park with suggestions as to where to stand before and during parades so we could get away quick!

She gets the fp+ at midnight and was up at 6am for dining ADRs. Payments were a simple text if she was to charge my credit card or once I just sent her a check.

and i still had control of My Disney Experience so I had no headaches at all. Loved her.

 

[plainoldt]

oh, and I have done packages with her to get the whole little "extras stuff" and I also did a Room only with nothing added *shrug* depends on the better discount

 

[nkereina]

Chances are that the deal OP is looking at is an agency exclusive deal that the agency arranged for special pricing, likely by doing a group booking and selling the rooms out of that at a discounted rate. Because of that, it's not a MYW package. OP likely has the option to book a MYW package with that agent if OP wants to, but I am assuming it would be a higher price since it wouldn't be the special rate. Agents do this all the time as incentive to book with them.

 

[Sue M]

Yeah I used Triple A Travel Agent when I booked my trip for 2014 and I found it a little bit of a hassle

You would have a different experience using one of the online specialized agencies. Plus, they are on the phone the minute new discounts are released getting you the deal as soon as phone lines (or TA web site) open. AAA agents prob aren't even up at that time, much less at work. Or it may be their day off. There was a post about that a year or so back. WDW announced discounts, but their AAA agent wasn't at work that day, so they missed discount.

I always booked myself, and am quite capable of doing it, but I've become quite spoiled. My TA is great. And working full lime, it's great just sending off a quick email. To make a payment I don't even have to go dig out my cc and enter it on the wdw web site lol.

 

[rotlex]

Have done both, and both were the same as far as how in control I felt, and what I received from Disney. With that said, the agent we are using now, due to discounts and packages, has made us able to actually afford staying deluxe. Our upcoming Poly stay is running us less than last years stay at CBR. To me, that's well worth using the agent! (not sure if we will get the tags and minor free junk, but who really cares when your getting better than 50% off).