Booking Thru An Agency Comes Out Cheaper

[wdwmo]

Hi All!

When comparing prices with CAA, the agent told me to check around because it would be worth it $$$wise. The price he quoted me was about 40$ less then booking directly at WDW (which could maybe be because of the exchange rate). Still, I took his advise an called a tour company today. For the 7 for 5 deal, they come out with a price 325$ Cdn less than my WDW price!!!!

I might call a few more agencies tomorrow!

Wow - that pays for an extra character meal and maybe an Illumination Cruise .

Maybe worth investigating for fellow disboard users...

 

[DonDuck Fan]

hI ya,

We booked with CAA, and it was cheeper than going through Disney. Because we booked through CAA we could also book the Bronze package.

My question now though Can you still order you MVMCP tickets and stuff on your own or do you have to have your agent do it for you.

DDF

 

[Nagle]

Just make sure you check all the details before you trust your vacation with CAA. The office in Kingston was clueless about our trip last year. Turns out I knew more than they did and they mucked things up royally. CAA has proven capable of filling out TripTiks and towing my vehicle, but I will not let them book another vacation for me anytime soon.

John

 

[Scratch42]

Originally posted by Nagle
Just make sure you check all the details before you trust your vacation with CAA. The office in Kingston was clueless about our trip last year. Turns out I knew more than they did and they mucked things up royally. CAA has proven capable of filling out TripTiks and towing my vehicle, but I will not let them book another vacation for me anytime soon.

John

DITTO!

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!

You have to be on them about everything, might as well do it yourself! Which I now do!

Scratch

 

[Hockeychic]

I just booked through them on Friday!!!

What should I watch for. I only gave my deposit and they are only booking my resort stay and UPH. Can they mess that up???

I have to go back on Aug 18th to pay my final installment should I be getting tickets or anything from them before we leave???

I have only ever booked through dreamsunlimited before and everything showed up about 2 weeks before we left.

Thanks

 

[Nagle]

As Scratch said, 'be on them about everything'. If there is a character breakfast involved in your deal, get the Priority Seating # if they book it for you. Be VERY firm that you want your vouchers/documents in plenty of time before you leave ( they lost ours, and kept saying "oh don't worry, they'll be here soon".) If you live nearby that might make it easier for you. I had to travel from Brockville to Kingston (about 1 hour each way) to fine out my documents weren't there after all. AAAARRRRGGGGG!


All in all, maybe other branches of CAA are better but I will not book through Kingston again unless they pay for everything
(including the Zantac and Tranquilizers I will need while I trust them with my vacation LOL)

 

[Scratch42]

And know what you are getting so that you get it when you arrive at your resort.

Don't sign off once you've received your docs until you are sure that everything is there.

That's the pain of the whole thing, you book with an agent so that they can handle the details. With CAA you get stuck doing all the leg work! I knew more about the packages, etc. than they did!

Just to let you know, I had asked the CAA agent to keep her ear and eyes opened for the 2005 Repo cruises. Guess What, still have not heard from her! Surprise Surprise! They started taking the bookings on May 5th! Not what I call great customer service.

Last year she went on vacation, did not let me know, and my docs hadn't even arrived, and we were due to leave in less than a week! DD was so upset because nobody at the office knew that they were to expect our stuff! Luckily we made it but scary stuff!

Scratch

 

[Amberle3]

First of all, my advice on using a travel agent: Shop around for one the same way you would for any other professional. Some are generalists, some are more specialized. Make sure that the one you're dealing with is specialized in Disney vacations. Be sure to ask questions of the agent before even getting into too many details of your trip - tell them what you're looking for and find out how suitable they are for what you need. Not every travel agent is suitable for every client. I had to book a client to Greece this spring - I'm not a europe specialist. I had to lean heavily on a friend of mine who is for information and leads.

Best way to think of it - you're basically hiring this person. You're contracting with them to perform a service for you. Approach it the same way you would if you were hiring someone and interview them.

Now then, regarding the CAA agent who still hasn't gotten back to people about the CA cruises: There's a very good chance she doesn't even know about it. Disney did send an email out to some agents, I'm not entirely sure how I got on that mail list since it seems to be directed at US agents. The Canadian travel agent website has a press release about the west coast cruises under "latest news" - it was issued May 19. I've received nothing by fax from any of the Canadian vendors on the cruises.

So basically if she wasn't already "in the know", and she's a general travel agent relying on the vendors to tell you this stuff, then she probably still doesn't even know about it.

 

[sami66]

I tried several travel agents with and around the Toronto area. All I wanted is for them to book the "Summer DreamMaker package" for me. Not one of them knew how to book this or just didn't want to. I even gave them the code. Do they maybe lose commission this way? After 1 week of trying I called The Disney Travel Co. myself and got the package. I saved over $1000.00 CAD booking our vacation myself.

 

[Canadave]

This past year, I gave my local CAA 2 chances to help me...and they were NO help at all...I was even quoted for hotels a figure that was above the rack rates ...and I was rudely dismissed as misinformed when I told her there was CAA discounts on rooms!...the TA obviously had been to the "DisneyWorld Travel Seminar" and had a one track mind ...all she did is try to sell the special Canadian package deal

...I did everything myself (with the help of my fellow DISers and keeping an eye out on different Disney websites) ...and although it was a bit of work (but I live to plan ), I was able to save a good chunk of money and get the ps's right and booked into the PC room of my choice...

...so my opinion is that if you want it done right...do it yourself...

...apologies to all those TA's who know their job and do it right

 

[mom_rules]

I agree-shop around for "ÿour" agent. I found a CAA TA I trust and respect and they have never done me a bad turn. I use the same one every time-she knows what I want and confirmations me to death (because I want it that way). I've used them for every trip to WDW except our first CBR stay (that was a special run by Sears Travel).
It is true though, not all CAA agencies are the same or offer the same packages and specials. It depends on the district. (Ours does not offer the Bronze pkg.)

 

[eleanor]

We always do it ourselves and we save money and get what we want. There are 800 numbers for WDW and they are very helpful.Check mousesavers for codes and away you go.