Confusion with using Travel Agency

[cdrn1]

I have taken 15+ trips on my own but on a whim submitted some dates thru a Mousesavers link for a trip in Sept. I got what I thought was a really good rate for the Poly and the email said it included 5 nights accommodations and 6 day hoppers, tax included. So I asked about adding a night, and it jumped up an additional $1000. So, I said no thanks, that was pretty steep for adding one night, and I would just go back to the original 5 nights. So today's email says sorry, she wasn't clear, but the earlier quote was for the room and tix separate. Yet, it says plain as day, it includes hoppers for 2 adults and 2 kids. And without the tickets, the room comes to almost $400 per night, GV, value season. With no mention of extra $$ for tickets.
So my Q is, has anyone successfully used a TA to save $$ and was it relatively hassle-free? Because so far, my experience isn't the greatest.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I think the problem with getting a quote online is that you don't get a feel for the agent handling your request that you would get if you were talking to them on the phone. I have had times when I have called Disney reservations to get a quote and spoke with someone who obviously didn't have a lot of experience booking vacations and didn't know what he/she was doing. I just thank them and call back to speak with someone else. Usually you can tell pretty quickly if the agent you are speaking with sounds knowledgable or not.

I have always made my own reservations with Disney in the past, however, for our trip in May I booked through the local AAA to get their discount on a package. I am very happy with the agent who booked our trip. I could tell she had a lot of experience booking Disney vacations and she knew what she was doing.

Once, I called a AAA office to get a quote for Wilderness Lodge. The woman asked me a few times to restate the name of the hotel (a bad sign right there if she is not familiar with Disney resorts). She then told me it wasn't in the system, so I couldn't book it through AAA. I told her she was wrong and she gave me another number to call. The next person I talked to was knowledgeable about Disney vacations and was able to help me.

 

[Tissa]

Right now if you get a quote from a TA for an August trip you will be getting rack rates unless you use AAA and get the discount there. The plus of having a TA is when codes come out for your stay. Your TA will or should get the rate for you without you having to call or do anything.

 

[tonyolily]

Right now if you get a quote from a TA for an August trip you will be getting rack rates unless you use AAA and get the discount there. The plus of having a TA is when codes come out for your stay. Your TA will or should get the rate for you without you having to call or do anything.

Exactly! We've done our reservations on our own and we've also used an on-line travel agency. We booked a rack rate package with Pixiedust-travel and they just updated the pricing for us when the special free dining package came out. I didn't have to sit here waiting for the codes, she took care of it for me. Booking directly with Disney doesn't get that. They also sent us some nice gifts for booking with them.

So, it's really up to you. There are plenty of online agencies out there and many of them do offer really great perks for booking with them.