CRO or?? Help with who to book with please

[JJsmama]

Which one is which of the two WDW reservations services and how do you know which one you are getting? Two trips ago we booked with one and they let us pay the balance of our bill when we checked in and we used Disney Visa rewards to pay for a couple nights. This last trip, we were required to pay before the trip and they wouldn't take the rewards card over the phone or at the desk (b/c we'd already paid in full) so we were screwed out of getting to used our points.

I want to book again but with the right agency this time. How do I Know? Where should I call? Thanks!

 

[fam4jc]

Hi. My first suggestion would be to use a college of disney knowledge graduate travel agent. Now, when you have a room only reservation you pay one night deposit and the rest upon checkin. If you have booked a package (room with tickets) you pay a $200 deposit and the rest is due 45 days from check in. CRO will not offer much information to you about discounts, etc unless you ask specific questions. That is why you either need to do your homework before calling or get a disney specialist ta. You won't pay any more for your vacation using a ta. You just get added value services.

Questions to ask:
1. How much is the deposit?
2. When is the deposit due? When is the balance due?
3. does this include travel insurance? (they will add this in a heartbeat!)
4. What is the cancelation / change policy?
5. What am I getting for XX dollars? or What is included on this reservation?
6. Ask them to reiterate your dates, per night rate, resort, room type, and any special requests you may have made.

Once you are satisfied that you have all the information you need, then pay the deposit. Take notes!!! Date, time and the name of ther person you spoke with are very important just incase your ressie comes to you with an error.

I am a ta and I keep a telphone log for all my calls to Disney. They are people and can sometimes make a ****oo (or their computer does) so having all that information makes it much easier for them to pull the tape and rectify any pricing difficulties.

I hope this helps.
Shellie

 

[tone.def]

Try an agency like Dream Come True Vacations. I booked through them and they were great! I recommend them.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

www.mousesavers.com

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks Fam4jc. Are you a grad of Disney Knowledge?

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Thanks Fam4jc. Are you a grad of Disney Knowledge?

Just an FYI - the fact that Fam4jc is a strong contributor on these boards probably gives her more knowledge than the College of Disney Knowledge did.

The basic College of Disney Knowledge course gives a travel agent who is not familiar with Disney at all a basic understanding of the Disney destinations and products and suggested methods for selling Disney to clients.

Many of the members of the disboards already have more knowledge than this course gives.

Sample test question: How many themed lands are there in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World?

I am not saying that the course has no value - it does - it contains a great chapter on how to sell Disney travel.

Her recommendation to use a Disney-specialist travel agent is the best advice - those agents do nothing BUT Disney, and they are fanatical about it - they make sure they know everything they can - as they have people from the Disboards coming to them!!!!

 

[JJsmama]

Her recommendation to use a Disney-specialist travel agent is the best advice - those agents do nothing BUT Disney, and they are fanatical about it - they make sure they know everything they can - as they have people from the Disboards coming to them!!!!

Ok, got it. But who should I use? There are several.

 

[tone.def]

my vote is still Dream Come True Vacations... Use them, I did for my last trip and I won't regret it. I have a shellfish allergy and the TA went out of her way to look into all the menus at the different restaurants and tell me which ones to absolutely not go to and helped with my Priority Seatings at ones I would have no problem at - and still noted my allergy at every restaurant so they were all made aware ahead of time.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

They all are excellent - short list from the top of my head:

- Dream Come True Vacations http://www.dreamcometruevacations.com
- Dreams Unlimited http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com (they sponsor these boards)
- Small World Vacations - recommended by MouseSavers
- MouseEarsVacations - recommended by Deb Will's site
- Our Laughing Place Travel
- Mouseketrips
- YourMagicalJourneys

I am sure I am missing a few....

There used to be a site, shopthemouse.com, that listed all of them with a table for comparison, but it is not there anymore - anyone know what happened to it?