CRT-a funny thing I heard at travel agency

[dznyacct]

I was at our local travel agency on Friday to pick up info on DCL for our cruise next summer. There were only two TA working and they both had customers. The agent closest to me was helping a man and his young (5??) daughter plan a trip to WDW, leaving next week (I plan our trip a year in advance, so I was shocked that his was only a week away!). Of course, WDW being my favorite topic, I asked the little girl what she was going to do and who she was going to see at WDW. I told her we just got back last week. I told her about our character meals and she said that she wanted to eat breakfast in the castle. The dad asked the travel agent how to arrange that and she told him that he could just call and get a reservation when they got there!! I was speechless. I got up at 5:45 (Indiana time) 60 days out to make the CRT PS for my sister and her family. I didn't have the heart to tell that little girl that it was very unlikely that she would get her breakfast. I just couldn't believe the TA's answer. My family keeps telling me that I need to become a travel agent specializing in WDW, now I am convinced I know more than your average TA!!

 

[mickeyfan1]

It is possible to call from a WDW resort and get CRT reservations for the next day. Unlikely, but possible. I believe that there are PSs held back that are available for onsite guests for last minute bookings. And there are walk ups, too. You may have a long wait, but it is possible, As far as you knowing more than the average TA, there is a lot more to being a TA than knowing about Disney. I went to travel school, and believe me, not everyone wants to go to Disney. Unless you can find an agency that would allow you to be the Disney specialist, you will probably need to go to an accredited school, be willing to learn the agencies ropes, and even get specialized WDW Travel training.

 

[barbeml]

Haha. Long before I found the DIS, we planned our Christmas-time visit to The World. Our TA told us we could get tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party when we checked in at Port Orleans. Yeah right!

 

[>>^..^<<]

I was a travel agent for 12 years and DETESTED booking Disney/Florida ~ it was just the same thing over and over again, same questions, etc.. and at that time I just was not into Disney and had no real experience in being there

But now that I LOVE Disney ~ I think back on how awful I must have been! I would do a MUCH better job now and would have people thrilled about there trip.

Maybe that agent had just never been there to experience it herself...

I was helping my neighbour last weekend - they are leaving on August 20 for a week and they were so confused. They said they were going to go to Disney on Monday, Universal on Tuesday, the Beach on Wednesday, the Kennedy Space Centre on Thusday and then spend the rest of the time at their hotel.

So when I asked them did they not want to go to Animal Kingdom, or MGM or EPCOT? - they said "Yes, we are going to Disney on Monday" When I explained that it was 4 parks and that *maybe* you could do 2 in a day they were shocked... then I told them Universal had 2 parks as well and they were more shocked...

Then I asked them what beach they were going to and they said "just the local beach, what ever is fastest" *sigh*

It was bringing back all my travel agent days

>>^..^<<

 

[jwfla422]

It is funny sometimes how clueless many people are about Disney. You can ask them which park they plan to go to and they say, "Disney" --so many people refer to the MK as "Disney"...they just have no idea that you can spend a week or 2 staying on Disney property and that you don't even have to use your car--that there is so much to do in "DISNEY" alone for that amount of time!

And, this is conversing with other "Floridians" who you would think would have a bit more of an idea, nope. It is kinda funny though!

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by jwfla422
It is funny sometimes how clueless many people are about Disney. You can ask them which park they plan to go to and they say, "Disney" --so many people refer to the MK as "Disney"...they just have no idea that you can spend a week or 2 staying on Disney property and that you don't even have to use your car--that there is so much to do in "DISNEY" alone for that amount of time!

And, this is conversing with other "Floridians" who you would think would have a bit more of an idea, nope. It is kinda funny though!

I can not believe how many people we meet that live in Orlando and have never been to WDW or Universal, Sea World, etc..! Our town car drivers, real estate agents and more. How can you live in theme park land and not even be curious about the parks? Is it like New Yorkers never going to the Empire State or Statue of Liberty

I am a travel agent and we used to book WDW/Disneyland. Now we only do cruises and the Caribbean/Mexico. When I booked WDW I was a Disney College of Knowledge grad with a perfect score and had been to the parks a lot. People really did not plan like we do here on the DIS. A lot of people wanted to book a few weeks in advance and air and hotels were already gone. I would suggest books to read (Birnbaums, Unofficial Guide, etc..) and web sites, restaurants, rides and more. People just did not care. Probably 1 in 10 was a planner like I was. Most said oh yeah thanks but we will just decide of stuff when we get there. It was actually frustrating because I wanted their trips to be awsome but they just wanted to wing it-and I was offering to do the planning.

 

[helenk]

LOL, definately most people do not plan like we do, it amazes me when I talk to people who have come back and ask them if saw the parades or Illuminations and they had no idea what I was talking about. One of the woman I work with goes to Disney every 4 years and this was the first time she ever saw illuminations.
When my supervisor went in April I told her about this website and suggested some books...she did not do anything I suggested.
They did have a good time but she said something about not wanting to go to the MK on their last day because you had to go the TTC and take the ferry or the monorail. I asked her why didn't they just take the bus from their resort, they stayed a CS. They stayed in Disney nearly a week, and never knew that the buses would pick them up at the resort and take them to the parks! I asked why she did not read the books I suggested and she said she never seemed to find the time.

 

[athena's mommy]

I am currently a TA with American Express. I am a type A planner also. We are traveling with 2 other couples when we go in December and I am trying to make an itinerary for us. However, when I ask them which park they want to go to first, they say "Disney". I have explained to them a gazillion times that "disney" has 4 parks and they just don't understand. They then said, "whichever one is not busy". I almost fell out of my chair laughing. I keep bugging them to tell me if they want to do dinner at O'hanas's, Chef Mickeys, etc. Their response, "we'll just see when we get there". HELLO???

Some people have no concept of what WDW is all about. They think it's like a day at the beach.

 

[disneyvoice]

My poor stepkids went to WDW with their grandparents this year for spring break. They had never been before so I sat down with my stepson and explained that it would be very busy but if he followed my advice they would be able to see most everything. He wrote all kinds of stuff down. When they got back my stepdaughter complained that WDW was boring "because all you do is wait in line." I asked my stepson if he followed my advice. His response was that his grandparents said "I don't know what I'm talking about." These are his maternal grandparents who obviously don't care for me much. They said that Disney would never mislead people into believing that the parks open at one time when they really open earlier, and that I was just trying to trick them into getting up earlier so they would have to wait an hour to get into the park. His grandmother also told him the food at the character meals is exactly the same as the food at the counter service restaurants and that they only charge you all the extra money to see the characters!!

So my stepkids ate fast food all week and hardly got on any rides. Their grandparents also told them no one would want to get to the parks early because they are all on vacation. So they never got to any of the parks before 11:00 am.

Then they appearantly complained about the crowds all week long. My stepson said he kept telling them that they should follow my advice because "I know everything about Disney." This seemed to annoy them so they just refused to do anything I had suggested. What a magical vactaion they had!!!

 

[TINK61]

LOL - It's amazing how many people spend all that money and don't get nearly the enjoyment they could get if they only prepared themselves.

I've been to WDW several times. In the earlier years - not with as much knowledge and skill, but the more I plan and visit - the better I get at it. It's more like a fun sport, than a hobby.

And even so - I still have not managed to see Illuminations either! Next time though, next time . . .

 

[dvc guy]

A lot of people just don't get it. I tell everbody the same thing when they plan a trip. Read the guide book, make PS's and don't let the prices get you crazy. I work in NYC and disney is the only place that make NY look like a bargain.