Disney TA or do all the work yourself?

[Jakesmom504]

I 've been doing a lot of research about our trip through books, websites etc. I didn't know if you are always better off going with a TA or do you think I should book myself. I'm planning a trip for 6, but possibly 10 people. Do you think a TA could get me better deals? Thanks

 

[vanyel]

It's not an issue of whether the TA can get better deals, it's more an issue of knowledge and timing, imho. This is the first trip that I'm using a ta and I love it. I get to do the fun things in the planning and decision making process while she makes the ressies, changes and updates when there's a special. Plus those tas seem to know when the discounts come out a bit before we do.

Even if you use a ta, you should still do research but you have someone that will help you out with the decisions and make all those phone calls for you.

If you use a ta, make sure you use a disney ta. I like Your Magical Journey, others on the dis board will recommend other tas like Dreams Unlimited. I'm sure there are good and bad experiences with different companies and I'm sure others will chime in.

Whatever you do, you'll have a great time at wdw.

 

[Jungle Skipper]

I usually do my own planning, but with my experience, I might as well be a Disney TA....In fact, I have polanned several WDW trips for friends and family and friends of friends and family and former business clients....I just love planning Disney trips!

Jungle Josh

 

[3lilprincesses]

It's not an issue of whether the TA can get better deals, it's more an issue of knowledge and timing, imho. This is the first trip that I'm using a ta and I love it. I get to do the fun things in the planning and decision making process while she makes the ressies, changes and updates when there's a special. Plus those tas seem to know when the discounts come out a bit before we do.

Even if you use a ta, you should still do research but you have someone that will help you out with the decisions and make all those phone calls for you.

If you use a ta, make sure you use a disney ta. I like Your Magical Journey, others on the dis board will recommend other tas like Dreams Unlimited. I'm sure there are good and bad experiences with different companies and I'm sure others will chime in.

Whatever you do, you'll have a great time at wdw.

i'm with vanyel here. i think between these boards and all the other info. out there, you can find the best deal yourself w/ a little work. but when you use a TA you don't need to be the one making all the calls and you don't need to feel as stressed about finding codes and deals RIGHT AWAY. you have someone looking out for you as well. you should still be aware of what's out there just in case anything would be missed, but it is much less stressful!

BTW, i'm using Lori from Magical Memories, and she has been very professional and very helpful. i would recommend her to anyone.

 

[Matt'sMom]

I agree with the others. While I have been able to find all of the info and codes myself, and have successfully planned our vacations in the past without the help of an agent, we opted to book through a TA this year.

It's really nice to have that second person looking out for us and making sure we don't miss out on any potential 'pixie dust' or added savings. Best part was booking in advance and then knowing that our TA could easily 'adjust' our reservations if any better offers/codes came out prior to our trip (which indeed happened--we switched from an AAA room only discount, to the MYW package with free dining add-on). One email from us, and within a half hour the changes had been completed and confirmed. I also like knowing that my TA will make all of our AR's for us, so that I don't personally have to phone in and wait on hold each day next week.

Having a good TA just takes a lot of the pressure off. We went with 'The Magic For Less'... and our TA, Emily, has been wonderful.

 

[marthachick]

This is our first trip to the World in 15 years so we decided to get a TA to help us so we wouldn't miss or forget anything. Dawn from Magical Memories is helping us and she's great! Thanks Dawn!

 

[WDWorBUST]

I think it depends on what you want. In the past I have always booked our trips and I love doing it. I'm the "expert" here at work and everyone asks my advice and suggestions when they are going to Disney. I think planning is half the fun! However since I had DD I have used Dreams Unlimited and been thrilled with their service. I still correspond with my agent probably close to daily (I have Merrie and LOVE LOVE LOVE her - she has been awesome!!). I always get answers/responses quickly. I have changed and switched things and she has happily accommodated all my changing requests. I "could" do everything she has done for me.....but she has much more experience than me AND I just don't have the time to sit on hold to get PS's and such now with my little one and working full-time. So it depends on what you are hoping to get from a TA. I have gotten huge time savings and AMAZING service with flexibility. I also have gotten all the discounts that I have been eligible for. Could I have done it - possibly. But with our busy lives these days it has been such a blessing to have her do it for me and to feel confident it is being done right. As someone else suggested - if you decide to go with a TA I would recommend a Disney specialist.

 

[ericamanda01]

I am one of those people that would annoy the TA with a thousand questions. So to save them from me I plan all our vacations. I have to admit that I love doing it. It gets me more excited for the trips.

 

[BambiLady]

I agree! I use to be a control freak when it came to planning - now I use www.mickeyvacations.com and my agent is Jeannine. She has been fantastic, I talk to her thru e-mail almost everyday and it nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of here and there. She has a little one so she also gives me good tips on traveling with the family since she can relate. Definitely use a TA - Jeannine is a Disney Specialist and it seems the more questions I ask her, the more excited SHE gets about MY trip. It's actually quite funny. She has never made me feel crazy about my questions and trust me, there have been ALOT!

 

[tone.def]

Check out Dream Come True Vacations.

They have Disney Specialists (College of Knowledge Graduates) on staff and have saved clients money with codes, AP and AAA room rates.

Some people do opt to do things themselves and can I'm sure as well as an agent, but it's a time thing for me. I'd prefer to have an agent be up first thing in the morning calling to make advanced dining reservations for me and recommend fun and over-looked activites that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I would rather sleep in and read the paper and walk leisurely to work, while day dreaming about my Disney holiday and someone else is doing the work.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

I used to do it all myself but I'm using an agent this time around and I LOVE it. I'm using Magical Memories Travel too and have been really happy. I was even able to get a group rate discount for December that has saved me about $600. She got us POR for $89 and Poly for $234. The POR rate is lower than the AP best rate program and the Poly rate is equal to it so we got the great rates without having to spend an extra $200 on the AP. Meal vouchers too.

I'm tickled pink with the rates and the service has been terrific too. I asked a gazillion questions and she's always been really great about answering them and not making me feel like I'm bothering her or anything.

 

[OKW Lover]

Well there are travel agents and then there are travel agents.

If you get a good one that knows the Disney product, then it may be a good idea. OTOH, if you get one that just want's to sell whatever package their agency is pushing, you may not be happy with the experience.

Do you know enough about what is available and what you want to do at WDW? Are you comfortable booking flights on-line? Don't mind spending some time on hold listening to Disney music? If so, you might be just as well off doing everything yourself.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

Well there are travel agents and then there are travel agents.

I would agree with that! I wouldn't walk in to my friendly neighborhood strip mall travel agency and expect that just because there is a bright happy Mickey poster on the wall that they are Disney experts. That may very well be one of those situations where people leave saying "I knew more than she did!" but there are a lot of speciality agencies online that are really Disney experts. It is what makes up 99.99% of their business and they make sure they are up to speed. I feel very confident in knowing my agnet is really a Disney expert. I think she's as type-A about planning as I am so I feel like I'm in good hands!

 

[greewe]

I've never used a TA, so I have a question. If AAA if the best discount available on a package, can a TA from one of the above angencies be able to book a package with the AAA discount?

 

[LuvTigger]

I could be wrong, but I think to get a AAA package, you need to go thru AAA, but you might be able to get a room-only AAA discount thru a TA (which I've done before).

I used to do all the planning and arranging myself. While I like the planning part, I really don't like to make the phone calls, particularly because of the time difference here in Hawaii (I actually got up at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. a few times so I could get thru to CRO when they opened at 7 a.m. to try to get a discount!).

Now I use Dreams Unlimited for all of my Disney vacations (WDW and DL), because I can still tell them what I want, but they do all the leg work in terms of booking the room and making PS. I look at it as a time-saver, and there are no extra or hidden charges with them, and you won't pay any more than you would by booking directly with Disney. I can still do things like book rooms separately from tickets (BF is in military reserve, so we can get tickets cheaper on our own), but they make all the phone calls. If I find a discount before they do, or if I get a PIN code e-mailed to me, I just let them know, and they'll see if it applies and change my reservation for me.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'm a control freak, but decided to book our trip thru a travel agent.

We are using The Magic For Less, and they are WONDERFUL!!! I cannot say enough good about them!

We had our vacation all set for the end of this month. They handled our hotel, tickets, and priority seatings. Then, I discovered that I might need to have surgery between now and departure date. They were great about making a 2nd set of reservations, 1 week later than our original ones, so I'd have a little more time to heal before the trip. Our travel agent handled everything--I didn't have to worry about the logistics of all of the phone calls I'd have to make. She even re-did all of our priority seatings!

I cannot recommend The Magic For Less highly enough.

 

[Taja]

A TA can book an AAA discount room for you. I think you have to go through AAA for their packages, though. You will need to present your AAA card at check-in.

I'm using the services of a Disney-certified TA that I know personally for my upcoming trip and she booked the AAA room only discount for me. I won't buy an AP for this trip, as I don't plan to return to WDW until December, 2006.

While PC is not the lap of luxury, it's a clean and comfortable resort, and the AAA rate fits my budget (solo trip). Before the new AP booking method was instituted, I also reserved a room at POR, which I would have used if a good AP discount became available. I'm not willing to advance Disney a non-refundable deposit (call it a booking fee, people!) without knowing if the discount is sufficient to break-even on the AP!

Back on topic: I'm reserving my rental car (already done, but subject to change depending on rate changes and code availability) and I'm waiting for SWA to release November schedules and fares. Not very patiently, mind! I check every morning and evening! I prefer to make these reservations personally, as I can change them quickly if a better rate and/or schedule becomes available.

The TA, however, can act more quickly on the WDW room reservation, as she is in touch with CRO (or the current equivalent) daily. She knows my budget and what potential changes interest me and will act on my behalf without contacting me first if any of those options become available. Anything else and she will email me promptly for a decision. I check email at least twice daily--just in case!

 

[Jakesmom504]

WOW, thanks to everyone for all the info. I definetely have a lot to think about but it sounds like everyone that used a Disney TA was pretty happy so I think I'm going to check it out. I love planning things myself but I too am so busy with DS 14 months old, school and work that I think this time I'm going to have someone else do it for me. I have one more question though, I don't have an AP or AAA. Will the TA still be able to get me good deals?
Thanks again!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I don't have an AP or AAA. Will the TA still be able to get me good deals?
Thanks again!

When you use The Magic For Less, they will always be on the lookout for discount codes for you. We do have AAA, and we got the AAA rate through them. If you don't have AAA, maybe there is another discount you could get through a package deal or an upcoming code. Can't hurt to ask for discounts!

 

[LuvTigger]

Dreams Unlimited checks for discounts too. Also, I dont know if anyone mentioned it yet, but take a look at www.mousesavers.com and sign-up for their e-mail list. You will be notified of any discounts that come up. If I find a code that I think might apply to me, I just e-mail DU and they check it out and apply the discount to my reservation.

Also, TA's are great even for control freaks. I am one of them! What I like about DU and similar online Disney agents, is that you can still be a control freak and plan exactly where you want to stay and what you want to do, but you really save a lot of time making phone calls because they do it for you. I personally really like doing things thru e-mail because I can do it on my own time, and I don't have to spend my time on hold, or worried that the agent is doing too many things at once and might not get something right.