Do I NEED a travel agent or Disney planner?

[sara1215]

It's my first major trip to Disney, but honestly, it seems pretty simple to me. I have a set budget. After stalking many threads on here and elsewhere, I have dates chosen, I have airline tickets picked out, I have a resort chosen, I have a meal plan chosen. I have made lists upon lists of preferred restaurants and attractions. I was going to book everything myself online. I understand about the ADR and Fastpasses and when to book them. Is there any reason I should go with a Disney vacation planner? Are they going to get me something I can't get myself?

 

[casey5457]

We've done trips with a vacation planner and without...and since I am a little Type A about my WDW trips, I generally like to do the booking and planning myself. The only times I find it helpful are when we take a big group and I have several reservations to manage. It sounds like you have your bases covered so it doesn't sound necessary, but if you're interested in the added convenience I say go for it!

 

[goofy4tink]

The only time I have used a planner/agent to book my WDW trips was when I wasn't able to be online for the better part of the day. Otherwise, it's all very easy, and actually, quite a lot of fun.

 

[ciera321]

I've never used a Disney vacation planner. I'm like casey5457, I'd much rather do everything myself. Planning is a huge part of the fun for me. If you've got that many things decided, I think you're good to go!

 

[katibosch]

Nah, the Disney website is very easy to use and displays everything very well, so you know exactly what you're getting and what you're spending. I've used it several times and never had any trouble. Have fun on your trip!

 

[Sue M]

I've done both, and am quite capable of booking myself, but have been using a Disney specialized TA for booking my room. The reason being, they know the moment discounts come out and are on the phone getting it for you. When discounts come out phone lines can be a long wait, and hard to get online too. I have to be at work so don't have the time to deal with it.
It's also easier to make my payments. I just send her a text or email and it's done. I do my own FPs & ADRs,& flights.

 

[jscottnc]

The one thing a Disney vacation planner can do for you that is difficult to do for yourself is monitor Disney discounts and "rebook" your reservation if the new discount rate is lower.

The planner (travel agent) can have more up-to-date information on short notice closures, etc. that take time to perculate through the boards. This information could affect your trip and the amount of Magic in it.

Thought about room assignment at your chosen resort? A bad room in a great resort is still a bad room. You can manage this yourself but a good agent will (should) know a good room location and maximize your chance of getting it.

Pre-online ADR, it was worth having an agent who was already awake calling Disney (and waiting on hold) to make dining reservations. Even now sometimes you have to speak to a CM to get that ADR you want. For the computer impaired, it is very much worthwhile.

Some agencies organize special events or room gifts to thank their clients. (Like pixie dust, nice when you get it but don't count of these perks everytime.)

Most of all, Disney pays planners a commission which does not affect the cost to you (Disney has plenty of margin built into the price).

 

[Ceryssa]

You don't sound like the type of person that needs one. TAs are best for people that don't have the time or inclination to do the research, planning and booking themselves, or find the process overwhelming. It can come in handy having one if you're trying to go during a period when big promotions like free dining come out--they get to sit on the phone and modify your reservation instead of you I actually did use one despite doing a lot of research/booking most of my own stuff, just because it's nice to have her to bounce stuff off of, and we're friends so it helps her out.

 

[owynn]

I booked a vacation with a TA and we discussed the expected fall discounts. I was looking for free dining. Instead, the TA got me an upgrade to a water view in a resort without free dining and no room discount. I cancelled the trip with them and rebooked everything myself, getting exactly what I wanted (which was spelled out in all our correspondence). I would rather just do everything myself.

If you do use a TA, know that they will be the only one who can make changes to the reservation. If you're comfortable doing the work yourself, I think having more control over your vacation is better.

 

[jenna326]

We have used a TA in the past but I will never use one again. They misspelled several of our names on both hotel and flight information which was a pain to change. We had made room requests that were never submitted to the hotel so they weren't tied to our reservations, so none of them were met. One time, when we had gone in to speak with her, she was on the phone and asked us to sit down at her desk while she was on hold. She started to talk to us and work on our stuff and when the person on the phone picked up so she proceeded to give the phone agent a person's credit card info while we were sitting right there! I was appalled she was that careless with someone's credit card information. On top of all of that, the difference in price of what she could get and what I could have done myself was zero. Therefore, I've done it myself the last three trips and I've been able to get everything we want with no problems (including free dining for all of our September trips, end up at all of the dining places we hoped for, and I think I did pretty good with our Fastpasses for this next trip!).

 

[Summertinkerbell]

If you use AAA, you will get a discount. I've always priced it online before going to AAA Travel, and they always get me a great deal. For a first trip, I would highly recommend them.

 

[22Tink]

I always book my own trips, Disney or otherwise! I love doing my own research and planning, and I like having all the control and not having to deal with a 'middle man' when I want to make changes.

 

[FTM22]

I've done both, and am quite capable of booking myself, but have been using a Disney specialized TA for booking my room. The reason being, they know the moment discounts come out and are on the phone getting it for you. When discounts come out phone lines can be a long wait, and hard to get online too. I have to be at work so don't have the time to deal with it.
It's also easier to make my payments. I just send her a text or email and it's done. I do my own FPs & ADRs,& flights.

I do this as well. My TA is a friend and does the booking of the package. I do all my own flights, ADRs (unless I need help), FPs,and changes to those. My TA doesn't get nearly so annoyed waiting on hold and we communicate very well. That said, you need to know someone who has used whatever TA because as someone else mentioned, they do own the reservation. I have used the same person for four trips and the TA has taken care of issues when they came up as well as getting us excellent rooms.

 

[RustManFan]

Always like to do all the planning myself. It's half the fun!! (well maybe not half hehe)

 

[Summertinkerbell]

Before I became a teacher, I was a travel agent. It is up to the customer as to how much control they have when they walk into a travel agency. I do ALL my own research, confer with my family, and have everything all planned out ahead of time. When we sit down with our TA at AAA, her only job is to book it just like I would on my computer. The difference is that I am no longer a travel agent, so I don't get the insider discounts that she does. AAA has a close relationship with Disney and they have deals that I cannot access.

I have the choice of submitting the reservation on my computer or allowing my TA to do it in front of me and saving beaucoup bucks. The nice thing with using a TA is that it is another set of eyes watching the additional deals that sometimes come up. A few months ago, I received a call from her telling me about a deal which would upgrade us from the Garden Wing at CR to the tower with a Bay Lake View. I'm sure I would have eventually found out about it and done it myself, but she knew first and jumped on it on my behalf.

I have not relinquished control.

I have saved money and I got an upgrade with zero effort.

Just sayin'...

 

[Kevin355]

Never used a TA. Did directly call WDW when my mom, my sister and her clan, and we went and had 3 rooms. Did everything via the telephone without a TA and ended up getting some pretty good discounts from the CM helping us.

 

[Aliceacc]

I've done 4 trips to WDW in recent years. For the first two, I was battling a major health scare. When I couldn't sleep at night, my options were:
- watch ANOTHER episode of Three's Company and try not to run from the room screaming
- research breast cancer and try not to become more terrified
- research our upcoming Disney trips

Needless to say, I logged a lot of posts here and learned a lot.

Yet we still use a Disney certified travel agent for our trips.

For one thing, I think it's good karma. She gets a commission at no cost or bother to me. It's right up there with recycling-- something good I can do with minimal effort.

But for another, she does some things that make my trip easier. She calls in our ADRs at 7 am, while I'm leaving the house for school. I'm a teacher; I can't spend 39 minutes on hold with Disney because our periods are only 38 minutes long. She has never NOT gotten us the ADRs we want. Likewise, on the day the discounts come out, she's on the phone with Disney while I'm at school. Last spring, I checked my email in study hall 3rd period to find that she had tentatively moved us from the Beach Club to the Yacht Club, and saved us $1000. I hadn't had a free period yet-- I can't use the phone in a quiet study hall with 120 seniors-- and would not have been able to snag that discount had I needed to wait until lunch-- assuming once again that it could be wrapped up in 38 minutes and that I didn't mind going hungry.

Finally, I like the idea of having someone in my corner should I need it. When we were in WDW in 2008, Tropical Storm Faye arrived on our departure day. I faxed our travel agent (back then it was AAA) with questions about how to use the trip insurance we had purchased, should the storm make it necessary. He left a detailed voice mail as to what the procedure was. (As it turns out, we got out without a problem.) But it was so nice to know that there was someone out there looking out for our best interests.

Do I "Need" a travel agent? Nope. We're leaving for a lake upstate next week and I booked it by myself. I'm very confident I could do the same with a WDW trip and we would all have a wonderful time.

I do all the planning. She books what I've planned.

But I choose to use a travel agent, and I'm thrilled with the one we use.

ETA... that may just be the trick: finding a GOOD travel agent.

 

[lynz421]

If you use AAA, you will get a discount. I've always priced it online before going to AAA Travel, and they always get me a great deal. For a first trip, I would highly recommend them.

Unfortunately AAA and Disney have parted ways. No more discounts or Diamond parking I will still use AAA to book and handle any issues but may cancel my membership since the discounts and parking were the reasons I kept my membership.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I've done 4 trips to WDW in recent years. For the first two, I was battling a major health scare. When I couldn't sleep at night, my options were:
- watch ANOTHER episode of Three's Company and try not to run from the room screaming
- research breast cancer and try not to become more terrified
- research our upcoming Disney trips

Needless to say, I logged a lot of posts here and learned a lot.

Yet we still use a Disney certified travel agent for our trips.

For one thing, I think it's good karma. She gets a commission at no cost or bother to me. It's right up there with recycling-- something good I can do with minimal effort.

But for another, she does some things that make my trip easier. She calls in our ADRs at 7 am, while I'm leaving the house for school. I'm a teacher; I can't spend 39 minutes on hold with Disney because our periods are only 38 minutes long. She has never NOT gotten us the ADRs we want. Likewise, on the day the discounts come out, she's on the phone with Disney while I'm at school. Last spring, I checked my email in study hall 3rd period to find that she had tentatively moved us from the Beach Club to the Yacht Club, and saved us $1000. I hadn't had a free period yet-- I can't use the phone in a quiet study hall with 120 seniors-- and would not have been able to snag that discount had I needed to wait until lunch-- assuming once again that it could be wrapped up in 38 minutes and that I didn't mind going hungry.

Finally, I like the idea of having someone in my corner should I need it. When we were in WDW in 2008, Tropical Storm Faye arrived on our departure day. I faxed our travel agent (back then it was AAA) with questions about how to use the trip insurance we had purchased, should the storm make it necessary. He left a detailed voice mail as to what the procedure was. (As it turns out, we got out without a problem.) But it was so nice to know that there was someone out there looking out for our best interests.

Do I "Need" a travel agent? Nope. We're leaving for a lake upstate next week and I booked it by myself. I'm very confident I could do the same with a WDW trip and we would all have a wonderful time.

I do all the planning. She books what I've planned.

But I choose to use a travel agent, and I'm thrilled with the one we use.

ETA... that may just be the trick: finding a GOOD travel agent.

I agree, it's nice having an expert in your corner, someone to bounce ideas off of, someone to help you make tough choices, someone to be there for you through every step. Even as a veteran I find myself debating fastpasses, trying to choose which time is best, which park on which day, where to eat and when, resort changing to find the best discount, it's nice to have someone to talk to and hash things over with. Don't even get me started on ADRs. The more people you have helping you find cancellations the better. Even on your 180 day mark many popular restaurants are already booked solid.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

We stay at the resorts so we never used Diamond Parking anyway. We got a $50 gift card from AAA and some other freebies that we've always gotten and never used.

Either way, my TA has my back, and the $50 gift card was an awesome bonus especially after she upgraded us and refunded us the difference. It is nice to get a better room and get some money back.