Do I need a travel agent ?

[ljhayes]

We had one instance where we had to cancel within 90 day of an upcoming cruise. Any refunds came back to us directly. I believe with a TA you are paying them not DCL so any refund would come back through them.

When you use a TA, you are still paying Disney directly. Any refunds will come directly back to you from Disney.

 

[Betsyp]

My father thinks I’m making a mistake not waiting until after the holiday weekend to use a TA…but these rooms won’t sit forever, and since my booking window is likely already open, I think I need to book ASAP. I’m assuming DU are closed today and tomorrow…

 

[dwg]

When you use a TA, you are still paying Disney directly. Any refunds will come directly back to you from Disney.

I may be mistaken at least in some cases regarding who pays DCL but in this prior discards thread it was very obvious that at least with some TA's they handled payments. any-disadvantages-to-using-a-travel-agent-to-book-a-cruise.3790516. For instance regarding COSTCO you pay directly but in other cases the comments indicate that the TA was making the payments.

 

[ljhayes]

I may be mistaken at least in some cases regarding who pays DCL but in this prior discards thread it was very obvious that at least with some TA's they handled payments. any-disadvantages-to-using-a-travel-agent-to-book-a-cruise.3790516. For instance regarding COSTCO you pay directly but in other cases the comments indicate that the TA was making the payments.

I didn't read through the thread, but while TAs process your payment, you are paying Disney directly. A TA is providing your payment info to Disney to be charged by Disney. This is also true of Costco, they just have their own platform built as an intermediary. ETA: if you are paying a TA directly (as in, the charge shows as coming from them and not Disney/the tour operator), find a different TA.

 

[cinnamoroll]

What DO you do if your TA is unresponsive and the PIF date is approaching?

 

[ljhayes]

What DO you do if your TA is unresponsive and the PIF date is approaching?

This thread has some good suggestions.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/travel-agent-not-answering-me-for-final-payment.3932576/

 

[Geomom]

My father thinks I’m making a mistake not waiting until after the holiday weekend to use a TA…but these rooms won’t sit forever, and since my booking window is likely already open, I think I need to book ASAP. I’m assuming DU are closed today and tomorrow…

If it is your first Disney cruise, you book excursions and onboard fun at 75 days out. If you have completed 1-4 Disney cruises, it's 90 days out. 105 days for 5-9 cruises, etc.

We use Dreams unlimited for the onboard credit (and I love having my TA call to book my placeholder cruises (10% off future cruise after paying $250 deposit on the ship)). DU has a payment page that goes directly to Disney. I usually get confirmation of payment same day. Some agents will respond on weekends. You do the excursion/on board fun yourself. The TA handles the booking: payments thru the company website, any room changes, passenger changes go thru them, etc

 

[Betsyp]

If it is your first Disney cruise, you book excursions and onboard fun at 75 days out. If you have completed 1-4 Disney cruises, it's 90 days out. 105 days for 5-9 cruises, etc.

We use Dreams unlimited for the onboard credit (and I love having my TA call to book my placeholder cruises (10% off future cruise after paying $250 deposit on the ship)). DU has a payment page that goes directly to Disney. I usually get confirmation of payment same day. Some agents will respond on weekends. You do the excursion/on board fun yourself. The TA handles the booking: payments thru the company website, any room changes, passenger changes go thru them, etc

Thank you! Yes, first Disney Cruise ! My window for booking excursions or restaurants starts December 18, so I have some time... but not a lot, really just enough to let me plan.

Placeholder? So I take it that Disney Cruise fans Cruise a LOT if they’re already making new Cruise plans while onboard? I may yet be one of them !

When booking directly, you can choose your specific room...but I don’t think that’s possible with a TA?

 

[dina444444]

Thank you! Yes, first Disney Cruise ! My window for booking excursions or restaurants starts December 18, so I have some time... but not a lot, really just enough to let me plan.

Placeholder? So I take it that Disney Cruise fans Cruise a LOT if they’re already making new Cruise plans while onboard? I may yet be one of them !

When booking directly, you can choose your specific room...but I don’t think that’s possible with a TA?

It is with a TA. You tell them what room you want and if it’s available they can book it for you. You can also book the reservation yourself and transfer it to a TA if it’s within 30 days of booking.

 

[Betsyp]

It is with a TA. You tell them what room you want and if it’s available they can book it for you. You can also book the reservation yourself and transfer it to a TA if it’s within 30 days of booking.

Oh, thank you for this! I was going to ask about the latter point …now I feel like I can book the cruise now, and still get the benefits of the TA (ie: credit, which I could really use) !!!

I’m kind of giddy already

 

[Geomom]

Oh, thank you for this! I was going to ask about the latter point …now I feel like I can book the cruise now, and still get the benefits of the TA (ie: credit, which I could really use) !!!

I’m kind of giddy already

Just know that transferred bookings get half the OBC at Dreams unlimited.

We give our TA a few room #s we're interested in, and she'll book one for us.

We've done 4 cruises now, buying a placeholder on board each time. You have 24 months to use it or your $250 is refunded if you don't. There are some blackout dates, usually around holidays.

 

[auntlynne]

If you didn’t book by yourself tonight - I fully recommend contacting your family’s / your prior trip Travel Agent. If she has no experience with Disney Cruise, then either book yourself or try DU.

At this point, cabins shouldn’t be filling up that fast. That usually happens when itineraries are first released (about a year ago) or when they reduce the price on the limited cabins left (where you have no pick of cabins).

(If you want to book yourself and prefer not to do it online, call DCL to book.)

 

[Betsyp]

Just know that transferred bookings get half the OBC at Dreams unlimited.

We give our TA a few room #s we're interested in, and she'll book one for us.

We've done 4 cruises now, buying a placeholder on board each time. You have 24 months to use it or your $250 is refunded if you don't. There are some blackout dates, usually around holidays.

Thanks for the info!

If you didn’t book by yourself tonight - I fully recommend contacting your family’s / your prior trip Travel Agent. If she has no experience with Disney Cruise, then either book yourself or try DU.

At this point, cabins shouldn’t be filling up that fast. That usually happens when itineraries are first released (about a year ago) or when they reduce the price on the limited cabins left (where you have no pick of cabins).

(If you want to book yourself and prefer not to do it online, call DCL to book.)

I did book tonight after much handwringing about whether getting to PC was too much of a pain...it’s really not, it’s just not as straightforward and easy as getting to FL.

I’m definitely either going to call the TA on Monday or fill out the form for TA tomorrow. But, since I’ve already booked my cruise, is there a way to contact them without filling out the form..since I don’t need a quote and I have my room?

I paid in full tonight, so I won’t have any of those issues either..
Thanks!

 

[ljhayes]

I paid in full tonight, so I won’t have any of those issues either..

If you paid in full, it can't be transferred.

 

[Betsyp]

If you paid in full, it can't be transferred.

Ok, that’s that then, lol...I‘m sure my room will be just fine.

thank you!

 

[ljhayes]

Ok, that’s that then, lol...I‘m sure my room will be just fine.

You can still switch your room yourself if you wanted to.

 

[Betsyp]

You can still switch your room yourself if you wanted to.

Oh wait, ok - you meant I can’t transfer it to a TA? Then there’s no point in contacting a TA for handling my booking/ everything else that goes along with it?

I’m not sure I will, but I’m glad I have the option…

Thanks!

 

[ljhayes]

Oh wait, ok - you meant I can’t transfer it to a TA? Then there’s no point in contacting a TA for handling my booking/ everything else that goes along with it?

I’m not sure I will, but I’m glad I have the option…

Thanks!

Correct, a booking that has been paid in full can't be transferred to a TA.

 

[Betsyp]

Correct, a booking that has been paid in full can't be transferred to a TA.

Thanks! Well, I’m ok with that - I’m used to making my own plans….

 

[auntlynne]

Congratulations on booking your cruise.

There is a thread on Page 1 of this DCL Forum - “What I need…” (photo below to show you what you are looking for). It should help with knowing what to have on hand at check-in time (next year sounds so long away).

Some of it is outdated (all the temporary C19 procedures).

Your booking email from DCL should tell you when check-in is.

Put the DCL app on your phone for a countdown.

When you get close to the 30-day mark, remember check-in starts as soon as that day hits (one second after midnight Orlando time). You don’t have to stay up unless you want an earlier Port Arrival Time or maybe a Royal party that needs tickets (I don’t know that detail).