Experience w/ Travel Agent vs. On your Own

[LUVMICKEY]

I have used our hometown TA. Now this has been several years ago when we were booking packages. She was wonderful and she really knew what she was doing. I had known her for several years because her kids went to school with my kids. None the less, she was still very good, and a Disney Specialist. Never had a problem with our trips at all. After that our DD became a travel agent and was also a Disney Specialist. We booked many Disney trips through her also and 3 Disney Cruises. Everything always went very well. She dosen't do it anymore and we are DVC members now so now I do it all myself. Room Ressie, ADR'S, Tours. So far I haven't had any problems. I was very fortunate that I knew both of my TA's. I guess there are some out there that don't stay on top of things, and that could spell disaster That surely is the last thing any body wants, is to have something go wrong with their Disney trip that they just spent a fortune on. Now that I book everthing myself right through Disney, I really do have total confidence in them.

 

[poohfriend]

and also that he/she wants the vacation YOU want. Not just some canned package.


Using a TA can be such a relief, but in this day and age TAs tend to specailize...(a TA from AAA doesn't have to know Disney even if AAA has good Disney packages).

Good luck in your search! Have a great trip to WDW.

 

[hobbester]

We have been working with Missy at Small World Vacations for our October trip. She has been great. Made our trip planning as stress free as possible.

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

I love my TA at MouseEarVacations - Pam - she is WONDERFUL!!! She and her son work together (he's done an internship there if I remember correctly) - they have a newsletter they send out, and watch the codes and everything for you so that they can apply new discounts as you go.

She has gotten every reservation request I've ever asked for (2 seatings at CRT one trip and Le Cellier for New Year's this trip), is quick to answer questions for me - I'd never book a trip without her.

PM me if you want her contact info!

 

[kvogel11202]

In 02 for our Honeymoon I booked on my own- for our trip in 04 (15 of us) I used Dreams Unlimited Travel- Carole Annette Fila was my agent, and I LOVE her! She was great, and I'm working with her again for the upcoming trip. She is absolutely incredible. Answers my DAILY questions- booked all our ADR's, makes great suggestions, got us a table at Liberty Tree for 4:00 on 10/31, since we are heading to MNSSHP that night when I thought there was no way we would get in! I can't say enough about her, or any of the other agents there I have come in contact with. Wouldn't even consider booking without her!

 

[krissyh]

I do a lot of research and book it myself.
Our AAA office (Western/Central NY) has all kinds of WDW stuff on their website and I have twice requested quotes - both times, with the AAA discount (supposedly) the price was HIGHER than what I could get booking a package directly through Disney! Make sure, if you use one, you get a TA who is very well-versed on Disney and double check the price they give you.

 

[clonetothebone]

Both trips we used a local travel agent and had no problems but I don't know that they did anything that I couldn't have. The agency is a Disney Travel Company certified agency or whatever they call it and they are all very knowledgable.

The last trip we went on was a gift from a wealthy relative and she wanted us all to use an AAA agent that she had contacted in her area. My wife contacted this AAA agent and all she was interested in was trying to spend the relative's money. Didn't listen to what we wanted...just told us what she thought we would like. My wife contacted her aunt and told her what was going on and told us to use our agent. We saved our aunt about $1,000 dollars just because we did our own research and knew when we were getting a bad deal.

I guess my point is even though you go through a travel agent you have to know what you want and make certain they aren't jacking up they price with add ons that you don't need or want. Don't just call up and expect to get the best deal unless you tell them exactly what you want.

If we go again I will probably just book everything myself if for no other reason than when I called Disney direct to request room preferences they told me I had to go through my agent. I ended up just faxing the resort direct and got what I wanted.

 

[LukenDC]

I use a Disney specialist TA and she is great. I travel quite a bit, but use a TA only for Disney. I tell my TA what I want and she does all of the work, including early morning calls to CRO, dining reservations, tickets purchases, booking special events and tours, and airport transfers. When Disney's computer reservation system is (frequently) on the fritz, my TA is the one to deal with the hassle and not me. She also monitors my reservation for any new discounts and makes changes accordingly.

Let me know if you would like her name and contact info.