General TA Question

[Moms]

We have never used a TA for our WDW trips but wonder if we might find one helpful moving ahead. We canceled our Spring Break trip last year and have been laying low since. We would like to start planning a trip for Christmas Week 2021 (I know! We are well aware of the crowd issues!) but current procedures (park “reservations”, no FP+, 60day ADR’s etc.) might well change in the coming months. We watch the sites but wonder if having a TA this time might take some of the pressure off as things evolve. I wouldn’t want to miss a “window” should they reinstitute some things at some point before our trip. Is this something a TA would help us with? Are there other advantages to booking with a TA? Times are certainly challenging and are constantly changing, it’s hard to keep up!

 

[_19disnA]

Lots of older thread about using a travel agent. Unless they offer you some sort of discount not available to the general public, I don't see any value in using them. You can do online all of the things they can do. You will also spend a LOT of your time explaining specific preferences to them in order to make FastPasses (if/when they return) or dinner reservations. Many also imply some great Disney knowledge that may/may not be true.

 

[Djscarlette]

There are so many reasons to use a TA! First off they know the brand inside and out. A TA can help you find the perfect resort for your budget and family needs. They will help you with fastpasses (if they come back), dining reservations, tips and tricks on how to get on Rise of the Resistance. They will know the rules surrounding what is happening with masks, temp screenings, and details you need to know when you travel during these special (covid) times.

Another great thing a TA will do for you that doesn't get talked about enough... they sit on hold for you so you don't have to. Instead of you waiting for hours on hold listening to Disney music, a TA will. Need to make a change to your itinerary? A TA will do that. If something goes wrong while you're on vacation, call your TA and let them fix the problem while you continue to have fun. If a new discount comes out after you've already booked, a TA can apply that for you and save you money.

Whether or not you use a TA you're paying for one. It's already built into the price. If you book direct with Disney or with a TA it's the same price. You might as well use one. It only of benefits to you.

I'm not allowed to recommend a TA on here but I know a great one. I say use a TA.

 

[yaya74]

USE A TA!!!!
You can let TA do as little as just booking your res or do a lot.
TA will help you adjust the prices when a better rate is available.
An experienced TA will give you tips and suggestions.
Since it does not cost anything extra to use a TA, why not hire a TA who will get a chance to earn some $$?
I too have a great TA who I have used for many years.

 

[plutolovr]

Use a TA...right now travel agencies are really hurting with all of the cancellations this past year. Agents don't get paid until their clients travel. Dreams Unlimited Travel, the sponsors of these boards, have some great agents. Booking with them supports these boards that you are enjoying.

 

[lovethattink]

There is a sticky thread on this board that lists all the Dreams Unlimited Tavel agents and their specialties.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/list-of-dreams-unlimited-travel-agents-updated-1-23-2021.3824064/

 

[LA Poolboy]

We are using Dreams Unlimited Travel for for the first time for this upcoming trip in May. We have been to WDW over 20 times always booking it ourselves, but with the pandemic we want to utilize Dreams. We enjoy the content of the podcasts and the Disboards and Dreams pays for all of that. We saw no reason not to use their services as it does not cost us anything extra and Dreams agents are looking out for our best deal. So far it is working great! Will review the experience when we get back home in June but I expect to have a glowing report.

 

[ucf_knight]

Lots of older thread about using a travel agent. Unless they offer you some sort of discount not available to the general public, I don't see any value in using them. You can do online all of the things they can do. You will also spend a LOT of your time explaining specific preferences to them in order to make FastPasses (if/when they return) or dinner reservations. Many also imply some great Disney knowledge that may/may not be true.

We always use a travel agent when booking cruises. Almost every time the rate we initially paid is lower than when we actually cruise as they are constantly checking for a lower fare and will automatically rebook us at the new rate. Of course I could do that myself but I’d always have to be spending time checking and changing reservations. On a recent cruise our TA saved our family $1,000 by doing this several times prior to us sailing away. The travel agency business is a huge industry for a reason. You should really reconsider next time you travel. They are also super helpful if you need to change something with Disney as not everything can just be done online with them. A lot of time will have to be spent on the phone sometimes that a travel agent handles for you.

 

[CarolynU]

Having some communication issues with my Dreams Agent for cruises. Are they all still working at the moment?

 

[kylenne]

Another great thing a TA will do for you that doesn't get talked about enough... they sit on hold for you so you don't have to. Instead of you waiting for hours on hold listening to Disney music, a TA will. Need to make a change to your itinerary? A TA will do that. If something goes wrong while you're on vacation, call your TA and let them fix the problem while you continue to have fun. If a new discount comes out after you've already booked, a TA can apply that for you and save you money.

The value of this alone absolutely cannot be overstated, especially nowadays. The same folks who clown those of us who work with TAs going on about not wanting to “give up control” of their trip are the same ones who complain about being on hold all day and getting run arounds on the phone. Meanwhile I just let our TA handle all of that and go about my day. I do all of the actual planning myself, she’s just there to handle the annoying and time consuming stuff and be another set of eyes. Sometimes discounts come out and I wake up to emails that they’ve already been applied to our reservation. Beyond the “agency exclusive” rates we get (which are fewer and farther between tbh), having someone whose job it is to sit on hold all day for me is priceless, especially when you consider it doesn’t cost us anything extra. She’s also a really sweet lady and in these times it makes me feel good that I’m helping out a working mom.

 

[dledger]

I agree with everyone saying there’s no real downfall. There’s no cost to you, they’ll sit and do the tedious stuff (which I actually enjoy but can’t always do), and can be as involved or not as you want. I’ve used some where I just paid them and they booked my room and that was it. Others who booked dining and experiences for me. It all depends, but I’ve never regretted using one. I especially enjoyed having a travel agent who had a child around the same age as mine for our first trip with a kid. It helped to be able to ask questions to someone with relevant and current experience.

 

[Felixkoch2312]

Having some communication issues with my Dreams Agent for cruises. Are they all still working at the moment?

You can check them now!

 

[CarolynU]

You can check them now!

I have emailed her several times but just not received any answers. Is there somewhere else I should be checking?

 

[WebmasterJohn]

I apologize if anyone is not hearing from your agent. All agents are working and should be returning client emails as soon as possible.

Please feel to write to me at John@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com with your DU reservation number and I will reach out to your agent to see what's going on.

I also would like to ask that you check your junk/spam folder on your email. Sometimes our emails wind up there.