Get Disney TA to book ADR's or do it yourself

[Justin Headley]

Hello everyone. We are quickly approaching our 180 day window for booking ADR's for our November disney trip. This is our first trip and the question I have is...since this is our first trip should I let my Disney TA book our ADR's or should I just do it myself. I'm a bit of a control freak and will be online exactly at 6 am to hopefully get all of planned reservations. But just curious if anyone has any past experience with turning this completely over to the agent and not having to worry about the process. I'm assuming they will also be online at 6 am as well? Thanks

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you turn it over to the agent, how will you feel if they DON'T get all the ADRs you wanted? Would you feel better about that if you were doing the bookings yourself?

 

[Justin Headley]

That is a great point. If they don't get all of them, my instant reaction would be they weren't online when it was opened up. I also wonder when the agent is booking them, how they determine to book or not to book if your requested reservation time is unavailable. Ex) an hour later or earlier

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I figured the initial reaction would be to blame the agent, it might be easier to take if you know you did everything and still couldn't get the reservation...You would have to let your agent know what times you would be willing to accept if you want them to stick to certain times of day.

 

[Shmily01]

I use a TA (who is wonderful by the way) and she does my ADR's. I have always gotten what I wanted and most likely when I wanted. But I do make changes myself sometimes online and then just let her know to cancel the ones she already set up. It saves me from having to get up early and do my ressies. But, if you don't mind getting up early and doing it yourself, the process is really very easy and quick...

 

[LaurenT]

I don't see the advantage of using a TA - unless they've promised you they'd really log on for you at 6 am and you are unable to do that yourself.
Since you say you're a control freak, I highly recommend you go it yourself.

 

[Alesia]

I've had travel agents make my ADRs and have never had a problem getting what I wanted. I should note, though, that I'm not a control freak - there's not a single restaurant that I would stress about if the TA couldn't get it.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

I would absolutely do it myself. (control freak)

 

[subtchr]

Just wondering, if you are a control freak (as I am!), why are you using a TA at all? Do you know her or him well? Have you talked with her or him about making ADRs? Will you be doing your own FP+ reservations?

I'd say it depends on why you are using a TA, and the confidence you have in her or him.

 

[Justin Headley]

Just wondering, if you are a control freak (as I am!), why are you using a TA at all? Do you know her or him well? Have you talked with her or him about making ADRs? Will you be doing your own FP+ reservations?

I'd say it depends on why you are using a TA, and the confidence you have in her or him.

No I don't know her well, I was just thinking of having a resource for questions and kinda "holding our hand" through the first trip. But this was before I discovered DIS boards and the multitude of podcasts and information available. We will probably opt to do everything ourselves next time.

 

[MrKnight]

It is best to do everything directly through Disney, this is the best way to avoid any mishaps and ensure the most seamless experience. And as stated previously, I really do not see the need in using a TA, it is an unnecessary expense with all the WDW information available at your fingertips online...

 

[MrsHull]

I'm a control freak who is using a TA to take advantage of a particular deal she is offering. I will be booking my own ADRs, as I'm sure she will have other people's to do as well.

 

[Alesia]

I really do not see the need in using a TA, it is an unnecessary expense with all the WDW information available at your fingertips online...

A travel agent shouldn't cost you a dime.

 

[Justin Headley]

I really do not see the need in using a TA, it is an unnecessary expense with all the WDW information available at your fingertips online...

Yea it doesn't cost you anything to use them. Disney pays them commission from a percentage of my vacation price I'm assuming?

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

No real burden doing them on your own - expect for time spent. I've been tweaking my ADR's for a trip in Sept now for about 2 weeks - I'm sure I've made 15-20 changes since my first attempt (trying to get better time slots). For me (control freak and type A personality) planning is half the fun. I would never have any fun having someone else do all the work for me - cause I know I'd just go back and make changes anyways.

 

[Justin Headley]

For me (control freak and type A personality) planning is half the fun. I would never have any fun having someone else do all the work for me - cause I know I'd just go back and make changes anyways.

^^^^^^describes me exactly haha^^^^

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I agree that planning my trip is half the fun, so I would never bother with an agent, but I suppose if there were some great deal I could only get through an agent I'd use one. Still though, I'd want to be in charge of all my ADRs.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Back in 2007 when I was a noob, I booked my trip through a TA (room, tickets, ADR's). Since then I realize there are so many options available for dining that a TA could never anticipate my needs if my original choices were not available.

 

[NYCANC]

I use a TA and she booked everything for me a few weeks ago. I have not been to DW in 11 years and I gave her a list of the restaurants I wanted and I told her based on the crowd calendar- book on whatever days she sees best.
I got an email by 7:20am that day with my confirmation list (also got emails from Disney). She got everything I wanted- she will just try to tweak a few reservation times. She will continue to check for me.
I did not want to worry about logging in and trying to figure out what to get first and if times would work, etc. She has done it tons of times so I trusted her to do it and she did a great job