had to hold my mouth shut - Travel agent overheard giving bad info

[loriandmatt]

OK - so how many of you have overheard a travel agent (someone who is supposed to know about travel destinations - WDW being one of the biggest in the country if not the world) giving info that was completely wrong to a client????


I was at my son' baseball game this weekend when i overheard one mom (a TA) and another mom (someone interested in booking a trip to WDW) talking about all things WDW. Well, being the junkie that i am, my ears were on full point. They were talking about ticket media and the issue of park hopping came up. The TA was giving the other lady scenarios where she might want to hop. I almost choked on my popcorn when i heard that TA telling that poor misguided woman that she might want to go from Epcot during the day and then hop over to Magic Kingdom in the evening to see "Fantasia - a cool nighttime fireworks and water show."

WHAT I WAS DYING TO SAY:
NO - FANTASIA IS BOTH A GREAT FILM AND AN AMERICAN IDOL WINNER, BUT IT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT A SHOW AT WDW - THAT WOULD BE FANTASMIC AND IF YOU HEAD OVER TO MK TO SEE IT, YOUR GONNA BE REAL BUMMED TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS AT A DIFFERENT PARK.

My husband had to almost hold me down to keep me from stepping in. i am sure i would have angered or embarassed the TA for correcting her. After all, what do i know about disney - she is a pro at this and i am just a videoconferencing specialist.

It got worse when the woman planning the trip commented that she would only have a few days to spend in FL, and that she heard that there was so much to do at WDW - how should she prioritize her time? The TA's responce "Well, MGM and that animal park are not even worth your time. Go to Epcot for a few hours - your kids will get bored of that quick anyway - and concentrate the rest of your time in Magic Kingdom."

AGAIN - WANTED TO INTERJECT WITH:
OH, YOU MEAN THAT PARK WHERE "FANTASIA" IS SHOWING?!?!? YEA - YOUR RIGHT, MGM AND THAT ANIMAL PARK DO SUCK - WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE SUPER AWESOME SHOWS AND THE KILLER RIDES WITH GREAT THEAMING. I GUESS YOUR KIDS WOUND'T WANT TO SEE THEIR FAVORITE CHARACTERS THAT THEY WATCH ON PLAYHOUSE DISNEY EVERYDAY EITHER. MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST SAVE YOUR MONEY AND GET A HOTEL OFF SITE, HANG AT THE POOL EVERYDAY UNTIL 10 THEN HIT THE PARKS FOR THE HOTEST PART OF THE DAY - LEAVE THERE AROUND 5 'CAUSE NOTHING EVER GOES ON AT NIGHT ANYWAY. BEAT THE CROWDS OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME. AAAAAAKKKKKK!!!!

At this point i was getting dizzy from holding my breath....DH was laughing like a loon and the rest of the parents wanted to know what the heck was so funny. "Inside joke."

Knew all of you could relate.

- lori

 

[shatzjsl]

I guess that is the difference between you and me. I would have been all over that conversation!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

OMG!!! How did this woman ever get her license???? I would have had to step in, sorry. That's just horrible that you had to sit through that!

 

[hezreck]

SO FUNNY!! I've never heard a travel agent giving wrong info, but I've heard plenty of regular people giving some really bad information. Also, heard so many people who have never been to WDW talking about it and having really wrong info.
One lady I was talking to about WDW had never been there. She was under the impression that they didn't need a car or the busses at WDW, she thought they could walk everywhere!! Also, she was leaving for WDW in 3 days and I asked her if she was doing any character meals. She said they were doing Cindy's for breakfast and a few others, but she didn't know anything about getting PS's. Needless to say, she wasn't getting into Cindy's on that trip. Some people are just clueless about WDW, and they don't bother to do any research. I would hate to go on a trip with those people. Can you imagine their shock when they get there! I just laugh at the thought!

 

[WillCAD]

Nope, nope, nope, absolutely not, I NEVER hold my tongue when someone gives out bad or incorrect WDW info. Travel agent or my own relatives, if they say something that's factually incorrect, I interject with the correct info.

As far as opinions go, I state them pretty forcefully, too. "Yes, darn it, MGM and that 'animal park' are certainly worth your time! Have you ever even been there, lady? I have - 15 times!"

Differing opinions on what is the best stuff to do at WDW or the best way to tour or the best time of year to go, I can let pass. But bad facts, no way!

 

[megrod74]

I would have said something too. I'd hate for that woman to go with wrong information.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, TA do not always know!!! When we booked my very first trip to WDW, with my mother and soon to be 6 y/o dd, I used a TA. Yeah, I know...but I didn't know any better then. So, I told her that I really wanted my dd to have her 6th birthday breakfast at the Castle with CInderella. I had read the books and done some research. I wasn't a complete idiot!!! So, the TA told me she would take care of all those restaurant choices. So, I figured I was all set. Well, the TA called me to tell me that she hadn't realized how hard it is to get CRT for breakfast and had waited too late in calling. She had called about 50 days in advance. At that time you had to call 60 days before. Oh man, was I ticked. So, I know from experience they don't always have the answer you will need. Unless you are using a Disney specialist.

But, I have to say I would have had a hard time keeping my mouth shut also. I mean, the poor woman was going to be paying a ton of money and should have the correct info.

 

[DisneyMim]

Yeah I usually speak up too, can't help it, but 2 months ago my husband and I were in our local AAA office for other business and overheard a TA giving completely wrong info to two poor people about WDW. Also she was telling them that Jetblue does not fly into Orlando (HUH??, we've been using it since it started and had just booked a flight!!), and that a particular hotel (offsite) was much better than onsite. I started to speak and hubby kicked me, saying it was not the time or place, right in front of TAS, etc. I tried to wait for these people outside the office, but they were too long. I felt bad for them.

 

[Davefrompgh]

OMG..there is absolutely NO way I could have kept my mouth shut...my family and I have been to DW 6 times and DL twice..we are all going to DW in August...and like you we know a "little" about the parks....I can't help but think your scenario at the game would have been hysterical....I really do think my DH would have even have opened up to the misguided mom...

 

[CamColt]

You are a very strong woman to have kept control.

 

[S. C.]

Hopefully you will see the same woman at the next game and can strike up a conversation about WDW. Give her this website and other info.

 

[new kid at heart]

It's funny this link came about, because I was just at the TA office making final payment, and I asked when the package would come. She said about 2 weeks before the trip. Then I asked what would be in it. She said, "confirmation papers, luggage tags, and dining vouchers for the MYW dining." I felt kind of bad, but had to tell her that the dining plan is on the key to the world card now. I wanted to go into a huge amount of detail, but didn't. So, since then, I've been thinking I'd make a great Disney travel agent (been telling all my friends I'm quitting teaching to become a full time Disney agent ) I've only been researching for 4+ months, and am pretty sure I know as much, if not more about WDW. In their defense, I know they don't only sell Disney trips, but I've even heard people on these boards talking about CRO's CM's not giving correct info. These boards are great!! I feel Disney smart!!

 

[Figment1964]

I was at my son' baseball game this weekend when i overheard one mom (a TA) and another mom (someone interested in booking a trip to WDW) talking about all things WDW. Well, being the junkie that i am, my ears were on full point. They were talking about ticket media and the issue of park hopping came up. The TA was giving the other lady scenarios where she might want to hop. I almost choked on my popcorn when i heard that TA telling that poor misguided woman that she might want to go from Epcot during the day and then hop over to Magic Kingdom in the evening to see "Fantasia - a cool nighttime fireworks and water show."

I probably would have interjected something like, "Sorry to interrupt, I don't mean to be rude. But you're talking about my favorite place to vacation! We've gone so many times but I'm still jealous that you're in the planning stages since that's the best part for me!" That way she would know that you were open to talking about it maybe at a later time or the TA might ask YOU some questions, etc. Before having kids I was a TA (didn't do Disney, did international travel) and there is a designation that is available to TA's to be experts in Disney. Doesn't sound like the TA in this case had even heard of it!

 

[WDSearcher]

I don't understand why you didn't interrupt and share info.

As long as you don't go butting in saying "You're an idiot! How did you get to be a travel agent??", I don't see how offering advice would be seen as a bad thing. You can always start with a disclaimer, like, "Hi ... I was just listening to you talk about WDW, and I just got back from there and some of what you're saying doesn't match what I just saw and did ..." and go from there. As long as you don't totally dis the TA, offering insight or answers (correct answers) would be perfectly appropriate.

One thing, though ... your post included the comment, "After all, what do i know about disney - she is a pro at this and i am just a videoconferencing specialist." No one in the conversation had said or implied that you didn't know about WDW, right? From what I understand, you were just listening in. Why would you assume that the TA wouldn't welcome your opinion? And, for that matter, had you offered it, how is the TA to know that you're NOT another "pro"? She doesn't know you're "just a videoconferencing specialist." You seemed to be pretty angry and defensive towards someone who hadn't accused you of anything. I'll bet she would have been interested to hear what you had to say, as long as it was presented in a helpful manner. Next time, speak up!

 

[dani12]

Travel agents don't always know everything. I had to explain to mine what the disney dining plan was. He did get me a better rate than going on my own, but thank goodness I did my research. A friend of mine then called to plan a trip and mentioned that I had also used his agency. He told her if she had any questions to call me b/c I know more than he does. Sad, but true...

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

OMG!!! How did this woman ever get her license????

To what license are you referring? In almost all cases, travel agents don't need to have any kind of license at all - and the only 'license' to sell Disney travel (if you can call it that) is the College of Disney Knowledge, which is a set of open book tests - and you don't need to get that - it just helps a little in getting to know the Disney products.

This is why I always recommend that someone use a Disney-specialist travel agent, one whose only specialty IS Disney - they will know it better than any other general TA - because it is their job to know.

 

[joshsmom]

I don't know if I would have said anything at that moment but I would have probably waited for the game to be over and then said something to the mom planning the trip. Kind of like "hey, heard you talking about WDW! I love that place and have been there X amount of times. I know some GREAT resources to help you plan (THE DIS). I'd be happy to answer any questions you have!" If she balked, I might have then said something like "I don't mean to be rude, but some of the information I heard was incorrect and I would hate for you to miss out on all the good stuff!!"

I don't think I could have interrupted them though--it's not my way. But I would really try to connect with the mom afterwards and have a chat!!

 

[S. C.]

IMHO All TA's should be required to belong to this website BEFORE giving out any Disney info.

 

[TSR6]

I definately would have stepped in and said something. I do it all the time while I'm at the parks... you might just save someone an hour or so, or their vacation depending on how severe the mistake might be.

 

[Miranda Danda]

Poor lady. She is gonna have horrible information!