Has anyone used a specialized Disney travel agent to book their free dining?

[Susie22]

I am so nervous right now. I've never used a TA before, but I decided for this vacation to use the one recommended by mousesavers. I talked to her the other day and she said I did not need to call her and request the free dining, but that she would automatically convert my reservation this morning. She said she would get up and start converting for her clients at 6 am. But she kept reiterating that free dining was not guaranteed, and that there were for example only four rooms that would be available at POP, and that's where I'm booked. How good are these travel agents? I've made it very clear to her that I'm going on these dates because of free dining, otherwise I would want to book in December. I also told her when I first made ressies that I would be willing to book POP or Movies, although at this point I'd take anything. Will she work for me, or just give up if my exact dates/resort is unavailable. I'm beginning to wish I'd just done this myself, although if she comes through for me I'll be very glad I didn't have to sit on the phone this morning. So what do you think based on your experience, will I be glad I used her or mad?

 

[JennyMominRI]

I am so nervous right now. I've never used a TA before, but I decided for this vacation to use the one recommended by mousesavers. I talked to her the other day and she said I did not need to call her and request the free dining, but that she would automatically convert my reservation this morning. She said she would get up and start converting for her clients at 6 am. But she kept reiterating that free dining was not guaranteed, and that there were for example only four rooms that would be available at POP, and that's where I'm booked. How good are these travel agents? I've made it very clear to her that I'm going on these dates because of free dining, otherwise I would want to book in December. I also told her when I first made ressies that I would be willing to book POP or Movies, although at this point I'd take anything. Will she work for me, or just give up if my exact dates/resort is unavailable. I'm beginning to wish I'd just done this myself, although if she comes through for me I'll be very glad I didn't have to sit on the phone this morning. So what do you think based on your experience, will I be glad I used her or mad?

I'm using DU right now.I have also used the Magic For Less. I have never been dissapointed..I have had great results..If what you asked for is available,they will get it for you..I have no doubt my TA is working on things right now.

 

[Rustysmom]

I'm using a TA from The Magic For Less and he was able to get me the free dining added on to an existing reservation that I made a few months ago. I was a nervous wreck waiting to hear from him though. LOL

He told me the same thing, that there might only be a few packages at each resort and would I be willing to change resorts. After a lot of thinking, I told him no, I wanted to stay at the one I was booked no matter what. I kept emailing the poor guy asking if he was able to get it for me, and he finally told me that yes, he was able to!

Good luck!

 

[Joan1]

Susie22 - I am using the same company as you and have been for 3 years, Small World, my agent has always been wonderful and on top of things. Even the agents that have covered for her when she is on vacation have always been helpful

Remember that they are trying to get everyone converted first before probably emailing
I did hear from my agent this morning letting me know POP wasn't available for my dates and what my preference were as I didn't get back to her before today with that information even though she asked me last week about it. Just didn't get a minute to get back to her

I have confidence that I will get one of the value hotels, I don't care which one at this point
From reading other posts it seems that not many people were able to get Pop Century so I would email your agent and let them know your order of preference for all the value hotels just in case

 

[JennyMominRI]

My TA already got back to me and was able to book my first choice resort

 

[Susie22]

OK, she did great. She could not modify my existing ressie at POP because it was sold out. So she emailed and asked whether I wanted Music or Sports. I replied Music, and she emailed me back immediately saying it was done. So yay! I got it. I don't think I would have been able to get POP by myself anyway after seeing all the people on the board saying it was sold out, so I'm so glad I used her. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

 

[Joan1]

OK, she did great. She could not modify my existing ressie at POP because it was sold out. So she emailed and asked whether I wanted Music or Sports. I replied Music, and she emailed me back immediately saying it was done. So yay! I got it. I don't think I would have been able to get POP by myself anyway after seeing all the people on the board saying it was sold out, so I'm so glad I used her. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Glad to hear it, I just got an email too, we will be at Sports

 

[tonyolily]

My agent at Pixiedust-Travel just called me a little while ago to tell me she switched all my ressies over, no problem.

I'm soooooooo very glad that I didn't have to get up super early to be on hold forever!!!

 

[burberryplaid]

I guess I am the only one who is disappointed because my TA at Dreams Unlimited could not get us anything at Wilderness Lodge during free dining!

 

[disneyfreak74]

I used Debbie at Magical Journeys. . .made my reservation about 2 1/2 months ago and this morning when I checked my email there was one in there from her!!! Had my new total and said that EVERYTHING was good!!! Gotta LOVE that!!!!

 

[Joan1]

I guess I am the only one who is disappointed because my TA at Dreams Unlimited could not get us anything at Wilderness Lodge during free dining!

Not much available at Wilderness Lodge with the free dining for the month of September. I have a friend who has tried since Monday, she has a Disney Visa and all that was coming up was the concierge level room

 

[C_leen]

I also used Small World. Not being able to modify my ressie at WL or get my initial choices is absolutely not my TA's fault. Beth has been very responsive via E-mail and wonderful. I could tell from the Disney Visa gang that WL was off the table during my dates. We already had a WL std. room ressie but I knew I'd have to be willing to pay for dining to keep a room at WL. On Tuesday I e-mailed Beth 2 additional choices if my std. room ressie couldn't be modified. I was up watching the feeding frenzy on the boards yesterday am and I could tell that WL was still off the table from the posters and there wasn't an additional block of rooms released. For a promo that runs through June, I wonder if there's much at all left? When I got to work, I checked the Disney site and quickly saw there was hardly anything at all for my dates. Even my fourth or fifth choices were gone. I started to think hard about just keeping my WL ressie.

Now, since my parents are coming on this trip, these sorts of decisions have repercussions. My mom (total disney nut) told me when we were discussing the trip that she had always wanted to stay at the Poly but couldn't justify it. I had budgeted for POFQ, but we agreed on WL and had made the ressies. All that was left for me was Poly or POR & this is exactly what my Small World TA offered me. The Poly package was $150 cheaper than my original WL ressie. I took it as an omen, and moved to the Poly. I called my Dad. We decided he was going to tell my mom that I was so disappointed that I just couldn't bear to call her. Then he could spring the Poly on her as a surprise. The atmosphere of WL is more my family's style, but we get to experience a monorail resort and the Poly also has renovated rooms, so it is going to be super.

 

[stephgles]

I used Lori @ Magical Memories Travel. I booked with her a while ago (2 preferred rooms at POP - one for my family one for my cousin's family). We talked on Tuesday and she said she has us on the list to update and she will do what she can to get us our existing preference. She emailed me at 6:05 a.m. advising that POP and Movies had no availablity and what my other choice are but will keep on check on POP for me. We emailed back and forth a few times and at 9:46 I got an emailing stating GOOD NEWS. She was able to get me 2 preferred rooms at POP.

She did a great job and would honestly us them again for my Disney travel next year.

Stephgles

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

We used a disney authorized TA too and she cancelled our old ressie and made our new one with free dine on Monday, exactly what we wanted...no problems! If you use a good TA, have a little faith. They're doing the best they can for you! I'm glad everything worked out for you Susie22! Have a great trip!

 

[CanadianGuy]

I guess I am the only one who is disappointed because my TA at Dreams Unlimited could not get us anything at Wilderness Lodge during free dining!

Wildnerness Lodge was one of the tougher places to get this go around.

Even from the start of the promotion, some weeks they only offered concierge level rooms ... and other weeks they offered NONE.



Knox

 

[Alicnwondrln]

keep trying things are always changing

 

[4Jays]

I used a TA from themagicforless on my last trip and was really pleased. So I left the reservations for this trip to the TA's there again, and I wasn't disappointed--they're great!