I have a Newbie question

[MsDunny]

I am new to these boards, and to Disney trip planning. I need help with answering a question for a friend.

I am planning this trip for our family, and a friend and his son. I have been looking forward to booking this trip for years, and have been reading every bit of information I could get my hands on. That said, when I booked our trip, I used Dreams Unlimited. The friend that is going wants me to get pricing from the "wife of a friend" who just started her own travel agency from home...NOT what I want to do.

Am I correct when I tell him that she is not going to get us a better price? Plus the fact that she doesn't "know" Disney the way the folks from D.U. do, right? I mean, as far as I know, she is just going to go online and book a trip the way that I would. I really hate this! I want them to go, as they have never been to Disney, but I don't want it to be uncomfortable.

Anyway, any help you folks can give me will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lugh]

Well, this is a touchy political question.

Generally speaking, you are correct. Your friend's friend's wife is very unlikely to be able to get a better deal. OTOH, I understand wanting to support a friend, and a new business.

Your best option may be to get a quote from DU, and take the quote to the friend. Simply say, "Here's what I've got. I'm willing to help out a friend, if she can make a competitive quote." She may end up sacrificing her commission to get her price to meet DU's. Or, she may fail to meet it. Or, she may surprise you, and finesse something to get you in at a very comparable (or even better) price. But, if you make it clear that you are giving her an opportunity to earn your business, instead of just being handed business on a silver platter, you can always back out if she fails.

 

[wilde_oscar]

yeah, not easy to answer this question with out stepping on some toes... but DU is many obsessive fans of WDW with a knowledge of the parks that would be hard to match. DU is a top supplier to WDW, but prices are tightly regulated by Disney, and DU can and will be happy to work the system to get you the best deal, not to mention Dining Reservations.

 

[MsDunny]

I understand - I don't want to step on toes with my question. My main problem with this is, I am planning a trip for the first time in 15 years. I would rather work with folks that know the parks, and will work hard to get me the best deals. The other agent called me today and said that she won't even be able to book our ressies until mid-September, and I am not wanting to wait.

Thanks for your help so far.

 

[wilde_oscar]

yeah, if you are doing a trip of a life time... you might wanna go with someone that knows the system, and knows the deals, etc. No offense to someone starting out, but WDW is a very expensive trip to have someone with lesser experience pull things together