IATA cardholders

[Punchy]

My husband gets an IATA discount, and we will be staying at the Grand Floridian in a Garden View room - just wondering what experiences other IATA holders have had at WDW; were you treated the same way as other guests, better, worse etc.?

This is our first familiarization trip and our first Disney trip so we're curious to know what to expect.

 

[disneyleslie]

I've stayed on a ta discount and you get treated exactly the same as others - the only thing that we got with our res was free mini golf but that was a few years ago.

Leslie

 

[mrsklamc]

May I ask what IATA is?

 

[GoofItUp]

May I ask what IATA is?

Intl Assoc of Travel Agents

 

[d1gitman]

we stayed at Boardwalk in a suite back in 2000. my wife had the card then but no longer. we received 50% off. we were treated the same as every other trip since then. boy do we miss her having that card. we did our honeymoon in HI for 50% off and the airfare was a steal. hers was free and mine was 75% off. we flew 2 RT tix, first class for a total of $1200. those were the good old days.

 

[4Seasons]

I've never been treated any differently when traveling on a TA discount. What I do try to always do however is make it a point to schedule a meeting with the manager for a site inspection. That way I get to A) personally meet the manager and thank them for their hospitality, B) get to tour the property for future reference and C) hopefully establish a "repoir" with the manager so that if I have clients traveling there in the future I know who to talk to.
I also make it a point to mail them a thank you card upon my return home.
These things have always paid off for me both personally and professionally.

I had one of my IC's just return from Disney last week with her family from a discounted stay. They were picked as family of the day! She said it was like the publisher's clearinghouse commercial, LOL, several managers came out with balloons, etc. and made a super huge deal. They were upgraded to concierge level. I think it was just a random thing though and she got super-lucky!

 

[Chicago526]

I've traveled many times on reduced agent rates. As far as I can tell I wasn't treated any differently than any other guest. The few extras I've gotten over the years has been due to special occasions, like our honeymoon or my nephews birthday, standard stuff like that.

 

[jdes88]

I've never had any problems either. I actually do this every year and get 2 rooms @ the discount. Too bad I can't get discounted air! HA!! Oh well, that's the best part abt the card, is the room discount!

 

[luv2tvl]

I agree that they don't treat us any differently (dang!). Actually, half the time I need to remind them that it's booked as TA discount, and do they want to see my card!?
Have fun at the GF!

 

[KerriL]

We just got back from the Yacht Club on a ta discount. They did not ask me for the IATA card at check-in. However, I did have to fax a copy of the card and list with 24 hours of making the reservation or it would revert back to a regular rack rate. I did not feel as though we were treated any different at all. All of the CMs we encountered during our stay were wonderful. I don't think the front desk or Club level CMs can tell if the reservation was booked at a discount or not.
Kerri

 

[onecutemoocow]

I have never been to the world on a TA discount using an IATA card, but many other companies. I logged onto disneytravelagents.com today and saw that for the first time ever, they have a TA appreciation this month with free dining. It seems to come out more than the free dining open to the general public. You get the room and free dining but have to purchase the park tickets at regular price. When I go I always want to have the dining included and they NEVER (except for the offer listed above) have had a TA discount on the actual package. We also get a free ticket once a year. But I have never taken advantage of it. I know that if you do a room only package you can get it at almost half off the regular rate.

 

[Punchy]

Yes, we got our room for about 50% off. Thank you IATA!

Also, we're flying on points that were generously donated by my parents so this is a majorly discounted trip.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Never understood why they don't allow us to (pay for) the dining plan when we make our reservations. Those in our office that have never done the dining plan never sell it... then there are others that have done the dining plan (on the free dining Sept.promo) and sell it 98% of the time....

The others in our office that have never done the dining plan have no idea how it works, but yet are "trying" to sell it... doesn't make any sense to me Half the time they end up calling me to speak with their clients.

Always been treated the same with the card vs. without...

I did just book a car w/ National at Dolphin for $24/day with it