Mad Hatter adventure travel agency

[kateandy08096]

Has anyone ever booked via Mad Hatter adventures travel agency? I am interested to see if they offer any perks for booking a cruise when I asked the agent she said they dont offer onboard credit but offer greater things that will be revealed after booking. A little hesitant to see what it is they may offer.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Has anyone ever booked via Mad Hatter adventures travel agency? I am interested to see if they offer any perks for booking a cruise when I asked the agent she said they dont offer onboard credit but offer greater things that will be revealed after booking. A little hesitant to see what it is they may offer.

Any discussion of travel agencies is supposed to include their full URL (in order to see if they pass the filters). Not all TA can be discussed here.

http://************.com/

Sounds a little hinky if they won't reveal what their "perks" are for using them unless you actually book with them. Most TAs are pretty transparent about what they can get you.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

....Sounds a little hinky if they won't reveal what their "perks" are for using them unless you actually book with them. Most TAs are pretty transparent about what they can get you.

Yeah. I'd steer clear. That sounds sketchy.

 

[Sytrace]

Great things revealed might be a cute little drink cozy and some hand sanitizer. I would be wary.

 

[kateandy08096]

Thanks all can anyone recommend a good agency?

 

[Geomom]

This website is run by the owners of the Dreams Unlimited travel agency. We used them for our first cruise (8/16) in order to get on board credit. They also send gift baskets before your cruise if you live in the US (and Canada?). Other people have used Costco travel in order to get a Costco gift card afterwards. There are plenty of others out there as well--but yes, they should mention what you get ahead of time--and I'd look for one that gives you onboard credit!

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Maybe "we're all mad here" because there's no OBC. What's a "greater" gift than OBC to spend anyway you want?!

 

[pjacobi]

Disney pays Travel Agents about 5-10% commission on cruise fares. From that commission, TAs need to pay their own expenses, plus any gift to you.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Excuse me, but would you mind sharing how agents who are only paid via commission by Disney are somehow padding the price of the cruise?

I was rather interested in the comment:

... Our agents earn commission on the cruises they book. They will then offer onboard credit based on what they earn. ...

My point was most TAs will have number (either a dollar amount or percentage of fare) that they tell prospective customers as to what OBC, if any they do. But to just say (apparently, as posted by OP) "she said they dont offer onboard credit but offer greater things that will be revealed after booking." seems a bit secretive.

 

[wilkeliza]

Not sure who @comotiongirl is but I can tell you Dreams Unlimited does not in any way shape or form "pad" their packages and I don't believe they take their OBC from their travel agents. It is common practice for a travel agency to take a percentage based fee from each agent but that is known to the agent up front and when they are hired. Then the company take promotional items and OBC as well as training and supplies from that money as well as any other things they may get like sponsorship or advertising money.

I would not work with a company where it is up to the individual travel agent on what my base extra was. I could imagine some travel agents going above and beyong btu I would at least like my OBC or even any other base freebie to be laid out and not book under you'll find out after we have your money. That is shady business to me.

 

[CSwan1]

Not sure who @comotiongirl is but I can tell you Dreams Unlimited does not in any way shape or form "pad" their packages and I don't believe they take their OBC from their travel agents. It is common practice for a travel agency to take a percentage based fee from each agent but that is known to the agent up front and when they are hired. Then the company take promotional items and OBC as well as training and supplies from that money as well as any other things they may get like sponsorship or advertising money.

I would not work with a company where it is up to the individual travel agent on what my base extra was. I could imagine some travel agents going above and beyong btu I would at least like my OBC or even any other base freebie to be laid out and not book under you'll find out after we have your money. That is shady business to me.

Like comotiongirl said, some agencies add fees to packages to cover 'extras'. And like you said, Dreams Unlimited does not.
The common practice for a travel agency to take a percentage based fee from each agent to cover promotional items, OBC, postage, etc. may work for some companies and may not work for others. It's great that companies can try different things and see what works best for them.
One more thought--- OBCs are great! Who wouldn't like having that little extra to spend on vacation! But travel agencies should be about SERVICE not OBCs! Before getting into the industry, I booked my first Disney vacation with a travel agency because #1 I had never been before and needed HELP and #2 Their incentive. Guess what?? The service was HORRIBLE! Trip 2- booked with another agency with incentive and their service was wonderful! Trip #3- same agency but no incentive and BEST SERVICE EVER! She was why I decided to do what I do now.

 

[wilkeliza]

I don't book just based on OBC or incentives either. I book based on transparency and referral. Also if I'm going through a company I would expect it to be the same no matter which travel agent I got with in that company. I'm not talking a magnet or water bottle but if an agency gives on board credit at the discretion of the agent wouldn't you be kind of upset if your agent gives $20 by another agent with in the same company gave $150 for the same cruise and same price?

 

[kateandy08096]

First and foremost I am the OP who is brand spanking new to DCL. I am a WDW vet with well over 15 trips all planned by me. I have never used a TA to book a disney trip for me because up to now there wasnt any need. Due to the fact I am NEW to DCL I figured I would seek help in planning from a TA. I have been a member here for a few years so I figured I would start here on the boards. After being referred to Mad Hatter by a co worker I decided to Email asking about the perks and on board credit they offer. I was under the impression it was something offered by DCL for booking thru a TA. Having OBC to me was great because I would use it for our purchases throughout the vacation.
I have seen a few TA list on their websites x amount of obc for x amount of paid vacation. Why would I want to use a TA to do the same thing I can do and not get any perks from it. I dont care if they will sit on the phone with DCL. I dont care I would get concierge service from a TA bc Disney will give me the same customer service. Im interested in freebies. If Im going to put my whole vacation in the hands of a TA I want something out of it. Who doesnt. Why am I going to work my tail off to pay for a vacation so a TA can get a commission for doing the same thing I could for free and less drama. After who ever comotiongirl is sounds like too much drama for me anyways and I definitely am not interested in spending my money with your company. If its too much drama before I booked what is it going to be like after they get my $5k plus

 

[kateandy08096]

In my screen shot of the email from mad hatter it clearly says our company does not offer obc and to me was a huge part of using a TA. I can get the SAME PRICES via DCL that they quoted me

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was under the impression it was something offered by DCL for booking thru a TA.

No, OBC is offered by travel agents in order to make booking through them more attractive. DCL prices to the consumer are (or should be) the same regardless of how you pay for them. It makes it "cost less" when that OBC (that comes out of the TAs "cut") is given back to you. But the actual cost of the cruise will be the same whether you book through a TA or directly through DCL.

 

[kateandy08096]

Here is how it went down. I personally dont see anything wrong with the emails other then not saying what is offered and giving me a quote for 5. She was super quick to get back to me and seemed very Disney friendly. I really dont understand why the owner had her agents log online to start drama but I can guaranteed you after this I will NOT be choosing mad hatter travel agency now.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Here is how it went down. I personally dont see anything wrong with the emails other then not saying what is offered and giving me a quote for 5. She was super quick to get back to me and seemed very Disney friendly. I really dont understand why the owner had her agents log online to start drama but I can guaranteed you after this I will NOT be choosing mad hatter travel agency now.

Really, you don't need to justify your choices. But thanks for the documentation.

 

[NS8VN]

Well, this thread has certainly been a trip.

I want to make sure kateandy08096 that you know I wasn't asking you for numbers or anything of that type. Only that a claim was being made without anything to back up the claim (that their quote was less than a competitor). I was not asking you for anything and apologize you got pulled in to some really unprofessional behavior. Guess it made the decision much easier than before you started the thread

I wish you much better experiences on further planning your trip and hope the trip itself is very enjoyable!

 

[Hundredacre]

Has anyone ever booked via Mad Hatter adventures travel agency? I am interested to see if they offer any perks for booking a cruise when I asked the agent she said they dont offer onboard credit but offer greater things that will be revealed after booking. A little hesitant to see what it is they may offer.

You're not really considering doing business with someone who won't spell out what you are getting are you?

 

[Hundredacre]

Oh. Just read the thread.