Niagara Traval Agent-Disney based

[MedicGoofy]

Hi All

I am looking for a travel agent that is Disney based. I want them to KNOW Disney. Not say they know Disney and have a picture of the castle in their window and maybe a brochure, but actually be knowledgable. And when they say, they are Disney travel agents, actually be legit Disney travel agents.

I am from Niagara Falls but do I need to use someone in my area? Do I NEED to be able to go into their office? If not.....start giving me some recommendations!!!!

I have heard of Fantasy something??? Or maybe Im just thinking of the new ship

I have no problems going with an agent that isn't close BUT I need to be sure that I won't have to drive to see them at some point. I just want someone who is reliable and who is their to help at the end of the day if something goes wrong with the vacation. Ie. recent wind storm in Niagara and cancelled flights would mean missing cruise, travel agent deals with it, not me.

Thanks so much for you help in advance

Jenn

 

[pigletto]

I don't know of anyone around here who knows it better than I do.. so I book it all myself. Plus the planning is half the fun for me, so I don't mind. But I do completely understand wanting someone as an advocate for your trip, especially with the cruises.
I can personally recommend Small World Vacations. I used them for our 2008 trip and the agent assigned to me was awesome.
They didn't have a specific Canadian agent but the one I had was in New Jersey. They are ONLY Disney agents, and get paid from Disney so it cost nothing extra on my end and they knew their stuff. They are the recommended travel agent through mousesavers.com.

You do all your planning and organizing with them over the phone or in emails. I would say the average turnaround time for any email I sent was less than 12 hours, unless it was a weekend. If it was something that needed immediate attention they got back to me promptly.

You can submit a quote request through their website to start working with them. If you are going to go the route of an agent, they are great.

ETA) One caveat and the only reason I no longer use them is that I change things often enough that I like to be able to call and deal with Disney directly for my own reservation. You can't do that if you assign it to an agent. They do the calling. That's not just smallworld though.. any agency you book with controls the reservation and you will have to deal with them, not Disney. Great in some cases and disastrous in others.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

CAA Niagara - Julie Morrison (Krista White also, currently on mat leave). Julie is out of the Welland office and can be reached at 905-735-1100.

Many of the people at the company I work for have used Krista for travel plans and she has been terrific over the years. Both are very well versed in anything Disney travel.

You don't need to go into the office, in fact a lot of correspondence can be done through e-mail, which is helpful timing wise and clear communication wise. I have never been to the Welland office.

They can transfer any travel documents to any of the Niagara based CAA offices so that you don't have to go to far out of the way to pick up prior to your trip.

 

[Sue M]

I've used Ears To You, a couple of times, and they've been wonderful. You don't have to be near them. I contacted them via the e mail on their web site, we had a phone conversation or 2 so that they know what I'm looking for, then most of our communication was done by e mail.
They were recommended to me by a friend who used them.

Now, I book myself, because I enjoy it! But i wouldn't hesitate using them again if I needed a TA. They book only Disney Vacations, and are very knowledgeable. They are on the phone with Disney the moment the reservation line is open when discounts come out, getting you the best deal. Often they know a day or 2 ahead when discounts come out.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I would highly recommend Fairytale Dreams & Destinations in Bolton. We used them for our 2009 Disney trip and they are fantastic . We dealt with Christine, the owner, and her customer service is amazing. All their firm does is Disney.....Disneyworld, Disneyland, Disney cruises, Adventures By Disney, etc.....so that's their only focus.

We live more than 2 hours from their office and never needed to actually go there even once. Everything can be handled via phone or email.

 

[lisalonglash]

Yes, Fairytale Dreams & Destinations are absolutely wonderful - they are in Bolton, ON and are Disney specialists (it's all they do and they absolutely know all things Disney). We are very comfortable booking all of our other trips ourselves, but we would not go to any Disney park/destination without using FD&D - they are truly that good! We are in BC - so we have obviously never been to their office lol Everything is handled via email and telephone. Enjoy your trip

 

[KNovacovschi]

I would also recommend Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. With our last trip we booked through Trip Central, it was great that they booked our rooms, tickets, flights and DP but there was nothing personal about it. I went in once to book and again closer to pick up plane tickets. So far FD&D had been great. We aren't going until Oct but even this soon Dal, my TA, has been great. I booked on Jan 18 and have made a couple of changes since and I'm sure I've seemed crazy but he has been nothing but helpful. Also I've received a package including park maps, a list of things to pack and so on. I'm glad I've chosen them for my trip. I couldn't be happier.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Hi All

I am looking for a travel agent that is Disney based. I want them to KNOW Disney. Not say they know Disney and have a picture of the castle in their window and maybe a brochure, but actually be knowledgable. And when they say, they are Disney travel agents, actually be legit Disney travel agents.

I am from Niagara Falls but do I need to use someone in my area? Do I NEED to be able to go into their office? If not.....start giving me some recommendations!!!!

I have heard of Fantasy something??? Or maybe Im just thinking of the new ship

I have no problems going with an agent that isn't close BUT I need to be sure that I won't have to drive to see them at some point. I just want someone who is reliable and who is their to help at the end of the day if something goes wrong with the vacation. Ie. recent wind storm in Niagara and cancelled flights would mean missing cruise, travel agent deals with it, not me.

Thanks so much for you help in advance

Jenn

We book directly with Disney now...prefer going direct! ..We have also dealt with CAA in Thorold for a few disney trips. Layla is fantastic.

 

[vacation_junkie]

I don't know of anyone around here who knows it better than I do.. so I book it all myself. Plus the planning is half the fun for me, so I don't mind. But I do completely understand wanting someone as an advocate for your trip, especially with the cruises.
I can personally recommend Small World Vacations. I used them for our 2008 trip and the agent assigned to me was awesome.
They didn't have a specific Canadian agent but the one I had was in New Jersey. They are ONLY Disney agents, and get paid from Disney so it cost nothing extra on my end and they knew their stuff. They are the recommended travel agent through mousesavers.com.

You do all your planning and organizing with them over the phone or in emails. I would say the average turnaround time for any email I sent was less than 12 hours, unless it was a weekend. If it was something that needed immediate attention they got back to me promptly.

You can submit a quote request through their website to start working with them. If you are going to go the route of an agent, they are great.

ETA) One caveat and the only reason I no longer use them is that I change things often enough that I like to be able to call and deal with Disney directly for my own reservation. You can't do that if you assign it to an agent. They do the calling. That's not just smallworld though.. any agency you book with controls the reservation and you will have to deal with them, not Disney. Great in some cases and disastrous in others.

We do the same!
I have had alot of problems with different travel agents over the past few years..so i just do it myself!!!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Another vote for fairytale dreams and destinations. I've dealt with Christine as well as other staff members. All great. I have booked it myself before too but I prefer to go through Christine and her staff. They automatically apply discounts to my reservations as soon as they get them which is always faster than I get them. By the time I've contacted them they have already applied the discount. I make all my own ADR's and excursion bookings but I know I could ask them to do it (but I like it too much to give that up) and I can always ask them for advice about it. I highly recommend them.

 

[YukiPhnx]

I use Mouse Fan Travels and absolutely ADORE my TA, Jan.

You're going to get a LOT of different agencies here and they're all equally good. How I chose the agency was I submitted quote requests to all the agencies I've heard of, and then waited to see who would be the first to respond. Mouse Fan Travel answered me first while the others took a while to.

I think one of the most important things about a good TA is how quickly they can respond to your needs, so that it's as if you're acting THROUGH them.

Happy TA searching~

 

[fivebyfive]

I think one of the most important things about a good TA is how quickly they can respond to your needs, so that it's as if you're acting THROUGH them.

I beg to differ, as I want a job 'well done', not 'quickly done'. No disrespect to Jan or Mouse Fan Travel of course, but I wouldn't want to pick my doctor based on that theory.

 

[RadioMom]

Another vote for Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. Christine and her team are the best! She's planning trip number four for me and i wouldn't consider anyone else. her company is also rated #1 by Disney for Canada. You can read my first trip report guestimonial on their website. I've recommended her to dozens of people, all thrilled with the service and treatment they received.

 

[SaraMc]

We use Dreams Unlimited Travel. It's all online and it's great. The owners of the dis also own Dreams unlimited.

 

[drag n' fly]

CTM...I have certainly changed my opinion about them. What a bunch of unstable freakshow jackwagons they are. Their host is a complete crook. Never met a more greasy bunch of agents than them

 

[springsteenmickey]

I too book my Disney vacations with Fairytale Dreams & Destinations. I dig the fact that they are a storefront and that I can see them face to face.

Contrary to what earlier posters have said, they don't book just WDW. I speak from personal experience, so many trips, so little time. They book DL/DCL/ABD/Aulani...blah, blah, blah.

Fairytale Dreams & Destinations even attended the christening of the Fantasy in NYC, so no doubt that they book it all!

 

[maryliz]

I do all my own WDW booking myself. Used our friends TA last year for our first cruise, and it drove me nuts. I booked the next cruise myself. I like having control.

I do have to chime in regarding one of the recommended TA's on this thread ... my SIL used them and they flat out told her to NOT use the DME luggage service when arriving at MCO. Told them that too many of their clients didn't get their luggage in a timely fashion, and that it's just "so much EASIER to collect your luggage and take it on the bus with you." I could NOT believe that a reputable agent would have given them such advice ... which they took, instead of listening to me (after all, I only have 34 trips to WDW under my belt )

I told my SIL that if they had a flight arriving in the evening, then it might be good advice ... but they were arriving at 3:30 PM Saying goodbye to my luggage in Detroit and finding it magically waiting in my room later that day is a fabulous perk and saves so much time at the airport.

Just sayin' that even the so-called "good" Disney TA's aren't always the best. but if you don't know anything about WDW and need it for your own comfort level when booking, go for it.

 

[tone.def]

Hands down the best Disney travel agents I have ever worked with is clickTheMouse. The ladies know every nook and cranny of planning and booking the perfect Disney vacation. The discounts, the dining, the activities, the best rooms etc! clickTheMouse held a workshop in Mississauga on how to plan a great Disney vacation. They are so good they are often mentioned in newspapers and on Breakfast Television. They are experts in all of North American Disney parks and cruises not just WDW like FD&D.

What a 180! Aren't you always the "book it yourself" person?

And yes they were on BT, the owner of the company is married to a former senior director there (TV in Toronto is a small industry), free advertising!

 

[Disney Addicted]

They are experts in all of North American Disney parks and cruises not just WDW like FD&D.

Not correct. FD&D does all Disney, not just WDW.

 

[drag n' fly]

Not correct. FD&D does all Disney, not just WDW.

I never said FD&D didn't do it all. She happens to be an expert at WDW just like many other good agents who sell Disney. I said she specializes in WDW she is not an expert in all things Disney.