Normal booking practice for Travel Agent?

[newdisneygirl08]

I am using a Travel Agent, thought it would be helpful since I haven't been to Disney in over 10 years. However, I am obsessed and have been almost planning everything myself right now anyway for March 2019. My agent said she wouldn't meet with us until closer to the summer when packages are released as that is when she will book. She also walks through dining, touring plans/ideas.

Should it be common practice for a Travel Agent to book a room now and change later once the packages are released? Not sure if I should just do it on my own since I have researched so much already (planning ADRs, FPs, driving my husband mad, etc.). I originally thought having a Travel Agent would be nice so I can meet with them face-to-face, walk-through my plans, get their insight, hopefully they might know of the best deals, etc., but not sure if it is worth it now?

I have very specific dates we can go (during spring break that aligned to the same week for my 3 kids who are all in different schools!). Looking at POP, 2 rooms since we have 4 adults (myself, husband, 2 sons (22/18), 1 daughter (6)). I already price compared this vs. 1 AoA Suite (with different dates since not "open" for March 2019 yet...), also getting DxDDP for one room with the child to share credits between all. We might do 1 night at a Universal hotel (or throwaway room) to get 2 days with Express Pass before we go to Disney which she could also help with (give best options, etc.).

Or is it not a big deal to wait since there should still be availability at POP, Universal, etc.?

I will be booking my own flights so I don't have to pay for that service.

Thanks!

 

[Karen46]

You have done really great research I would book it on my own. With a travel agent you can’t touch the reservation and it really seems like you will do a great job.

 

[rwdavis2]

Do it yourself. You probably already know more than the agent. If you have questions just ask them here.

 

[Sue M]

What kind of TA are you using? Booking Disney I will only use a Specialized TA that only books Disney. These are mostly online agencies. I wouldn’t use a general travel agency.
The people that own Dis boards are one of those agencies, and there are many more.
For me personally, I don’t book until I can get a discount. I see no advantage of booking one thing, then changing when discounts are released.
If you are planning to go with or without discounts then book when packages are released. Unfortunately room only and packages are 2 different booking systems. So to change they have to cancel the room only and rebook as a package. Lots of people seem to do this. So do whatever you’re comfortable with. Most Disney specialized TAs will do this for you.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Book it on your own or use a certified Disney Travel Agent. I don't usually use TAs but with our upcoming trip there was too many moving parts and I'm so swamped at work I just can't be on the hunt for discounts like my agent is.

 

[iivye]

The one time I used a TA she booked the room we wanted right away and then when discounts came out she applied them to the room. It seems odd that the agent won't book now since you have specific dates. I agree with the pp that you should find a new TA. I did use a specialized TA from Small World.

 

[tamerbelles]

She probably won't book for you now because she can't quote a price. Until the full price packages are released, she can't give you any rates. Good business practice, in my opinion. She probably doesn't want to give false expectations.

 

[newdisneygirl08]

Thanks for all the advice...they are a Disney Certified travel agency, just so happens she is close enough that we can meet face-to-face when the time gets closer to discussing ADRs, etc. I wonder if it is more the issue of not being able to provide accurate quotes. I probably just have to decide if I want to have the full control of the reservation. It is possible I won't be as free later to make changes/look and find discounts too. I also realize everything I have done so far is using assumptions as things can change for next year! Sounds like either way (booking before packages are released or not) is not better or wrong.

 

[Jillianna]

I don't think your TA wants to wait until the packages are released. Packages for next March will not come out until sometime around October. Your TA wants to wait until the rake rates are released for 2019 (sometime in June 2018) then you can book through December 2019. Even it you call WDW directly they can not reserve a room with out the rack rates.

 

[DisneyHardin]

As it seems like people above have said, it's not that she WON'T book it for you know, its that she CAN'T. Right now on Disney's website, you can only book through Dec of 2018.

 

[KrazeeK120]

As it seems like people above have said, it's not that she WON'T book it for you know, its that she CAN'T. Right now on Disney's website, you can only book through Dec of 2018.

You can call to book, though.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I don't think your TA wants to wait until the packages are released. Packages for next March will not come out until sometime around October. Your TA wants to wait until the rake rates are released for 2019 (sometime in June 2018) then you can book through December 2019. Even it you call WDW directly they can not reserve a room with out the rack rates.

Packages should be available the same time as room-only rates, likely sometime this summer.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Pretty sure if you book a room only and switch to a package, the original reservation needs to be cancelled to book the package. You cannot just change it. That could be part of why she does not want to book it now. However, if you want to meet with her/him to discuss some of your thoughts and they are unwilling to, might not be the best TA. In my opinion, a travel agent, especially Disney certified, should be willing to meet with you, if that is what you want. They should discuss what they do and do not do also. I have encountered travel agents who would handle everything from room, airfare, ADRs, FPs, etc to having one who booked our package and wanted nothing to do with the rest. I don't deal with a TA anymore, but there are plenty of good ones. Just be cautious that there are also some bad.

ETA: Just saw you can't book this early anyway, but again discussing what you want prior to booking is a good idea.

 

[Jillianna]

Packages should be available the same time as room-only rates, likely sometime this summer.

Yes you are correct. Sorry I was not clear. I was thinking of the discounted packages and room rates that come out at a later date. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[happymommy]

I agree; book it all yourself. Have control over your vacation; just because you haven't been in a while doesn't mean you can't do it all yourself.

 

[yaya74]

you can do both.. but I prefer to book my package via a travel agent. there is nothing better then waking up with an email from my agent informing me that she just saved me a couple hundred dollars because a new promotion was just released that morning...

 

[bumbershoot]

I don’t see how a TA can give you more insight than you have already gotten on the dis. And here if someone gets something wrong five people will come behind to make sure you know it's wrong. You don’t get that with a TA.

You’ve done the research. Just do it on your own when it’s time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Should it be common practice for a Travel Agent to book a room now and change later once the packages are released?

No!

 

[ariane37]

As a TA I will say that the TA you're using is doing what most TA's would do in not booking your room only now. Once packages are released for 2019 which SHOULD be sometime in June, your RO would have to be cancelled and switched to a package anyway. Since it takes time for your refund to come through and you'd need to put a $200 deposit down to hold your package you'd have that plus your 1 night RO deposit tied up at the same time. This may not be an issue for you but is for some people. As for meeting with you now......well, I would, because there's nothing wrong with answering some of your questions now so when packages ARE released you know exactly what you want But all TA's work differently and it doesn't mean he/she isn't good by any means!

The one time I used a TA she booked the room we wanted right away and then when discounts came out she applied them to the room. It seems odd that the agent won't book now since you have specific dates. I agree with the pp that you should find a new TA. I did use a specialized TA from Small World.

Booking before discounts are released for your travel dates and then applying a discount is common practice for TA's but that's not what the situation is here; this is a TA waiting to book until PACKAGES are released. Once the package is booked he or she would then monitor for discounts.

She probably won't book for you now because she can't quote a price. Until the full price packages are released, she can't give you any rates. Good business practice, in my opinion. She probably doesn't want to give false expectations.

Exactly

You can call to book, though.

Right now you can only call to book a room only for 2019 which would then have to be cancelled if you wanted to change to a package, so really no point in doing so.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Right now you can only call to book a room only for 2019 which would then have to be cancelled if you wanted to change to a package, so really no point in doing so.

Plus, the quoted rate would be the highest 2018 rack rate.