Planning Consultants?

[aggiedog]

We are experienced WDW folks, and were big touring plan fans back in the day. I knew the ins and outs of dining and fast pass reservations, etc. I've also chaperoned my kids' school trips where we stayed off site and got our tickets the day of, so not able to plan much ahead of time and made it work pretty well regardless. I recently won a week in a condo off-site, a hefty Disney gift card, and a credit with a "Disney Planner" at a charity event. We haven't been to WDW since the Genie and LL systems were introduced. There will be 6 adults going off season, with a plan to just hit a few areas - Pandora, Star Wars, the countries at Epcot.

I'm not sure I would have spent money to have someone help me plan a trip, but since we have access to her, what should I be expecting? So far, she has purchased our tickets and linked them to my MDE, but asked us to get online to make reservations for the days we want. Maybe I know too much, but I would have included that with "these parks are early entry/late stay/etc so consider this park this day" sort of info. I feel like she's just getting points for booking and I'm doing the legwork. Maybe I'm wrong.

Any tips on how to use this service to the best of our ability?

 

[sponica]

I'm too much of a control freak, but maybe ADRs?

 

[lanejudy]

Maybe I know too much, but I would have included that with "these parks are early entry/late stay/etc so consider this park this day" sort of info.

Did you ask her about that sort of info? If she knows you've been to WDW before, she may think you don't need her suggestions (however right or wrong that assumption is).

That said, if you are like me you'd be double-checking her info anyway and making your own plans. So whether there is any particular "value" for using the planner is really a personal decision.

 

[Micca]

It would be interesting to find out how much more the "expert" knows compared to your experiences.

 

[_19disnA]

The title of "Disney Planner" can mean a lot of different things. Some just try to make a profit from the Disney popularity and really can't do anything you can't do yourself online. None of them have any special/secret access to reservations/ADR's/etc. Since you won this as a prize, doesn't cost you anything to see what they offer. I would never spend money with one of these planners thinking they can somehow do what you can't do yourself.

Personally, if you have been to Disney many times in the past, I don't see any value in paying someone to plan your vacation. You already know the parks/restaurants/hotels/rides/shows you like best. If you are new to Disney, you would have no idea about any of those things until you experience them. Even if you spend a LONG time on the phone with this person, I doubt it will be worth whatever they charge. Unless they are very current with things like Genie, they may actually give you incorrect information.

You could ask them what specific services they offer as part of the prize you won.

 

[aggiedog]

I have talked to her, and she did respond to my email today with a suggested "which park which days" answer. I do think she'd be more valuable if I knew nothing and didn't want to research anything. I'm pretty much with y'all. I can do all this, but if she can do some of the footwork of entering reservations, getting ADR's, etc, I'll let her. I definitely wouldn't have gone out and paid for this on my own.

I can't really complain. I spent $500 on a "heads or tails" game and won a 7 night 2 bedroom condo in a nice complex, $1000 Disney gift card, and her planning services (worth $300.) There's 6 of us adult couples who have all been before so are just going to hit the highlights that interest us at this point and eat good food. Should be as relaxing as a WDW vacation can get.

 

[farfaraway]

IF you trust this person, maybe let her make any dining reservations so you don't have to get up early?

 

[Pyxie]

Full disclosure, I'm a TA myself, but the only times I've used one to plan a Disney trip, I pretty much wanted them to wake up early and do my dining reservations. That's basically it. I can plan the trip myself otherwise.

Depending on when you are going, it could be too early to make park suggestions based on early/late/extended hours but that is something she can help with.

Regarding making the actual park reservations, technically it's Disney's policy that the client has to make those themselves because it also includes the health acknowledgement. But there are TA's who will do it for you anyway.

 

[aggiedog]

Ah, that's good to know. Thanks. She did mention ADR's, getting up early, making sure they were in right away, etc. Even that is a nice benefit.

Thanks everyone.