Reservations: should I call myself or use a TA?

[MichiganMommy]

Does it really matter if I make my reservations myself or use a travel agent? I usually keep up to date on the codes to try and get the best rates. Last time we went to WDW I called and made my own reservations. When the codes came out, I called and got them applied to our existing reservation.

This week I tried to make a reservation on the official Disney website and gave up in frustration. I wanted to book WL, and it kept showing me offers for AKL instead. We are going in Feb, so I doubt the WL is booked already.

Anyhow, I asked for quote from Dreams Unlimited and got an email quote. I noticed that the cancellation policy is 5 days prior to arrival. It seemed to me that when I made my own reservations last time, that the cancellation date was way out (30 days or 45 days?).

Are the cancellation policies different? That would be wierd. Are they any other reasons to do it myself or use a TA?

Thanks!

 

[F1Julie]

I like to do it myself because I enjoy planning. Rather than booking online, call CRO and see if you can get WL. I've noticed that some resorts rarely show availability online (in my experience POFQ) but if you call, you can get a room. Also, I think if you book room-only, you can cancel up to 5 days out. If you book a package, I think you have the 30 or 45 days to cancel. I hear people raving about DU, but for me, it's my vacation and I want to be the one to plan it. It's part of the fun.

 

[mommytutu]

I also called and made my own reservations. I booked a room only reservation and purchased my park tickets seperately. I called and made my PS arrangements. I scheduled my own flight and picked out my own rental car. I like planning. I feel more in control.

 

[Lou-Ann]

Have to agree here. If you use a TA and want to make changes you have to go through them. I am a control person and if I change my mind or have a problem when I get there want to be able to make the needed changes and not have to worry about finding the person I need to release my rights to a change. I enjoy the search as well.

 

[Slapster]

We always use Dreams Unlimited. If you have any changes you want to make just email them and they take care of it.

It's really helpful to have someone working for you, applying codes, getting PS's. They are always prompt communicators and quick with getting you reservations. I love using them.

 

[CarolA]

If you use a TA use one that specializes in Disney. I have used Dreams Unlimited and been very pleased, but places like AAA think rack rate is all there is!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

I use Joe at Dream Come True Vacations - they are a Disney specialist agency, and have always given me great service.

The cancellation policies differ between doing room-only thru CRO and room-only on the Disney website, as well as doing a package reservation. Room-only thru CRO is a 5 day cancellation policy, the others are 45 days.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Personally, I do it myself cause I'm another obsessive control freak planner. But, if you do go with an agent, make SURE they are a Disney specialist. Planning a Disney trip is much more than just simply making a reservation.

 

[Taratink]

I just got a quote fron Dreams Unlimited and I am going to use them. They seem very flexible and proffesional. I like control but I am busy with my young kids and I need to get some help every once in a while and it is FREE! I am going to go for it. I have heard great things about DU. The TA do everything. Yeah!
Tara

 

[MichiganMommy]

I'm used to doing it all myself, and I really sort of enjoy it. I was just wondering if I'm missing out on anything by not using a TA. Will they proactively continue to search for codes for me, or do I still need to do this and then ask them to apply the code?

 

[my3kids]

I do it myself. I've never had a TA find a better price than I could by picking up the phone myself. With great boards like this, you can get all your questions answered.

By chance, do you have 5 people in your group? Could be that AKL kept coming up if you were trying to reserve for 5.

I don't like the WDW reservation website. I think it is much easiler to call. I kept getting offered concierge at the wrong resort.

 

[vossjemi]

Funny how when a question pops in your mind, someone already has a thread...this is great! We will be doing a 4 day cruise next sept. Thinking about getting a room at WDW for 2 days after the cruise and wondered precisely this question. We went with DU for the cruise, but wondered if they could get us a room cheaper than we could ourselves. We actually only plan to do MK 1 day. The day we arrive from the ship, we'll probably just hang out at the resort since we spent so much time traveling that day. Thinking of the poly. We'll probably get a rental car to drive us from the port to the resort. Not sure yet if we'll do standard room or concierge. I'm new to this, but all of your tips really help!

 

[diathoney]

I tried using DU once but the delay between sending a question and getting responses got to me. I admit I'm a planner and a bit of a control freak. I hated waiting and waiting to get an answer when I could have just called myself. Plus I know if I can't get a particular rate one day I can try again the next day. I didn't get that with a TA - "these are the rates available" when I knew (from these boards) there were codes that offered better.

 

[capthooksmom]

In respose to the 45 days out vs. 5 days out, I can tell you my experience. I booked (online) room only for Dec. I had to agree to their terms and conditions of having to cancel 45 days out to get the reservation, but I did it because WDW CRO couldn't book that far out due to the hurricane.
I called a few days later to change my resort, and Cust. Svc. told me I had to pay in full before the 45 days out to keep my reservation. Then she backed off of that and said I didn't have to pay in full. Said it was confusing because I had booked online.
A few days later I called to change our arrival date and again questioned the 45 day policy. This Cust. Svc. Rep. said the online booking system is same as the package system, and packages have the 45 day policy. She assured me that room only bookings have the 5 day cancellation policy. This is the first time I've booked online, so I had never encountered this before. Also told me that online booking doesn't have the same availability they do. They (online) only get a certain amount of rooms. Don't know if that's true or not, but that was what I was told. (I can tell you that we tried to book Pop Century online in April, but was told no availability. When we called we got 3 rooms easily).
So from my experience, I wouldn't book online if you have specific wants or needs.

 

[LATigger]

I have used a TA, Keith , at Mouseketrips online for the past 2 trips for room only on property. He is so very in the know and rebooked easily the day codes came out for the same discount everyone else was getting. I didn't have to scramble myself to do it. When I had to call to research something else recently at WDW-DINE, that CM offered to look at WL room availability but told me sometimes TAs see availability that even they can't see.

I like doing everything else myself with the help of the great people on this board!

 

[Cinderella37]

We're using DU for the first time this year. I've always booked myself, but I have a new teaching job and my fiance is always very busy at work, so neither one of us has time to call for codes. I've been very happy with the response time of DU and how nice our agent has been even though we keep changing dates. It's nice to have someone who'll watch for codes. Also, if we ever decided not to stay concierge (doubtful cause we're hooked), their itinerary planning service would be wonderful!

 

[georgina]

Good Disney TA's will automatically get codes applied as soon as they are available. I think they know about the codes before they are announced to the public. I have done it both ways - myself and through a TA. It depends on how much work you want to do yourself.