Seriously?

[Disney Frenhines]

I know I live in a small town, but, you would think the TA companies in it would have some inkling. I have tried three places, an independent, Thomson and Travel House for info on going to Disneyland, yes, I did it myself last year online, but, I just wondered if I could get deals or help with transportation to and from LAX to Anaheim and back. Independent earlier this year, I asked for a hotel next to Disneyland, I wrote this down for her along with details of which resort I wanted in WDW for that leg of the trip. She emailed me back days later with a hotel at Knotts Berry Farm and while I asked for FQ her itinerary was for PC. At least she knew where DL was (not specifically, just that it was in Los Angeles) unlike the other two, Thomson had no clue at all and didn't want to help while Travel House, despite me asking for Anaheim Hotels in LA had a discussion in front of me about where DL was, one thought it was in San Francisco and the other thought it was in San Diego even though I had just told them where it was! I kid you not. And they wonder why more people book online.

 

[whoever]

Unless the trip is complex and in need of special accomodation, I can't see any reason why travel agencies still exist.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I've never used a TA for anything. They are useless. I've been planning vacations since I was a teenager. That was way before travel websites existed. Now with the internet anybody can plan a vacation. Even from a small town.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

You'll get better deals hunting around yourself! And this board is a great resource for planning! I'd be willing to bet that most posters here know more Disney info than a travel agent!
And on the subject of travel agents- I would only even consider one if it were an elaborate trip that I was having trouble organizing myself. The internet and numerous travel sites make planning easy!

 

[bumbershoot]

I know I live in a small town, but, you would think the TA companies in it would have some inkling. I have tried three places, an independent, Thomson and Travel House for info on going to Disneyland, yes, I did it myself last year online, but, I just wondered if I could get deals or help with transportation to and from LAX to Anaheim and back. Independent earlier this year, I asked for a hotel next to Disneyland, I wrote this down for her along with details of which resort I wanted in WDW for that leg of the trip. She emailed me back days later with a hotel at Knotts Berry Farm and while I asked for FQ her itinerary was for PC. At least she knew where DL was (not specifically, just that it was in Los Angeles) unlike the other two, Thomson had no clue at all and didn't want to help while Travel House, despite me asking for Anaheim Hotels in LA had a discussion in front of me about where DL was, one thought it was in San Francisco and the other thought it was in San Diego even though I had just told them where it was! I kid you not. And they wonder why more people book online.

I do have to say...Disneyland isn't in Los Angeles. It's in Anaheim, a good hour's drive from LA.

TAs don't always know what traveling is like. DH's company's agency books stuff without knowing what they are doing. Had such a close connection time in Australia that he was checking in for the domestic flight as it was taking off...the TA didn't realize that in Sydney when you arrive internationally you clear customs and immigration and have to leave the secure area entirely before going back through for domestics. That was understandable. But when she booked him a series of flights involving an international date line change and got it all so wrong that he showed up at the airport a day after his flight had left...without having any hotels in place (showing that she messed it up and didn't realize the timechange would be happening), that's bad. And that's when we started booking hotels on our own, and he finds flights that work then TELLS the agency what to book him (b/c he has to book the flights through them).

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

On the other hand, you're in a wonderful place--this forum--for getting great advice about a DLR trip. So the heck with them, I say Just crowd-source us!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The first time I went to WDW I used AAA, and after reading these boards I knew a lot more than her, and basically just told her what I wanted.

If you would like a travel agent, you might consider Dreams Unlimited Travel. They sponsor some of these boards, and I know the agents will do their best for your vacation. They specialize in Disney, and if there are any discounts, even after you book, they will apply them to your reservation.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/reservations/dl_reservations_index.htm

 

[zanzibar138]

I would only bother to use a TA for Disney trips if it was a Disney specialist. The TAs we've had experience with have been less than useless, and I really feel sorry for people who don't know when the TAs are wrong.

The TA we used for our first trip to DLR (had a rather generous voucher, so had to book our flights with them) tried to tell us that we needed to pay extra to see the night time shows, and we ended up finding better flights and just telling him what to book for us basically. Also for that trip, my Nan generously let us use her timeshare for a week. When I called them to book and asked for a hotel close to Disneyland, they suggested one that was two hours away! I did some more research on what hotels they offered and when I called next, asked for those specific ones.

We do ALL our travel bookings ourselves now. Even for complicated, multi-stop, international itineraries with off-the-beaten track destinations.

 

[TulipsNZ]

I've booked most of my trip through a TA, she is a Disney/Family travel specialist and her help has been amazing. We are doing a world trip though so it's very complicated. I am very grateful to her for her inside knowledge of Disney and what families need. I also think she's been incredibly patient with me as I am over obsessing every detail and she still gets back to me about everything. Don't paint everyone with the same brush. I do think travel from our part of the world can be more complicated though so maybe the TAs need to know what they are doing more?

 

[zanzibar138]

I've booked most of my trip through a TA, she is a Disney/Family travel specialist and her help has been amazing. We are doing a world trip though so it's very complicated. I am very grateful to her for her inside knowledge of Disney and what families need. I also think she's been incredibly patient with me as I am over obsessing every detail and she still gets back to me about everything. Don't paint everyone with the same brush. I do think travel from our part of the world can be more complicated though so maybe the TAs need to know what they are doing more?

If you've managed to stumble onto a good TA, that's great and you're very lucky! I think it makes a big difference when they are a specialist.

In my experience (and my friends too) with chain travel agencies, they are less than useless. I have known a lot more than them, and DH has found much better airfares on his own. And that's coming from the same part of the world as you (well, in the scheme of things ).

I'm not going to tar all TAs with the same brush - I'm sure there are some brilliant TAs out there who are very knowledgable and helpful, and really go out of their way to get you a good bargain and find things out for you. But in my experience, the good ones are the minority.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

But in my experience, the good ones are the minority.

My experience too unfortunately.

I've even had an agent blatantly outright lie to me in an attempt to secure some commission.

I've come across a few good cruise agents before, and I'm sure there are also good ones who deal with other styles of travel. But quite frankly, after many years of disappointment, I'm sick of looking for them.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

My experience too unfortunately. I've even had an agent blatantly outright lie to me in an attempt to secure some commission. I've come across a few good cruise agents before, and I'm sure there are also good ones who deal with other styles of travel. But quite frankly, after many years of disappointment, I'm sick of looking for them.

My TA is also a good friend. She specializes in Disney travel and, having traveled extensively all over the world with family, also is adept in group planning and just general travel planning. Her services cost me nothing but are quite the asset. At least twice Disney has messed something up in our reservations and she went to bat for us. I don't have to deal with call centers or the not-so knowledgable CMs that I've experienced in the past. I always get to talk to the same very knowledgable person each time I need something or have a question. A few months back before our first DL trip she popped me an email early 1 morning to let me know a discount released for the DLH and we were getting something like $470 savings. That was the day my grandmother died so my brain wasn't on checking discounts, etc. That was a day that having someone taking care of my travel planning for me was truly an asset. I think my favorite aspect to using my TA is knowing she's also a huge Disney fan. Her whole family loves Disney like we do. Her "work" is a labor of love and the $$ earned helps get her back to her happy place, too. So, in some small way, it feels like I'm paying the Disney love forward....which is a good feeling. <3

 

[Rebekkap]

TAs don't always know what traveling is like. DH's company's agency books stuff without knowing what they are doing. Had such a close connection time in Australia that he was checking in for the domestic flight as it was taking off...the TA didn't realize that in Sydney when you arrive internationally you clear customs and immigration and have to leave the secure area entirely before going back through for domestics.

You don't just have to leave the secure area, you have to take a bus to a different terminal!