Should my TA be shaming me?

[Michigan Michelle]

So I have a Disney oriented TA that I booked with basically because he was a friend of a friend and I thought id throw him some business. But I love to plan disney trips. For me the planning is half the fun. Ive asked the TA a few questions and have appreciated their answers, though I have found some to be completely wrong. But at literally every step of the process this TA has been annoyed with me for planning my own trip, as in making my own ADRs, FPs, room requests etc., and made not so subtle comments about how thats not how he would do it, or that probably wont work because you didnt do it my way. And when there is something I need him to do because its a TA res and I cant access it, like apply a discount, I get comments like "Oh, now you want my help." I get that this guy is passionate about his job, but i really dont appreciate being plan-shamed every time i want to handle a detail myself. Is this common? i mean, id think hed be happy to get a commission without having to do much work, but the comments are getting increasingly passive aggressive and really tainting the whole experience. Should i say something to the agency owners? I know this guy has helped lots of families who had no knowledge or interest in planning have great vacations at Disney, but would also hate for another planner like me to have this same experience.

 

[EdmondD]

I think you probably already know the answer, but no, it's not common. The guy is a (expletive deleted) at worst and socially weird at best. I personally would just tell him I was going to go my own route and then go with a different TA, if you even think you need one.

 

[Lynne M]

The few times that I've used a travel agent, I've told them up front that I just needed them to make the reservations, and I would handle the planning, dinner reservations, etc, myself. I think this guy is probably used to people who need the planning services, and he doesn't know how to deal with a customer who doesn't need all that. IDK, whatever the reason, it's not an appropriate way to talk to a customer.

It's certainly OK to say, "Look, I know I'm probably more hands-on with the planning than a lot of your customers. Maybe I should have told you up front that all I needed was for you to make hotel reservations for me. But I'm really starting to feel frustrated with the comments every time I ask you to do something. Should we just transfer the reservation back to me and call it a day?" Maybe that will settle him down. If not, it's certainly worth considering taking the reservation back.

 

[reluctantredhead]

We've only used a TA once to plan a Disney trip. It was about 10 years ago, we were traveling with my in-laws, and though each of us were paying our own way, they absolutely insisted that we all use their long-time travel agent that they'd always used because they wanted her to get the commission (and yes, technically she was a "Disney Approved" agent). She was (and is) a cruise specialist, and they use her to this day, going on 25 years actually.

We had the exact same experience you described. She gave us wrong information on multiple occasions, was IMHO slow (2+ days) to respond to questions/issues, we typically knew more than she did either by reading the Unofficial Guide or the DISboards, and she was very annoyed that we wanted to do anything ourselves...and this was before the days of FP+, when all we were doing was making dining reservations and trying to get room/package discounts. Was she going to get up at 4 am PST to make sure we got CRT for our then 6 year old D? Not a chance. Anyway, it was a terrible experience, and we swore we'd never do it again.

Fast forward to this year, when I was very tempted by people posting about the incredible contracted rates that could be had by going through some TAs. I Googled it and emailed them all for quotes, and none could get anything other than rack rate for the hotels, dates, and/or room categories we wanted. I was secretly relieved because I didn't want a repeat of what happened 10 years ago. (I'm sure there are many TAs who are outstanding, though.)

All that to say...OP, I'm so sorry this is happening to you too. If it were me, I would try to cancel with the TA because that would just drive me crazy. Back then I was 10 years younger and cared a lot more about what strangers think. Now that I'm pushing 50, I care about that less and less...I guess it's one of the gifts of getting older, lol. I would never be rude of course...but I might politely just say that your family has had a change in plans and then rebook on your own. I'm not sure whether I'd say something to the agency owners or not...depends on how comfortable you'd be with the TA finding that out.

Good luck! I hope you can rebook on your own with a discount.

 

[Michigan Michelle]

we check in saturday, so at this point its not worth taking it back, but its been a long aggravating road.

 

[Spunky946]

No, not normal. I have some clients I help more then others. I’m just happy to have the business.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Go on your trip and have fun. Then when you get back I would provide feedback. Inform the TA that some Disney diehards actually know enough about how they want to do their vacation and some don't. As a TA he should be smart enough to feel that out and honor the wishes of the customer. Explain it to him that you only did it to give him some business but unfortunately that won't be happening again.

 

[Smittolis]

That hasn't been my experience with our TA, while I am sure that my families needs are a little different. My schedule constantly changes and so my requests, quotes and wish list does so accordingly. However, I am open and up front with it and our TA does a great job of getting back to me, speaking with Disney etc... and the prices we have got simply cannot be touched with any discount, and we have AP's and Florida Resident discount!

So even if it can be sometimes a little difficult to get things moving like changes due to it not being your own reservation etc... it is worth it to us for the big price discount.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think this guy is probably used to people who need the planning services, and he doesn't know how to deal with a customer who doesn't need all that.

True. You'd think he would be grateful...

It's certainly OK to say, "Look, I know I'm probably more hands-on with the planning than a lot of your customers. Maybe I should have told you up front that all I needed was for you to make hotel reservations for me. But I'm really starting to feel frustrated with the comments every time I ask you to do something.

I would probably stop there and see what he says.

Though I see they are checking in very soon, so it doesn't really matter what he says. But I'd still say the above to him.

I was very tempted by people posting about the incredible contracted rates that could be had by going through some TAs. I Googled it and emailed them all for quotes, and none could get anything other than rack rate for the hotels, dates, and/or room categories we wanted.

FWIW it's only one that I know of who books convention rates and therefore can get better. Everyone else gets the same rates.

Inform the TA that some Disney diehards actually know enough about how they want to do their vacation and some don't. .... Explain it to him that you only did it to give him some business but unfortunately that won't be happening again.

Agreed.

 

[afan]

I use a Dreams agent so I think they are more used to doing all, some or none of the planning, but they also ask questions at the beginning so they know how much you know. On the flip side I have a friend that is a TA as a side gig and we were talking about my fp when we saw each labor day weekend since my day was that Monday. Her first question was, doesn't your TA do that, well yeah she does but it's too fluid and I want to do it myself, which she didn't really seem to understand. She told me oh you don't need one for Navi you need to get FOP, well duh but I'm not going to get it on day 2 which is what I needed so I get what I can and try and change it before then. She said the same with SDD and A2S but I also knew my chances were slim even on day 4 to get it since it's W&D race weekend into Jersey week. We keep up way more on this stuff than even TA's do.

 

[jods]

Sorry you had such a bad experience. I love my TA. Honestly, I do all the planning but he would be more then happy to do it. I always get a response within 24 hours, usually much sooner, just depends when I email him. He always sends adr and fp date reminders, usually with a little note saying he knows I'm aware but just in case. We've even discussed restaurants though I usually only talk by email. Have a great trip!

 

[vinotinto]

No good deed goes unpunished...

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Short answer is, no, your TA should definitely not be shaming you. He should be thanking you for throwing him a commission for not a lot of work.

 

[gulliesmom]

Some of my experience was similar, minus the snarky attitude from the TA. Will not use one for the next trip.

 

[Lehuaann]

You hired him. I’d tell him to keep his comments to himself and do his job.

 

[canyoncam]

No. It’s TAs like that who give good TAs a bad name. A TA should work for you doing what you request, applying discounts as they come out, looking out for your interest without pushing, be available in a timely manner....

 

[Shanti]

This TA is supposed to work for you, not be rude to you. Never use him again, at the very least. Since he's a friend of a friend & the trip is close at hand, I'd probably avoid any type of confrontation, but simply not use him again. Obviously, don't recommend him to anyone else.

I hope you're saving money in some way by using him. That's the only reason I use a travel agent: to get agency exclusive discounts. If the only benefit you're getting from him is a bundle of annoyance, my condolences.

Now you know why they say, "Never mix business with pleasure."

 

[tinkerbella16]

Wow, that is not common at all. I book every trip through a Disney TA and I always do my own ADR's, make my own FP's and do any other planning that needs to be done and they have never said a word. They offer to help with it, but it is completely optional and you can do it yourself. I love doing all of that myself. I book my trips through a TA for their exclusive discounts, other than that I do everything myself and have never gotten any response, let alone comments like that.

 

[pcstang]

No good deed goes unpunished...

Very true!

 

[timsueshd]

We were supposed to use a TA for our trip... but I ended up not when I asked her about free dining rumors for the dates we are going in November and her response was "there is no free dining in November"... Obviously she was wrong!!!!
I hate when I know more than the person that is supposed to be getting paid to know!!!