TA is MIA

[bumbershoot]

I hate the phone, but I would be calling at this point.

 

[Alicialee05]

Owners wrote back-- they're working on canceling them and offered $50 if we take another disney trip and book with one of them. So that was nice! I'll feel better when I see the deposits back.

 

[verleniahall]

Glad to hear that you are getting it resolved

BUT - I would be leary of re-booking through them in the future!

 

[Alicialee05]

Glad to hear that you are getting it resolved

BUT - I would be leary of re-booking through them in the future!

Lesson learned, I'd rather book on my own and keep control haha

 

[Sue M]

Hi All,
Not much to update as of yet. I e-mailed the TA again about canceling (5 days ago) and still have not heard anything back.

Plan is to contact her company next week if not resolved

it is an "authorized DVP" company

That really surprises me. I have never heard of this kind of poor service from an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Epic fail on their part.
The agent I work with is on Discounts the moment they are released. If I email her I get a response usually within the hour. As one would expect.
I wouldn’t go near this agency again. But glad they are finally doing something for you.
I’d also be phoning Or emailing Disney and reporting this Agency. Doesn’t sound like they should have the designation of an Ear Marked Company.

 

[happymommy]

One reason I don't ever use travel agents.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I had this exact same problem last year (posted about it on here somewhere too). Was my first time trying for free dining and I stupidly thought a TA May have better luck getting it. I got it myself, tried canceling thru the TA and it took months of emails and phone calls to get my deposit back. Maybe we had the same TA, lol. Mine was from a hugely well known Disney certifiied company.

 

[buzznina]

This is why you constantly read to only use TA's that specialize in Disney travel. The only time we use a TA is for our WDW trips and we have a great TA that has their own specials.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

A TA can be helpful to some folks. We book ourselves because it's part of the magic!

 

[HopperFan]

This is why you constantly read to only use TA's that specialize in Disney travel. The only time we use a TA is for our WDW trips and we have a great TA that has their own specials.

Unfortunately it still isn't a guarantee they will do their best, stay on top of things nor be knowledgeable. There is no way Disney truly tracks all these folks after they are approved. Had one say and be so positive that Art of Animation bedrooms had King beds and the sofa & murphy were Queens. Simple thing to know so ............ what else didn't she know.

It is great you have a good one! I only use a TA for cruises ... never would I use for Disney, it's just too fluid a trip to plan and last thing I need is a third person in the mix.

 

[ariane37]

Hi All,
Not much to update as of yet. I e-mailed the TA again about canceling (5 days ago) and still have not heard anything back.

Plan is to contact her company next week if not resolved

it is an "authorized DVP" company

I'm glad you finally contacted the owner! The moment a client let my owner know one of our agents wasn't responding to a their request to release their reservation she'd be ALL over them. It stinks because it's not a reflection on the agency as a whole until the owner is notified, but a reflection on that particular agent. Yes it sucks to lose a booking but overall you want customer satisfaction and you never just refuse to cancel.

This was me that it happened to, I never thought about doing that, it was a AAA agent too! I dropped AAA after that horrible experience

Triple A doesn't specialize in only Disney though, and FYI they have a horrible reputation as far as booking Disney trips!

The agent I work with is on Discounts the moment they are released. If I email her I get a response usually within the hour. As one would expect.

Any good TA will be on those discounts the minute they are released, to the point of being awake at 2, 3, 4 am to make sure to be online the minute they're bookable The problem is that some agents will only keep regular "office" hours, so if a discount is released before 8 or 9, as for instance FD normally is, that agent won't be applying it until hours after others are getting it. Again it all comes down to how great an agent you get; sounds like yours is a keeper!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I've had an MIA TA before. It wasn't pleasant to have to message the agency owners on Facebook to get my deposit back.

A good TA will respond to you the same day. Mine responds within an hour usually. She's great and because her service is top notch I send everyone to her.

I'm sorry this happened to you, OP. It truly is a frustrating thing to deal with.

 

[Summer2018]

Triple A doesn't specialize in only Disney though, and FYI they have a horrible reputation as far as booking Disney trips!

I disagree. I have found my AAA travel agents to be quite superior to others.

We have used them on every WDW vacation since our first in 2004. Even when they no longer were affiliated with Disney, they still gave us gift cards and other benefits when booking in January (AAA Disney Month). On our last trip to the Contemporary, our TA found a last minute deal upgrading us from the Garden Wing to a high tower room one floor below club level for less money. I never would have had the time nor the inclination to spend time trying to find an awesome deal like that. We use our membership for when we have car trouble and many other discounts as well.

Bottom line, as someone who was a Corporate Travel Agent prior to becoming a teacher, I will always use travel agents.

 

[bumbershoot]

I only use a TA for cruises ... never would I use for Disney, it's just too fluid a trip to plan and last thing I need is a third person in the mix.

Same. And I i it use them for cruises if I’m getting something for it.

I have found my AAA travel agents to be quite superior to others.

Your particular agents might be good. But AAA overall has a bad rep for it.

 

[HopperFan]

Same. And I use them for cruises if I’m getting something for it.

First cruise I booked on my own, straight up paid the price. The rest have been via a TA for all the perks I get included and I'm usually with groups in multiple cabins so they do a good job of connecting all our needs, even getting our rate dropped with a newer sale last one. Upcoming we have Large Balcony upcoming and they kicked back $375 OBC to us. Last one they paid all tips (3 of us), specialty dinner and OBC. Add that to our RCI onboard credits usually $100, nice.

 

[buzznina]

Unfortunately it still isn't a guarantee they will do their best, stay on top of things nor be knowledgeable. There is no way Disney truly tracks all these folks after they are approved. Had one say and be so positive that Art of Animation bedrooms had King beds and the sofa & murphy were Queens. Simple thing to know so ............ what else didn't she know.

It is great you have a good one! I only use a TA for cruises ... never would I use for Disney, it's just too fluid a trip to plan and last thing I need is a third person in the mix.

Heck that happens with CMs that work for Disney
I use to think that way about our WDW trips but the TA I use offer exclusive deals that always beats any discount I can get on my own. And the only thing I cannot do with a TA reservation is change the dates or resort, not a big deal since we rarely ever do that, and the one time I did she did it the same day I asked her too.

 

[Sue M]

I'm glad you finally contacted the owner! The moment a client let my owner know one of our agents wasn't responding to a their request to release their reservation she'd be ALL over them. It stinks because it's not a reflection on the agency as a whole until the owner is notified, but a reflection on that particular agent. Yes it sucks to lose a booking but overall you want customer satisfaction and you never just refuse to cancel.


Triple A doesn't specialize in only Disney though, and FYI they have a horrible reputation as far as booking Disney trips!

True. AAA agents only work during working hours and not on their days off. If a discount is released and it happens on their day off you’re outta luck. Or if they’re on holiday.
My first time booking I checked in with my local AAA, they had a TA that was advertised as a Disney Specialist, even in Westworld article. When I went in to get a quote it was hundreds more than the quote on WDW web site. My jaw dropped. I asked why her quote was way more than booking direct with WDW. Said she was using Sun Fun Vacations quote that AAA books thru I walked away.
To be fair I knew another AAA agent from a Disney Board and think she was quite good. But I think those are rare in AAA.

 

[greg9x]

The problem is that some agents will only keep regular "office" hours, so if a discount is released before 8 or 9, as for instance FD normally is, that agent won't be applying it until hours after others are getting it.

Some don't even do that... some have regular jobs and do the Disney TA stuff on the side. Have to wonder how much time they'll put in for you.

I used a TA once...nothing bad happened, but nothing great either. She just made my reservation and that was it...didn't hear anything from her besides canned auto emails. I didn't hear of any better deals so don't think missed out on anything, but never felt there was someone behind the scenes grinding it out on my behalf. And this was a highly talked about agency.

I've inquired to a couple TA's about trips, but they just give me the Disney website quotes. I just do it myself as less risk than having someone else in the middle of my plans.

Maybe one day will find one of these magical TA's that can find a deal that I can't.

 

[rdaky]

Maybe one day will find one of these magical TA's that can find a deal that I can't.

Unless they're one of those travel agents who book a bunch of rooms at convention rate and sell them, you're most likely not going to find a TA with a better deal than you can find on your own. I've read a lot of posts on Facebook from Disney travel agents, and I've been shocked with how much more I know about booking a Disney vacation than some of the Disney travel agents. Not that I have ANY desire to become a TA. But I have helped friends book vacations and if they know how to play the game, they can get everything that a TA is giving them and they'll still have full control of their reservation.

 

[ariane37]

Some don't even do that... some have regular jobs and do the Disney TA stuff on the side. Have to wonder how much time they'll put in for you.

Very true, many do it on the side. The ones I know give just as much as those who don't work other f/t jobs. Again, good ones will only take on as much as they can handle.

But I have helped friends book vacations and if they know how to play the game, they can get everything that a TA is giving them and they'll still have full control of their reservation.

Also agree with this! Just want to point out that even when you book with a TA you can retain control over your reservation, as much as or little as you want. The only thing the TA has to do is make your payments, and any changes to your reservation such as resort/ticket change. You can still manage your fast passes and dining 100% if that's what you want But using a TA isn't for everyone, especially the majority here who enjoy the planning almost as much as the vacation!