Thinking about switching over to a Travel Agent??

[Holeshot1982]

I'm 173 days out, our dining reservations are made, got most of what we wanted, (had to settle for BOG for lunch) and I'm thinking about switching everything over to a travel agent. Was wondering if anyone could give me some insight if they think this is a good idea or not..... Biggest concern for me is our FP+ reservations. Everyone involved in our trip will not be able to be up at 12am to start looking for FP+ so I could really use some help on that one..... Also, I still want to try for BOG and switch a table meal to it if I can, is that something a travel agent will try to do for me? Never thought about using one before but it does sound kind of nice letting someone else work things out for me. Please let me know your thoughts, good and bad.

 

[JimmyV]

Sounds more like you need a concierge than a travel agent. Travel agencies are businesses that must make money for their efforts. If all you want them to do is stay up until midnight to make FP reservations and check the dining site 10 times a day to find a BOG ADR, how do they make any money from that? You don't need to make your FP bookings at midnight. If there are people in your group who cannot stay up that late, they can make their reservations in the morning. Or during lunch. Or in the early evening. Travel agents will provide extra services after they get their commission on hotel, airline and package bookings. But asking one to shoulder the burden of midnight FP reservations without doing the profitable bookings is asking too much. Bite the bullet and do it on your own.

 

[aretha30]

We used a TA last year and she was highly recommended but screwed up our reservations. She didn't get us the dessert party because she wasn't aware that they had started booking at 180 days instead of 60 and we lost out. She lied to us about it also. This was the first and last time we will ever use a TA. I was able to stalk the website myself and book the reservation myself and I made my own FP+ reservations because I no longer trusted her to do it. I know there are good ones out there, that we just got a bad one and I won't hand my vacation over to just anyone anymore.

I say since you started the process on your own (and did most of the hard work) you might as well finish it on your own. We did FP+ reservations last year at 8am and got everything we wanted and this year at midnight (I happened to be up) and got everything we wanted. You can always manipulate times a little to match their times if they can't get exact times, it's super easy to navigate the system. BOG you can just keep checking the site multiple times a day for a reservation.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

You would have to find a TA that is willing to go the extra mile for you for your FP+. Some of them are very good but you have to remember that you will not be their only client and they cannot get everything for everybody. Also, once you give you reservation over to a TA all changes have to be done through them. You cannot change anything on your own. Since you have already done most of the hard work already I would just keep checking for a BOG dinner. Check several times a day every day. There are always cancellations. Don't give up the lunch until you have secured your dinner. As for your FP+ and multiple parties there are two ways to handle this. First you can get your MDE accounts linked and you can do the FP+ reservations for all parties(this is a pretty big hassle and then there is the stress of not getting what everyone wants). Second get your own FP+ done for your party and then let the other parties know your times and let them try to get time close to your times. I don't know your traveling situation but the one time we traveled with another family they were not that worried about FP+ and were disappointed with the lack of choices when they finally got around to making theirs even after I told them the importance of doing it early. I was not going to suffer because of them. I made ours early and got what we wanted. Needless to say when we travel now we go it on our own. If others want to join us we consider it hem just traveling at the same time as us and we meet up when it is convenient. Sorry, I have rambled on and gotten off topic. Concerning the TA thing again as I said if I were you I would keep what you already done. Cheers and good luck!!!!

 

[JimmyV]

We used a TA last year and she was highly recommended but screwed up our reservations. She didn't get us the dessert party because she wasn't aware that they had started booking at 180 days instead of 60 and we lost out. She lied to us about it also. This was the first and last time we will ever use a TA. I was able to stalk the website myself and book the reservation myself and I made my own FP+ reservations because I no longer trusted her to do it. I know there are good ones out there, that we just got a bad one and I won't hand my vacation over to just anyone anymore.

This is a very important point. Even travel agents who claim to be Disney experts often know less than the people on this board. The amount of bad information from travel agents is shocking. Of course, our gracious hosts here on this Board are true Disney experts, at least the folks who participate in the podcasts who live in the WDW area. But your typical TA who claims to be a "certified Disney expert" may know far less than you think.

 

[tiggergal15]

I never use TAs. To many mistakes made and things about of my own control. That being said, I'm sure you would have to pay them or cancel and rebook through them as I'm sure they would not be free. But call and ask if you want and see what they suggest. You can try and connect everything through MDE and then only one person has to stalk the FPs.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I had a TA book our hotel and DDP and ME, but I am doing the rest. I got all my ADRs just fine. Don't stress about FP too much. You're going around the same time that I am and it's not an insane time to go. You should be ok doing FP at your convenience.

 

[JCornell]

I just don't get the advantage with something like a WDW trip. Way too many details and moving parts to entrust to someone else to get right. If they can't get the FP's or ADR's you want, which alternate times or rides or restaurants are ok? Seems too hard without having that all within my control.

 

[MrInfinity]

I just don't get the advantage with something like a WDW trip. Way too many details and moving parts to entrust to someone else to get right. If they can't get the FP's or ADR's you want, which alternate times or rides or restaurants are ok? Seems too hard without having that all within my control.

The advantage is most ppl do not have the control, or want the control that you do. They want to say I'd like to eat here, here, and here, and let the TA work out the details. Some ppl have never booked their own flights but cross the country 30 times a year. Also TAs can get different pricing deals. And they'll do as much or as little as you want them too. I've found even for an avid planner, a TA can be helpful, just be up front w them about what you want to do and what you expect of them.

To the OP, you're already done, you don't need a TA now. Just book the FP+'s any time during the 1st or 2nd week of your 60 days. You'll be fine. The midnight thing is hype. Talk to your other party. Be on the same page. If they have some must-do, you should already know about it, as you've already booked a trip to WDW together, and you probly talk about it every time you're together! I sure would. I would have a point-person for all reservations, or something like that.

A TA would not have any better chance of getting a BOG ressie than you would. They will probably not be willing to check 3 times a day for the next 173 days, nor would that be reasonable to ask.

If you really want to switch to a TA, that's fine, but of course they'll have to cancel and rebook. That's the whole reason they'd be interested in helping you, for the commission on the package sale, or to move their own rooms. So now at 173 days, availability might be limited. I'd guess all their primo deals went 3-4 months ago, but you never know. Just check w them. Tell them your dates, see if there is even availability. If your reservations are linked to your own resort stay, I'd get the new stay all linked up, then call on each ADR and get that linked to the new TA stay, then cancel your old resort stay.

 

[Holeshot1982]

Thanks for the tips guys, makes a lot of sense. I do end up learning more tips and tricks from these board then most sites know about. And sense I have already done everything might as well finish it out. Thanks

 

[Jadyreen1282]

My opinion so don't track me down and cancel my adrs.

Travel agents take all the fun out of booking Disney. They add a level of possible responsibility that may not only cost you money but give you headaches later.

I don't need a TA to help me screw up my vacation. I am perfectly capable of doing that myself.

 

[HopperFan]

TAs are great for LOTS of trips and I have/am using one for cruises. But for Disney I see absolutely no benefit because I can do everything they can do the way Disney is set up online. I make changes and adjustments on whims without placing calls, waiting on returns, hoping it gets done or getting frustrated. My one DS and I travel there often together. We have our own MDE and are not linked and have no issues with coordinating all our FP+. I am way to controlling about my Disney trip being right than to bother with another cook in the kitchen.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you really want to switch to a TA, that's fine, but of course they'll have to cancel and rebook. That's the whole reason they'd be interested in helping you, for the commission on the package sale, or to move their own rooms.

When transferring (contacting disney, having the TA fax something, etc) I don't think they have to actually cancel and rebook anything. I once transferred a room-only to a TA when I could get a little something from it, and the reservation number stayed the same, there was no refund and recharge, etc.

I don't need a TA to help me screw up my vacation. I am perfectly capable of doing that myself.

I'll use a TA if I get something from it. For me, that means something financial. A discount or a perk or something. But I would NEVER give up the ADRs or anything else to the TA. I have the time and I have the interest, and I would rather be angry at myself for sleeping in and missing a wanted ADR or FP+, than be angry with the TA.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm 173 days out, our dining reservations are made, got most of what we wanted, (had to settle for BOG for lunch) and I'm thinking about switching everything over to a travel agent. Was wondering if anyone could give me some insight if they think this is a good idea or not..... Biggest concern for me is our FP+ reservations. Everyone involved in our trip will not be able to be up at 12am to start looking for FP+ so I could really use some help on that one..... Also, I still want to try for BOG and switch a table meal to it if I can, is that something a travel agent will try to do for me? Never thought about using one before but it does sound kind of nice letting someone else work things out for me. Please let me know your thoughts, good and bad.

If you made your resort reservations within the last 30 days, you can simply transfer your reservation to a TA. No need to re-book anything. If you decide to go this route, make sure you work with an EARMARKED agency. When contacting the agency, I would let them know specifically what you want and need - help with FP+ and an ADR (plus anything else that may come up). Even Earmarked agencies, where the agents specialize in Disney, have agents that specialize in specific areas of Disney travel (disability travel, FP+ system, group travel, etc.). If they know what you need, they will pair you with the right agent.

There are a lot of people on this board that travel to WDW often (as do I) and I think we forget that many people who travel there are going on a once-and-done trip. WDW requires a level of planning you don't see for really any other destination. Most people who go do not have the time to put in the amount of planning and research that we see on these boards. In order to plan, they may turn to a TA. Many earmarked TA's are working on Disney systems every single day and they know the ins-and-outs and constant changes that Disney implements. You just need to make sure you are working with one of them!

Also, by using a TA, you are NOT giving up control of every aspect of your WDW trip. You can make ADR's, you can make FP+, you can check-in online. The only thing you can't do is make payments, changes (to resorts or packages) or place requests on your reservation - yes, you need the TA to do that for you.

Anyhoo!

Do you need a TA at this point? Unless you are tired of the planning and staying up late (or waking up early) to make your plans, I don't think so. Easiest way to make FP+ for everyone at 60 days out is to link everyone on MDE. Make sure everyone is linked through Friends and Family in your account, figure out which park/ride/times you want and then only ONE person needs to go online at midnight and make the FP+. As another PP pointed out, unless you want A&E and sometimes Wishes FP+, you do not have to be on at midnight. Just do it the next day.

For the ADR, try one of the new ADR sniping tools, like Disney Dining Buddy. For $8, they will watch for your desired restaurant, date and time and text you when the reservation becomes available. You need to act fast once they text you, but if you click soon, their link will take you right to the reservation page and you can snag the reservation. We used Disney Dining Buddy for Star Wars weekend and I was able to snag all 3 Star Wars themed meals using their system. Well worth $8!

 

[Baklava]

Thanks for the tips guys, makes a lot of sense. I do end up learning more tips and tricks from these board then most sites know about. And sense I have already done everything might as well finish it out. Thanks

This is the conclusion I came to yesterday. I was going to use a TA because it's our first trip and I wanted an expert... then discovered she was giving me incorrect information about something crucial! I knew more than she did on an important factor and it was just not comfortable to trust her anymore.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

To me in 2015 with the Internet at your disposal a how easy it is to make your own reservations and planning I don't see the need for one - but to each their own.

It sounds like you have it all figured out