To use a TA or book myself?

[MsMamaBear]

I book through a TA. My friend is one with Disney, so I always go through her. I can change anything and I do my fast passes. I just like helping her out.

 

[JennysSeven]

I'm using a TA for this trip, and it's the first trip I've taken with my family where we're using one. When I first started planning in early April, I didn't know anywhere near as much as I do now and I was so afraid I'd mess things up or miss out on deals, etc. I don't think I'll use one again as it has been a rather disappointing experience so far, although I really have no idea what I was expecting since I've never used one before. She booked our package in late April, and other than a phone conversation (I called her with some "what do I do next?" questions) a few days after booking, I have had no correspondence of any kind from her or the agency. I thought at the very least I might be reminded about my ADR date coming up, or told when I should be making payments, or something. I have no problem making all my ADRs (got what I wanted no problem), FP+, etc. myself, but I'm nervous about missing a potential room discount because it feels like she booked our package and then disappeared. All that to say...next time, I'm going to go directly through Disney.

 

[ZoZo]

I always book my own trip. I have read too many horror stories of travel agents not returning phone calls when people need to reach them, and simply wouldn't feel comfortable giving that kind of control to someone else. I tend to "tweak" my FPs and ADRs enough that it would be really inconvenient to rely on someone else to do it!

 

[izzylovesmickey]

I've done it both ways. Like a lot of people I used a TA for our trip last summer because it had been over 10 years since we had been to Disney. I knew then I wasn't up to date enough to really know where to start. The experience was ok. I liked her personally, but she was expecting and I had some difficulties getting information as quickly as I would have liked. Also, I found out about discounts here more quickly than she did thru her agency. The next 3 trips I did on my own. I felt much more prepared (thank you everyone here for all the info!). With that said, because of all the chatter here about TAs I was aware of an agency who has some great discounts that I used to reserve our December trip this year. She has been great-responds so promptly sometimes I wonder if she is reading my mind! But, I have kept control of all of our ADRs and FP+ and flights.

 

[MillauFr]

I would much prefer booking everything myself but I was unwilling to pay Disney $445 per night to stay at the Poly. The travel agent I used was offering rooms at a 55% discount so I booked with them instead.

 

[pork]

I've used a travel agent but I always handled the adr aspect myself. In the end I found the discounts myself. About the only thing they added was a triple a diamond parking pass.

 

[larryz]

Booking your own trip is so simple, even a caveman can do it!

 

[Arielismyfave]

My experience with a TA has been disappointing to say the least. It is our first family trip and she hasn't been helpful at all. (She is a friend of a sibling which is why I entertained the idea of a TA to begin with) when I emailed about ADRs and timing she never responded... Luckily I found this board and was able to make our own ADRs.

Not to hijack the thread but is it true that only the TA can make changes to a current vacation reservation? As unresponsive as she's been so far, I'm afraid when the 2015 discounts come out she wont react and we will be left out.

 

[siskaren]

Not to hijack the thread but is it true that only the TA can make changes to a current vacation reservation? As unresponsive as she's been so far, I'm afraid when the 2015 discounts come out she wont react and we will be left out.

Yes, because the TA is the one who owns the reservation.

 

[Texas Mickey]

We have changed resorts 3 times so far. Finally finalized that yesterday when the military discounts came out. BC for 7 days in October. Completely rearranged ADRs and daily schedules for parks now that we are located near Epcot and HS. Disney makes it easy wether using the website or calling. There's no way I would ever put our planning in someone else's hands. I don't want a TA that is handling stuff for 10 other people not working my needs. While they are on the phone handling other people's stuff I can be on the phone taking care of mine. Just my opinion.

 

[amandals2007]

this thread makes me sad. this websites is run by a trabel company, and most of you wont book a trip through one. if you find a good TA you wouldnt have these issues keeping you from using one. i know its a free country and we can do as we please and i respect that, but i am just voicing my opinion as a daughter of someone who is a TA and i hope to become one someday.

 

[MataHari22]

this thread makes me sad. this websites is run by a trabel company, and most of you wont book a trip through one. if you find a good TA you wouldnt have these issues keeping you from using one. i know its a free country and we can do as we please and i respect that, but i am just voicing my opinion as a daughter of someone who is a TA and i hope to become one someday.

I would think that it should not be surprising most of the people on this board would not use a TA to book their trip, since a lot of people who frequent these boards are not the average Disney trip planners. So many people here have multiple trips under their belts and are pros at WDW trip planning. This is not the average public. Some people enjoy planning every aspect of their vacation and just want more control over their vacation, and it's not a slight to travel agents in anyway.

 

[amandals2007]

I would think that it should not be surprising most of the people on this board would not use a TA to book their trip, since a lot of people who frequent these boards are not the average Disney trip planners. So many people here have multiple trips under their belts and are pros at WDW trip planning. This is not the average public. Some people enjoy planning every aspect of their vacation and just want more control over their vacation, and it's not a slight to travel agents in anyway.

i agree in everything you said, and i too feel the same exact way that you do how i want to control everything, but if you plan it out exactly as you want, a TA can still book it and they can get the room and commission. for a TA to obtain and keep their license they have to book so many rooms, cruises, etc. letting them book your vacation does that for them even if they do not do much. thought since this site was run by a TA company more people would book through one but i can totally see where people wouldnt as well.

 

[MataHari22]

i agree in everything you said, and i too feel the same exact way that you do how i want to control everything, but if you plan it out exactly as you want, a TA can still book it and they can get the room and commission. for a TA to obtain and keep their license they have to book so many rooms, cruises, etc. letting them book your vacation does that for them even if they do not do much. thought since this site was run by a TA company more people would book through one but i can totally see where people wouldnt as well.

Yep, I understand that, if you look up thread, you will see that I do use a TA to book my trip, and I do my own ADRs and FP+. But what I am saying, is that there are some people that enjoy planning every aspect of their vacation, they don't mind or even like to search through flights, find their own discounts, and book their own trips, they just don't think it's necessary or, they've done it many times before and just don't see the need for a TA. Plus, once "you plan it out exactly as you want" and you have done all that research, it's just as easy for you to just go ahead and book it yourself. Having said that, if I go to WDW after this trip, I will probably have my TA book my next one, too. If she is still there, I will give her the business.

 

[amandals2007]

Yep, I understand that, if you look up thread, you will see that I do use a TA to book my trip, and I do my own ADRs and FP+. But what I am saying, is that there are some people that enjoy planning every aspect of their vacation, they don't mind or even like to search through flights, find their own discounts, and book their own trips, they just don't think it's necessary or, they've done it many times before and just don't see the need for a TA. Plus, once "you plan it out exactly as you want" and you have done all that research, it's just as easy for you to just go ahead and book it yourself. Having said that, if I go to WDW after this trip, I will probably have my TA book my next one, too. If she is still there, I will give her the business.

i completely get what you say. i wish people would give the business to a TA, my dad lets a lot of our friends book their ADRs, FP+ and airfare they just give him the business. im all about small business. disney gets enough of our hard earned cash, i want small business to get some so these small TA get some business.

 

[msdroz]

Could someone help me clarify something? If I book through a TA, it appears that they can call if any discounts come out and apply that discount. This is what happened the last time we went.. booked in June and in March the 30% discount came out and she waited on hold for 3 hours to get us a room upgrade to club level and some money off since we hadn't sent in our full payment yet.

However, if I book on my own, am I able to call as soon as the discount comes out (if offered) and apply that discount to our stay? Are there any monetary penalties to switching your reservation?

Thanks in advance!

 

[msdroz]

bump*

 

[amandals2007]

Could someone help me clarify something? If I book through a TA, it appears that they can call if any discounts come out and apply that discount. This is what happened the last time we went.. booked in June and in March the 30% discount came out and she waited on hold for 3 hours to get us a room upgrade to club level and some money off since we hadn't sent in our full payment yet.

However, if I book on my own, am I able to call as soon as the discount comes out (if offered) and apply that discount to our stay? Are there any monetary penalties to switching your reservation?

Thanks in advance!

you can do it yourself but the TAs get the info ahead of time and can be prepared to book them or even book sooner than public. no penality to you if you switch a reservation

 

[fla4fun]

I used a TA first like the previous posters! This trip I'm booking myself. The only thing that's making me nervous is... I'm sooo busy that I worry I won't be on top of it when discounts are announced, therefore I might miss the boat when I could call disney to try to change the reservation to apply the discount. A TA would be on top of that.

This is exactly the reason I have used one in the past a few times. Most of the time I don't have an issue staying on top of things, but there were a few trips when I had some family issues I was dealing with that I just didn't have the time or the focus to stay on top of things. So I used a TA. I didn't have any problems using a TA, but I'm also not a person who tweaks and makes a lot of changes once things are booked. If you like to make changes and if you like to be in control, or if it's going to bother you if it takes time to get a hold of your agent (when a discount is released, they are very busy and don't always have time to respond right away) a TA might not be the best choice for you.

 

[Aliceacc]

AT this point, I could absolutely do it all myself.

But I think it's good karma-- someone else gets a commission at no cost to me.

But others are right-- you need to have a good travel agent.

Last year, I emailed our travel agent the day the VISA discounts were due to come out, to remind her what she already knew-- that we would love to apply the discount to our trip.

I'm a teacher, so I left the house before 7. During my study hall, at 10:30, I checked my emails.

She had tentatively moved us from the Beach Club to the Yacht Club, saving us $1000. (They're at opposite ends of the SAME BUILDING. ) IF that wasn't OK, she would be happy to move us back.

Could I have done that myself? I have no idea how many discounted rooms at the Yacht Club were still available. And besides, I didn't really have unlimited time to stay on hold with Disney-- I had a total of about 33 minutes before the period ended. So it would have been 4 pm before I could have really called Disney to try.

She books all our meals, and we've never not gotten what we wanted, at the approximate time frame we wanted.

She's phenomenal at what she does, and our trips are less stressful for me because we've found her.