To use a TA or book myself?

[Laura Kelly]

We're planning our first trip for April 2016 and I'm so torn between booking it myself or using an agent. I'm having a hard time relinquishing control and trusting her to book my ADRs or making sure a discount is applied.
Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[broncobill]

I've done both. The very first trip to Disney I use a TA. That was just because I've never done it, and if I had questions, I had some one to ask. There were no FP+ at that time and we did not have any ADR's. This trip I just called Disney to book the resort and tickets. i made all of our ADR's and FP+'s myself. I think it's rather fun to get on Disney's website and play around and book things.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

I must agree with the previous post. We used travel agent at first, but would much rather do everything ourselves (especially the ADRs).

 

[momofboyz3]

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.

 

[Bree]

If you want to give the reigns over to a TA, make sure you get a good one. Not all of them will book ADR & FP+ and are they going to do it the minute those windows open? I can't imagine a TA will want to be up at midnight doing your FP+. Also, not all are up to speed about discounts. My SIL booked through a TA and had to call him and tell him about the SPD deal and have it applied to her package.

My next two trips I'm using a TA, but only because the rooms are discounted lower than what WDW would ever offer. I don't use the dining plan and book all my own ADR & FP+.

 

[aretha30]

We used a TA once (she is a Disney TA and was highly recommended) but she wasn't good. She wasn't as knowledgeable as she should have been on certain things and missed the window on booking a reservation for a dessert party for us. I ended up having to stalk the reservation site and get our own reservation and be on top of her when it came to applying our discount when it came out. I personally won't give up that control again, I like the ability to be able to call Disney and get things done and not have to worry about going through my TA if something is wrong.

 

[JenSop]

If you're new to Disney and feeling overwhelmed, then I'd say go with a TA. But make sure it's really a Disney specialist. If you're already here on the Dis, you're heads and shoulders over most when it comes to Disney info. But of course, it's a full-out education, as SO much is involved in planning a Disney trip. Admittedly, most of my clients (yup, I'm a TA) are either Disney newbies who don't even know what a Magic Band is, or friends and family who know I can do the work for them, and they want to help me earn a living.

 

[karly05]

Don't be afraid, do it yourself. My first 2 solo trips, I used a TA JUST to book my room-only res because I was afraid to call Disney. (Really) I used 2 of the most popular/recommended TA companies here, and both did fine, but I was very low maintenance, just wanted the room booked. I ALWAYS book my own ADRs and always would, not giving that up to anyone, and I actually find that kind of fun. (I have never had any trouble using the TA to book room only and doing everything else myself.)

Anyway, starting in 2014, I just called Disney myself, turns out they were super nice, did not pressure me into a package (my biggest fear), it was totally easy! The one thing I will say - my 2012 TA did get me a good discount on the BC without me having to do anything, which was nice. Starting in 2013, however, I've been at POFQ, which gets mostly NO discounts (general public room only discounts, I'm talking about), so that's less of a factor for me. That is the biggest reason I'd use a TA is to stalk discounts if I thought there was a chance I could get something good.

 

[tseitel]

I usually book myself, but this trip could not turn down the "magical" deal I got thru a TA. I still do all my own ADR's and fast pass selections myself, though she would have done them had I asked. You do not need to give up complete control. I'm extremely happy. Best of both worlds. I get to do my dining and such, & she got me a fantastic price that in no way I could have gotten thru Disney. Best of both worlds.

 

[JenSop]

And just for clarity, you can totally book all your own ADRs and FPs even if you use a TA. You are not relinquishing any of that power. They can help you for sure, but you're not required to go through them to get ADRs or FPs. I find most clients WANT that control, so I guide them along and assist them when they need it. (And that is what Disney suggests to us TAs to do.) Just want to make sure everyone has the correct info out there is all! TAs are also alerted as soon as new promos come out, and can switch existing reservations (when applicable) to the new promos.

 

[Lisaloo]

We had to use a TA for our last Disney trip (DHs work paid for the trip but would only pay a TA.) Never again. When we had problems with our booking CMs could not speak to us directly. We had to call her and have her relay our problems. It was a very difficult, hours long check in process. And she is a Disney certified TA who gets rave reviews.

You have a solid 8 months to get everything in place. Using a good guidebook and the thousands and thousands of posts here, I would recommend doing it yourself. Post questions along the way. For the most part, people here are knowledgable and want to help.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've done it both ways. My first trip, back in '99, we used a local TA...man, if I had known then what I know now!!! She was absolutely clueless about WDW...but so was I. The only thing I wanted was to eat breakfast at CRT on my dd's 6th birthday. We gave the TA plenty of lead time...at that time, you booked meals 60 days prior! We had booked our late Oct trip back in early Aug....the TA should have made the call for CRT on Aug 25. But, we got a phone call in early/mid Sept that she hadn't been able to book it!! Even I knew that would happen.
So, subsequent trips were booked by me...with no issues at all. Booking my air bothered me a bit, but I got over that quickly. Then, when I went back to work, I used Dreams Unlimited...a DIS travel agency. I wasn't going to be able to be online to see any possible discounts or to book ADRs, so they did a great job for me.
Now, since I have a ton of time on my hands, I book everything for myself again. It's all incredibly easy. If you do decide to use a TA, be sure to use a Disney specialist!!! I can't stress that enough.

 

[Rhetts1stWDW]

We used to be the people who wanted to book everything ourselves. And it's actually really not that complicated and most people enjoy that.

That being said, now that we are both stuck at work for extremely long hours these days and have two young little guys waiting for us at home I am using a TA for the 1st time. It is saving me a lot of hassle.

Pros (in no particular order):
1. can have as much control of your reservation as you want, or can give it all over to a TA
2. services are free
3. helping out a small business owner (unless you decide to go with one of the huge agencies)
4. always have some one who not only loves talking Disney as much as you do, but they love talking about YOUR Disney trip!
5. I don't have to make the "boring" Disney calls (who wants to wait on hold for 45mins to add Magic Express?)

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

I've got a "magical" deal with a TA and it really is too good to resist. I still do my own ADRs and fastpasses though, it's much easier to do them myself to be honest but she's great with all of the other arrangements.

 

[DisneyFive]

We never found a need for a TA. It can all be done easily online or on the phone. Plus, I hate the idea of giving a TA my list of FP+ desires and hoping that they can make it work. Same with dining reservations.

Dan

 

[Aurora0427]

We've done it both ways. I've found it really difficult to find a really good travel agent- I tend to know more inside scoop about Disney than most TAs bc I do a lot of online Disney reading! The agent we currently use is great, but my biggest pet peeve with using a TA is Disney won't talk to you if you book through an agent. You can't call and change dates, ask questions, etc etc. That drives me nuts. I lay out my dining in advance, and it was nice that my TA got up early and called for me to book CRT and Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. But I still make my own ADRs online because I always end up changing things. I really only used our TA last time because she sends us a $50 Disney gift card which is free money, and I really do like her. But I don't need her. Between these boards and all the planning sites out there, you don't really need a TA.

I will say we had an issue with our tub working at the GF back in December, and my TA got us moved while we were at the parks and had them give us extra fast passes for the inconvenience. That was nice!

 

[angierae]

I've never found a need to use a TA. I want to be able to do everything myself, and it took me 30 seconds to do my original booking.

 

[JimmyBean42]

I'm a little too controlling to not do everything myself. But after how the app and website for ADR's was malfunctioning this past May, I am now considering letting a TA deal with that madness......(considering but knowing me I won't do it and I'll book everything myself for every trip).

 

[amandals2007]

my dad is a travel agent for the largest disney vacation packages booked outside of disney itsself. we started booking through this company before he was a TA because we had no clue how to do disney, then when we started getting the hang of it ourselves on what we wanted to do, we would just tell the TA, and then she suggested that my dad work for her (she is the owner of the company). so coming from a small town TA family, its nice helping that TA out even if you know everything you want to do for your vacation. just letting them book the vacation through their company helps them out with numbers. it does nothing for disney so book through a TA. when my dad does his clients, most book their own meals and FP+. he will help out the newbies but most WANT to do their own.

 

[BarbieGal457]

I used a TA once for our high school senior trip, and I never will again. I hated having no control over things. Also, my super sweet girlfriends invited my bully along 2 days before we left, and since I was not in control of the booking (I was the only 18 year old), there was nothing I could do. Yes, that was my "friends" being horrible people, but that lack of control just sealed my fate with TAs.

I LOVE planning myself and have done all of my many trips thereafter on my own. There are so many resources to go to for help with how things work, and I just cannot be comfortable giving over all control. I also LOVE planning and find that it's really fun for me!