Travel Agency, or "do it yourself"?

[scrump]

I'm really new at all this planning, so I decided to go with a travel agency (it was so overwhelming), but it seems like the majority of people here do the whole planning process themselves. Am I correct in my assumptions? Do you save money by doing it yourselves? I've heard that by using a travel agency, they will not charge you, but rather receive a commission from the Disney Company, which is why I felt comfortable handing things over to a travel agency. Please educate a newbie on this, I'm curious to know how to best plan a Disney vacation for the next time!

 

[Kaycee]

I've done it both ways - planned it myself and used travel agent. One reason so many people here plan their own trips is the vast amount of info available for WDW planning. If you put some time and effort into it, you will end up knowing more about a WDW trip than most travel agents! I know that has been my case, and I've heard many others say the same thing. This is especially true because, unlike a travel agent, you can focus your knowledge on what applies to you and your trip. If you do use a travel agent, be careful. Make sure you find one that really does know a lot about WDW (they all SAY they do). I've heard horror stories about people who trusted travel agents who really didn't know what they were doing.

When I did use a travel agent, it was one that I had heard referenced on several WDW message boards. It was for our December 2002 trip, and there had been talk for weeks that really good codes were coming out soon for room rates. The day the codes came out, I was so glad I had decided to let the travel agent handle it. I kept reading about people who couldn't get the codes for the dates they wanted - they sold out that fast! But I didn't have to worry - my travel agent really did know her way around WDW planning!

 

[airhead]

...and I'm really enjoying the whole process. But,I have access to
a computer all day and I think that's a big factor. I was wicked hesitant in the beginning. There were a lot of people here that gave me the encouragement I needed to try making all the plans on my own. I really would not have attempted it without them!
Good luck!!


airhead

 

[tkldisney]

To me have the fun is planning the trip. With the help of all the people on this board, as well as dis.com, & wdwig, you can get lots & lots of info. Plus you really learn a lot about WDW.

What a great place it is: Walt Disney World!!!!!!

 

[freediverdude]

My vote is for doing it yourself. I think a lot of travel agents try to sell the packages, which may be more expensive, plus contain extras that you may not need. Or if they do agree to do the hotel separately, I think a lot of them just try to give you the Disney rack rate on the rooms without even looking to see if you qualify for a discount. You can't blame them, because they probably get more money that way, but it doesn't save you the most money. But, if you want to just go to someone and say "I want to go to Disney World, stay onsite from this date to this date, and purchase park passes and airfare to go with it", and have someone do it all for you and just hand you a folder with everything you need, then that's what a travel agent should do, and you may end up paying more, but some people want that convenience.

 

[Janet2k]

Originally posted by scrump
I'm really new at all this planning, so I decided to go with a travel agency (it was so overwhelming), but it seems like the majority of people here do the whole planning process themselves. Am I correct in my assumptions? Do you save money by doing it yourselves?

Scrump, welcome to the Dis!

A WDW vacation can be overwhelming. For my first couple of vacations, I purchased vacation packages through the Walt Disney Travel Company. I also purchased numerous WDW travel guidebooks in order to learn what fun & exciting things could be planned for a WDW vacation.

A few years later, I discovered that there was a whole community of Disney fans out there in Cyberspace and I began to gather even more info through them (especially this website that we’re on right now, the Dis). What I’ve done for the last two years now is to use Dreams Unlimited Travel (click here), the owners of the Dis website, for my vacation planning. Dreams Unlimited Travel has done excellent jobs with my past vacations, as well as my vacation that begins in a few days. I will definitely be using Dreams again.

One of the best features that Dreams Unlimited Travel offers is that they will check periodically to see if a cheaper rate has been released for your vacation. If one has, they will try to get it applied to your reservation. That is a wonderful service that I know many people here on the Dis have been appreciative of.

This is all my humble opinion and others’ opinions may vary, as it should be.

 

[2MuchOhana]

We have done it both ways, too. Recently we have been doing it ourselves. It really is a matter of personal preference. Both ways of doing it have their own pros and cons.

 

[scrump]

Thanks everybody for your welcome and your advice! I guess next year, I'll try it on my own. It does sound fun to do it yourself, but the amount of information is insane...

Thanks again!

By the way, Kaycee, do you remember which travel agency you used before you went solo on the planning?

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

First of all WELCOME to DIS Boards:

I always have done all my own plans. Who knows your family better than you? I love deciding which PS to make and what Park to go visit each day. Which Resort to stay (VWL) at ect..ect..My sister and nephews who usualy comes with me, got to me one year,"We always eat where you want" even though I had asked repeatedly for her and others input everyone said you decide. Next trip.....I made no PS and no plans as to which Park we would be at. Everytime some one would say where to now? I would just say where ever you would like it's your trip too. (He-He-He) No organization, no place but counter service to eat (with out long waits) Which my group never had experienced.....Now when I ask about where to eat I get answers or request ect.

If you are going to make your own plans may I suggust an investment of A PassPorter travel guide, for thirty years I never bought a guide until this year. It will help you with all your options and selections and which and what order to make them in. It also has sections for all your ressies and PS #'s

You can do it!!

Pixie Dust

 

[jdads2]

First, Welcome to the DIS!

Most of the folks here are huge fans of Disney and love most things, if not all things, Disney. We love planning and finding great new ways of saving some money, only to spend it somewhere else at WDW.

We have saved a few hundred dollars on airfare a couple of time just by waiting and buying when the rates drop. I also get better rates on rooms at WDW than agents. I have also gotten upsells and I doubt that the agent could have gotten the specific upsells that I have been lucky enough to recieve.

More than the money, I enjoy getting involved in the process. The chase of the tough PS. I find it alot of fun and because I have learned so much I get to help others who are heading to WDW.

 

[scrump]

I am starting to understand and appreciate the fun of doing it myself. I have heard A LOT about the passporter, so I will definitely look into purchasing it.

What is an upsell? Is that when the hotels overbook, and they offer you a better room at your reserved rate?

This is such a great board.

 

[travelgoddess]

I am a TA, and you are correct, most of us do not charge for
booking Disney trips, packages or hotel and passes separately.
We get faxed the codes everyone talks about before the general
public gets them, and YES, we use them often.
I enjoy helping my clients with meal planning, parade and firework
times, etc.....
It helps me make it until my next Disney Vacation. I just returned
on October 10, so I have quite a long wait until we go again.
My advise would be to use a Travel Agent that specializes in
Disney, but use the boards here to help you with the fun stuff,
like which rest. to eat at, where to stand for the best views of
fireworks and parades, and many other things.
Best of luck to you

Travelgoddes

 

[Grumpy92]

It really depends on personal preference. Since this is your first trip I know it seems like info overload. If you are going to use a TA really investigate them specifically their knowledge of WDW. Look for an agent who specializes in Disney vactions and who has actually been there.
Having worked at the FD at several Disney resorts I have seen guest booked by TA who obviously did not know what they were doing. On a number of occassions we had guest booked into campsites at FW who were expecting a hotel room. Not to mention booked in packages that really werent appropriate or telling guest who were not Fla residents that they could receive Fla resident discounts. There are some very good TAs out there, So really ask alot of questions.

I know that by the time you decide to make a second trip to WDW you will have read so much on this board plus your first visit you will probably want to do it yourself.

Have a wonderful time, I know your first trip will be magical.

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by Grumpy92

Having worked at the FD at several Disney resorts I have seen guest booked by TA who obviously did not know what they were doing. On a number of occassions we had guest booked into campsites at FW who were expecting a hotel room.

Oh my gosh! What ever did you do?!?! The guest must have been mad. They probably thought they were getting a wonderful room for $60 or so......

 

[Tonyspad]

Do it yourself, The planning process makes the trip seem a lot closer while you are planning. My only advise is to do as much research as possible because I have found (in my cases) that making changes is VERY time consuming.

 

[caribbeanme]

Hey Scrump!

I'm a big vacation planner, and have always planned huge trips by myself.

I figured I would do the same for my upcoming Disney trip. How hard could it be? As soon as we decided we wanted a trip to Disney this past May, I searched the internet, and within a few minutes was registered at the dis'. And even though I have already sketched out an itinerary, and have penned in some extra activities I still went ahead and contacted Dreams Unlimited last month. After all the positive things I've heard about them, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have an extra set of eyes and ears for those special events, room codes (which they get ahead of time), and reservation deadlines. She immediately asked me what my itinerary planning needs were, and understood where I was coming from. Now she helps me with suggestions about scheduling and with decisions about different activities. As soon as I set something, or I agree to a suggested activity, she enters it into this handy-dandy online itinerary, making changes in the rest of the itinerary as necessary (factoring in transportation time, for example).

So I guess I'm just saying that you can still plan your trip, and have the travel agent be a backup resource for what you do. I would certainly pick a travel agency that specializes in Disney and that understands that you want to take significant ownership in putting your trip together.

Had I known that travel agents weren't only for hands off travelers, I would have used them before!

Best wishes, whatever you choose to do!

 

[minster22]

I also have a question as to whether I should use a TA or not. Any TA's out there who have any imput, it would be greatly appreciated!! I have already made reservations for our trip in April/May 2004 and have AAA discounts at both the GF and BWI. We are AP holders (vouchers at the moment) and of course would LOVE to secure an AP rate if any are released for our time frame. I am so worried that I am not going to get through to CRO in time to get an AP rate if they are released while I am at work. I do have a pretty flexible schedule but a couple of days I am away from home and thus the computer for almost 12 hours. I know both of our resorts book up fast and I am thinking maybe I should use one of the Disney specialists TA's just to have better access to the AP rates. Am I fretting too much? I have no problems doing everything myself but I do not want to miss out on this discount if at all possible since we are staying 17 wonderful nights and the savings with AP would be huge!!

 

[Josephine]

Originally posted by minster22
I also have a question as to whether I should use a TA or not. Any TA's out there who have any imput, it would be greatly appreciated!! I have already made reservations for our trip in April/May 2004 and have AAA discounts at both the GF and BWI. We are AP holders (vouchers at the moment) and of course would LOVE to secure an AP rate if any are released for our time frame. I am so worried that I am not going to get through to CRO in time to get an AP rate if they are released while I am at work. I do have a pretty flexible schedule but a couple of days I am away from home and thus the computer for almost 12 hours. I know both of our resorts book up fast and I am thinking maybe I should use one of the Disney specialists TA's just to have better access to the AP rates. Am I fretting too much? I have no problems doing everything myself but I do not want to miss out on this discount if at all possible since we are staying 17 wonderful nights and the savings with AP would be huge!!

Well let me tell you about myself. I have been a travel agent for 13 years and have been specializing in Disney travel for the last 5. There are many travel agents that only book pkgs for Disney as that is all they know or care to know. There are many many more of us that love Disney, travel there once or more per year and know the in's and out's of it. Along with getting advance notice of when discounts will become available.

This past August when the AP rates became available for the fall I was on vacation. BUT because I knew that they would be out while I was away, I took a list of all my clients that were waiting for them (I would have taken a list even if I didn't know, just in case). I knew the discounts would be out on my last day of vacation, so that morning bright and early before leaving for the airport and while my husband was driving us to the airport I was on the phone changing all of my clients who had AP's reservations to the AP rate.

So for those of you that have had bad experiences with travel agents, I am sorry. But there are many of us that really love what we do and really care about our clients.

As another person said, make sure you get a travel agent that is very knowledgeable about Disney and I am sure you will be happy

 

[Grumpy92]

Kimberle, The answer to your question is that we would often offer them a Wilderness home or see what other resorts had availability and move them. They were pretty shocked when they arrived, guess they thought they got a really good deal. Most of the time they thought they were going to be at the WL. Always felt so bad for them and would go out of my way to help them. Many times it wasnt just the room the TA had messed up but other things as well like their air etc. So they were already in a bad mood when they arrived. Unfortunately we would also have to adjust their room rate accordingly as well. This happened on a number of occassions. Really gave me a different view of TAs.
The worst was a TA that told some Canadians that because they had a time share in Fla they could get the Fla Res discounts. Ofcourse when they arrived at WDW we tried calling their agent and the place was closed. Needless to say they did not get the discount.

 

[Kaycee]

Scrump

The TA I used was Deb with Your Magical Journeys. If you stick around the internet WDW planning boards a while, you'll see their name come up pretty often with lots of glowing reviews. They really are very helpful and work hard to get you what you want. If I ever decide to use a TA in the future, that'll be my first choice.

Someone else mentioned Dreams Unlimited, the DISBoards sponsors. That's another TA that you'll read lots of great stuff about on the WDW boards.

I'm one of those who thinks planning is half the fun. Yes, it really is overwhelming at first; there's so much info out there. But I'm one of the many people here who will tell you that WDW planning becomes addictive once you get the hang of it. Just yesterday at work, I was practically begging a co-worker to let me plan her next WDW trip!