Travel Agent advice

[CerysG]

Hi I'm new here and looking for some advice from fellow Canadians. We went to Disney World for the first time last year and are planning to go again next summer (2013) at the end of August (I hear that that crowds are way better then). On our first trip I used a travel agent at CAA, who was friendly and somewhat helpful but I found I had to do most of the research and ended up booking most of it myself. The only good was they did all the insurance stuff for us. Also they didn't seem to look for much in the way of discounts and we did get one from Disney only because I sent her an e-mail I'd gotten telling of one. She seemed to imply she had to do a lot of work for them to give it to us, though I've read they are quite happy to give them to you even after you've booked. Any how I'm wondering about all the online agents I've been seeing. Here Dreams Unlimited is mentioned and at Mousesavers they talk about Small World and there are others I've seen. So I'm wondering if anyone has used them and if they felt it was worth while or was it just as good to do it on your own. Also do they take Canadians as clients? And finally how do you know they are ligitamate agents not someone scaming? I'm looking forward to hearing everyones advice.

 

[tone.def]

Those online agencies are indeed legit and reputable but my advice is keep the Canadian economy turning. Just use Fairytale Destinations, they are Disney specialists. Located in Bolton, Ontario. Can go to their office, call them on the phone or email.

 

[CerysG]

Yes using someone in Canada would be better but I need someone who will do Universal etc as well. We are planning to go for about 2 1/2 weeks and do as much as we can, though having more time at a less busy time means we can take our time a bit. When we went last year in March it was so busy that we just didn't get to do as much as we wanted.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Those online agencies are indeed legit and reputable but my advice is keep the Canadian economy turning. Just use Fairytale Destinations, they are Disney specialists. Located in Bolton, Ontario. Can go to their office, call them on the phone or email.

I second Fairytale Dreams & Destinations!

 

[KNovacovschi]

I third Fairytale Dreams & Destinations. I am currently working with them for our October trip and they have been great. Our last trip we used Trip Central, they were good in regards to booking the trip for us but I still had to do all the leg work. With Fairytale Dreams they will help with everything from your itinerary to your ADR's. Also they keep an eye out for any discounts that can be applied anytime prior to your trip, not just at booking. Good luck with whomever you choose and hope you have a magical trip.

 

[minnie mum]

Perhaps I'll be the only dissenting voice, but I'd recommend that you just do it yourself. Honestly, since you've already been through this before, and as you mentioned in your OP, had to do a lot of the work yourself, why not just skip the middleman and book your own trip?

You already know about the Disboards, and through them, allears.net and mousesavers. Lots of Universal information here too on the Universal forum.

I'm too much of a control freak when it comes to WDW. Having been cursed once with a bad TA, and with a few trips under my belt, I prefer to own my own reservation from the get go, making any changes and alterations much simpler.

Just my suggestion, though. I know a lot of people who prefer to let a TA handle their Disney plans, and I've heard good things about Fairytale Dreams.

 

[Hockeyfan17]

I also agree with Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. We are using them for our August trip, and they have been very helpful. Even though we are using a TA, I have done most of the reasearch myself, but it is nice to know that they will do the ADR's for you (even though I gave them my choices and plans for each night), as well as look for discounts.

 

[fan1080]

Depends on what you want from a TA.

Some want a TA to take care of everything from dining reservations, park planning, etc.

However, in my opinion, even if you only want a TA to handle Booking Disney and flights, they are worth the added sense of knowing if anything were to go wrong while you were away (canceled flight, airline strike, etc), they would take care of alternate plans.

Most TA's do not charge a fee to handle your bookings, they are paid by commission. If there was a fee for their service, I would have to consider the cost, but for me it would still be a difficult service to ignore.

 

[CerysG]

There is no doubt I could do it all myself but my concerns are more about getting the right insurance (don't want end up not going becasue of a storm etc. and then be out that kind of money) and also we want to rent a car this time and use it for the first part of our trip and then return it near Disney when we go on resort there (won't need a car while there and can get the Express to the airport). I guess it's nice to have expert advice just in case your missing something! So I'm gathering by the Destinations part they will also do the Universal stuff for us if need be?
Hay Hockey Fan when in August are you going? I've read that the last few weeks are considered low time and are much quieter so I'm wondering if you've been there before at this time?
By the way thanks for the advice and the name of the TA, it's nice to have someone Canadian to consider.

 

[lisalonglash]

I second Fairytale Dreams & Destinations!

I would also highly recommend FD&D - they are simply the best!

 

[Gigi22]

I would recommend a Canadian TA as well -- I recently saw an absolute horror story in our local paper about a family that had booked their Christmas vacation to a Caribbean island through a TA in NY. Turned out the TA had not advised the family of the proper documents required for Canadians visiting that destination. As I recall, their airline missed checking their documents, and they were put back on a flight home once they reached their destination. To recover the costs of the non-vacation, their only option was apparently going to be to sue their TA in the US.

 

[Hockeyfan17]

Hay Hockey Fan when in August are you going? I've read that the last few weeks are considered low time and are much quieter so I'm wondering if you've been there before at this time?

We are going August 21-28 this year, and it is our first trip to WDW. I have done quite a bit of research, and found that this time is indeed a little quieter than the rest of the summer, but we also booked early and are taking advantage of a free dining plan offer we received. Happy planning, and feel free to pm me with any questions if needed. Cheers.

 

[damo]

Perhaps I'll be the only dissenting voice, but I'd recommend that you just do it yourself. Honestly, since you've already been through this before, and as you mentioned in your OP, had to do a lot of the work yourself, why not just skip the middleman and book your own trip?

You already know about the Disboards, and through them, allears.net and mousesavers. Lots of Universal information here too on the Universal forum.

I'm too much of a control freak when it comes to WDW. Having been cursed once with a bad TA, and with a few trips under my belt, I prefer to own my own reservation from the get go, making any changes and alterations much simpler.

Just my suggestion, though. I know a lot of people who prefer to let a TA handle their Disney plans, and I've heard good things about Fairytale Dreams.

I'd gather information and advice from these boards and do it myself as well. People here are talking from first hand experience while travel agents often don't know a lot about the destinations...especially Universal...there is a lot of misinformation out there.

 

[Sue M]

We used a WDW specialized TA via internet agencies with good results. We have used Small World, but it's a big agency, and our agent wasn't as knowledgeable as she could have been.

My experience with Ears To You has been better. They always know when WDW puts out a discount, often a day or so before, and automatically applies it to my reservation if it will save me money. It's a smaller agency, and all the ladies are very good there.

I book my own air fare, I watch Kayak to see when fares drop. Also book my own rental car using Costco.com.travel site.
We use either Budget (you can return car at DTD Doubletree) or Alamo (return car at either Swan/Dolphin or Disney Car Care Center near Poly) depending who has the best rates. For our Aug 2012 trip, Budget has the better rate.

I also monitor the web site because car rental prices go up & down. I just checked, and our rental with Budget droped over $100 for the week, so I phoned and had the lower rate applied.

 

[jennyjinx3]

For us, we find doing it ourselves is more than half the fun!! Alot more legwork, but it is such fun legwork! And it makes the time go by quicker before next visit!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I've booked through CAA, on my own and through Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. Although I like doing the legwork myself, I love the security of booking through Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. By security I mean, if a new discount comes out I know they are on it for me, or if I have any questions I know they can answer it.

 

[CerysG]

Thanks for the advice I will be pondering it for the next little while since a bit of time before we have to book!
Hockey Fan I tried to PM you but I need to have 10 posts and I only have 4! I'd better post some more!!! I would be interested in hearing about your trip, what you have planned of course how you found it when you get back.