Travel Agent/Doing it Yourself

[PatsGirl]

I've been making my own arrangements for a few years now and think I always get a good deal. Of course, if you add up the hours I use to research my deals they're costing me a small fortune. This year I wanted to do AAA because of the dining plan and what a fiasco! No one seemed to know what they were doing, wnt through three TA's before I finally pernsonally went to the local AAA office with my figures of what I thought the costs should be. Told her ahead of time that maybe I was missing something but everyone else was off by hundreds of dollars, one TA by more than $1,000. When I arrived she was very polite but started laughing when I mentioned a $35/$10 dining plan. Pretty much told me I was nuts. This was one month ago, not before the plan began. Well, I was very insulted but knew I couldn't save The $200 I was hoping to save without her help so...

Anyways, I have the plan, the AAA discount, but I wonder if she'll bother helping with my requests for rooms, etc. I bet not! If you want something done right, do it yourself. By: The Control Freak

 

[tone.def]

I have booked all of my trips with a TA, and don't regret it at all - Dream Come True Vacations has come thru for me every time and saved me money, as well as getting my PS/AR's such as CRT, etc. I highly recommend them!

Me too - I used Dream Come True Vacations for my last trip and am currently using for my upcoming trip. Why would I want to waste my precious time hanging out on hold and hitting re-dial a zillion times when someone else can do it for me???

While you can learn a lot from this Disboard, I would rather have a knowledgable TA on my side who can tell me Extra Magic Hours and make recomendations for transportation, resorts and restaurants and plan my itinerary for me.

I like conversations like this - Me: "I want to be in Epcot on Wednesday and Magic Kingdom on Thursday. Where do you think I should eat? Are their any tours I can take?"
and then getting an answer to the affect of this from a travel agent: "Epcot has this tour at this time, why don't you take advantage of your concierge continental breakfast before you go. I highly recommend ___________ in the World Showcase for dinner. Magic Kingdom has this tour at this time on Thursday and I think you can fit in a character breakfast at _________ beforehand. Lunch is included in your tour and then you can dine at _______________ for dinner. Would you like for me to go ahead and book your priority seatings for you and try to get you into those tours?"

You can't beat service like that - and yes I know tours cost extra

 

[cody's mom]

I'm so glad this question was posted. I have a room-only reservation currently booked, but I decided to contact Small World Vacations about a quote on MYW w/ free dining plan since we are going in Sept.

I was leary about using a travel agent because I have had 2 bad experiences with local agents when booking our cruises. I vowed never to use a TA again. Since Mousesavers recommended Small World, and I would like to get some itinerary recommendations, I thought I would give them a try.

I'm waiting for the quote to make a final decision, though.

 

[BattyKoda]

For all of my other vacations (Hawaii, Vegas and whatnot) I always do them myself, as I am always able to find cheaper rates than any TA I have spoken with (that includes Expedia and their ilk) and I also did this for my first Disney vacation (more because I like planning things myself)...

That said, from everything I have read, I would not hesitate using the TA sites that have been mentioned on this board. The prices seem to be exactly what I can get (which proves the "There is no fee for our Services" disclaimer) and many of them will try their best (which due to my busy work schedule is better than what I can put in myself) to get you the PS ressies that you want.

For myself, I like both Dreams Unlimited and Small World Vacations (though to be fair, I have not spoken with any others). As with everything Disney, do your research and you can't go wrong.

 

[tiggerstail]

I've always done everything myself, not cheap just a control freak! But this trip we used small world travel and I've been very happy with them, they found me discounts I didn't know about and offered advice how to do things differently. I appreciate their input. We have an absolutely awesome trip planned and I would never have been able to afford such a fabulous trip without them!

 

[disneyfam]

For our honeymoon in 99 I used a travel agent. I was glad I did. I hadn't been there since 83 so there had been so many changes. My travel agent helped me choose where to stay and helped me with dining suggestions, etc.

But since then I LOVE to plan it myself. I love to call for ressies and talk with cm's, plan and make dining plans. I guess it all depends on how involved you want to be and how familiar you are with Disney. If you like watching for codes and calling and making ressies, do it yourself. If you dont, use a travel agent. Either way, ENJOY!!!

Cynde

 

[WDWendy]

If you can find a GOOD travel agent, they are awesome. Sadly, most travel agents are useless. I worked for an airline for quite awhile and usually book things myself.

I just booked a trip through AAA (for the discount) last Thursday and the travel agent was worse than useless, he was a total Git! Thankfully, I knew what I wanted and told him exactly what I wanted quotes for. He was incorrect on some of the information for the trip, but again, I knew what I was looking for before I called. When I asked him for the Disney quotes I asked if he could check on booking the Royal Pacific for us before our Disney trip and he flipped out going on and on about how Disney is so busy would I really want to risk going somewhere else first blah, blah, blah. He was an idiot. I booked our Universal portion myself (including tickets). He never once offered to set up a rental car or transportation. Anyway, if it were not for the AAA discount I would NEVER have used this travel agent. If I were really being smart I should have just hung up on him and called AAA in the next town. It would have been worth the drive.

I have a quote from Small World's for September. They have been excellent and prompt. I had a few questions about the trip insurance and they responded quickly with good accurate information (including a link to a brochure so I could double check it myself). I cannot wait to book our September trip with them.

 

[Tinkaroo]

I usually book other travel destinations myself, but like using a Disney specialist TA for my Disney trips. If you can find a good one (and I've gotten quotes from many agencies people list here - and while they're all good - there IS a difference in service IMHO), they will provide you much more valuable information than just stock quotes.

My TA (Lori at Magical Memorials Travel) suffers through many e-mails from me with questions about scenarios, resorts, etc. - and has always answered EVERY question (unlike others I've contacted that give the broad strokes but skip the small details). I do feel like she knows more about Disney than I do, and is on the same "wave length" regarding how to get the best deals.

I've enjoyed working with her, and will continue to do so - and hey, if I can help her out by giving her that 10% commission from Disney, all the better!

 

[bausemer]

I have checked into booking vacations with travel agents and they tend to be alot more expensive than if you did it yourself. I am always looking out for any possible discounts which I think travel agents over look. A good website for Disney discounts and Universal/Seaworld is www.mousesavers.com. The cheap airlines that seem to offer the best deals are www.southwest.com and www.isong.com. I hope this helps.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

For me, its not a matter of what I can find cheaper, but for convenience and making my vacation a little easier. In my experience, the agents at DU have always gotten me the best rate by utilizing available discounts.
I enjoy using Dreams Unlimited-I get to plan all the fun stuff and they get to make the ressies, watch for discounts, and book AR's while I just enjoy the planning.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I'm an obsessive planner, so I do everything myself. I have to admit, when codes come out, it gets too crazy having to wake up at 4am (I'm on the West Coast) to make sure I get the best rate. I'm seriously considering using DU on our next trip.

 

[DeirdreTours]

When I read about the Free Dining offer on Mousesavers, it seemed to imply that the deal could only be booked by a Travel agent. So, I contacted Small World Vacations through the site- it took the OVER A WEEK to email me back a simple quote. And frankly, the quote wasn't as good as what I was able to book through disney direct. The Small World form asked if my dates were flexible and I indicated they were-- but the agent only checked the first choice dates and my "standard view" at the AKL wasn't available on those dates. So the quote Small World sent back to me was $300 higher that the plan I ended up booking (I moved my dates by less than a week).

So, I have to say-- I didn't think Small World offered anything better, faster, or more efficient that I could do for myself.

And, reading about the other things that some posters want from their agents-- restaurant recommendations, etc. I am a little skeptical that the agent HAS BEEN to all of those restaurants, tours, etc. I think they are just reading from a list of what's available.

 

[TN Traveler]

WOW! What a great thread! I'm really glad to see this here. First off, let me tell you that I am a travel agent......have been for 10 yrs now. I am also a Disney Specialist and I LOVE DISNEY. I'm also a home based agent which means I work from my home instead of a "brick and mortar" or store front agency. Most agents do this job because they love travel and they love people. Believe me, it is not for the money b/c working on commission is very, very difficult.

Before I became an agent, I used a local agent to book several different vacation packages for DH and I before we had children. I wasn't really happy w/the agency here in my home town but 15 yrs ago everyone used TAs b/c there wasn't a choice. After I became an agent I realized what a poor job this agent I used did compared to what I do for my clients. Here's my suggestion.....if you have the time to do all the research to find the best price, best resort for your family etc, then go ahead and get a price and see what you come up with. Then take it to your local agent and see what she can do. Lots of times agents will price match a quote if it is in writing and we can get apples for apples. I have done this many times......especially on cruises.

If you are a first time visitor to Disney or simply don't have the time to do all teh research, then by all means contact several agencies and ask for a quote. Let them know you are looking for the best deal and you are price shopping. If the agent really wants your business, she/he will shop and find the best price for you. I know I call 2 or 3 different places for my clients. Normally, TAs do not charge for their services. However, lately some have started charging a "plan to go" fee for those that ask for several different destinations....cruise vs Cancun vs Bahamas etc but that should not be an issue for anyone here. I gladly will price a land pkg to Disney vs a Disney cruise w/o an additional fee. Also since the airlines have cut our commission to 0 now, every agency I'm famaliar w/here in the Nashville area, charges a fee to issue airline tickets. Some charge $10 per ticket, some up to $50. Personally, I don't mess w/tickets b/c I have always found better deals on the internet and hated charging the booking fee.

So, in closing my suggestion is to ask a few friends who they used for their travel arangements and then contact that agent. Let her know you need the best deal available. When you get it, call and see what you can get. SHOP AROUND. Once you make a decision contact the travel agents you spoke w/and let them know you got a better deal elsewhere. This is a simple thing to do and very much appreciated by the TA. Nothing drives me nuttier than having someone avoiding my return calls or not just telling me straight out they've decided not to go or found a better deal somewhere else. I hate losing a booking but I hate worse not knowing what's wrong. It also helps me see where I can improve!

Best of luck to all!!

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[dsnyfrek]

I use a travel agent, mostly because she is my mother, but the truth is: she is VERY good at her job. She has been a travel agent for 16+ years, and really knows her stuff. If she doesn't, she finds out for you. I know she graduated from The Disney Ears College of Knowledge, which is a training that Disney has for travel agents. She gets tons of referrals from people in town who say they had the best Disney vacation.

I agree with Karen, travel agents aren't in it for the money. My mother's office makes no commission on airline tickets, and gets very little on other trips that are planned. Thanks to the do-it-yourself society we live in, she might be out of a job by the end of the year. Why? Because the overhead costs of having an agency open for those who still like going to a TA, costs way too much compared to what they do make.

I also think that you should shop around for the best travel agent and try one out. DO tell them though that you are not guaranteed to book with them. Nothing is more frustrating on their end to work half a day on a trip for someone and then they go home and do it online themselves.

 

[Joan1]

it took the OVER A WEEK to email me back a simple quote
And, reading about the other things that some posters want from their agents-- restaurant recommendations, etc. I am a little skeptical that the agent HAS BEEN to all of those restaurants, tours, etc. I think they are just reading from a list of what's available.

Do you think they were swamped with requests from the mousesavers newsletter / website? Maybe that is why it took them a while to get back to you? I know that when I first started using Small World they would send out an email letting me know how long it MAY take for someone to get back to me. I don't know if they still do because I know contact my agent directly whenever I want to do something instead of filling out the form

Well it depends, my agent goes to Disney 3 times a year and has eaten at most of the restaurants. If she hasn't been to one she is very honest about it and sends me a menu to see what is offered.

You can't say "all" travel agents are bad, don't have enough info, etc. It really depends on the person. Everyone is knowledgeable about something but no one can know everything about every place that is why some agent specialize in certain areas

 

[TN Traveler]

Good point, Joan. It's what we call "niche marketing". Some agents specialize in travel for Senior Citizens and look at escorted bus trips. Some
agents specialize in "high end travel", some in cruises etc. I specialize in family vacations and honeymoons. Both can include alot of different areas from a condo on the beach, to Disney, to cruises, honeymoons in Hawaii, adventure travel to Costa Rica, 4 nts to Cancun and quick wknd trips to Vegas. When I went to The Disney College of Knowledge (MANY years ago!) we were told we could not put the Disney Logo on any of our advertisments--including our business cards and phone ads. On the other hand, the cruise
lines encourage us to use their name and advertise you are a destinastion specialist. Sandals gives us tags and stickers to include in our paperwork stating we're Sandals Specialists. It's kinda hard to figure out unless you just ask.
TN Traveler

 

[DeirdreTours]

My point wasn't that Travel agents were "bad"-- just that I don't find them to be of much value. Yes, Small World did send me a couple of form emails letting me know how busy they were and that they would "soon" be handling my request. I guess what I found annoying was that the info they did send was the exact same info I got on the phone with Disney in less than 5 minutes. (BTW, I am a little baffled by all the posts about being on hold for interminable periods of time-- I have found that I spend less than 30 seconds on hold.) And, that even though they asked on the Small World form if my dates were flexible, they DID NOT check any other days in the range I gave them. Taking the Small World deal would have resulted in me paying $300 more. Talking to Disney took the same amount of time as filling out the Small World request form but gave me actual reservations, and the ability to instantly adjust my dates,etc. What is the benefit of telling it all to an agent who then tells it all to Disney???

I love the Mousesavers site (even made a donation the first day we got back from Disney after finding the site several years ago), but I was a little disappointed at the way her site implied that the free dining deal was only available through a travel agent. Had I known I could get it direct from disney, I would have called immediately rather than waiting a week for Small World to check my dates--And, I may have gotten my first choice dates within my budget. I did drop her a polite email about it, but she never has made a correction to the site.

 

[Joan1]

That is why for some people handling the details yourself is better and for others a travel agent is better.

Personally I don't have a lot of time to plan my vacations so a travel agent is great. I read these boards whenever I have some time to do it justice (which isn't often). A lot of times I am on business trips / meetings, etc so I can't be on the phone at 7am to take care of discounts / advance dining reservations

 

[tlynk]

A few months back I booked a Land/Sea package through a TA, but previously I have always booked Disney vacations on my own. I found that my TA can find rooms or bargains faster that I can. However, I have some regrets because I've changed my mind so much and feel guilty everytime I ask her to make a change . I know I'm driving my TA nuts to put it mildly! Anyway, I have found that my TA is very informative and helpful so if you don't change your plans too much having a TA can be a plus.

 

[FanofTink]

My point wasn't that Travel agents were "bad"-- just that I don't find them to be of much value. Yes, Small World did send me a couple of form emails letting me know how busy they were and that they would "soon" be handling my request. I guess what I found annoying was that the info they did send was the exact same info I got on the phone with Disney in less than 5 minutes. (BTW, I am a little baffled by all the posts about being on hold for interminable periods of time-- I have found that I spend less than 30 seconds on hold.) And, that even though they asked on the Small World form if my dates were flexible, they DID NOT check any other days in the range I gave them. Taking the Small World deal would have resulted in me paying $300 more. Talking to Disney took the same amount of time as filling out the Small World request form but gave me actual reservations, and the ability to instantly adjust my dates,etc. What is the benefit of telling it all to an agent who then tells it all to Disney???

I love the Mousesavers site (even made a donation the first day we got back from Disney after finding the site several years ago), but I was a little disappointed at the way her site implied that the free dining deal was only available through a travel agent. Had I known I could get it direct from disney, I would have called immediately rather than waiting a week for Small World to check my dates--And, I may have gotten my first choice dates within my budget. I did drop her a polite email about it, but she never has made a correction to the site.

In my experience, you will be booked at your first resort choice during your preferred dates of travel. If that is sold out, you will be booked for your second choice, etc. If your preferred view, i.e. standard view is sold out, you will be booked during your preferred dates with the least expensive view available in order to hold a reservation during your preferred dates while you contemplate the quote and advise the agent if this indeed works for you. Was there any discussion after the initial quote was received?

If you were only looking for the least expensive option during a wide range of dates, did you state that on your request form? The TA has no way of knowing unless you communicate with them what your parameters are. I'm sure they would have been happy to check your alternate dates at a lower rate for you if you had communicated that fact.

Travel agents provide a valuable service, but the lines of communication need to be open between both parties.