Travel agent or book myself?

[sunshinejk]

I'm not quite sure where to put this topic, so I apologize if I am in the wrong section. I am curious about booking myself using the WDW website, or using a travel agent. I know exactly what I want to book, where I want to go, etc. So...should I just book it myself, or should I book with a travel agent? Someone once told me to book with a travel agent because the price will be the same and you have that personal connection with someone if something goes wrong on your trip, and a familiar face to address concerns with.

But....do all travel agents really book for the same price as I would get myself, or is there a booking fee that agents charge?

 

[Stan Solo]

From what I've read on these threads it seams that most of the problems that people have is because of thier TA. I've read a number of times that people don't get their ME passes on time or just on the day before they go because they were sent to the TA. Another issue that comes up is when people decide to up/down grade it always seams like a hassle to call your TA then wait for a call back. If you book it yourself you can call Disney yourself.

The advantage to having a GOOD TA is if a better offer comes around they will know about and let you know about it ie free dinning or a discounted resort rate. Disney is not about to call you up and say "Good news we are going to charge you $700 less on your vacation". That is not to say you can't call up Disney if you find out about a better offer and have that applied to your package. This is what happend to us last year we had booked with a PIN I got from Disney and booked our vacation. A few months later free dinning came out and even paying full price for our resort the free dinning was hundreds of dollars less expensive. It was just a matter of a simple phone call to Disney and they changed it for me.

Hope this helps.

 

[taylor3297]

If you have a great TA then I would use the TA. I am lucky enough to have an excellent TA and she keeps an eye out for deals for me.

One time I did not receive my ME info but it was Disney's fault, not the TA. All I had to do was stop at the ME desk, give them my luggage numbers and everything worked out fine.

 

[sunshinejk]

Well, I ended up booking myself last night, even though we had a TA. I found out on Friday night about 11pm that ticket prices were going up on Sunday (today). My travel agent doesn't work weekends, the agency isn't even open at all. I called and left a voicemail, and sent an email just in case she checks over the weekend, and told her that if I didn't hear from her around 1pm on Saturday, we were going to book online so we got the savings. She had everything on hold for us, but we hadn't even paid the down payment. Plus, I think they book right off the Disney website anyway, and even if we did have the deposit on it, the fine print says all prices are subject to change until the package is paid in full. So....I booked it. I feel bad, but I have to say I am very surprised that a travel agency isn't open on a Saturday. That's when most people have the day off....

all in all, I think I would prefer to have a GOOD travel agent. We have one when we book our Mexico trips. I LOVE her. If anyone on this board is a good Disney TA, we try to go to Disney every 2-3 years, and it is a big group of 10. PM me your info, and next time we book, I'll book with you! Espeically if you keep a good eye on the deals and would let us know of changes before we left.

 

[djblu883]

As a travel agent myself I have to tell you that there are many of us out there that are "open" 24/7! I've taken calls at 4 AM and I just know it goes with being a good agent and meeting my clients needs. So sorry you got an agent that doesn't enjoy her work enough to do so. Still if you choose to, you can transfer your reservation to her or other agents so that you can still have the benefit of using an agent to finish planning your trip. It will not cost you anything more to do that! SHe/he can be very helpful ( if they are good) in making all your reservations and giving you all kinds of tips just like you see on the boards here!!! Whatever you decide to do I hope you have a magical trip!!

Well, I ended up booking myself last night, even though we had a TA. I found out on Friday night about 11pm that ticket prices were going up on Sunday (today). My travel agent doesn't work weekends, the agency isn't even open at all. I called and left a voicemail, and sent an email just in case she checks over the weekend, and told her that if I didn't hear from her around 1pm on Saturday, we were going to book online so we got the savings. She had everything on hold for us, but we hadn't even paid the down payment. Plus, I think they book right off the Disney website anyway, and even if we did have the deposit on it, the fine print says all prices are subject to change until the package is paid in full. So....I booked it. I feel bad, but I have to say I am very surprised that a travel agency isn't open on a Saturday. That's when most people have the day off....

all in all, I think I would prefer to have a GOOD travel agent. We have one when we book our Mexico trips. I LOVE her. If anyone on this board is a good Disney TA, we try to go to Disney every 2-3 years, and it is a big group of 10. PM me your info, and next time we book, I'll book with you! Espeically if you keep a good eye on the deals and would let us know of changes before we left.

 

[nichanda]

I booked through a TA for my trip last March, but honestly I did all the work myself and she just booked it. I found the hotel, tickets, flights, transfers, etc. Next time I would do it myself. I asked her advice in many areas, and she either didn't know (or care to find out) or ignored my questions. I basically had to have what, when & where I wanted figured out before contacting her.

However, this was the first time using this TA (and the last). For anywhere I am not familiar with, I would still use the other TA we've used in the past without hesitation. She's really good, (but about an hour away). I wouldn't use anyone for Disney World again though, I can do that myself. However, I've been there enough to know exactly what I want/need.

 

[blessedby3]

If it is something I am very familiar with (like WDW) then I prefer to do it myself and have the control. If I were booking a trip to somewhere I knew nothing about, then I would find a TA.