Travel agent or do it myself?

[NewMouseFans]

First Timer - lots of questions for the experienced!

Would you recommend planning for our Disney trip myself, or go with a travel agency? Are the deals better? Are there any advantages?

Trip planned Dec 5 - 10, 2004
Want to stay at POFQ
Trip with kids, parents & grandparents

Thanks for your help!!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Well, you might feel better having a TA, but I found it was easy to book my own, after our first trip, and cheaper. The first time we went to WDW, I had AAA plan it, knew nothing, and paid for things we did not use.

Two years later, I was a little more savvy, read articles and guide books, joined the Magic Kingdom Club (alas, no more) and ended up getting our room and park admission cheaper than the TA got it. Since then, I have learned about codes, room only booking with Park Hopper tickets, and finally, Annual Passes! And, I book my own airfare directly on the SWA website.

Each person does what is best for them, but I found it to be much cheaper to just research and book my own travel. The websites mousesavers.com and allearsnet.com are invaluable tools, dive in and do some research, I'll bet you'll find you are capable of doing your own, too!!

 

[Chicago526]

As a travel agent, I of course recomend using a TA!

But really, WDW is possible to plan yourself, and many find it half the fun of the trip. BUT it can be VERY time consuming, so if you don't have a lot of free time, a TA may be the way to go.

As far as price is concerend, TA's don't normally do better than you can on your own, but it won't cost you more, either (if you have a good agent!). You may want to at least check on airline tickets with an agent, and then compare what you find on the web. I've found that lately I'm meeting or beating the web fares.

If you do go the TA route, make sure your agent has been to WDW, preferably in the last 2 or 3 years, and if they are a College of Knolledge grad (CoK is a Disney run TA education course) that's even better. Ask lots of questions!!! And answer the agent's questions as completely and honestly as you can. Give them your budget, and be honest with the number. A good agent should give you at least two options when they come back with a quote (unless you specifiy a specific resort, that is!).

Be carefull with the agent you choose. There are many out there that don't know much about WDW. They could be great agents, but WDW is so complex that the agent really needs to know the lay of the land, and that means that they should have traveled there at least once, and preferable several times.

Compare the Dream Maker package to just hotel and park hopper passes separately, the DM package is usually more, but not always, especially if you go while the 7 for 5 deal is valid.

Also, it sounds like you may have enough people for a Grand Gathering. GG's are for parties of 8 or more, and Disney has coordinators that can help you (and/or your TA) plan events and outings as a family and other details, a good TA can help with this too if you don't have enough people for a GG. Also, it gives you a 'stick' to wave at the other party members if they drag their feet on getting you info or money. "The travel agent must have this info/money/whatever by such and such a date." It make the TA look like they're the one doing the nagging and not you!

Either way, you'll have a great trip! Good luck!

 

[Julma]

I have always done my own planning. I like "instant control". I started my last trip off with a travel agent and just could not standing the back and forth tag we were always playing. If you are planning to go in Dec., you have time to plan. By finding the DIS, you are off to a great start. Give it a try and if you find it is too much, call the TA. Good Luck.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I'm doing mine myself, for a couple of reasons.

1--I enjoy reading these boards, looking for codes, discounts, etc., and finding things out for myself (with the help of others of course, lol).

2--I'm anal. I want things done RIGHT NOW, the way I want them done. As soon as I decide for sure on a resort, and DH books the airfare, I will make our reservations. I don't want to have to wait on anyone to do it for me and risk not getting it. If a code comes out, and I don't call when I need to and get our reservations modified, that's my problem. If I'm using a TA, and they just can't get to it right now, I'm going to be upset with them because they waited too long, and there will be nothing I can do. This works for me, because I have the time to look for codes, make phone calls, etc, and still take care of my children, which is my main job during the day. I can fix breakfast while I'm on hold and not take that time from my kids, whereas if I worked f/t during the day, well, my boss wouldn't like me sitting on hold on a long distance call to make vacation plans, lol.

3--I just like to do it myself, and know that it's done and I got it rightidn't. If I call and book a room at ASMo, which I will be doing fairly soon, and I get there, and I don't get what I want in a room, I don't have to wonder if the TA didn't tell them this or that, or did the TA do their job. If I make the requests myself, I know I did what I could. Disney can't guarantee me the room I want, but at least I know my requests were made and they did what they could.

I have heard good things about the TA's that specialize in Disney Travel, and if it's easier for you to let someone else do the dirty work, by all means go for it! That's why these companies are there. If you can't or don't have the time to or the want to to sit on the phone, making all the arrangements, and it's not something you enjoy, let them do it! Just a matter of personal preference.

Steph--determined to plan this trip without DH help, only his wallet

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

If you are going to use a TA, use a Disney specialist.

Recommendations include:

- Dreams Unlimited, they sponsor these boards;
- Dream Come True Vacations, my personal favorite, they respond very quickly to my emails and try very hard to get the best prices;
- Small World Vacations, they are recommended by MouseSavers.

I have planned trips myself as well as used a TA, it all depends on the trip and how much time I have to devote to planning, calling, etc.

 

[Princess'Mom2]

Although I read these boards often (I'm more of a "lurker"), and feel fairly knowledgeable about codes, etc., I still used a TA. I used Small World Travel and they have been great. When codes came out, they were already on top of them getting my original reservation through AAA discount changed. I never had to wait more than 24 hours for confirmation of any question or change I needed made. Also, someone who is knowledgeable in WDW can provide so much information you are less likely to overlook some small detail. I did book our air myself tho.

Considering you are going with a few people, I'd recommed a TA to help you keep your sanity through all the arrangements. Have a great time!

 

[photobob]

I have done both and prefer using a TA. The great thing about using a TA is contacting them and telling them all the things you want and are looking for a they do the leg work. My trip last year and my upcoming trip was handled by magicaljourneys and they were fantastic to deal with. Last year my poor TA had my reservation changed six times. I kept finding better deals, got postcard rates twice finally settled on POFQ and 5 weeks out they close the resort. My TA told me I could move to another moderate at the $79 per night rate I had or if I could be patient, an upgrade may be offered. I was patient and ended up at the Yacht Club for $109 per night. So using the TA was a huge benefit to me. After all those changes, the only time I picked up the phone was to call the TA and give her my credit card # for the room deposit, everything else was handled through emailing back and forth and they returned emails very promptly. I'll probably handle my trips this way from now on..

 

[Stiff]

I priced it all different ways and got quotes from travel agents....i couldnt find an agent who came in under $100 above rack rates

we did it ourselves

 

[Stiff]

let me add that was local agents though (in PA)

 

[Grumpy92]

I usually do better $$ wise booking it on my own. We dont do packages and I am easily able to find room only specials for the resorts.

If you choose to do it yourself mousesavers.com is an excellent resource for discounts.

If you choose a TA really investigate one. Look for a Disney specialist and ask a lot of questions. There are some very good TAs out there but I have seen some who are clueless and give out incorrect information.

 

[sugermouse]

We have always planned our own trips because we consider it to be part of the disney "magic". With that said, it is a lot of research to plan in terms of getting the best rates. It really depends how much personal time you are willing to invest and how much "control" yoiu want over the planning process. Obviously, the more times you plan and the more you read these boards, the easier it gets. Good luck!!

 

[4boys4me]

I'm also a first timer, and definately a type "A" control freak. I really learned a ton on this site and Mousesavers.com. The local library is a great reference tool, the travel section has lots of books on WDW that are a great help, especially "The Unofficial Guide to WDW 2004", (can't remember the author, sorry). Given all that I felt very confident in booking my own trip, even creating spreadsheets to compare my options. As a afterthough I went to Small World Travel and filled out they're request for quote online, and low and behold they came in cheaper! My agent there has been a great help, even recommending what building to stay in at the Poly, and I feel like with her in charge I'm not missing anything.

So either way you'll be fine, just go with an agent who's a Disney specialist, I think there's even a special training school Disney sponsors.

Good luck, and have a great time....getting there is half the fun!

 

[all5ofus]

If you're a good planner and willing to do the research you can easily do it yourself. All the information you need is here on this site. You'll save some $$ and have the trip tailored to your interests.

 

[Blondie]

The only time I've ever used a travel agent was when we went to the Bahamas.

For every other trip, honeymoon included, I made all the arrangements myself! I love the research involved in trip planning.

 

[ryansmom]

I posted nearly this exact question a few months ago. We are going this Oct. (Eleven of us - children, grandparents, aunt, nieces, nephew) I ultimately decided to go with Dreams Unlimited. I am very happy with the decision so far. Our agent (Sue Ellen) made our original ressies and has since changed them for us so we saved over $1000. She has made all the phone calls for me too which saves me even more money and time.

 

[airhead]

...one I wrote about 18 months ago. We were going to go on a disney trip,but I was on the fence about using a TA(always have in the past)and planning myself. I started to ask lots of questions here and with lots of encouragement and plenty of advice,I'm proud to say I have all my plans made for a vacation with the resorts and activities we wanted!! I loved every minute of it! I never imagined that I would have the guts to buy my airfare on line ,but I did and I got GREAT prices!!!!! I will NEVER use a TA again. Not because they're not good,but because I enjoyed it so much!!

Have fun on your vacation!!!!

 

[xmatt0926x]

I kind of agree with everyone else it seems. I do enjoy making my own plans. I dont think its because Im a control freak as much as for the most part I just dont see any reason to use a travel agent for what we do. If your just looking for a basic trip with room and tickets, you can easily do that on your own with a little research. From what you said, it sounds like there wouldnt be anything too complicated, so why use an agent? I could only see myself using a travel agent if I was planning a real complicated trip with several people. Maybe something overseas, etc.
I think newer Disney travelers assume that planning a disney trip is very complicated due to the priority seatings, different parks, different hotel choices, and that they would obviously need a travel agent for such a trip. I think once you read a few of these boards and look into the deals on your own, you'll realize you can do it yourself. Just my 2 cents.

 

[deelam]

I used Mouse ear vacations, as recomended by All Ears' Deb site. They were great. They got all the room discounts, so I never had to worry about booking the annual pass rate before it sold out.

Dee