Travel Agent or Do it Yourself?

[princessj&e]

Any recommendations as to which is better? We plan on staying on site (hopefully CBR) for 6 or 7 nights (will need connecting rooms), getting the meal plan and also needing plane tickets. I have been doing some research, but thought I would check to see what the "veterans" prefer to do.
Thanks in advance
Steph

 

[spereira]

I would definately do it yourself...I was a travel agent for 8 years and booking a Disney trip is very easy. Nowadays travel agents are charging booking fees. Use the Dis and Disney and you will be all set. We are all here to help answer any questions and depending where you are leaving from southwest and Delta Song have really great rates.....

 

[DisneyRocks!]

Book the plane yourself.

I highly recommend using a Disney-specialist travel agent - only one I know of charges a cancellation fee, all of the others charge no fees. Most will automatically adjust your reservation for you when discounts are released, assist with dining reservations, etc.

It's all a matter of time - do you want to spend the time yourself doing it or let someome else do it for you?

I personally let a Disney-specialist TA do all of the work for me.

 

[Kapp]

I have also worked with travel agents to see if they could get a better deal and I have always come out ahead. In fact, I have informed some experienced travel agents on some special deals. policy changes, etc.!

 

[milmore104]

I have booked w/ a TA once and that would be for my first trip. I paid rack rate for a 1 br at OKW. You can imagine what I paid. Since then I have booked everything myself. I love to shop for the best deal. Sometimes my DH thinks I enjoy the planning more than the trip!LOL!!!

 

[christinou]

There are quite a few agents that do not charge a booking fee. It all depends on what you want, if you need to be in complete control, and like to call CRO for new prices or changes, then do it yourself, if you want someone else to worry about changes, then an agent might be for you. I have always booked by myself in the past, and tried with a travel agent for my next 2 trips, and have been very happy with the results, one of the trip is in February and as soon as the AAA rate came out, it had been applied to my reservation. That took some of the work away from me.

 

[CharlesTD]

We have always booked everything ourselves I like having complete control of my holidays and planning. I don't want to leave it up to somone else to look after especially if I want to add or change something I like to be able to ust pick up the phone and do it myself ratehr than calling somone else to do it.

 

[tone.def]

I always use an agent for my Disney trips. I am not getting up and hanging out on hold at 7 a.m. to make those advanced dining reservations when someone else can do it for me.

I do not know of any web-based Disney travel agency who charges you fees. I one I work with for sure does not. Maybe if you walked into a brick and mortar place down the street - they might charge you.

For the most part - booking flight on your own will get you a better deal.

 

[Minerva]

As others have said I also use a Disney specialist TA to book my trip, but I did book air myself. I'm still doing all the research and planning, which I consider fun. What I'm not doing is spending countless minutes on the phone making my reservations and ADRs. I don't have any problem handing over the waiting on the phone part to someone and letting Disney pay her especially since I know she's going to be watching for discounts and applying them if one comes out quite possibly before I even know it's out there since I may be at work when it gets announced.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

We've done 2 trips with a TA and 2 without. The first time, we were doing the cruise and land package and it was our first trip, so we did better with a TA and she got us a great deal.

The second and thrid trips were sort of last minute budget trips prompted by low airfare, so I planned those myself and we stayed off-site both times. Got great deals on everything!

This trip, I knew we wanted a package - we had our hearts set on staying at WL for the first time and we wanted the dining plan and tickets. We are AAA members and I knew they'd get us a better rate on the room, so we booked with a TA from AAA. She has been wonderful.

We're going when the free dining is happening (late Aug.) and when I heard about that, I called her. She didn't know about it, but she was happy to be on hold with Disney for over 45 min. to change our package (which saved us almost $700 total - we lost the AAA discount on the room, but still saved that much!!).

I always book air and car rental on my own. The prices the TA quoted me for those were outrageous and I got a great deal on my own just by doing a little research.

Obviously the pro's to going with a TA are the time it saves you. The con's in my opinion are they are not always willing to scour for the best deal for you. Good luck and happy planning!