Travel Agent or Not?

[MS Sweety]

I'm going to WDW in October and haven't been since 2008. I know a lot has changed since then and don't have a lot of time to do any details with the planning. I was considering using a Travel Agency but didn't know if it would be worth it. I booked with an agency and haven't heard from them since after trying to call and email but no response. I would like one that would do a daily itinerary and make reservations for me. I know there are some that work for Disney with no charge but don't know which one to use. Just how reliable are they? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Asnell]

I don't know of any travel agencies that will do a day-by-day itinerary for you and schedule meals, fastpasses, etc. It seems like that's what you're looking for. Most travel agencies do what yours has done for you ... make the booking and then don't talk to you again. Except at the extreme high end, it's not a full-service kind of business any more.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Any good TA will make FPs and ADRs for you. Dreams Unlimited definitely will.

You can make daily itineraries on Touring Plans website, or use theirs.

 

[Ross Kratter]

I don't know of any travel agencies that will do a day-by-day itinerary for you and schedule meals, fastpasses, etc.

Dreams Unlimited Travel will do that, at no cost to you.

 

[MinMou]

I enjoyed making my own plans, and could have done the whole thing myself, but went with a TA who I had been working with for years. The folks who are on the phones for Disney are usually great to work with, and I was on the fence. But having a TA was worth it to get the ADRs I wanted 180 days in advance. If your TA is willing to get up in the wee hours of the morning to do it, I'd jump on that.

 

[MS Sweety]

Thank you for your response and I've decided to go with Dreams Unlimited. I spoke with someone there and they're very helpful. Can't wait to go!

 

[MS Sweety]

Not sure if I made the right decision going with a TA since this is the first time I've tried it. It was great at first but I've emailed her twice since and think she's MIA. I'm getting really nervous since my 180 day window is coming up and not sure how all this works. If I'm supposed to give her my itinerary and how to go about it. What am I supposed to do?

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Not sure if I made the right decision going with a TA since this is the first time I've tried it. It was great at first but I've emailed her twice since and think she's MIA. I'm getting really nervous since my 180 day window is coming up and not sure how all this works. If I'm supposed to give her my itinerary and how to go about it. What am I supposed to do?

Your agent is being negligent by not getting back to you. I recommend booking a separate reservation independently now, and emailing your agent to tell her that you want to cancel the reservation she made for you. I wouldn't listen to any excuses as I can't recommend working with someone who's hard to communicate with for whatever reason. If your agent doesn't respond to that email within a few days to cancel, then I would call/email the travel agency's headquarters.

In general, I recommend avoiding travel agents unless they get you a big discount. As you've seen, they create an obstruction between you and Disney, so you can't just manage your reservation directly when needed (and which isn't that hard- it's easier than dealing with a noncommunicative agent). Especially now, a lot of travel agents and travel agencies are probably going to go out of business, so it's a bad time to have your reservations bound to them.

Aside from all that, do you have your reservation online on My Disney Experience? If so, then you should be able to book dining reservations and FastPasses on your own, regardless of whether or not you booked your resort & tickets through an agent. Agents get no ADR or FP booking advantage. You get to book ADRs at 180 days & FPs at 60 days on your own, too.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

But having a TA was worth it to get the ADRs I wanted 180 days in advance.

That's nice, but for the sake of clarity for anyone who reads this, I'll point out that anyone booking independently has the same chance as an agent of getting those 180 day ADRs.

 

[MS Sweety]

Your agent is being negligent by not getting back to you. I recommend booking a separate reservation independently now, and emailing your agent to tell her that you want to cancel the reservation she made for you. I wouldn't listen to any excuses as I can't recommend working with someone who's hard to communicate with for whatever reason. If your agent doesn't respond to that email within a few days to cancel, then I would call/email the travel agency's headquarters.

In general, I recommend avoiding travel agents unless they get you a big discount. As you've seen, they create an obstruction between you and Disney, so you can't just manage your reservation directly when needed (and which isn't that hard- it's easier than dealing with a noncommunicative agent). Especially now, a lot of travel agents and travel agencies are probably going to go out of business, so it's a bad time to have your reservations bound to them.

Aside from all that, do you have your reservation online on My Disney Experience? If so, then you should be able to book dining reservations and FastPasses on your own, regardless of whether or not you booked your resort & tickets through an agent. Agents get no ADR or FP booking advantage. You get to book ADRs at 180 days & FPs at 60 days on your own, too.

The only thing stopping me from canceling with them at this point is that she said at first she got me last years prices (which I really don't know). I'm not going to contact her again. I am on My Disney Experience and I'll just take it up and do the rest on my own as far as reservations and such. Not going to reach out anymore. I don't like to be ignored. As for discounts I'll just watch on this site for them. I seem to get better and faster results here anyway.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

The only thing stopping me from canceling with them at this point is that she said at first she got me last years prices (which I really don't know).

Lol. Did she offer you some oceanfront property in Arizona, too? What a skunk of an agent, dishonest as well as noncommunicative.

Some agencies get discounts by booking blocks of rooms at convention rates and then passing their savings onto customers, but I don't believe that DU does that. Magically getting "last year's rates" doesn't happen, as aside from the aforementioned convention rates that just a few agencies get, travel agents do not get any special resort discounts that ordinary customers do not.

I get it if you just don't want the hassle of cancelling, but you could check the pricing online to see if it matches what your agent charged you, since you said that price is the only reason you're staying.

 

[MinMou]

That's nice, but for the sake of clarity for anyone who reads this, I'll point out that anyone booking independently has the same chance as an agent of getting those 180 day ADRs.

That's true, but it was nice to have someone else wake up before dawn to do this, while I was getting my child ready for day care, so I could get to work on time. I paid nothing, and she earned her commission.

I normally like to be in control of my plans, but it isn't always possible. If 180 days out turned out to be over the weekend, I probably would have done it myself.

 

[Donzie]

Some will find value in a travel agent no doubt. Some get real value in the benefits and services. Especially if you are busy or unfamiliar with the parks as they have developed over time. An experienced TA could be quite helpful.

Others like the hunt and are too obsessed to have another person between them and their vacation plans. I have spent too much time researching WDW and traveling their so I like to plan it all. More importantly I can tweak it as I go and then I got no one to blame if it doesn't go as planned.

And as we have all now witnessed with the park closing, refunds and rescheduling through Disney directly are surely more advantageous than having to go through a middle person.

 

[MS Sweety]

Lol. Did she offer you some oceanfront property in Arizona, too? What a skunk of an agent, dishonest as well as noncommunicative.

Some agencies get discounts by booking blocks of rooms at convention rates and then passing their savings onto customers, but I don't believe that DU does that. Magically getting "last year's rates" doesn't happen, as aside from the aforementioned convention rates that just a few agencies get, travel agents do not get any special resort discounts that ordinary customers do not.

I get it if you just don't want the hassle of cancelling, but you could check the pricing online to see if it matches what your agent charged you, since you said that price is the only reason you're staying.

Good point! No, I haven't checked the rates just took her at her word (Guess I'm too trusting) but she did sent me some info at first but since I went to her on Facebook and told her I sent her messages and she still hasn't responded so well maybe she's too busy??? Anyway I asked simple questions as to where could I find what rides are in what tiers for fast passes and did she have any recommendations on what flights to take or if they do that. *crickets* I guess that's just something I have to research.

 

[Miffy]

OP, I'm not exactly sure what happened with your original TA. Did you change TAs at some point? But whatever happened, you've now got an unresponsive TA. This could possibly be because of the current situation but it could be that you've got a unresponsive TA, period.

I enjoy planning for WDW, and on that point alone, we differ, so I'm not sure my advice is helpful or relevant, but there is so much info about planning ADRs and FP+s right here on the DIS that you could do all this for yourself with a few hours of research--and you'd be getting what you want without having to wait for someone to get back to you. Many people post what their plans are here and ask for critiques and get lots of helpful suggestions, and you could certainly do that.

If this were my situation, I'd get rid of the TA. ASAP.

 

[MS Sweety]

My first reservations made was through a WDW Advisor which he gave me his number and extension. I tried calling him several times for needed info and he was never available. So, I decided to go with a TA which I had to cancel my reservations and rebook. It was good at first but now MIA. I really don't want to cancel my reservations again and have to redo everything I've done so far (my itinerary with Disney Experience). My whole reason for getting a TA was to make my reservations and fast passes for me but now it looks like I'll be doing that anyway. What is the best way to make dining reservations when my date comes open? by calling or can you do that on line?

 

[Donzie]

My first reservations made was through a WDW Advisor which he gave me his number and extension. I tried calling him several times for needed info and he was never available. So, I decided to go with a TA which I had to cancel my reservations and rebook. It was good at first but now MIA. I really don't want to cancel my reservations again and have to redo everything I've done so far (my itinerary with Disney Experience). My whole reason for getting a TA was to make my reservations and fast passes for me but now it looks like I'll be doing that anyway. What is the best way to make dining reservations when my date comes open? by calling or can you do that on line?

Yes, on your phone or tablet online via the Walt Disney World app available in Google play store or apple app store. Once you create an I'd and login, you have access to fastpass and reservations, your hotel and ticket information all in one place. You can add, delete or edit, adjust in one app.

Or you can login on any computer to Walt Disney World and do the same.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
Yes you can still call in to Disney but that is going to be the slowest process. Just move to an online process and reap the benefits of full control of your plans. If you have a special request, discounts to be added or questions you could call. I haven't had to call though for dining reservations or fastpasses. Just too convenient to handle them on the app.

 

[drstaceywild]

There are many independent travel agents who work as Disney Specialists and who will help plan every detail of your trip - including daily itineraries, FP+, ADR's, touring plans, daily transportation, etc. Most, like myself, are longtime Disney addicts who enjoy helping others plan awesome trips and who live vicariously through their clients' every trip!! Many work for ZERO FEE agencies, too, so you save money, immense amounts of time, receive expert advice and superior service all for no cost to you. Feel free to PM me anytime (because I'm not sure it's right for me to actually provide an agency name in this forum). Stacey

 

[nkereina]

Isn't it possible the agent is inundated with Disney trip and flight cancellations and changes with all of this going on? There's been a lot going in the travel industry alone over the last 1-2 weeks. I would expect anyone who doesn't have a trip in the next month to be at the bottom of the priority list. Southwest even says in their recording that if you aren't traveling in the next 72 hours, call back another time. It would be a good practice to respond and let you know that, but I can guess that your emails are probably buried in her inbox. My inbox has increased ten-fold in the last two weeks and I work in banking.

 

[MS Sweety]

Isn't it possible the agent is inundated with Disney trip and flight cancellations and changes with all of this going on? There's been a lot going in the travel industry alone over the last 1-2 weeks. I would expect anyone who doesn't have a trip in the next month to be at the bottom of the priority list. Southwest even says in their recording that if you aren't traveling in the next 72 hours, call back another time. It would be a good practice to respond and let you know that, but I can guess that your emails are probably buried in her inbox. My inbox has increased ten-fold in the last two weeks and I work in banking.

I had messaged her on Facebook and told her I had sent her some emails twice. She then said she saw them and would get back to me (two weeks ago). She finally contacted me after I wrote to the agency and she responded by saying she found my emails in her junk mail. Hmmm? It's not like she hasn't gotten emails from me in the past so it shouldn't have gone to spam. I understand there has been a lot going on but you don't put someone on the back burner and then forget about your clients. Any kind of a response within the last two almost three weeks would have been nice.