Travel Agent

[TX2WDW]

What advantage is there to using a travel agent to book your resort reservation versus calling yourself?

Roxanne

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

I honestly cant think of anything. They may be able to give you some "tips" for your trip, but between books, boards, forums and the Disney web page, I think you can accomplish that and more on your own. If you are flying, some agencies have "status" with airlines and can get you better (preferred) seats on flights.

 

[minnie mum]

I can think of only 2 reasons for using a TA, and even then ONLY if they are a Disney specialist:

1. You've never been before, and can depend on their expertise in helping you decide on the various vacation options.

2. You are too busy with other commitments (work, family) to do the work yourself.

If you've been to WDW before, there's no reason that the average capable adult can't make all of their own arrangements and requiring a very short amount of their time.

 

[DisDadMatt]

Free Services if you are using an Authorized Agency. No extra cost. Expertise or knowledge share. Someone to help answer your questions and be a direct person to call vs. a call center.

There are so many reasons why you should! And of course since it isn't costing you any more, and you can verify and do research on your own, then my answer is why not?

 

[Carlyzmom]

Free Services if you are using an Authorized Agency. No extra cost. Expertise or knowledge share. Someone to help answer your questions and be a direct person to call vs. a call center.

There are so many reasons why you should! And of course since it isn't costing you any more, and you can verify and do research on your own, then my answer is why not?

I agree! I have been quite a few times and still use one. On our last trip, she gave us the heads up on a hotel deal that saved us over $1000 at AKL. I may not have otherwise known about it.

 

[ajpa]

I do agree that I like the fact that the Disney TA gets a commission from Disney. Helps the local economy in a small way (my TA is in a nearby state).

To the OP - I love that I just deal with one person - consistent answers.
That said, not all TAs are alike. If you geta good one you will know why they are worth having.

 

[waffles77]

TAs can definitely be a time saver. They usually know some of the better deals so it saves you time from looking. They get on the phone and make all of your reservations, we even had ADRs made for us as well as ME reservations taken care of. Its no extra cost to you so why not allow an expert to take care of your arrangements?

 

[AliceIn]

My AAA agent does all the ADRs, plus booked the extras that AAA gives you. (Preferred Fireworks Reservation, Princess Storytime). The ADR help alone saved me a lot of time. She found extra discounts also. The time savings on the ADRs alone made it worth it.

 

[Elmo888]

What advantage is there to using a travel agent to book your resort reservation versus calling yourself?

Roxanne

First, I would only use a Disney specialist travel agent. I wouldn't use just any travel agent (my AAA travel agent didn't apply discounts, etc.)

Second, I would use a Disney specialist travel agent to save the work (and time) for me. Use one that will watch for and try to get a discount code applied to your package or room reservation. I did that myself, and it caused me some anxiety (lots of checking web sites every day). Also, making the ADRs (advanced dining reservations) is nice, too. If you do it yourself and you are trying to get some hard to get reservations, there may be some anxiety there, too (and one really early morning, depending on your time zone). Also, they can make any other special arrangements that you would like.

There is no cost to you, they will apply the savings (I know that some will, but I don't know about all of them - Google search for good ones and ask), and they will help you plan your trip. I think that it would be really helpful to a first-timer situation. I might use one next time to save myself the hassle now that I know that they will apply discounts when available!

 

[SnowWhite607]

TAs can definitely be a time saver. They usually know some of the better deals so it saves you time from looking. They get on the phone and make all of your reservations, we even had ADRs made for us as well as ME reservations taken care of. Its no extra cost to you so why not allow an expert to take care of your arrangements?

I have been to Disney several times and only recently started using a TA. I told her when I wanted to go and where I wanted to stay, where I wanted to eat and she did the rest. I didnt have to make one phone call to Disney, stay on hold, nothing at all. I LOVE my TA!! she is a Disney specialist and I would be more than happy to share her name and website. If you want it, please feel free to PM me!!

(she even let us know when there was a discount available for our room category and applied it to our reservation)

 

[SnowWhite607]

oh - and her services - all free. Cant beat that with a stick!

 

[grecorj]

used a TA on our last trip and saved 45% off rack rate at the Poly (agency exclusive), got the exact longhouse/floor we requested and they even gave me some great advice about visiting Universal (Harry Potter had opened a few weeks before). I am using them again this time and again they've been VERY helpful. All for free! I think even the most grizzled Disney vet can get something from a good TA.



Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

No offense to any TA's out there, but I need to have complete control of every aspect of my vacation. I am a planning freak and enjoy the planning almost as much as the vacation. I'm sure there are plenty of people who want / need their services. I'm just not one of them.

 

[roydavid7771]

For any other vacation, I would use a travel agent, especially for places I know little about. For WDW, I've done both and I've found that I like to take care of all of the little details myself. Ofocourse, when we used a TA, it was nice knowing that they were always checking for the best discounts for us. Jo from Small World Vacations was great and actually saved us over 400 dollars for our stay at WL a couple of years ago while getting us upgraded as well!

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

OK.....is there a listing of TA's that specialize in Disney anywhere?

Any in Nebraska ?

Thanks

 

[saskdw]

What advantage is there to using a travel agent to book your resort reservation versus calling yourself?

Roxanne

There isn't one.

 

[taylor3297]

The TA I use has clients all over the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

 

[taylor3297]

I do agree that I like the fact that the Disney TA gets a commission from Disney. Helps the local economy in a small way (my TA is in a nearby state).

To the OP - I love that I just deal with one person - consistent answers.
That said, not all TAs are alike. If you get a good one you will know why they are worth having.

The bold part is so true.

 

[saskdw]

used a TA on our last trip and saved 45% off rack rate at the Poly (agency exclusive), got the exact longhouse/floor we requested and they even gave me some great advice about visiting Universal (Harry Potter had opened a few weeks before). I am using them again this time and again they've been VERY helpful. All for free! I think even the most grizzled Disney vet can get something from a good TA.



Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

Not so sure about that "agency exclusive" never heard of such a thing when its comes to Disney.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Better check the board rules on advertising for travel agents. I don't think it's permitted.

Full disclosure (dons flamesuit): I'm anti-TA. I tried two different agencies that allegedly specialized in WDW for three trips, and that was the end of it. I haven't been able to find a TA who knew more about WDW than I did or could easily discover here or on several other well-known Disney fan websites. Often, the TA's information would be out of date, or just plain wrong. They would take days to return phone calls and e-mails and grudgingly do what I asked while hinting that they had bigger and better clients (group bookings) to attend to.

So, try a TA if you want. If you feel that you are not getting what you need, cancel, wait a couple days for the reservation to clear and your deposit to return, and re-book it yourself. You can do it easily. I believe that once a TA has made a reservation with Disney, Disney does not allow anybody but the TA to modify it.