travel agent

[Lynnyl]

I'm sure this has been asked, but I am a newby and I was wondering if it is better to book with an agent or direct with Disney for a land/cruise vacation. If an agent is preferred, which one? Any hints for $ saving? I am booking for 15 people total so am feeling the pressure! Any comparisons on benefits, financial or planning wise, that agents grant would be appreciated. Thank-you!
Lynny

 

[preb]

This board is actually hosted by an agency that specializes in Disney trips called Dreams Unlimited, so I would say that would be a great place to start! You can get a quote from them by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

Good luck in your planning and have a great trip!

 

[inkkognito]

I'll add another vote for DU. We used to book our DCL vacations ourselves, but switched to DU because of the rebates. They also watch for your price to go down and change it automatically, which is a service that many agencies do not offer. We have six cruises booked via DU in 2004, and I've lost count of how many we've booked with them previously.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[kcashner]

Agent...it's nice to have someone to "run interference" for you with Disney if there are any issues. Be aware that you can save much money with little difference in your trip with just a little care. For instance, with a group of 15, you can definitely do private transfers cheaper than Disney. DO you want the unlimited park hopper passes that are part of the land/sea package, or is it better to book the 2 parts separately and use another type of pass (like parkhopper plus). Will you use the park passes the day you arrive or the day you leave? You're paying for them on the unlimited plan.

Depending on the hotel specials at Disney, you can often do better than the land/sea package.

Long answer to short question, sorry.

 

[Lynnyl]

Thanks for your advice! Is looking for a better transportation package or booking separately the hotel and the cruise something DU does for you?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I do believe they can.. atleast on the hotel/cruise seperate part you asked about. As for transportation- you could check with FLTours (also a sponsor of this board) by clicking the link above & it should be quite a bit cheaper than paying for transfers with Disney for 15 people! You could take 2-3 limos and it'd be cheaper- like half the price!!

 

[bennett]

The best advice for anyone looking to book any type of vacation is to always look around for the best prices. When we booked our first cruise, I must have checked 8-10 different agencies to compare prices. And when you do so, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Such as does the quote include insurance or not and so on. To some people the time you spend checking around may not be worth it, but for us it was well worth it.