Travel Agents

[minniemumma]

Hi all,

We are planning to visit WDW and universal in October and want to know did you use a travel agent? If so what one did you use and would you use them again?

 

[Tashinwdw]

We used a travel agent for our initial flight to LA, everything else we have done or will be doing ourselves. I have found that I can get better deals myself over the internet.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Are you asking about using an Australian TA or using an American TA?


I've used an American TA and she was great. She made all my ADRs for me and watched out for the best deals. We talked by email and she knew what I was looking for. When the deals came out, she switched things over for me and sent me an email to let me know. I didn't have to worry about staying up late or making calls to the US. American TAs that specialise in Disney offer the same or similar pricing to what you'll find on the Disney website. My American TA specialises in Disney. When I last checked, they didn't do bookings for Universal.


I've also made my own bookings. There is a degree of comfort to be had in "owning" the reservations and being able to make changes when you want to rather than having to go through a 3rd party.

These days, I do all the bookings myself. Even the air travel.




It used to be that there weren't any Australian TAs specialising in Disney stuff. So if you went through the mainstream TAs, they would charge an exhorbitant amount compared to doing it yourself.

These days, there are Aussie TAs around that specialise in Disney. If you decide to use an Australian TA, make sure that they are providing you with the same pricing as what you can do yourself through the website.

 

[Montanabel]

Hi all,

We are planning to visit WDW and universal in October and want to know did you use a travel agent? If so what one did you use and would you use them again?

Hi Minniemumma

We are also going to WDW and Universal Orlando in October. We booked all our flights with a travel agent (we are also visiting Las Vegas) but the accommodation, tickets etc we are booking ourselves.

Oh, I should point out that we bought our Disneyland tickets via an Australian travel agent that specializes in Disney. We were after the 10 day tickets only available to Aust and NZ, so were not able to purchase them directly from Disney.

 

[LisaAJ]

I decided to use a travel agent as the planning etc was taking up too much of my time and causing me stress rather than it being fun. I chose an Australian Disney specialist travel agent and they have been AMAZING!!! Hasn't cost me anything extra on top of what Disney would have charged me, in fact with my airfares she somehow managed to get them for $1000 less than what I could find them for on the internet! To me, it has been well worth it to have an agent. I'm also loving the fact that I won't have to wait on the phone for hours to apply any discounts and I think she even books my ADRs. Plus, provides touring plans. A no brainer for me!

 

[minniemumma]

i wasnt sure if it was better to go with an aussie TA or US one. i just want to get some quotes and see what is going to be the easiest and cheapest way. i still want to be able to make adrs as well

 

[zanzibar138]

I wouldn't recommend using a generic travel agent. They just don't generally know about Disney. The one we used for our first trip (we just booked flights through them, and only because we had a voucher) not only tried to rip us off with the flights, but also tried to tell us that we would need to pay extra for a 'night pass' to see the fireworks etc. They may have been getting confused with the seasonal hard ticket events, but that's the kind of stuff that's very easy to find out on the internet and they should know.

The only time I would bother with a travel agent again would be for a WDW trip, just because I could get them to make all my ADRs and not have to panic about being online or on the phone to book as soon as my window opened up etc. I'd probably go through one of the US Disney specialists just for that land only portion of the trip.

Having said that, for this trip I bought the 10 day passes through an Australian Disney specialist TA (only because I couldn't buy them direct and I certainly wasn't willing to give Flight Centre my business), and was very happy with the service I got.

 

[minniemumma]

I wouldn't recommend using a generic travel agent. They just don't generally know about Disney. The one we used for our first trip (we just booked flights through them, and only because we had a voucher) not only tried to rip us off with the flights, but also tried to tell us that we would need to pay extra for a 'night pass' to see the fireworks etc. They may have been getting confused with the seasonal hard ticket events, but that's the kind of stuff that's very easy to find out on the internet and they should know.

The only time I would bother with a travel agent again would be for a WDW trip, just because I could get them to make all my ADRs and not have to panic about being online or on the phone to book as soon as my window opened up etc. I'd probably go through one of the US Disney specialists just for that land only portion of the trip.

Having said that, for this trip I bought the 10 day passes through an Australian Disney specialist TA (only because I couldn't buy them direct and I certainly wasn't willing to give Flight Centre my business), and was very happy with the service I got.

What TA did you use for the passes?

 

[zanzibar138]

What TA did you use for the passes?

I don't think I'm allowed to say as it would go against the advertising rule of the DIS, so I'll PM you

 

[Babysaurs]

Could you pm me the details too please how much were the 10 day passes? That's what we need for next year

 

[zanzibar138]

Could you pm me the details too please how much were the 10 day passes? That's what we need for next year

Sure can Our 10 day passes were $360, but ticket prices have gone up recently.

 

[LisaAJ]

Oops, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to name my agent. I'll change my post

 

[zanzibar138]

Oops, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to name my agent. I'll change my post

I'm probably just being over-cautious - I'm a bit of a stickler for the rules

 

[ssour]

You're allowed to discuss a business you've used but links are blocked. The actual business isn't allowed to advertise itself though in an effort to solicit business

 

[zanzibar138]

You're allowed to discuss a business you've used but links are blocked. The actual business isn't allowed to advertise itself though in an effort to solicit business

 

[LisaAJ]

Phew, I didn't want to get anyone into trouble (myself included!)

So my amazing TA is Kirsten from Magical Mouse Holidays! Highly recommended

 

[Montanabel]

Phew, I didn't want to get anyone into trouble (myself included!)

So my amazing TA is Kirsten from Magical Mouse Holidays! Highly recommended

Kristen from Magical Mouse Holidays organized our Disneyland 10 day passes. Have to say very impressed with the service.