Using a travel agent?

[KrazeeK120]

I'm looking for experiences using travel agents.

We used to book through AAA for the added perks (namely, the diamond parking). Since Disney and AAA ended their partnership, I've just booked the trips myself and was able to get discounts for the rooms I wanted.

I have a trip booked for October 2018 (package...room + tickets), and I'm not anticipating there will be any discounts available for our room (AKL standard view).

Is there any hope of a reputable travel agency being able to obtain a discount not available to the general public? That's the only reason I'd want to use a travel agent as I'm completely able to book this myself, but I'd be willing to cancel the reservation I have if a travel agent can save me money. I don't want to get caught in any traps or anything.

I'd appreciate any advice or help.

 

[mousehockey37]

Thanks to the internet, I think we all get the same info at about the same time when it's released. I could be wrong though.

 

[OKW Lover]

Since Disney and AAA ended their partnership, I've just booked the trips myself and was able to get discounts for the rooms I wanted.

A good TA will watch your reservation for you and re-book to take advantage of any special deals that come out. The sponsor of the DIS Boards is Dreams Unlimited Travel, you might want to check them out.

 

[KrazeeK120]

A good TA will watch your reservation for you and re-book to take advantage of any special deals that come out. The sponsor of the DIS Boards is Dreams Unlimited Travel, you might want to check them out.

Can they get discounts not available to the general public though? If not, I'm ok with just booking on my own.

 

[georgina]

There are agency exclusive discounts through travel agencies which cannot be named here. I have a great rate this October (for 2 nights at the Grand Floridian) that is definitely less than the general public discounts.

 

[buzznina]

There are agency exclusive discounts through travel agencies which cannot be named here. I have a great rate this October (for 2 nights at the Grand Floridian) that is definitely less than the general public discounts.

Ditto, I snag one during turkey week at POFQ. The discount is for each night unlike WDW discount that does not discount Wednesday & Thursday nights of that week.

 

[pooch]

And I am using a Dreams Unlimited TA hoping for some extra help with a larger group reservation. She is very nice but I have put as much time into this as she. I found the free dining rooms I needed after she said she couldn't. She was able to get the ADRs I wanted but none were of the hard to get variety. FPs are coming up soon and she's already given me some information clearly incorrect based on threads on these boards.

Again she is very nice but I'm not sure I need her. Haven't used a TA since 1999. Probably shouldn't have this time either.

 

[maramarrie]

I have booked 1-2 of our trips with a TA, but there were also a few times I priced a reservation with them and was able to get the same rates myself.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I only use an agency that does exclusive discounts. I then do my own ADR's and FP+. I basically just use them for the discount. This way I don't have to watch for discounts and neither does my agent. I already have a discount way before Disney releases them and it's always been a better discount.

 

[Eastern]

Can they get discounts not available to the general public though? If not, I'm ok with just booking on my own.

Yes, they get group rates for some resorts, in some categories, for some weeks. You have to contact them for info so send out some emails to the Disney expert TAs you can find online.

 

[Eastern]

And I am using a Dreams Unlimited TA hoping for some extra help with a larger group reservation. She is very nice but I have put as much time into this as she. I found the free dining rooms I needed after she said she couldn't. She was able to get the ADRs I wanted but none were of the hard to get variety. FPs are coming up soon and she's already given me some information clearly incorrect based on threads on these boards.

Again she is very nice but I'm not sure I need her. Haven't used a TA since 1999. Probably shouldn't have this time either.

I use a TA mainly for the group discounts. I book my own ADRs and FPs and research the info here.

That being said, I need a TA who is responsive to emails and questions. If they weren't, I would look for another.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

As others have mentioned, I know of only one agency that offers agency exclusive discounts. I have not used them, but many on this board have. Like you, I have not used a TA before but am considering it for a discount. I would still do the rest of the planning myself.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I have found that since I am on top of my travel and I am the one with the vested interest, I do it myself. Even with a TA, you will pay more for their fees that are in the discounted rates. I priced several trips over the years through different agencies and ended up booking my own. The general rule of thumb was their fees were about $150-250 markup on each of the trips. IMO its not worth it to book through a TA unless your savings they offer are greater and if you aren't familiar with WDW. If you know the lay of the land then it's not worth it. Plus I am an odd ball and enjoy planning and researching, it's my pre trip excitement!!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I have found that since I am on top of my travel and I am the one with the vested interest, I do it myself. Even with a TA, you will pay more for their fees that are in the discounted rates. I priced several trips over the years through different agencies and ended up booking my own. The general rule of thumb was their fees were about $150-250 markup on each of the trips. IMO its not worth it to book through a TA unless your savings they offer are greater and if you aren't familiar with WDW. If you know the lay of the land then it's not worth it. Plus I am an odd ball and enjoy planning and researching, it's my pre trip excitement!!

You do have to find the right agent. I wouldn't book if it was the same price I could get direct.

I paid $200 a night for the Poly and BC at the end of August in 2015. I believe this year it was around $250 a night or less for these resorts. WAY cheaper than any discount Disney will offer. I still do everything else myself because I love the planning aspect. You really can't beat some of these deals.

 

[Doug S]

I used an agency exclusive discount from a cannot-be-named for AKL next week and got $230/night, including Friday night. I usually book through CheapTickets, but even they were nowhere near that rate.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Booked an agency exclusive for Thanksgiving week. Booked through her without a discount for a quick trip in January. Hopefully something comes through. She's great and very responsive, but I do all of my own FP and ADRs.

She handled my ME issue very efficiently for our January trip. I already got the luggage tags for it LOL. I'm glad I found her.

 

[china mom]

I have found that since I am on top of my travel and I am the one with the vested interest, I do it myself. Even with a TA, you will pay more for their fees that are in the discounted rates. I priced several trips over the years through different agencies and ended up booking my own. The general rule of thumb was their fees were about $150-250 markup on each of the trips. IMO its not worth it to book through a TA unless your savings they offer are greater and if you aren't familiar with WDW. If you know the lay of the land then it's not worth it. Plus I am an odd ball and enjoy planning and researching, it's my pre trip excitement!!

I have heard people reference fees before but I don't understand this. I am a TA and my fees are paid by Disney, not my clients. Disney builds a commission into every booking. If a regular person books their own trip, Disney just keeps the commission. If a TA books the trip for a client, Disney pays that commission. I would not trust or use n agency that marks up a trip and expects me to pay them I addition to what Disney is paying them.

 

[Ladyfish77]

I've booked an agency exclusive room for November. Price was better than any advertised price. They just offered a special rate on their own dessert party also, which was a great deal, so I signed up for it too! I've never used a TA before, so the dessert party was a wonderful surprise!

 

[scard192]

I have found that since I am on top of my travel and I am the one with the vested interest, I do it myself. Even with a TA, you will pay more for their fees that are in the discounted rates.

I have used the TA that has agency exclusives that many here have used and there are NO fees to the client.

 

[TulipMom]

I used a TA for our upcoming trip in Oct. They offered a rate that was better than I would have received from Disney. We are staying at Poly. They TA gets convention block rates and then sell the rooms to customers. Obviously they take a cut of it. We booked through the TA and I've handled all FP and planning myself. We haven't taken our trip yet, but I don't foresee any issues. We had no problem connecting our reservations to My Disney Experience &/or booking our ADRs or FPs.