Using a US Based Travel Agent

[wennos]

Hi everyone

I'm hoping some of you have done this before and have some pearls of wisdom. We are off to WDW, Universal, Discovery Cove, KSC etc etc in September - yay, so very very excited!!!

We were in Disneyland in 2009 (woohoo ) and I booked everything myself. Snagged some great deals if I don't say so myself

This time however, it's a minefield! So many variables, and that's just on the WDW website. Anyway, I filled in a form to get a quote and have since been emailing a lovely lady back and forward (Destinations in Florida Travel)

We are almost at the payment of deposit stage and I was wondering whether we pay Disney etc direct or pay them and they forward money on. Just a little concerned as I'd like to be 100% sure the money is going to the right place.

Any thoughts? Or experiences??

Cheers!

 

[mickeyd78]

I don't have any experience with Destinations in Florida Travel, but we have booked numerous trips to WDW with Mouse Fan Travel. They have been great. I give them my credit card details, and they use it to make the reservations. The payment goes directly to the Walt Disney Travel Co. On our card statement it shows WDTC.

Once, after we had paid for our trip, Disney released a special and our TA, Coleen, automatically applied the special to our reservations. We got a refund to our credit card directly from Disney.

As I said, I don't have any experience with Destinations in Florida Travel, but reputable TA's should put the payment directly through Disney.

 

[aussietravellers]

I have not heard of the travel agent you have mentioned.

Dreams Unlimited Travel who sponsor this board have a really good reputation and do lots of travel for people on this board and get lots of positive reviews.

I have personally used Magical Journey's Travel a few times and they are absolutely awesome. If using a TA in the US, I would make sure that they are an Authorised Disney specialist and also make sure they are a reputable company.

As mentioned, a Disney specialist actually doesn't take your money, it's paid to Disney so if/when you get any refunds, the refunds come from Disney, not the TAgency.

 

[KAA1972]

Hi everyone

I'm hoping some of you have done this before and have some pearls of wisdom. We are off to WDW, Universal, Discovery Cove, KSC etc etc in September - yay, so very very excited!!!

We were in Disneyland in 2009 (woohoo ) and I booked everything myself. Snagged some great deals if I don't say so myself

This time however, it's a minefield! So many variables, and that's just on the WDW website. Anyway, I filled in a form to get a quote and have since been emailing a lovely lady back and forward (Destinations in Florida Travel)

We are almost at the payment of deposit stage and I was wondering whether we pay Disney etc direct or pay them and they forward money on. Just a little concerned as I'd like to be 100% sure the money is going to the right place.

Any thoughts? Or experiences??

Cheers!

I'm a travel agent and I can say that most agencies I know of do not process payment as payable to the agency or the agent. It is standard procedure for me to get a credit card number from the client and have it processed by the vendor - such as Disney. I sometimes do a three-way call with Disney or any other vendor directly so that the client can give their card number directly to WDW, if the client prefers. If the client pays with a check then the check is made out to WDW and I simply forward it along.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I haven't heard of that company either.

I have personally used Mousetales Travel twice now along with 3 of my friends using them as well and have found the service to be exceptional. Nothing is too much trouble and if further discounts come along after you have booked, then they apply them straight away to your booking without you even having to know that the discount was available. Ask for Bob, he is excellent.

It can't hurt you to get quotes from some of the companies we are recommending here. At least then you know you are receiving strong recommendations, rather than dealing with a company that you aren't sure of.

Good luck.

 

[alicia1506]

we are currently using Dan from Dreams Unlimited for both our 7 night cruise from florida through caribbean then back to florida, and for our disneyland hotel reservation & character meals...

he has been fabulous, and answers all of our insane questions at all times with grace and has been hugely informative. Dreams Unlimited also forward on/automatically apply any specials that may apply to your arrangements.

i second the suggestion to get multiple quotes before moving to the payment stage... we found that some quotes were a fair bit of difference in researching ours... and Dreams Unlimited offer the most onboard credit of all the usa travel companies that are licenced disney travel agents that we got quoted for.

we gave our credit card details to dreams unlimited via their secure website, but the payment was processed by disney directly, and both our deposits show up as from disney, not the TA.

good luck!!! putting down the money for your trip is such an exciting moment

 

[PrincessInOz]

I've used SmallWorld Vacations and like the others haven't heard of the Travel Agency you mentioned.

My TA at SWV took my credit card number and when I asked her to make a progress payment (usually when the exchange rate was favourable), she would process it. I would then get forwarded an email, which came from Disney, with the details of the payment and the balance due. The email might take a day or so to arrive; but it usually did arrive shortly after Disney processed payment.

If you're happy with the service that you're getting from the TA and have checked out the company (and are satisfied), then ask them about how the payment is made through their company to Disney (or if it is direct to Disney).