Warned by Disney reservation CM - All is good, CM was misinformed

[TulipMom]

So, I contacted a disney TA who was offered a quote for a stay at the Poly for 5 nights that beats our Disney website pricing by 25%. All other factors are the same (standard room, # of park tickets, park hopper, no dining plan, etc.) I called Disney to see if they can match it, as I'd prefer to control the reservation myself. Cast Member said they can't match it and spoke openly about being concerned that a TA could beat their pricing. She hinted that it could be dishonest somehow, as those agents will call them to book it and have the same pricing available as everyone else.

So, talk to me about how authorized disney TAs work. Is the cast member misinformed? This TA is listed as an Authorized Disney Vacation planner and has over 20 TA listed on the website. Hardly seems like a scam. ??

***EDITED TO ADD:***
Thank you all SO very much! You've given me such peace of mind! Between the responses here and the phone call I just made to the TA, I feel totally confident booking it. Now I can move on to getting excited about our upcoming trip!

So thankful to you all!!

 

[vrajewski10513]

So, I contacted a disney TA who was offered a quote for a stay at the Poly for 5 nights that beats our Disney website pricing by 25%. All other factors are the same (standard room, # of park tickets, park hopper, no dining plan, etc.) I called Disney to see if they can match it, as I'd prefer to control the reservation myself. Cast Member said they can't match it and spoke openly about being concerned that a TA could beat their pricing. She hinted that it could be dishonest somehow, as those agents will call them to book it and have the same pricing available as everyone else.

So, talk to me about how authorized disney TAs work. Is the cast member misinformed? This TA is listed as an Authorized Disney Vacation planner and has over 20 TA listed on the website. Hardly seems like a scam. ??

The company we have used in the past that offered such a deep discount does so by the use of convention rates. I believe they block off a large number of rooms which in turn they are able to book at lower prices. Same with convention tickets that those same TAs usually offer. Nothing fishy about it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Phone CMs are not well trained. Disney know that the TA in question is booking large room blocks and promoting them. Disney are okay with this.

That a single phone CM making less than $15 an hour doesn't know means nothing.

 

[Allison]

As others have said, these agency exclusive deals come about because the agency books a block of rooms that they guarantee to sell so it is like having their own agency convention. It is completely legitimate and known to Disney.

 

[JKalai]

Totally normal.

The reservation agent was probably taking about the non-Disney TA's that call and book rack rates for their clients and charge them a fee for their services. There are literally thousands of TA's all over the world that call in and book.

The Reservation CM's probably only book transient guests and not groups through TA's, so they wouldn't really know exactly how the authorized Disney TA's operate. WDW is wayy bigger then the resort I work for here in Vegas, and 90% of the time I don't know what's going on in other departments like in group sales or our wholesale department because we're so segregated.

 

[gwynne]

So, I contacted a disney TA who was offered a quote for a stay at the Poly for 5 nights that beats our Disney website pricing by 25%. All other factors are the same (standard room, # of park tickets, park hopper, no dining plan, etc.) I called Disney to see if they can match it, as I'd prefer to control the reservation myself. Cast Member said they can't match it and spoke openly about being concerned that a TA could beat their pricing. She hinted that it could be dishonest somehow, as those agents will call them to book it and have the same pricing available as everyone else.

So, talk to me about how authorized disney TAs work. Is the cast member misinformed? This TA is listed as an Authorized Disney Vacation planner and has over 20 TA listed on the website. Hardly seems like a scam. ??

WDW is not going to price match.
If you found a great deal with an Authorized Disney Vacation planner, book it. The trade off is you don't control the reservation.

 

[robinb]

The company we have used in the past that offered such a deep discount does so by the use of convention rates. I believe they block off a large number of rooms which in turn they are able to book at lower prices. Same with convention tickets that those same TAs usually offer. Nothing fishy about it.

I have used a company like that too (probably the same one) and we had no problems. I was able to book CSR for just a few dollars more per night than a AP discount at a value resort. The only (possible) negative was that I could not book the DDP with my reservation. The DDP is not worth it to our family so that wasn't really a negative for us.

 

[TulipMom]

Thank you all SO very much! You've given me such peace of mind! Between the responses here and the phone call I just made to the TA, I feel totally confident booking it. Now I can move on to getting excited about our upcoming trip!

So thankful to you all!!

 

[Aurora0427]

Sounds like you got a phone CM who doesn't know what they're talking about, or is unfamiliar.

We just booked a great deal through a Disney agency... probably the same company. I think he told me it was through the convention/ group sales department.

We are staying at the Poly for the price of a mod.

 

[AllieBoo]

Would you mind pm'ing me the company you used? TIA!

 

[bellanotte10]

same here! I think its the one I'm already thinking of, but want to make sure

 

[robinb]

It is contrary to DIS rules to name other TAs other than Dreams Unlimited.

 

[bumbershoot]

It is contrary to DIS rules to name other TAs other than Dreams Unlimited.

Well that's not true.

This convention-rate TA, that the OP is very likely booking with, we cannot name (and it won't come through in PM either). But there are PLENTY of other TAs we can talk about by name/URL.

Here's the post, right here in this Resorts board in the "stickies".

http://disboards.com/threads/please-read-mentioning-travel-agencies-and-other-businesses.3551156/

Just put the whole URL into the post, click to Preview it. If it comes through just fine, then it's fine! Like costcotravel.com. If it comes through x'ed out, then it's not OK. (like xxxxxxxx.com)

 

[Lynne M]

This thread is closed.