WDW: Self-plan or travel agent??

[Go Green Go White]

I am trying to decide whether to use a travel agent or plan a Disney trip myself. I know there are a lot of details to remember. It seems like planning a trip yourself is a lot of fun but travel agents (especially those specializing in WDW trips) know a lot of ins and outs of dealing with Disney, especially for resort reservations. However, a lot of information is available online from this website and others. Just trying to get some feedback from y'alls experience. Thanks in advance.

 

[jlambrig]

I have yet to find any agent who is as knowledgable as the wonderful people on this forum nor have I met and agent who cared more about my trip than I did. I used an agent once, then the internet happened and I have never used one again. This fourm has everything I could ever need to plan a trip.

 

[LucyStorm]

I have planned 3 trips myself and used a travel agent for the last one. The one the travel agent planned for me was THE MOST EXPENSIVE trip to WDW I have taken. My next trip is planned (by me), and I am staying at a deluxe using codes found here and on the net for a lot less than I paid for a moderate last time, and I went in value season last time. If you are willing to do your research, you can save a LOT of money by planning yourself.

And though my travel agent was wonderful, I found that after visiting these sites, I knew a heck of a lot more about WDW than she did. And Disney was what they specialized in.

 

[MinnieGi]

I also self-plan and really enjoy it. I checked out a few agents for one of our first trips and knew I could do better. With the DIS boards and other Internet travel tools I can always pull off a less expensive trip to WDW than an agent. Plus like I said I love to do all the planning, it helps to ease the Disneyitis or maybe it just fuels it more!!

 

[MNT568]

In the past I had always used a travel agent, I felt like you do, that there are too many details to remember and that the travel agent may know more than I do. But for our last trip, I booked everything myself and I was amzed at how easy everything went and how much money I saved! These boards are a great help with any information you may need. I got a small 6x4 notebook that would fit in my purse and I carried with me all the time (before & during the trip). I wrote down all the aspects of our trip, flight times & numbers, resort confirmations numbers, any phone numbers I would need, any tips I received, etc. It was a great help. I would suggest booking the trip on your own. You may end up putting more time into the planning part but I will bet you will save yourself some money. Good luck.

 

[hellokitty]

check out mousesavers.com for info and i would self plan

another great site is:
http://www.wdwig.com/contents.htm

 

[hellokitty]

oops sorry this posted twice, see below

 

[hellokitty]

check out mousesavers.com for info and i would self plan

another great site is:
http://www.wdwig.com/contents.htm

she has all kinds of great info

get a spiral notebook and folder , write disneyworld trip on it and put everything in there. I have one with pooh on it i use.

 

[jesdmill1]

We always use a Travel agent that specializes in WDW. She always gets us the good rates, and that makes me happy because I hate calling over and over again and trying to book them. We do our own PS reservations though!

 

[Jacket93]

I booked last years and this years trip by myself and saved a lot of money by doing it myself. Yes it takes alot of leg work on your part to research this information but to me it was worth it and made the trip that much more rewarding that we did it ourself.
If you are on these boards and ask questions use the discount codes and the Disney Club card for rooms and park tickets discounts you could book yourself a great vacation and save some money doing it.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Dreams Unlimited - the best of both worlds!

 

[puffkin]

Plan yourself!!!!

It is very easy and fun. We used AAA last year before I found these boards. We are staying at a moderate instead of value at the same time of year and saving over $600. I don't personally use one, but a lot of people on these boards swear by the Passporter book. It has pages and pockets where you can write all your reservation numbers, PS times, and keep your tickets ect. You may want to invest in one of these to keep yourself organized if you plan your own trip. BTW, this is only the second trip anywhere that I have ever been on in my life (besides the aforementioned AAA trip), and I have had no problems booking room, airfare, PS, and getting tickets. In fact, some veteran travelers are impressed with all the great deals I have found. These boards are the greatest!

 

[donnamerry]

With all the info you have here for planning and asking questions and Mousesavers.com And all the related sites, be your own agent and do it yourself! Much cheaper! I used an agent for the first trip back in '98 but I wasn't as familiar as I am with alot of "Disney" and wasn't even aware of this site. But I buy an annual pass to get 2 trips out of them a year and with the pass get AP discount on resort room OR code whichever gives best! use the 800 number to call CRO and make/change ressies as you see fit without having to go thru an agent! As many times I make and break and remake again it's best I do it myself! LOL! AND I really enjoy planning my WDW trips. As soon as I come home from a trip I'm planning my next all the way til I go. I get on these boards everyday, check Disney-related sites and just have fun planning! Good Luck & Have Fun whatever you decide!

 

[Minybear]

I planned all my trips to WDW myself, but after this last trip and CRO hanging up on me and all the stress I had to deal with CRO acting unprofessional now I have DU as my TA. I want them to deal with CRO instead of me. DU will be looking for specials for you and if you find a special you can email them and they will try to get the special rate for you.

 

[travelgoddess]

Since I am a travel professional who specializes in Disney & the
Caribbean, I have to say book with a knowledgable travel
professional. I visit Disney at least 2 times a year, I love Disney, and I love my career. I have also learned alot from this board.
But if you value your time and you have a full time job, you should let a travel professional book your vacation. We have all taken a
severe beating from the airlines over the last few years, so the
really good agents are working harder than ever to please our
clients. I use all the discount booking codes for my clients, and I
assist them with their meals planning. Now, I have 218 more days until my next Disney vacation
at the Wilderness Lodge (WOOHOO). Everybody have a wonderful weekend.

Mary in Michigan (Travelgoddess)

 

[ga9497]

We used www.ourlaughingplace.com for our trip. We usually plan our own but liked the website so much, I figured I would give them a shot. Might as well support it.

Well we planned in January for a summer trip. When the new summer rates came out, my agent e-mailed me and gave me the new rates right away on the first day they were available without me even asking. They are also going to make all of my priority seatings. Definitely saved me money on my trip and on my phone bill.

Now, I love this website and even though I don't post much I read it often. Because of that I wanted to support DU

I had tried dreamsunlimited from this site but it took them 4 days to even get back to me with an answer from my original request. By then I had already booked with ourlaughingplace as I received an answer with a quote for prices within a few hours of sending in my request. I have been very happy with them.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I'm a bit of a control freak, so I plan myself. i feel more in control of what is going on, and I like knowing exactly what is happening.

I think its a matter of personality. For me, half the fun is searching, learning more info, feeling like I outsmart the system and got the best deal I wouldn't get that same feeling if I let someone else plan. But some people like to just relax and let others take control. And that is cool, but not my style.

 

[Bill From PA]

Our first WDW trip was put together by an agent, the last 4 by me. With several months lead time, an individual with internet access can always make out. Some differences between my decisions and those of the agent:

Agent got us great flight price, but we had to fly 10 am on a Sat., losing the whole first day. I paid very few $$ more and landed in MCO 9:38 am and went straight to Epcot.

I forget what rental car they got us (not Dollar), but I always use Dollar as they're cheaper than any MCO based renter.

Agent paid face value for WDW Hopper Passes, I found them for about 7% less on the internet. That's big bucks for a 7 Day Hopper Plus times 5 adults.

I always lock in a WDW resort room as soom as we decide when we're going and switch to a better rate as discounts and codes appear here. I surf these boards anyway to get a Disney Fix between trips and last trip I traded a $107 AllStar room for a $99 PO/Riverside room in the busy season.

If today I decided to go next week, I'd at least call an agent. They can probably do well for you in a short notice situation, but I'd still do some trolling here, too.


Bill From PA

 

[margaritabnl]

I am a travel agent also and agree that people should book with a specialist to the area they wish to travel to. I am a Disney College of Knowledge graduate, I've been to WDW 5x's, onsite and offsite.

A good travel agent will do a search for the most affordable WDW vacation. I have booked total packages from a supplier and pieced packages together from a number of suppliers for clients. I always ask if they have a Disney Club membership.

I went the extra mile for my clients and put together a list of must see/must do items as well as bits about inside tips. My office phone would ring with people who had booked elsewhere but were looking for my list they heard about word of mouth.

I am now doing outside sales for a local travel agency from my home. I found this website about 3 weeks ago while researching MY OWN trip to WDW. The information is tremendous and has been a great help to me.

I wish I had found this site sooner as I had 2 families in WDW over Easter and what I have learned from this site would have been a great help to them in time saving measures! I will continue to use this site for reference for all future clients as the amount of information and money saving ideas is incredible. And I have learned that new information comes in daily. Unfortunately for me, this site has become my new addiction!

FWIW I don't blame anyone for booking on their own. I am an experienced travel agent and I know the cost of WDW vacations. I am all for saving money. However, I do ask that travel agents be considered friends to this board and not be villified as they are on other boards. And please remember to go to a highly recommended travel agent for any of your non-Disney travel needs.

 

[Hettie]

I really enjoy doing the research for planning a vacation, Disney, as well as other vacations. We recently went on a cruise with some friends who booked everything through their travel agent. I felt lost the entire time. And I also didn't get that "thrill of the chase" that I get from bargain-hunting. I think that each person should just do what they enjoy. I figure that a reputable travel agents that specialize in WDW vacations can find the same discounts that I can, so if you prefer to let someone else do the work, go ahead and book through one of them. But since I enjoy the work and am kind of obsessive about planning, I feel more comfortable and have much more fun making the arrangements myself.