What are your top 5 reasons for or against using a travel agent?

[vpalmer]

I am quite anal and have booked all my own vacation with the exception of our honeymoon which my DH handled. Anyway I would love to know your top 5 reasons for or against choosing a TA to help book your Disney vacation.

A few more questions as well...
Will a TA really get me a better price?
Can a TA book a AAA price?
Who do you recommend as a TA?
Can a TA get me a better room assignment?

Thanks!

 

[eeyore0062]

Personally I like to be in charge. I have never liked deligating to someone else, that way if a mistake is made, it is mine, and I have control over fixing it.

My 5 reasons:
1) I know my family and our likes better than anyone
2) I like being able to talk with Disney directly, not through a 3rd party.
3) I like the satisfaction of knowing that I did a good job planning the vacation.
4) With the internet, it is just as easy for me to find good rates, fares, ticket prices, etc
5) Planning and seeing it come through is 1/2 the fun!

 

[greatgonzo]

To answer your questions:

Will a TA really get me a better price?

Usually the same price is available to the general public, but travel agents may be given advance notice of discounts, so there may be a better chance of rooms being available.

Can a TA book a AAA price?

Yes, room only. But not a AAA discounted package, this can only be reserved thru AAA.

Who do you recommend as a TA?

There are many good ones on the web. I have personally used dreams unlimited.

Can a TA get me a better room assignment?

TA will notate any requests you have with CRO, but I don't think they hold any more weight than requests made directly.

Hope this helps.

 

[jimmiej]

Personally I like to be in charge. I have never liked deligating to someone else, that way if a mistake is made, it is mine, and I have control over fixing it.

My 5 reasons:
1) I know my family and our likes better than anyone
2) I like being able to talk with Disney directly, not through a 3rd party.
3) I like the satisfaction of knowing that I did a good job planning the vacation.
4) With the internet, it is just as easy for me to find good rates, fares, ticket prices, etc
5) Planning and seeing it come through is 1/2 the fun!

I feel the same way. When I help others plan their WDW trip, I tell them I can do anything a TA can. I'm not sure if that's really true, but if not, what else do you need? I know how to find good airfares, discount codes for resorts, how the tickets work, etc.

 

[lclark0621]

We never use a Travel Agent for our Disney Trips.

I can call Disney & book a AAA rate with them directly. I can also call anytime I see or hear about a discount code & book it myself.

I know what our family likes & how we like it.

I dont want to have to rely on someone else getting it right.

When I book directly through Disney I can call them anytime & confirm, make changes, etc.

Disney makes it so easy to book your own vacation there is really no need for a TA.

 

[fam4jc]

Let me say right off that I am not a TA, but am taking the College of Disney Knowledge. I have used a TA (DU also) and I have booked my own trips.

Top 5 Pro:
1. They make the long distance phone calls!
2. They can make the priority seating calls also, if its a full service TA
3. They SHOULD know more about Disney than I do
4. I still get to plan and make changes as I want, they just do the work
5. They often have some insight on discounts or better methods than what I have access to

What I feel is absolutely necessary in a TA:
1. They must be available to me via telephone as well as internet (that's what I didn't like about DU)

The TA gets a % of what you pay so you are also supporting a local business through the commission Disney pays them. Your bill doesn't go up because you used a TA.

JMO

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Will a TA really get me a better price?

A good Disney specialist TA will be aware of all discounts available, usually before they are released to the public. They will be on the phone first thing to rebook their clients at the best rate available when those discounts are released. If you are an educated Disney traveler, such as most on these boards, you can do this yourself, if you have the time.

Can a TA book a AAA price?

Yes, but only room-only, AAA packages must go thru an AAA agency.

Who do you recommend as a TA?

I highly recommend Dreams Unlimited, who sponsor these boards, and also Dream Come True Vacations.

Can a TA get me a better room assignment?

A TA can be sure that your room assignments are noted on your reservation - a knowledgable one will know where to request to get you the best room. It still comes down to the room assigner making the assignment a few days before, and all of that can be out the window on checkin day, depending on circumstances.

 

[ksoehrlein]

Let me say right off that I am not a TA, but am taking the College of Disney Knowledge.

DH just let me know that his friend, who is a travel agent in town, is hiring. When she mentioned that, he asked if she would consider hiring me to just do Disney and school trips and she said that could be arranged. I'm so excited!

So, assuming I will get the job (hey, positive thinking!), how do I go about "enrolling" in the College of Disney Knowledge?

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Well...
Last time I booked it all myself and I did the research myself. I have Vonage, not a regular phone line, so the long distance thing isn't an issue.

After reading for several days about Dreams Unlimited, I took the plunge and just paid my deposit through them, rather than WDW.

Dreams Unlimited can book a AAA room only code, there is no additional fee, they can answer all your questions via email (great when you want to go back and read something to remember what they said)

They are on the phone so much with Disney if you are looking for a special room, if it's out there, they will get it for you, they know about cancellations so fast.

They also can provide you with an itenerary.

That said- if you have the time and know how to research and read booking things yourself, and finding the deals can be very exciting.

Note_ Dreams Unlimited handles ONLY Disney vacations- so they really know what they are doing.

But I totally understand the love of booking and planning one's own trip!

 

[Taratink]

I really don't see how using a TA takes any fun of the planning away. You still get to pick everything out but don't have to be put on hold or stress out.

1) You don't have to be put on hold or make long distant calls.
2) I didn't worry about codes because she had then applied as soon as they came out.
3) She gave us good advice.
4) It was free!
5) I didn't have too leave my house to book. I also could email her according to my schedule.

Marla from DU applied a code to our ressie that saved us $700. I swear that she was as excited as I was. It was fun to plan the vacation with her and I had no stress. I got every one of the ps that I asked for and the times I wanted them. I needed to make a couple changes in my itinerary and it was no problem. I am a person that likes to have total control over my planning and I still did. DU did everything I asked them to do. I think many of the die hard planners on this board would be surprized how great it is using a TA.
Happy planning!
Tara

 

[dreams4disney]

I Loved Planning our first two trips to DisneyThe Second trip I planned was for all of DH's family to get together at Disney for a week. It was the best part for me. I also have a trip in May and one for DH and I alone at the end of that trip. I am doing it on my own so far. However after reading all the great reviews about DU I decided I was going to go with them for our Decmber trip. Although it is VERY hard for me to let go. I think it will be better than doing it myself. My husband was shocked that I would want anyone else to handle our details. That just goes to show what a planning nut I can be. I have 100% faith that DU will do a wonderful job. I may even THINK about handing over our May/June trip.

 

[leighe]

I use a travel agent because it saves me money in a way - my TA is just as great as the concierge staff at WDW. It's hard for me to justify spending the extra $$$ for concierge services when I'm already so well taken care of. She has gotten me every single PS I have ever asked for for 3 trips - including 2 8:05's at Cindy's breakfast - Illuminations and Wishes cruises, everything.

 

[Bo3b]

Well, everyone...thanks for ALL the fantastic advice.

What we did was make the reservation at the Pop Century for the 5 nights. We'll see what we think when we get there. Ya never know, right? I know we can move anytime, so we'll see how it goes. Regardless, it's Disney and a great time will be had by all!!!!

Thanks again so much. I know where to get my Disney advice!

Bob

 

[SeaSpray]

I have nothing against Travel Agents! I think for a lot of people they are the best way to go when planning a vacation.

However, so far I have not met ANY Travel Agents who knew more about Disney than I did, or who had the most up-to-the-minute info like I know. I know a few travel agents and I ALWAYS know things either at the same exact time, or BEFORE, they do.

I booked our first big family Disney World vacation through a local TA and then I found these boards. I soon realized that I knew a lot more than she did, and when I'd call her to ask about certain things, she tried to dismiss me, trying to tell me that she knew what she was doing. She didn't. I've never used a TA since, except to book our cruises but even then, I chose those TAs *VERY* carefully. The benefit to using the TAs for the cruises is that they were able to give me discounts that otherwise are not available to the public. Otherwise, I wouldn't have used a TA to book our cruises either.

 

[DisneyDar]

It all depends on how much your travel agent knows. If it's an agency such as Dreams Unlimited, which seems to be very knowledgeable, then you will probably do just fine. However, there are many, many agents out there that are totally clueless about WDW, and claim they aren't. That in itself is a recipe for disaster for a good trip. Secondly, don't forget that when you use an agency, you are using a third party, which doubles the error factor. (The same thing applies when you book an airline ticket through a search engine rather than through the airline direct). And when something goes wrong, you have to work through this third party to get it straight. Personally, when I do it myself, everything that is done is done by me, and I know what I booked. Nothing against agents, just trust myself more.

 

[salbythec]

I have gone on many WDW trips and now my second wonder cruise. I enjoy the planning my self.
This vacation I was limited as to time so I am trying a TA for the first time and I am loving it!!! I am using Courtney from Grandgetawaystravel.com and she has been awesome!!

 

[zippehsmom]

My only problem with using a TA, like DU, is I change my mind to much. I would rather just call Disney myself and keep changing. I really feel like I'm bothering the TA. So far, I have been able to get all the discounts that I have wanted, along with PS's (Cindys, Illuminations,etc..). Having said all of that, I did have to put some time into it. However, I really didn't mind at all. It was actually exciting.

zippehsmom

 

[DisneyMim]

I use Travel Agents when I am going somewhere I've never been and do not know much about. My top 1 reason and my only reason for never using a travel agent for Disney is that I know more than they do!

 

[eeyore0062]

Dreams Unlimited is the only TA I would trust with my Disney vacation, however I still would rather do it on my own.

 

[Sammie]

I agree with DisneyDar. If I was going to use one I would only go with a Disney Specialist such as Dreams Unlimited.