Why don't you use a Travel Agency for booking your WDW vacation?

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

Inspired by DisneyGeek2000's poll below, why don't you use a Travel Agent?

For me it is mainly because of a bad experience last year with a Disney Specialist agency, and partly because I like being able to call and make changes without having to go through a middle man.

For those who do use a TA, please understand this thread is not intended to start a "who's right, who's wrong" debate with regards to using or not using a TA. I'm just curious what people use as their reasoning for their decision.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

Thanks, Grumpy'n'Goofy, maybe this will get some good answers from both sides !

Adding a link to my poll: Why do you use a Travel Agent?

Michael

 

[In a hurry]

I book myself, because I take the time to find the "ultimate" deals. TA's have too many clients to be able to put the individual time in. It is just the nature of the position.

 

[VacationDad]

I book myself because of the Internet and I can find the best deals available from many, many online sites.

Even 10 years ago, people did not have this many choices with online travel booking. If I were a travel agent today, I think I would specialize in Senior Citizen travel as they are probably the last demographic that has not fully embraced the glory of online travel booking.

 

[abe_bb]

We book ourselves because we are uber-planners.

Before we book our flight, hotel, etc, we research as many sites (and travel agencies) as possible to get the best deal. And when it comes straight down to it, we enjoy it too.

We don't need someone helping us with dining, telling us what fun things there are to do... we know what we are doing

 

[Shagley]

I also book on my own, because I feel that I can do it cheaper by continually checking to see what specials are being offered. I also like to be able to make my own reservations and changes to those reservations without having to continually bug a TA.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm lucky, I have a great TA at AAA. (Hi Danielle! ) but if it weren't for the AAA discount I'd probably do it myself because I really like it.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

bumping up for a little more input

 

[George05]

Hi everyone,

We find having direct control is cheaper and more exciting as you know what you are looking for and where you want to go without having to pay travel agents commision and also no outside influence.

 

[Jalva22]

I voted for Other for 3 reasons. 1: We like to split our stay between 2 resorts, so I have had a hard time fitting that with a package or with a TA plan. It's just easier to do it myself. 2: I spend a ton of time reading about WDW even when I don't have a trip coming up (like now ). So, I don't think I can book it cheaper than a TA, but I can find the codes and things and book it just as cheap. For example, before our last trip, we found out via the internet when the AP rates were coming out for our dates the day before they were released. Had no trouble getting exactly what we wanted on our own. 3: We tend to change our minds on where we want to stay and what we want to do, so again it's just easier to handle it myself.

If you like staying up-to-date on WDW and don't mind putting in the time, I just don't see any reason to use a TA.

 

[Zim]

Just the topic I was looking for! I thought I'd try the TA route, since I read they can find deals we aren't aware of, etc. since they eat, breathe and sleep travel. However, while I had a TA look into it, I ran the numbers myself. Like someone stated above, I'm dividing this trip between two hotels AND a cruise. The TA matched on all the Disney pricing, but missed a deal for the other hotel, so my final price was better. She changed her pricing to reflect the savings, but now I'm left with why go with the TA? On top of only matching the pricing, they do charge a slight fee for flight costs.

I should have been confident in my own ability, but I also didn't want to leave a stone unturned. Two years ago I coordinated a ski trip for my ski club - which meant finding flights and hotels for 42 people!! No one has been able to come close to the deal I got that year!

But I feel so bad having had the TA look into everything just to say "Nope, sory not using you". Can anyone tell me whether this just rolls off them or if she's going to be putting together a voodoo doll in my name? THANKS!

 

[goofyguy1958]

I chose all of the above because I had one experience where a TA overcharged me by her unwillingness to go the extra yard and search for additional options - simply sold a package and said that was all that was available. This probably cost me a few hundred extra dollars and I was a bit niave at the time. I find that I can save hundreds and book everything on line a lot faster than any TA could and I have a brother who is now a TA.

 

[Micca]

We have a CM in the family and avail ourselves of the discounts

 

[helenm29]

I usually start planning our trip a year or more ahead of time so I like to do everything myself. also, if you plan for more then 10 days you can't get a package anyway through Disney travel. We figured out all of our expenses already and have compared..so we are pretty happy with doing it ourselves. As far as Travel agencies go, we have NEVER had a problem with our local agency. They've bent over backwards to get us good deals it's just that this time we are going for so much longer so we are taking over.

 

[lillygator]

Being an AP holder and FL resident, I find it cheaper and more fun to research and plan myself.

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

I like having control over everything. It's fun booking and planning everything myself and I like being able to do it all from in front of my computer, without having to talk to anyone else/go somewhere else/rely on someone else to do it.

 

[johnvree]

For me, planning is half the fun.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Other: I own DVC. 'Nuff said.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I book myself because I am the travel agent! Seriously though I can understand why people don't use an agent because unless that agent has a serious interest in Disney then you would often know more than they do. If you do however find someone who knows Disney inside out then they will often do a lot of the calls etc for you saving you money and time. I think for a lot of us on here though the planning is almost as fun as the trip itself

 

[Kimberly815]

It is very simple to do it on my own. I don't mind planning/researching. And it always ends up costing less!