Will a travel agent save me enough money to be worth using?

[ashappyaskings]

I was a cast member from 2011 - 2015, so I have no qualms about planning my own Disney vacation. However, I now work for the Girl Scouts, and we're trying to plan a group trip as a reward for selling cookies. I'm very hesitant to hand over the planning to someone else, but we need to save money wherever we can. I know a travel agent like Small World will be free, but on top of that, can they typically offer enough savings that would make booking through them a better choice then handling it myself?

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Marionnette]

I was a cast member from 2011 - 2015, so I have no qualms about planning my own Disney vacation. However, I now work for the Girl Scouts, and we're trying to plan a group trip as a reward for selling cookies. I'm very hesitant to hand over the planning to someone else, but we need to save money wherever we can. I know a travel agent like Small World will be free, but on top of that, can they typically offer enough savings that would make booking through them a better choice then handling it myself?

Thank you so much!!!

Most travel agents cannot offer you a better deal than you can get by booking on your own. However, they often throw in little "thank-you" incentives like a gift basket in your room or a small gift card.

Disney offers a program for youth groups that are traveling to Disney World. There's one specifically aimed at Girl Scouts. http://www.disneyyouth.com/our-programs/education/sp/girl-scouts/#categories-girl-scouts You might want to begin there. Depending on the age of your girls, it might be a good exercise for them to explore this under your supervision. Girl Scouts is about empowering our girls and allowing them to take an active role in the planning process is an important part of the program.

 

[ashappyaskings]

Most travel agents cannot offer you a better deal than you can get by booking on your own. However, they often throw in little "thank-you" incentives like a gift basket in your room or a small gift card.

Disney offers a program for youth groups that are traveling to Disney World. There's one specifically aimed at Girl Scouts. http://www.disneyyouth.com/our-programs/education/sp/girl-scouts/#categories-girl-scouts You might want to begin there. Depending on the age of your girls, it might be a good exercise for them to explore this under your supervision. Girl Scouts is about empowering our girls and allowing them to take an active role in the planning process is an important part of the program.

That's what I figured! Most of what I've found talks about using them to take off the pressure of trying to learn all about Disney for your trip, not too many mentions of great savings. Thanks!

I'm not (yet!) a troop leader, I'm employed by the Girl Scout Council. We're offering this as an incentive for girls who sell cookies, so we won't know which girls or how many will be going on the trip until about two months before, and we have to have most of the numbers nailed down long before then for budgetary reasons. The YES program is awesome! Unfortunately, you do have to have 10 girls attending to participate, and I doubt we'll have that many sell the required number of boxes to attend.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

the biggest advantage I found using an agent wasn't so much that she could offer me a better rate outright as that she was always having her eye out for promotions I was eligible for. So like for example halfway through my planning a room only offer came out that I was eligible for, I had no idea but she jumped up at 6am and booked it and I saved money. I might not have noticed that offer if I didn't have her. Other than that, if you're already an expert you may not need one.

 

[Aliceacc]

the biggest advantage I found using an agent wasn't so much that she could offer me a better rate outright as that she was always having her eye out for promotions I was eligible for. So like for example halfway through my planning a room only offer came out that I was eligible for, I had no idea but she jumped up at 6am and booked it and I saved money. I might not have noticed that offer if I didn't have her. Other than that, if you're already an expert you may not need one.

There's that, and the convenience factor.

Ours made our ADRs at 7 am while I was on my way to work. We got everything we wanted, and at the times we wanted.

She switched us from the BC to the BWI and saved us $800. (I had given her permission to switch us to any Deluxe that slept 5 if it would offer a significant savings.) I realized it when I checked my email from study hall. When the lines opened that first day of the summer deals, I was once again on my way to work.

When I had trouble getting my FPs in (I was on my IPad, from a hotel in Philadelphia at 7 am) I emailed her. She got us everything I wanted, including Soarin and FEA.

 

[arlinar]

I love my travel agent. Like what everyone else said, she's always looking out for the best deals. When Free Dining was announced, she was up at 3am making reservation changes.

I'm excited to use her for our large trip coming up in April (we have a group of 11) as I know she has some magic up her sleeve.

It's a huge convenience to have someone out there looking out for the best deals and happy to make reservations.

 

[emsstacey]

I think it depends on if they have any agency exclusives or not... I saved almost $1000.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I only do it for the agency exclusive deals. My TA saved me 2K but all she did was book my room and pay down the package when I told her to. I did all of my own ADR's and FP+. Other than that I would book on my own.

 

[wendow]

I only do it for the agency exclusive deals. My TA saved me 2K but all she did was book my room and pay down the package when I told her to. I did all of my own ADR's and FP+. Other than that I would book on my own.

Same here and similar great savings!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Same here and similar great savings!

We did it last August. I wish we could go again this year!

 

[MrsHull]

If you get a magical one, they will do all they can to get the best deal.

 

[Mousefan mom]

We have always planned our own, and I enjoy doing it, so I have never minded getting up early to do ADR, Fast passes, etc. Having said that, how does one use a travel agency and more specifically find the ones that have exclusive deals? Do you have to pay to use them? Thanks!! Interesting tips!

 

[wendow]

We have always planned our own, and I enjoy doing it, so I have never minded getting up early to do ADR, Fast passes, etc. Having said that, how does one use a travel agency and more specifically find the ones that have exclusive deals? Do you have to pay to use them? Thanks!! Interesting tips!

We use a TA who has exclusive deals and we do not pay for their service. We do room and tickets through them, and she books our DME. I do my own ADR's and FP's.

 

[Gretav]

Which agency are you using for the agency exclusive deals? Are any better than others?

 

[MillauFr]

Which agency are you using for the agency exclusive deals? Are any better than others?

Way better. I got 55% off of the rack rate at the Poly.

 

[wendow]

Which agency are you using for the agency exclusive deals? Are any better than others?

I got the same discount as @MillauFr, so yeah, it is a pretty nice discount. We are not allowed to name the agency though due to the rules here on the DIS. Your best bet is probably to do some googling.

 

[Turk February]

I also used the magical deal last year for an amazing rate at the Poly. Normally I wouldn't think of using a TA since I prefer to do everything but the savings was too good to pass up.

 

[Shanti]

I was a cast member from 2011 - 2015, so I have no qualms about planning my own Disney vacation. However, I now work for the Girl Scouts, and we're trying to plan a group trip as a reward for selling cookies. I'm very hesitant to hand over the planning to someone else, but we need to save money wherever we can. I know a travel agent like Small World will be free, but on top of that, can they typically offer enough savings that would make booking through them a better choice then handling it myself?

Thank you so much!!!

Plan this trip yourself. Travel agents are unlikely to save you real money at Disney, and will likely only gum up the works by you not having direct control over your plans.

 

[MillauFr]

Plan this trip yourself. Travel agents are unlikely to save you real money at Disney, and will likely only gum up the works by you not having direct control over your plans.

So the thousands of dollars I saved by using a travel agent were just imaginary??? Since when is Disney discounting rooms at the Poly by 55%????

 

[wendow]

Plan this trip yourself. Travel agents are unlikely to save you real money at Disney, and will likely only gum up the works by you not having direct control over your plans.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'gum up the works'. I'd be interested in hearing your experience with this. We are only using a TA for the first time this year after many years of booking trips ourselves direct with Disney. I never thought I would use a TA but our discount at the Poly & BC (we are doing 2 nights at BC/7 nights at the Poly) has made the rooms the same rate as mods. We have been in control of all other aspects of the trip. In your experience, what do I need to prepare for...in terms of what will go wrong?