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

[JohnDaleswife]

okay so are you saying a TA can get a better discount on the same day if I was to call Disney myself with a discount code?

It depends. You would need to check and see if the TA has any discounts during the time you want to go, and where you might want to stay. There are variables here. If you are flexible, it could happen, then sometimes if you have a pin code from Disney, that might work out better. You just have to compare.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

okay so are you saying a TA can get a better discount on the same day if I was to call Disney myself with a discount code?

In a word - yes.

You can receive a substantial discount with a travel agent - you just need to know which agencies offer the deals & do the comparisons against rack rate for the same dates.

My quote for this August with my agent was - Poly 238.50 a night all taxes in. GF $259.88, YC/BC $214.88 and CR $244.13. all include taxes.
My park tickets were also at a discount. Rack rate same dates.. double the cost.

 

[Aliceacc]

okay so are you saying a TA can get a better discount on the same day if I was to call Disney myself with a discount code?

Are you asking me? I have absolutely no idea.

But she gets me a better discount than I am able to get myself, if for no other reason than she can get to the phone and I can't. She's aware of the discounts, and I'm not sure I always am. Her job is to be on the lookout for those deals; I have a full time job, 3 kids, and a husband. She's good at what she does. She has access to all the information out there; I have neither the time nor the energy to hunt down every deal, particularly when someone else will do the legwork for me for free.

In the 3 trips we've booked with her, it's never been "not worth it" for us.

 

[wendow]

Anyone find exclusive TA savings on value rooms? Or are most of the savings around deluxe?

I know they had the mods back in May. My friends used them to stay at POFQ.

We are going this Sept and the exclusive deals are only on BC/YC, Poly, CR and GF.

 

[shh]

I know they had the mods back in May. My friends used them to stay at POFQ.

We are going this Sept and the exclusive deals are only on BC/YC, Poly, CR and GF.

Thanks! I emailed one well known agency yesterday who advertises exclusive WDW deals...waiting to hear back.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Thanks! I emailed one well known agency yesterday who advertises exclusive WDW deals...waiting to hear back.

Pretty sure they are offering 1 value each month through the fall

 

[wendow]

Pretty sure they are offering 1 value each month through the fall

Must be my dates then, since we are going in Sept but it is technically still summer. I was told only deluxes were included.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Must be my dates then, since we are going in Sept but it is technically still summer. I was told only deluxes were included.

Oct 1st thru Dec 31st Most weeks, not all.

 

[scard192]

Pretty sure they are offering 1 value each month through the fall

yes, if it's the agency we booked with. we are booked at ASSp, if we checked a few days later we could have had the "deal" at POP. October the TA had exclusive deals at POP and ASMu.

and we got a one day pass to a water park that the kids are very excited to have. Did not pay the TA anything and she got a much cheaper deal than the prices through Disney; included the QSDP and PH tix. she offered to make our ADRs for us but only made a few as we are paying OOP for 2 TS meals and was just as easy to make them myself.

t

 

[daughtersrus]

Anyone find exclusive TA savings on value rooms? Or are most of the savings around deluxe?

We used a TA for the first time last year. She saved us quite a bit and we stayed at a value ( music) . I got an email for free hoppers and she was able to add that to our reservation. We made all of our dining and FP reservations ourself.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I wonder why there are not more TA that have agency exclusives rates?

 

[shh]

Haven't heard anything back yet...emailed on Sun. Hopefully in the next few days. I'm used to cruise TAs who always contact me back within a few hours or by end of day at most.

I only asked about a 4-night room rate at this point, so maybe the agency didn't feel it was worth it without tics or at least a 1-2 week trip. (I'm a Fl resident so was going to get a Fl AP - and I think you have to buy those through WDW.) But either way, appreciate the tips!

 

[MillauFr]

I wonder why there are not more TA that have agency exclusives rates?

That is always what I wondered as well. Why would Disney only offer rooms to one travel agent at a discount. I would guess any of the travel agent could get the same discount.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

That is always what I wondered as well. Why would Disney only offer rooms to one travel agent at a discount. I would guess any of the travel agent could get the same discount.

Perhaps not all Agents or agencies are willing to book the necessary number of rooms in order to qualify for the convention/conference group rates in order to pass along the group rate savings to their clients..