Use a travel agent or not??

larken75 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 03:57 PM

My wife and I are trying to plan a vacation to Disney World for ourselves, 2 14 year old daughters and 5 year old son. We would like to spend some time at DW, Sea World and maybe a day or 2 of sight seeing or beach time. We have a specific budget ($2500) for all the prepaid items and would like to keep the actual expenses while their under $1000. Should we piece a trip together ourselves, or use a travel agent? We thought about a cruise, but don't think the budget above would cover the cost. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!

Moodyzblu · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 05:48 PM

It depends on how comfortable you are with a computer. I've use Expedia and Travelocity with great success. If I am staying at a WDW resort .. I just call 407- wdisney and book through them. Then I use Expedia for my flight. I purchase my Disney passes at the front desk when I check in.
If staying off property then I just book my hotel and airfare together through the internet with either Travelocity of Expedia and purchase my park tickets directly from the parks.

larken75 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 10:25 PM

I was thinking about a combination of the two paths. I thought about going to a travel agent, get package information then duplicate the same plan online. The way I understand the travel industry, the agents are comped by the hotels/airlines/parks they book for the client and not based on any mark-up on their cost and passed on to the customer.

Mickey Crazy · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 10:08 AM

There is another consideration when booking with a travel agent. They are only alotted a set number of rooms for each resort. In some cases they don't get bookings to all the resorts.
I have found when comparing the two, the agent might tell me a resort is booked solid , but then find that rooms are available when calling myself.
Also , think about using mousesavers.com for the most up todate codes on room and package discount codes. They are the best. I was able to book a DVC room at a moderate rate on my last trip!

Sofia's Dad · #5 (**permalink**) 03-18-2010, 04:56 AM

I have read an article which stated that it is better to book through an agent. I priced both and did not see a difference. Flights will be better through an agent. They seem to know when the best deals on flights are.

Winkster · #6 (**permalink**) 03-18-2010, 01:22 PM

I'm assuming this is only relevant to UK travellers but here, some types of travel insurance will not cover trips where separate parts of a trip (flights, accomodation etc) are booked separately.

For us Brits, it's always worth checking with the insurer that they will cover you if you have booked elements of your trip in this way.

Mercedes · #7 (**permalink**) 04-05-2010, 01:48 PM

My parents went through travel agents every time we went, but the last time we went they didn't they booked the hotel them selfs and ordered a car them selfs and the tickets as well on the net, it was a lot better we enjoyed it the same as if we booked it through a travel agent. I think we would do the same next time, i think it depeneds on how many are going with you.

ear2ear · #8 (**permalink**) 04-26-2010, 03:02 PM

I always use a travel agent! She always get the best deal for me, plus there are lots of perks that you can't get on your own!! Of course, you have find the one that you like! Not all of them are the same.
I've become good friends with my travel agent now!! It isn't nice to use them just to get the info and then go on line to duplicate the booking yourself. When the costs is the same online or via a disney agent, I rather give me business to someone who has earned it.
Plus, I have recieved perks and incentives that I would not have if booked directly on my own. Just lucky to get all the extras from my travel agent! It pays to be a loyal customer as she takes real good care of me!

G00fyDad · #9 (**permalink**) 04-27-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ear2ear

Plus, I have recieved perks and incentives that I would not have if booked directly on my own. Just lucky to get all the extras from my travel agent! It pays to be a loyal customer as she takes real good care of me!

For our last trip AAA told me that I was going to get a bunch of perks that booking through Disney wouldn't offer. Yeah, right. LOL After I booked with them (which was a total nightmare!) we saw all the wonderful perks that AAA offered. Turns out, they were the exact same ones that Disney already gives you. LOL What a joke. I'll never use a TA again anyway but that is part of the reason.

ear2ear · #10 (**permalink**) 04-27-2010, 08:44 PM

Awww..sorry to hear you had a bad experience. You might as well do it yourself then. Like I said, you have to find the right person for you. Just like anything else.

distrips · #11 (**permalink**) 04-28-2010, 09:50 AM

As others have said, experiences vary. I recommend a Disney Specialist and you should see a difference. At AAA many are general agents and it is hard to know all about every location. For Disney, there are entire agencies that only book Disney (full disclosure, I am a TA). Agents are paid by the vendor costing you nothing extra. Unless you are using a wholesaler such as Travelocity, regular travel agents have access to all open rooms at Walt Disney World. Many specialists also offer “code watching” and will automatically lower your rate when a promotion becomes available. There are other tangible extras: some give lanyard with trading pins, others autograph books or rain gear. Many make dining reservations and help you know which day is least crowded in each park. Some people also prefer someone on your side should you have any problems or special needs during your trip (I have helped clients who need to get home for an emergency, get to the ER, forgot medicine at home, etc.). Also by having a dedicated agent, that person, depending on the agency is available to you via email 24/7 and many the same by phone. You are not limited to reservation center hours. Do keep in mind, most agents work on commission, so if you have them do all the work but book on your own, they make no money for the time and knowledge they shared with you. Passporter has several threads with travel agent recommendations and lack of recommendations. Good luck in your decision and have a magical vacation.

egirl98 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-12-2010, 09:09 PM

Its up to you! I personally have never used one and have been fine, but if you don't want to deal with the teeny details, use an agent. If you are super organized, are familiar with the parks, you should be okay. If not, you may want to choose to use a travel agent. Hope I helped!

Dismom · #13 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 04:31 PM

I can not tell you what to do, but will tell you what I do.

I personally go on line and gather all the info and pricing. I think e-mail my trusted Travel Agent. I do it this way for a couple of reasons, but the biggest is, IF I MISS something by the way of a discount, she is my back up. I sit at the computer and drool over all the possibilities, make my itinerary, hash it over and over until I am happy. Then again I make my e-mail to my TA, let her get all the ADR's I want, tickets for things like MNNSHP, Fantasmic Dining Pkg etc. She even managed to get CRT the day after Christmas, which I thought I would never have been able to do that. If I end up with a conflict, she works it out for me so I get what I want with none of the frustration. Then I get to go to WDW and have all the fun.

It is by chance that I use one of the advertisers, found her before I noticed she advertises here. But in the end, I trust her, she has never failed to get me what I want, and any discounts applied that I am eligble for.

I will continue to use my TA.

Joeeo11 · #14 (**permalink**) 09-16-2010, 08:11 AM

I would say not. If you are good on the computer and have the TIME. Its cost effective to do it by yourself. I have never used a agent and have gotten pretty good deals on my own.. But remember, using a agent your paying for convinence and knowledge. Other then that, I think people if they do enough web searching, they can find some deals on everything.

distrips · #15 (**permalink**) 09-17-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeeo11

I would say not. If you are good on the computer and have the TIME. Its cost effective to do it by yourself. I have never used a agent and have gotten pretty good deals on my own.. But remember, using a agent your paying for convinence and knowledge. Other then that, I think people if they do enough web searching, they can find some deals on everything.

I have to disagree, the majority of agents, especially Disney specialists do not charge any fees. You pay the identical price you would with Disney directly (the agents receive commission from Disney). Many also offer additional perks (free autograph books, free lanyards, free ponchos - some that I have seen, as well as park planning. So why not have "convinence and knowledge" and an advocate on your side for free not to mention helping someone else earn a living in this economy,