What is the best agent to use or is it best to book direct.
2007-09-01 09:43:10 · 5 answers · asked by jamestagg 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Orlando
I have been to Disney so many times that I have honestly lost count. I know the parks just about as well as my own home. And I still use a travel agent, for every trip I take. A few years ago I found a travel agent that specializes in Disney and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me as far as traveling. It makes things so much easier for me to plan, but yet I am still involved.
My agent is an online agency, but not an online discounters(like Expedia and Orbitz) these are two completely different things. First of all, an agent will not cost you more to book with. If you plan to stay onsite, which is what I recommend, you are going to get the same price with Disney as a travel agent. But here are the benefits. First, if you have ever worked with Disney, you know how many mistakes can be made. I worked with them years ago and it can be a nightmare, they haven't really changed since then. They still make just as many mistakes. Now that I use an agent, there are no problems, if there is, she takes care of them. And I can assure you, she has done several things during these past few years that would have never been done had I booked directly with Disney. She is able to get more than I can because of how much she works with Disney.
She also books all my dinings and any recreation or tours I do. When you get one of Disney's meal plans, you may have every meal planned, so it can be a lot of work. Everything is then typed up and ready for me when I leave for my trip. I have a schedule she has written and I just follow it.
She also has all the knowledge that you can find online and in books, but it doesn't come from a 100 sources, it comes from someone that visits Disney often, is in direct contact with Disney and knows just about everything there is to know about Disney. If you get a good agent, they will be honest with you, there is a difference between an agent that is there for their client and one that is there for the money. I like using her because if I have a question, for example about a new package, I send her an e-mail and in a few minutes I have a response, an accurate response, that is priceless. Sure, you could book the trip on your own and then search through guidebooks, online sites, ask friends and other people on the internet, but you will likely get different answers from each source. Then you have to take the time to go through all the different answers, then research which ones are correct, which are not, etc. It is a lot easier just to be able to send off an e-mail and get the correct information at one time.
Can you book on your own, absolutely, do I recommend it, not really. If you plan to do everything seperate, stay off site, etc. you could book yourself, this is the only way you may save some money. But I recommend an agent because they will help you get the most out of your trip. You can be involved as much or as little as you like in the planning.
As far as booking with sites like Expedia and Orbitz, this is something I feel strongly against, for several reasons. First, I have found that these sites actually run higher when booking Disney hotels, not by much, but definitely not making it worth booking through them. And second, there are just so many mistakes with these type sites. You may arrive at your hotel and discover your reservation was never made, generally they won't do anything about it. I've read so many cases where this happened, and even knew some people that experienced this. They may have the wrong dates, room, hotel, etc. You can just run into a lot of problems. Then, when you discover the problem, you try to call and get it taken care of and it can be almost impossible to get a hold of a human and the problem taken care of. It can end up being hours on hold. I just feel these sites are a waste of time and cause a lot of problems and headaches. I know several people that tried using these type sites for different things and different reasons, and several of them (more than it should have been) had problems, some of them having more serious problems where they ended up having to pay for everything again.
As far as which agent is the best, everyone will have their opinions. Some people love AAA, I've not had the best experiences with them. There are many agencies that will book Disney, but not nearly as many that specialize in it. If you don't get an agent that specializes in Disney, you may find you are doing more work than if you booked it on your own (my experience with AAA) Finding an agent is really a personal experience, I have tried some of the popular companies online, one of which my agent is affiliated with, as soon as I booked my first trip with my current agent I knew that she was going to be the best for me. I found her reponses to be more timely, with good information, friendly, etc. The best thing to do is ask around and see who pops up the most.
My agent always runs the same prices as Disney when I book my trips. In the end it probably ends up being less because agents can usually provide tips and info to help you save money in different areas. I think a lot of people are misinformed or think that an agent will cost more, but that really isn't the case. Not only do they not cost more, but you usually will get adivce on how to save money, and tons of information.
Sorry this is so long, but I just want to give you a complete answer. My recommendation is to find an agent that specializes in Disney, you won't regret. A good agent that specializes in Disney is a priceless asset to have for the planning of your vacation!
Hope this helps!
2007-09-01 15:33:29 · answer #1 · answered by tech_fanatic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no longer relatively due to the fact that they do not see the relationship on your analogy........simply distract and assault the query and questioner. It's relatively unhappy that those mothers might be so devious; however indisputably, they suppose entitled due to the fact that they feel they're smarter to have found out the loopholes and feature the monetary way to avoid Disney World strains through the handicap knowledge
2016-09-05 20:40:18 · answer #2 · answered by shenk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been to WDW several times and I have found the best way to book your stay is directly with Disney. Stay on property and check the Disney website for specials, once you have set your dates call them to book and always ask about specials. We have booked through AAA mainly since my GF works for AAA but the price has been no different.
2007-09-01 12:20:24 · answer #3 · answered by steven v 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd go through a travel agent who goes directly through Disney. My mom always does this and we get some great deals from them. I'd suggest visiting your local travel agent.
2007-09-01 11:18:23 · answer #4 · answered by daisy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have always booked direct and had no problems or regrets.
2007-09-01 12:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by itchianna 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋