Using travel agent or going direct

auntimaryann · 09-26-2006

Can anyone tell me if there's any difference in using a agent or calling directly to WDW for reservations? I want to make reservations for January and have gone on the website to get prices and also from a agent - but don't know if there's a difference?

DayDreamer · 09-26-2006

When I did my planning I found the AAA travel agent was much cheaper than booking directly.

**mickey** · 09-26-2006

[Disclaimer]I am a travel agent![/Disclaimer]

Honestly, you will get the same thing if you call WDW directly or through a travel agent. However, most decent travel agents will do the following for you:

1. watch for future discounts
2. make dining reservations for you
3. make suggestions on resorts, restauraunts, which flavors to avoid in ClubCool among other things
4. are only an email or toll-free call away.
5. always dealing with the same person
6. anything else you dare ask them

It is kind of like defending yourself in court. You can do it, but why?

One suggestion, AAA may be cheaper, since they can offer AAA discounts on packages, but if you do a quick search here or anywhere else, you will find many horror stories with AAA. They do a horrible job of rebooking if a discount comes out, and generally, they know less than you do about Disney. If you are traveling during a slow time such as January, the WDW discount that will come out will beat the AAA one by a long ways.

Whichever way you go, welcome to MouseBuzz, and happy planning!

pumpkin · 09-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntimaryann

Can anyone tell me if there's any difference in using a agent or calling directly to WDW for reservations? I want to make reservations for January and have gone on the website to get prices and also from a agent - but don't know if there's a difference?

We did it through an agent, and basically she called Disney to make the arrangements. We did it through the agent because it was easier for us. Plus, I like the Agency and wanted them to get a cut of the vacation. When you book through an Agent, they get a commision but not from you, it comes from Disney. The price was the same for us either or.

**Dana** · 09-26-2006

You can go either way. If this is your first trip to WDW or even one of many trips, call a travel agent for the reasons mickey listed. It's nice to have the work done for you at no extra cost to you. Get a quote from mousektrips on our homepage. I have used them three times and have been satisifed each time. They got me the best possbile price each time and saved me a bundle.

WElcome to mousebuzz too! Forgot to say that. Hope you find all your planning needs here.

Peppertink · 09-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickey

[Disclaimer]I am a travel agent![/Disclaimer]

Honestly, you will get the same thing if you call WDW directly or through a travel agent. However, most decent travel agents will do the following for you:

1. watch for future discounts
2. make dining reservations for you
3. make suggestions on resorts, restauraunts, which flavors to avoid in ClubCool among other things
4. are only an email or toll-free call away.
5. always dealing with the same person
6. anything else you dare ask them

It is kind of like defending yourself in court. You can do it, but why?

One suggestion, AAA may be cheaper, since they can offer AAA discounts on packages, but if you do a quick search here or anywhere else, you will find many horror stories with AAA. They do a horrible job of rebooking if a discount comes out, and generally, they know less than you do about Disney. If you are traveling during a slow time such as January, the WDW discount that will come out will beat the AAA one by a long ways.

Whichever way you go, welcome to MouseBuzz, and happy planning!

Yeah...what he said!

Andrea · 09-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickey

[Disclaimer]
6. anything else you dare ask them

Hmmm... I'm considering taking this as a personal challenge...

**DisneyTeacher** · 09-26-2006

I always book my own vacations but the first couple of times I went to WDW I booked through a TA. Now that I know a lot more about WDW and hang out here way too much I book my own trips. If you go through a Disney only TA he/she should get you the best possible price available and offer to rebook if a better deal come out.

A lot of people here have used our site sponsor Mouseketrips.

Mouseketrips.com - Disney World Vacation - Disney Vacation - Disney Cruise - Disney World Discount

chottsy · 09-26-2006

if you are not doing a pkg. that includes dining, you can easily book your room only ressie yourself. (imo) buying tickets is super easy too.....BUT if you are going for a pkg. that includes dining...well, you might want to go through an agent. just for the ease of not having to make the actual phone calls for adr's yourself.

PrincessPooh · 09-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by chottsy

BUT if you are going for a pkg. that includes dining...well, you might want to go through an agent. just for the ease of not having to make the actual phone calls for adr's yourself.

But, then there are those of us crazy people who actually enjoy long trips on hold with WDW DINE just so we can whistle to the music! LOL!!

I have yet to use a travel agent for anything but booking my honeymoon to Jamaica. But, I am a control freak and I need to handle everything myself, so that is a disorder onto myself!

**DisneyTeacher** · 09-26-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessPooh

But, then there are those of us crazy people who actually enjoy long trips on hold with WDW DINE just so we can whistle to the music! LOL!!

I'm one of those people--I love calling WDW-DINE and waiting on hold.

floridaorange19 · 09-26-2006

i deal w/ disney directly, it's just easier. they're very efficient, very accommodating, and much friendlier than any travel agent that i've ever dealt with. in the past, i have had travel agents mess up my plans in one way or another. this has never happened w/ booking directly w/ disney. but - bottom line, you have to do what you feel comfortable with!!

auntimaryann · 09-26-2006

Thanks for the replies and I will check out Mouseketrips. This is our first trip so your advice is very helpful.

Tinkfan · 09-26-2006

I've planned the last three vacations myself, but next time I'll probably use Mouseketrips. It's nice to have someone looking out for you. My story w/ AAA was a big nothing. Nothing, meaning no one ever called me back or responded to my emails. I learned my lesson pretty quickly!

You should defintley get references first if you use a TA.

Tinkfan · 09-26-2006

And Welcome to MOUSEBUZZ!!

09-26-2006	#1 (permalink)
auntimaryann Mouseketeer Intern Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 9	Using travel agent or going direct Can anyone tell me if there's any difference in using a agent or calling directly to WDW for reservations? I want to make reservations for January and have gone on the website to get prices and also from a agent - but don't know if there's a difference?

09-26-2006	#2 (permalink)
DayDreamer The Executive Gentleman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,246	Re: Using travel agent or going direct When I did my planning I found the AAA travel agent was much cheaper than booking directly. __________________ Imaaaaaaginaaaation, imaaaaaginaaaation A dream can be a dream come true, With just that spark in me and you. 2008 - Polynesian & Vacation Village 2006 - Contemporary & Sheraton Vistana 2005 - Orange Lake 1996 - Offsite 1993 - Honeymoon Offsite 1986 - Offsite 1982 - Great Aunt's House 1980 - Great Aunt's House 1977 - Disneyland - Aunt's House

09-26-2006	#3 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	Re: Using travel agent or going direct [Disclaimer]I am a travel agent![/Disclaimer] Honestly, you will get the same thing if you call WDW directly or through a travel agent. However, most decent travel agents will do the following for you: 1. watch for future discounts 2. make dining reservations for you 3. make suggestions on resorts, restauraunts, which flavors to avoid in ClubCool among other things 4. are only an email or toll-free call away. 5. always dealing with the same person 6. anything else you dare ask them It is kind of like defending yourself in court. You can do it, but why? One suggestion, AAA may be cheaper, since they can offer AAA discounts on packages, but if you do a quick search here or anywhere else, you will find many horror stories with AAA. They do a horrible job of rebooking if a discount comes out, and generally, they know less than you do about Disney. If you are traveling during a slow time such as January, the WDW discount that will come out will beat the AAA one by a long ways. Whichever way you go, welcome to MouseBuzz, and happy planning! __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

09-26-2006	#5 (permalink)
Dana Super Mod/Packen' Kracken Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Joisey Posts: 23,782	Re: Using travel agent or going direct You can go either way. If this is your first trip to WDW or even one of many trips, call a travel agent for the reasons mickey listed. It's nice to have the work done for you at no extra cost to you. Get a quote from mousektrips on our homepage. I have used them three times and have been satisifed each time. They got me the best possbile price each time and saved me a bundle. WElcome to mousebuzz too! Forgot to say that. Hope you find all your planning needs here. __________________ ~82 off-site~91 off-site~97 ASMusic~ ~00 ASMovies~02 Wilderness Lodge~04 Animal Kingdom Lodge~ ~05 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Polynesian~ ~05 Port Orleans French Quarter~06 Old Key West~ ~07 Port Orleans French Quarter~08 Old Key West~ ~09 Saratoga Springs~10 Port Orleans Fench Quarter~ My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 10 day do all or die trying trip. 272 days 13 hours 45 minutes

09-26-2006	#8 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,305	Re: Using travel agent or going direct I always book my own vacations but the first couple of times I went to WDW I booked through a TA. Now that I know a lot more about WDW and hang out here way too much I book my own trips. If you go through a Disney only TA he/she should get you the best possible price available and offer to rebook if a better deal come out. A lot of people here have used our site sponsor Mouseketrips. Mouseketrips.com - Disney World Vacation - Disney Vacation - Disney Cruise - Disney World Discount __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 241 days 18 hours 44 minutes

		MouseBuzz.com > Walt Disney World > WDW Resorts
Using travel agent or going direct

09-26-2006	#9 (permalink)
chottsy Mouse Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,045	Re: Using travel agent or going direct if you are not doing a pkg. that includes dining, you can easily book your room only ressie yourself. (imo) buying tickets is super easy too.....BUT if you are going for a pkg. that includes dining...well, you might want to go through an agent. just for the ease of not having to make the actual phone calls for adr's yourself.

09-26-2006	#12 (permalink)
floridaorange19 Big Cheese Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 606	Re: Using travel agent or going direct i deal w/ disney directly, it's just easier. they're very efficient, very accommodating, and much friendlier than any travel agent that i've ever dealt with. in the past, i have had travel agents mess up my plans in one way or another. this has never happened w/ booking directly w/ disney. but - bottom line, you have to do what you feel comfortable with!! __________________ STEP AWAY FROM THE CATNIP AND NOBODY GETS HURT My Disney Countdown Counting down to: WDW Here I Come!!!

09-26-2006	#13 (permalink)
auntimaryann Mouseketeer Intern Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Using travel agent or going direct Thanks for the replies and I will check out Mouseketrips. This is our first trip so your advice is very helpful.

09-26-2006	#14 (permalink)
Tinkfan Big Cheese Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: DelCo, PA Posts: 522	Re: Using travel agent or going direct I've planned the last three vacations myself, but next time I'll probably use Mouseketrips. It's nice to have someone looking out for you. My story w/ AAA was a big nothing. Nothing, meaning no one ever called me back or responded to my emails. I learned my lesson pretty quickly! You should defintley get references first if you use a TA. __________________ Sharon YAAAAAY!!!!! I finally met some MBers Arielmom ~ Dac921 ~ MissSmig ~ Val 32 ~ Princess Alyssa My mind works like lightning, one brilliant flash and it's gone. 1977~Disneyland 1978~Disneyland 11/2001~Off-site 12/2003~POR 05/2005~POFQ 11/2006~POR~Grand Gathering http://www.myspace.com/scl1122 I'm still workin on it My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Goin Back to my Disney Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

09-26-2006	#15 (permalink)
Tinkfan Big Cheese Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: DelCo, PA Posts: 522	Re: Using travel agent or going direct And Welcome to MOUSEBUZZ!! __________________ Sharon YAAAAAY!!!!! I finally met some MBers Arielmom ~ Dac921 ~ MissSmig ~ Val 32 ~ Princess Alyssa My mind works like lightning, one brilliant flash and it's gone. 1977~Disneyland 1978~Disneyland 11/2001~Off-site 12/2003~POR 05/2005~POFQ 11/2006~POR~Grand Gathering http://www.myspace.com/scl1122 I'm still workin on it My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Goin Back to my Disney Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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