Travel Question for DRC planners
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My wife and I have never used a TA before and decided to look in to using one with our upcoming trip. We both worked at WDW so have always felt more comfortable doing things ourselves. So before I contacted the TA I priced the whole trip myself (staying on property, travel, and tickets) then reached out with the same information. The quote they provided backs was maybe $20 less than what I priced it at. I figured I would rather do it all myself and spend the extra $20 to know everything is taken care of.
Being a friend of a CM, you also get way better rates than anyone else! We use a CM friend to book most of our rooms… they get a hefty discount! However, if you are doing it directly via DRC and the travel agent is part of an authorized Disney vacation planner, I’m confident they know just as much as you do!
I will never live that one trip down!!! People, seriously, don’t use Priceline!!! I had to call them and Disney directly a few times to get my one reservation squared away! They somehow only put it down as just me and my hubby was missing off of the reservation. They finally got that squared away and a few weeks later I checked my WDW app and it showed me with two rooms for two people each! Another call had to be made! I couldn’t get my FP’s booked until that was all worked out either! I promise to never use anyone but you Chelle! I pinky swear!!!!!!!!!!
You notice *I* didn’t mention the Priceline trip this time!
I think based on quite a few of the responses there seems to be a stigma attached that people lose control when they use a TA. We make all our ADR’s ourselves, book all our FP’s ourselves, do everything ourselves including research the resorts we want to stay at and make requests of buildings, even floors of a building with Chelle. All she does is the grunt work, so to speak. She sits on the phone when discounts come out, saving us hours of time and gets us the lowest price possible. If we should have trouble getting a hard to find reservation, she has come through for us. She did book ADR’s for us one time when we were at WDW when our 180 day window opened and that was a godsend. We are very much Disney veterans and I still won’t book without her. I understand people not wanting to use a TA that charges extra, there is that cost factor with some others. I know DVC can’t, and that’s understandable also. But all in all, if the TA accepts the commission from Disney or wherever as their payment I see no reason why not to use one if you can.
Hey – we talk together about the resort buildings! You ultimately make the final decision, though… Just like NOT listening to me about saving money (can I get an eye roll emoji?! lol)
This is very true! What can I say, sometimes…sometimes?, I’m stubborn. That room with the beach view was worth every single penny, the first morning alone seeing the sunrise. I didn’t miss one!Experience with local TA’s and AAA were bad, prices higher than online or packages “unavailable” as requested…
Yes! I’ve never used a TA for a Disney trip, but did use a TA for a non-Disney trip one time. I won’t do it again. Lots of “no, you can’t do that, no there’s nothing on that day, unavailable for that time” the prices were higher than doing it myself, it took more time than just doing it myself, just an overall bad experience
For that reason I think some people have the impression that TA’s don’t really know what they’re doing, don’t care about you enough to get you the best deal, or the motivation to keep going until they get you what you want. And I think people are afraid of the “hidden catch”. Maybe the price is higher (it was for me) when you use a TA. Having said all that, I think many Disney specific TAs are different. Usually that is their passion so they are highly motivated to work hard for you!
Who do you work for Chelle? I have already booked my room for 2018 but can’t book the package yet. Do you get informed when discounts, free dining, etc. come out? I would love to contact you about that.
I work for Off to Neverland, the sponsor of D-CoT. Many of the previous posters booked through me when I started, just to support D-CoT. )I’m very thankful that they gave me a chance when I was starting out!
) NOW, they choose to stay with me because they want to 
Nothing is “official” until Disney announces it. So we ALL get “officially” informed at the same time
But you are correct, you can’t book 2018 packages right now, just rooms. 2018 packages should be out in a few months, though.Experience with local TA’s and AAA were bad, prices higher than online or packages “unavailable” as requested…
Yes! I’ve never used a TA for a Disney trip, but did use a TA for a non-Disney trip one time. I won’t do it again. Lots of “no, you can’t do that, no there’s nothing on that day, unavailable for that time” the prices were higher than doing it myself, it took more time than just doing it myself, just an overall bad experience
For that reason I think some people have the impression that TA’s don’t really know what they’re doing, don’t care about you enough to get you the best deal, or the motivation to keep going until they get you what you want. And I think people are afraid of the “hidden catch”. Maybe the price is higher (it was for me) when you use a TA. Having said all that, I think many Disney specific TAs are different. Usually that is their passion so they are highly motivated to work hard for you!
yeah, Disney is pretty straight forward with their pricing too. it’s the same around the board. Sorry you had a bad experience!
I had always been a wicked control freak about my WDW trips… Also, at the time, the WDW site was very user-friendly. Experience with local TA’s and AAA were bad, prices higher than online or packages “unavailable” as requested…
Then we started booking with @chelle… Polar opposite experience. Booking is stress free. I have help when I want/need, and freedom when I don’t. I have always gotten the best deal on the package combination that is perfect for our family. Plus, honest advice when asked for.
Factor in that WDW’s site is obnoxious to use now, I don’t think I could ever book my own trip again.Sorry to hear you had a bad experience.. I think that’s why people have a negative correlation with TAs… all it takes is ONE bad experience!
Honesty is best!
Thanks for giving me a shot when I started 4 years ago! I remember you went for a RunDIsney event and stayed at POP and needed a King bed for your height. King beds at POP are typically reserved for disables persons and I thought to myself ‘HOW am I going to make this happen?!’
But it worked out and you got your King bed! Phew! yeah, Disney is pretty straight forward with their pricing too. it’s the same around the board. Sorry you had a bad experience!
With AAA, we were told things like “We can’t offer park hopper because we are offering discounted rates specific to AAA” or “There is only one dining plan available for this package, you cannot pay for the more-expensive plan”
Maybe that’s a reason why Disney ended their relationship with AAA
I remember you went for a RunDIsney event and stayed at POP and needed a King bed for your height. King beds at POP are typically reserved for disables persons
In that case, my husband will never stay at POP. He’s 6’4″ and him needing a bigger bed is no joke!I remember you went for a RunDIsney event and stayed at POP and needed a King bed for your height. King beds at POP are typically reserved for disables persons
In that case, my husband will never stay at POP. He’s 6’4″ and him needing a bigger bed is no joke!That’s okay, you’re DVC so you stay at OKW.
I remember you went for a RunDIsney event and stayed at POP and needed a King bed for your height. King beds at POP are typically reserved for disables persons
In that case, my husband will never stay at POP. He’s 6’4″ and him needing a bigger bed is no joke!They have them, just not SO many. DVC stays deluxe! No need to even THINK about value resorts
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