Questions about using travel agents and rates and....

[Cabe]

Hello Everyone ,
I am wondering why you would or wouldn't use a travel agent? Do they have different rates, would you get more than one quote? I have made a room only reservation through the 800 number, and added a number of ps's. Now I have found this board and have found all the info very useful, but it has also made me obsessed with looking for codes. We are going the beginning of May so I don't see that happening. As I read I see AAA may be my only alternative for getting a discount. However, I see Dreams Unlimited referenced a number of times and think maybe if I put it in their hands maybe they would be alerted to or have better deals. Do they deal with AAA discounts as well? We want to add passes and the dining plan but I haven't done that yet in case a better deal comes along. Can you transfer an exisiting reservation to an agency? I never knew planning our first trip to Disney would be so time consuming and confusing. Thanks for any info or direction you can give me!!!

 

[safetymom]

DU is a great agency. They will watch for codes that could lower your rate. They are great to deal with.

 

[FanofTink]

Dreams Unlimited cannot apply a AAA discount to a Magic Your Way Package with Dining. Only a authorized AAA travel agency can book that particuliar discount.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Most of the Disney-specialist agencies will get you the same rates, AP, FL resident, packages, AAA room-only discounts, etc, as they all work directly from Disney inventory.

What will differentiate these agencies is their services.

 

[ABGDisney]

I have a land-sea package booked thru a TA with additional nights at a moderate resort. After reading these boards, I called today and asked my TA to change my additional nights (room only) to include the AAA discount. He said that in order to get the discount, the room had to be booked thru AAA. Isn't he wrong?

 

[dcibrando]

try http://www.dreamcometruevacations.com and talk to Joe. Awesome guy and he use to work for disney so he knows all!

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Let me see if I can answer some of your questions. It is possible to transfer an existing reservation to a travel agent and have them take over monitoring it for eligible discounts. You would just want to contact the agency you are interested in working with and let them know you have a reservation you'd like to transfer and they will get you the necessary info about doing so. It will need to be a reservation that you yourself hold, not that a different travel agent holds. Out of professional courtesy, a good travel agent will not take over a reservation made by a different agent.

Transferring a ressie, or even cancelling and making a new one, will not affect the PS arrangements you've made.

Any travel agent can apply AAA rates to your ROOM ONLY booking but only an authorized AAA agency can apply the AAA discount to a a package booking.

No, travel agents do not have access to different rates, but we can take over getting discounts applied to your reservation. They will run the numbers and see which situation is best for you to lower your total vacation cost. I've had better luck adding codes as a TA than I did when I used to do my own stuff myself. I'm not sure why that is, but it's just been my experience.

Can you get different quotes? yes and no, an agent will certainly work up different scenarios for you and get your totals on that but they will not hold 3 different rooms for you while you make up your mind.

Why would you want to use a TA...someone else to run the #s and help evaluate the different options, not having to call every morning about codes and knowing you have someone who will be on the phone first thing in the am to take care of getting your discount without you having to wait on hold for 45 minutes with CRO, many of us will make your PS and recreation arrangements, someone to be "on your side" and help out should any problems arrise along the way with planning and while on your trip. Many of us have other "special offers" for other aspects of planning etc. Can you do it yourself? sure. Will it cost more to use an agent? no. Any of the Disney Specialist you see mentioned on the boards will all adjust your rate if they find a discount you are elligible for. They are all very knowlegeable about codes, Disney policies, the different resorts etc. I agree that what makes the different internet based agencies different are their services and what they include with their services.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

yeah, you definitely don't want to work with someone who makes you feel like you are bothering them with questions or changes. You want someone with the understanding that they are working for you, the client, not for the supplier (in this case WDW) even though their paycheck comes from the supplier.

 

[CarolA]

The other thing to consider is making sure your TA knows Disney. Most of them just know what shows up in the booking screens LOL! I have used DU and found them good at getting me discounts and that is all I want. I don't need much else.

 

[ImagineMeDisney]

I was just curious if the codes that come out are only for room-only reservations, or do they have codes that include packages? I booked a MYW package w/ dining and air through AAA and I'm just wondering if I made the right decision..

 

[dcibrando]

definitely check out dreamscometruevacations... Joe use to work for disney (from what I've been told) so he knows and is EXTREMELY easy to get a hold of through email. he responds very quick...

this is the first time I have used a travel agent and I am very impressed with dreams come true for my disney vacation

 

[MOMZERO]

If you use a DU will they check to see if there is a pin code attached to your name?

 

[dcibrando]

dreams come true called to check for me... I'm sure he would for you as well

 

[Lollipop Mom]

I was just curious if the codes that come out are only for room-only reservations, or do they have codes that include packages? I booked a MYW package w/ dining and air through AAA and I'm just wondering if I made the right decision..

They used to offer codes for packages but we haven't seen them yet with the MYW packages and word is it's not looking too likely for them anytime soon. Of course there have been other times where the things we've been told have indicated one thing and then they go and do something totally different so you just never know.

 

[Joan1]

will they check to see if there is a pin code attached to your name?

Any Disney specialized travel agency will look to see if there is a code attached but in order to do this they would need more information then what is normally provided in the request forms. They will need your phone number, address and zip code.

One thing with DU is that everything is done by email, other online agencies have phone numbers where you can call your agent on a toll free number