Should I book my trip online, by phone or with a travel agent?

[mandiemoon]

I'm trying to decide if I should book online, by phone or with a travel agent. I am from Canada, so with booking online, I'd have to plan my flight on its own, as I'd want to leave from a Canadian airport. I do have some resort requests as well, so I don't know if I can post those when booking online, or if it's better to mention those while booking by phone. Also, there aren't any WDW specialists in my area. Would a regular travel agency be helpful? Would they find better deals and save me any money? I've signed up with WDW for notice of upcoming discounts and promotions and check on this site often. If I find a deal, and have booked on my own, I should be able to upgrade with the new promotion, right? I have no idea, to be honest. I've never booked a trip in my life! Any ideas?

 

[Sam02]

Thanks for the replies. As a new teacher I know the only dumb question is the one not asked and I was scratching my head trying to figure out how KK consultants earned a living if clients didn't pay them. I didn't think about the other scenario at all. Thanks for filling me in.

 

[Iakona]

I am the consummate planner. In the grown up world I am a project manager. I have researched Disney until I annoy myself with how much I know for my trips.
I use Kingdom Konsultants EVERY TIME.
Why?

1. Because they will get up at ungodly hours in the morning and book my ADRs.
2. They book everything for you and you don't pay a dime extra.
3. They will re-book you when a discount comes out that can be applied to your reservation so you do not have to monitor the Disney sites every day and then start making frantic calls when discounts come out.
4. Their customer service is EXCELLENT.
5. They have great tips and advice that comes in your package.
6. Did I mention they book those ADRs for you so you don't have to get up at 6 am and sit on the phone?

 

[pinkrose]

I want to thank everyone for the kind words We greatly appreciate our clients! :wave:

 

[Shere_Khan]

Trust me on this. Book everything your self. Your flights, rooms, where to eat, rental car (if needed). You will save mucho denero. The different travel plans will sound great, but booking everything your self is the key.

I completely disagree with this. I got pricing ideas for our trip long before turning to Mouse Ears Vacations to do it all for me, and they offered me the same price that I found when trying to do it on my own.
What's even better is I will not have to worry about making any ADRS and wasting time and money on the telephone with Disney. Also if a discount comes around I would have no idea how to apply it to my trip. With them I don't have to worry about even looking for those things. For the exact same price as doing it myself and without the stress of the whole thing, I am happy to go with the agency. I almost want to pay them because they have been so extremely helpful!
And I know from all the reviews that I have read here, that KK is just as awesome if not better. So I would definitely check them out!

 

[wannab@dis]

I want to thank everyone for the kind words We greatly appreciate our clients! :wave:

Hi Elizabeth! :wave:

Elizabeth did a WONDERFUL job handling our booking this past December. I was afraid I was annoying her with all our emails and phone calls asking for advice, checking on seating times, changing reservations, etc... but she was always happy and willing to help us out. My brother and some of his friends used her for their trips last week and talked about how great her service was and how she was able to rebook everything and save them some money when a discount came out.

You can't go wrong with Elizabeth planning and booking your trip!

 

[J_Krafty24]

If you do go with a travel agent that doesn't specalize in Disney trips make sure they know what they are doing and will work with you before making any commitments. This especially applies to AAA. My MIL when thru them last year and had a horrible time. That specific agent knew very little about the ins and outs of Disney. MIL ended up coming to me to get the necessary information (which I got from this wonderful community) to give to the agent.

I'm sure there are some great AAA agents who know their Disney - just make sure you are dealing with one of them before working with them.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Trust me on this. Book everything your self. Your flights, rooms, where to eat, rental car (if needed). You will save mucho denero. The different travel plans will sound great, but booking everything your self is the key.

I completely disagree with this. I got pricing ideas for our trip long before turning to Mouse Ears Vacations to do it all for me, and they offered me the same price that I found when trying to do it on my own.
What's even better is I will not have to worry about making any ADRS and wasting time and money on the telephone with Disney. Also if a discount comes around I would have no idea how to apply it to my trip. With them I don't have to worry about even looking for those things. For the exact same price as doing it myself and without the stress of the whole thing, I am happy to go with the agency. I almost want to pay them because they have been so extremely helpful!
And I know from all the reviews that I have read here, that KK is just as awesome if not better. So I would definitely check them out!

I agree fully Shere Khan.
I have booked family vacations for years
I travel extensively with work and do my own booking
I have booked Disney Vacations on my own
I do significant investigation/pricing prior to vacations
I cannot do better on pricing than KK,
That is not even considering the cost of the good points made by Iakona.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

If you do go with a travel agent that doesn't specalize in Disney trips make sure they know what they are doing and will work with you before making any commitments. This especially applies to AAA. My MIL when thru them last year and had a horrible time. That specific agent knew very little about the ins and outs of Disney. MIL ended up coming to me to get the necessary information (which I got from this wonderful community) to give to the agent.

I'm sure there are some great AAA agents who know their Disney - just make sure you are dealing with one of them before working with them.

Remember that you don't have to use AAA to get AAA discount!

 

[BigKahuna]

Most agencies do not charge for packages. If you are purchasing airline
tickets only, that is when agencies will charge fees, as the airlines no longer
compensate agencies for their services. However agencies still receive commission on tours, cruises, packages, so the cost is the same as if you booked directly. But why not deal with an agency who specializes in the destination? They receive specific training, are made aware of upcoming discounts/specials, and who are there to make your vacation special!

Way to go Travel Agents!

 

[PeterPan1985]

If you do go with a travel agent that doesn't specalize in Disney trips make sure they know what they are doing and will work with you before making any commitments. This especially applies to AAA. My MIL when thru them last year and had a horrible time. That specific agent knew very little about the ins and outs of Disney. MIL ended up coming to me to get the necessary information (which I got from this wonderful community) to give to the agent.

I'm sure there are some great AAA agents who know their Disney - just make sure you are dealing with one of them before working with them.

I had a VERY similar experience with AAA. I went with someone who hadn't e been to WDW before (a 51 year old...what a sin!) We felt rushed, and the rude agent provided me with very little information that I didn't already have or couldn't find out from you guys. I'm sure that there are an equal number of individuals who will praise AAA, but we hated it.

 

[pinkrose]

Hi Elizabeth! :wave:

Elizabeth did a WONDERFUL job handling our booking this past December. I was afraid I was annoying her with all our emails and phone calls asking for advice, checking on seating times, changing reservations, etc... but she was always happy and willing to help us out. My brother and some of his friends used her for their trips last week and talked about how great her service was and how she was able to rebook everything and save them some money when a discount came out.

You can't go wrong with Elizabeth planning and booking your trip!

Hey!!! Thank you so much for your kind words! I did not mind your e-mails and phone calls at all. I wanted you to have the best trip possible. That's what I'm here for.

I'm so glad that you all had a great time at Disney! I'm also glad that your brother and his friends had a nice time too! Let me know when you guys are ready to go again! :wave:

 

[KaliSplash]

Saw the title of the thread and knew what the answer would be.

Kingdom Konsultants.

THE authority for such trips.

 

[lilclerk]

I always use a travel agent for every trip I go on because I like to give TAs the business.
I do agree that if you're going to WDW you should definitely make sure you book with someone who specializes in it so you know they're giving you the correct information.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

Most agencies do not charge for packages. If you are purchasing airline
tickets only, that is when agencies will charge fees, as the airlines no longer
compensate agencies for their services. However agencies still receive commission on tours, cruises, packages, so the cost is the same as if you booked directly. But why not deal with an agency who specializes in the destination? They receive specific training, are made aware of upcoming discounts/specials, and who are there to make your vacation special!

Way to go Travel Agents!

This is why we actually stopped booking air only. We will only do it in packages because we do not want to charge our clients any fees for anything and we won't.

We are all graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge and you must know Disney inside and out. ( I don't have high standards do I?:lol

Thank you to everyone who has given us such rave reviews. We do appreciate them and we do appreciate all of our clients.

Pam:wave:

 

[BigKahuna]

This is why we actually stopped booking air only. We will only do it in packages because we do not want to charge our clients any fees for anything and we won't.

We are all graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge and you must know Disney inside and out. ( I don't have high standards do I?:lol

Thank you to everyone who has given us such rave reviews. We do appreciate them and we do appreciate all of our clients.

Pam:wave:

Well Pam if you ever need an agent in the RI area, I would love to work with
Kingdom Konsultants!
:sohappy:

 

[Disneykidder]

I always book through Disney directly via phone. I have compared prices with friends who have gone through a regular travel agent and it was actually more expensive and some of them aren't as knowledgeable about Disney as they should be. Booking through Disney with adding a flight is actually more expensive, so we always get our airfare seperately from Disney. The Kingdom consultants sounds like the way to go, too.

 

[Loretta]

I too have to suggest to you KK. We used them last year and all we had to do is relax and enjoy the planning. Pam also saved us $$$ using a code I knew nothing about. She also arranged a anniversary surprise for us at LTT. Very cool. She already has us booked for December. Just have to wait til June to make our ADRs. Pam will take care of that too.

Loretta

 

[jessfriends]

If I book through Kingdom Konsultants, will we still receive the luggage tags and other stuff (planet hollywood voucher) that Disney sends out? Will all of my stuff arrive like it usually does from disney or will it be different? We have always booked through disney, but was considering trying Kingdom Konsultants. What's the difference? I know they can get codes to save money. Anything else? I already have my flight booked. Thanks in advance.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

When we booked through KK we received all of that and a few extras from KK.

 

[VickiMints]

Remember that you don't have to use AAA to get AAA discount!

Really? I wish I had known that before my mom and I went in December, because I certainly would have tried KK for our booking. I'd read so many good things about them on these fourms that I wanted to book through them. Maybe I can try them out for our 2009 trip after we've saved a bit more money!