Disney Planner... yes or no?

[Nelly2016]

I am an excellent planner. But to keep it on the safe side, I decided to go with an authorized disney travel agent. She's already provided us with quotes and such a couple months ago for our Jan 2017 trip but for some reason, I'm just not getting a good feeling from her. Its not that she's not friendly - she's just not very warm and sometimes, I feel like I'm annoying her with my questions (and theres not many!). I may be completely off base though, as things can get lost in translation over email. The company is recommended by one of the best Disney blogs out there so I'm confident she'll be able to do her job but I'm just not sure what to do. Any advice?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Nothing against travel agents, but I prefer to do it myself, things live dining ADR and fastpasses I can make those "in the moment decisions" when something I wanted is not available, where as by the time the TA calls you asks what to do and calls back or logs back on all your options could be gone. For example when free dining came out the cast member could not get it to go through for Wilderness Lodge and I was able to make a quick decision and get a great deal at Animal Kingdom Lodge, a travel agent would have had to call me and find out what I wanted to do and by the time she got back through the deal would have been gone. Doing it yourself is really not hard, and it lets you make your own choices.

We discuss options like that ahead of time with our clients, i.e. first choice, second choice, third choice, etc or if they even want to move at all. We've been online at 4:30am making modifications for them.

I'd say that if an agent hadn't discussed options with a client in advance, that they weren't experienced with the challenges that can occur with the release of a Disney offer.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

We discuss options like that ahead of time with our clients, i.e. first choice, second choice, third choice, etc or if they even want to move at all. We've been online at 4:30am making modifications for them.

I'd say that if an agent hadn't discussed options with a client in advance, that they weren't experienced with the challenges that can occur with the release of a Disney offer.

I just think its better to be in control of your own trip.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I just think its better to be in control of your own trip.

It's like any other service - selling your house, changing the oil in your car, mowing your lawn, walking your dog - you can do all of those things yourself if you wish and be in control, but if you don't want to, there are those who will do it for you.

 

[Nelly2016]

Nothing against travel agents, but I prefer to do it myself, things live dining ADR and fastpasses I can make those "in the moment decisions" when something I wanted is not available, where as by the time the TA calls you asks what to do and calls back or logs back on all your options could be gone. For example when free dining came out the cast member could not get it to go through for Wilderness Lodge and I was able to make a quick decision and get a great deal at Animal Kingdom Lodge, a travel agent would have had to call me and find out what I wanted to do and by the time she got back through the deal would have been gone. Doing it yourself is really not hard, and it lets you make your own choices.

I actually completely agree. I love to plan things and am generally really good at it. My only concern was missing certain deals - did you have any email alerts set up or anything or did you just keep checking for them?

 

[Nelly2016]

That is why we allow our clients to decide if they would like to make their own which they certainly can do or if they would like us to help them. We get a tremendous amount of clients that would rather have us do it for them. And we do a good job. Unlike others, we have a game plan set in place with our clients so there is no need to waste time by contacting them.

Pam

This sounds like a great system! I think a mix of my agent doing it for me as well as taking care of a few things myself is the way to go!

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I actually completely agree. I love to plan things and am generally really good at it. My only concern was missing certain deals - did you have any email alerts set up or anything or did you just keep checking for them?

I literally go ever year so I have the program down, I do however have alerts from touringplans.com that email me when my 180 days ect is coming up.

 

[Nelly2016]

I literally go ever year so I have the program down, I do however have alerts from touringplans.com that email me when my 180 days ect is coming up.

I'm reluctant to pay for touringplans.com but am now thinking it might be worth it. Any thoughts?

 

[DisneyJoe]

I'm reluctant to pay for touringplans.com but am now thinking it might be worth it. Any thoughts?

It's $13 I believe - I love it, I say it is definitely worth it.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

It's $13 I believe - I love it, I say it is definitely worth it.

So worth it. I find that the wait times on their lines app are way more accurate than the MDE wait times, the crowd predictions are usually pretty accurate, the will email you the day before ADR and fastpass, they will also send out a quite detailed room request fax for as well as a lot of other tools.