travel agent vs. booking online

kathyjacks

kathyjacks

New Member
as most of you know i have been asking questions and reading a ton of helpful info . thanks so much to all the kind people who have responded to my incessant questioning and the people who run this site.
anyway i learned alot from this website and went to disney.com and put in our dates our hotel choice our dinning plan and park hopper and plus visit ticket info . I got a total of 3550.00.then i checked with a local travel agent and she tried to talk me out of staying for 10 days and tried to get me to go to another area attraction, it was just so strange. anyway she got a total of 3414.82 which is exactly the difference of a preferred location room which i put in online and she didn't so we both came up with the same price. ive already made our dining reservations so what is the benefit of going through an agency rather then booking it myself?
 
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ClemsonTigger

ClemsonTigger

Naturally Grumpy
Kathy,

Check in with KingdomKonsultants (link on the homepage here). They are very knowledgable and will revisit or provide options as needed to reduce the price and there is no charge for that.

I used to always use the website, and still do to check. I find that going back again and again, same day and different days, you can always get different availability and different prices. The opening and closing of availability and price blocks can make anyone crazy.

A good, knowledgable agent can do that checking for you and get you the same price you can get by direct booking.
 
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tigsmom

tigsmom

Well-Known Member
The travel agent does all the hard work, you just decide when you want to go. Give Pam and her staff a call, they will find the best deal for you.
 
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I

I luv WDW

Member
Agent or self?

My wife and I have booked WDW trips both ways, through travel agents or ourselves on the Web site. The Web site is easy and quick, but it is easier to let the travel agent do the work. We've never saved much money using travel agents.:kiss:
 
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PigletIsMyCat

PigletIsMyCat

Well-Known Member
I have done both, this trip coming up with a travel agent. Here is a list of pros/cons I have come up with:

TRAVEL AGENT PROS:
-You give them the dates, they get you the rooms
-They can get you discounts
-They can tell you the best way to book a vacation (AP's, packages, room only, etc.)
-Some agents will re-book your vaca for you if a new deal comes out.
-I think they have magical powers when it comes to Dining ressies!!
-Some offer free itinerary planning and information.
-It is easy and taken care of!!

TRAVEL AGENT CONS:
-Everything gets mailed to them, then passed on to you.
-YOU are not totally in control, THEY are.


WDTC PROS:
-Easy to book on the website!
-Everything is mailed DIRECTLY to you, and arrive in a more timely manner (in my experience)
-All documentation is official and original - no faxes, copies, etc.
-Great planning tools on Disney website, including abililty to input your confirmation number and see your actual ressie online.

WDTC CONS:
-You must do alot of the legwork yourself; WDTC reps are not keen on giving advice like 'which is better?' and must be asked very direct questions to get answers (this is just how reps are trained - to sell you a package)
-You must make your own Dining ressies, which includes a long distance call and figuring out Disney's weird ADR system yourself.


Personally, I think I liked booking it myself better. Wierd, I know. But I like being in control of my vaca, and even though getting Dining ressies was WAAAAAY easier with a travel agent, I am noticing that I feel 'out of the loop' almost. Also, I got my DME stuff 19 days out last fall when I booked myself. I am now 13 days out and still haven't gotten it. And I didn't get a Welcome letter this time. I did save almost $200 on this trip (mind you, I still spent over $4500). Next time, I think I will book it myself.
 
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Kingdom Konsultant

Kingdom Konsultant

WDWMAGIC Board Sponsor
Premium Member
WDWMAGIC Sponsor
kathyjacks said:
as most of you know i have been asking questions and reading a ton of helpful info . thanks so much to all the kind people who have responded to my incessant questioning and the people who run this site.
anyway i learned alot from this website and went to disney.com and put in our dates our hotel choice our dinning plan and park hopper and plus visit ticket info . I got a total of 3550.00.then i checked with a local travel agent and she tried to talk me out of staying for 10 days and tried to get me to go to another area attraction, it was just so strange. anyway she got a total of 3414.82 which is exactly the difference of a preferred location room which i put in online and she didn't so we both came up with the same price. ive already made our dining reservations so what is the benefit of going through an agency rather then booking it myself?
Click to expand...

Hi kathyjacks,

I am curious as to why this agent tried to talk you out of staying for 10 days. Did they give you a reason?
I know personally I try to get/give my clients exactly what they want and if there is a good deal out there I will tell them about it. I will also apply any discounts that are applicable to their reservation to try to save them money.

As a Disney Specialist travel agent I do offer free itinerary planning for my clients and I also do not charge any hidden fees.
Since you have already made your dining reservations, you seem to know what you want and that is great.

I have clients who do the same thing. They book with me because they know me from the forums and they feel comfortable booking with me because they know that I will do everything that I can to make sure their vacation is a wonderful experience. I also have clients who would rather that I make all the phone calls after they give me their preferences on where and when they would like to dine either for convenience or because they simply do not know how to do it and are unsure and for those people I will walk them through the sorting process.

I would say to you that if you are comfortable booking yourself, then by all means do so. If you want the convenience of someone else doing the "leg work" then I say do it.

If they are booking through Disney the prices will get the same price as you will be able to pull up. Again, I think that this is something that if you feel comfortable with using an agent, then do so. Feel free to contact me at anytime if you would like to give us a try. If you feel that you would rather do it yourself, then I say "go for it". Good luck and have a wonderful time no matter what you choose to do. Disney is a magical place and you should be able to feel comfortable with whatever decision you make.

All the best

Pam
 
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tink rules

tink rules

New Member
Just another thought... If you book through the on line site, you pay rack rates. I called CRO and got the AAA discount myself, but if I could do it through a good agent, I'd do so also.

Also... with an agent, aren't they there as a go between in case you get into any troubles along the way?
 
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imamouse

imamouse

Well-Known Member
I was a confirmed do-it-yourselfer until I found Pam at Kingdom Konsultant. Her service is top drawer and she and her staff always go above and beyond the call of duty to book, communicate, and generally exceed expectations. Plus, since WDW does not offer a toll-free number, I like being able to call KK from a land line rather than eat up the minutes on my cell phone (my 2 teen-ages hog the family share plan!).

Everyone at KK is super knowledgeable and professional. Plus, they make booking soooo easy! Give them a chance to make you a fan.
 
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Nicole

Nicole

Well-Known Member
I keep wanting to let Pam book my trip but I like the process so much I haven't been able to! I love doing the research, I love talking to CRO and hearing the hold music. I love being able to press 1 when it says "if you have been to Walt Disney World more than four times please press one."

Because I monitor web sites (like this one) and find out about discounts and whatever I know when to call back and ask for new discounts to be applied.

Some people love the process of booking the trip themselves. (See my other thread titled "Is planning half the fun?") Others enjoy the trip more when other people have done some of the arranging/calling/being on hold for them.

I don't think you can say that one way is "better" than the other. They are different paths to the same destination.
 
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JimboJones123

JimboJones123

Well-Known Member
Nicole said:
I keep wanting to let Pam book my trip but I like the process so much I haven't been able to! I love doing the research, I love talking to CRO and hearing the hold music. I love being able to press 1 when it says "if you have been to Walt Disney World more than four times please press one."

Because I monitor web sites (like this one) and find out about discounts and whatever I know when to call back and ask for new discounts to be applied.

Some people love the process of booking the trip themselves. (See my other thread titled "Is planning half the fun?") Others enjoy the trip more when other people have done some of the arranging/calling/being on hold for them.

I don't think you can say that one way is "better" than the other. They are different paths to the same destination.
Click to expand...

careful -- pam may use her uber-powers to cancel your reservation -- she does sponser this talkback afterall....
 
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PamelaNiebergal

PamelaNiebergal

New Member
We used to book our trips through CAA (Canadian version of AAA) and the travel agents there weren't very helpful. I knew more about WDW than they did, plus they too were always trying to talk me out of spending all our days at Disney. They didn't understand our love of Disney and almost made us feel stupid for wanting to spend two weeks there. I say if you're going to use a travel agent only use one that specializes in Disney vacations (like Kingdom Konsultants). They are much more knowledgeable and understanding of your needs. If I were to use a travel agent I would chose Pam but for me planning has become part of the fun. I love calling and checking the websites and recieving confirmations in the mail. Plus I plan months in advance so dining ressies are easy to get. Whatever you chose just don't let anyone tell you how your vacation should be. Make sure whoever you work with gives you the vacation that you want.
 
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Kingdom Konsultant

Kingdom Konsultant

WDWMAGIC Board Sponsor
Premium Member
WDWMAGIC Sponsor
Hey Nicole...call me if you can.

If you enjoy planning all the more power to you. It proves that you are one up on everyone else who does not plan. You are not standing around saying " So what do you want to do next or where do you want to eat?" How many of you see people standing in circles in various parts of the park doing just that???

Pam:wave: I am watching you there Jimbo....:animwink: :lol:
 
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JimboJones123

JimboJones123

Well-Known Member
Kingdom Konsultant said:
Hey Nicole...call me if you can.

If you enjoy planning all the more power to you. It proves that you are one up on everyone else who does not plan. You are not standing around saying " So what do you want to do next or where do you want to eat?" How many of you see people standing in circles in various parts of the park doing just that???

Pam:wave: I am watching you there Jimbo....:animwink: :lol:
Click to expand...


YIKES --

go pam -- go-go go pam!!!!

(actually i'm just jealous -- what a way to make a living...)
 
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