Travel Agent or Book Direct???

[denas]

I like threads on this topic, because it gives me hope one day I'll find a TA of my very own!

I'd sure like to use a TA, too, if for nothing else but for advanced notice and advice. I haven't found one yet that will reply to calls/emails w/in a business day, so I do it myself these days. I know there are TONS of good ones out there, so I hope to find one eventually!

Whatever you decide, have a great vacation!

Since I felt silly starting this thread, I am glad I am not the only one who is finding something useful out from it!!! As I am sitting here trying to type holding child #3, waiting for Child #1 to come home, looking through my inbox at neglected work, and realizing that we don't have milk for breakfast and I am missing a key ingredient from the planned dinner tonight, I realize I need a TA so that I don't loose my mind trying to add "planning a vacation" to the to-do list!!!

 

[discorsner]

Want to pass on and share what I can.... when I started cruising I did not use a TA either. I figured why bother, I was a travel nut anyway, I knew Disney and loved Disney and figured that I didn't need help because I enjoyed researching and finding my own answers.

Since then I have fully realized the benefits of booking with a TA. A good TA is not just there for planning and researching answers to questions, although most can do that well too. A TA will earn your business through some kind of value added to your vacation that is above what you can get from most suppliers.

With Disney, since they do not allow discounting of their cruises, the way that TAs can compete and work hard for your business and appreciation will be to provide excellent service, be there when you need them, think of things that you may not, and also throw in some "extras".

These extras are usually in the form of extra on board credit (OBC) and other things like surprises in your stateroom or a Disney gift card. Since this is really the only way to save on DCL other than special promos from time to time or just generally booking early, it is wise to take advantage of them. You can still plan as little or as much of your own vacation as you wish but you will be taking advantage of getting something extra by having them handle your ressie. It's a win-win for you and the TA.

 

[sullyandsid]

We have just booked our first cruise - i did a booking with Disney first and put that on hold. I then waited for the TA to get back to me - they were able to get everything i got - plus I got an extra $100 OBC.

Using a TA was at first a bit dauntin, as we usually book everything on our own through the Disney site - but because of the reviews on here, it gave us the confidence to go for it - and i am now just on the count down and learningn about how to prepare and ghet the best our of our first Disney Cruise.

So thanks to all of you who take the time to post - you have no idea how valuable the information is.

 

[narsibvl]

Here was my situation...I was searching for a iternary around christmas time(a last minute decision) and the disney web site couldn't some up with anything that I liked. Went through a TA and he was able to get it for the week before christmas. I believe they have a few cabins reserved for such purpose which is not available for general public. Didn't hear a peep about OBC so far though

 

[knitcookwrite]

I'm a WDW veteran and can book and plan a trip with my hands tied behind my back and a blindfold on. I can almost get around WDW as easily, but when it came to booking our first cruise, I was totally clueless. We decided to use a TA (that I had worked with on some various Disney related things in the past) because I knew the her and knew that she would make sure we got all the things we needed for the trip done right. The onboard credit didn't hurt either (we actually are getting onboard credit from Disney as well for some reason, not sure why, but I'm not questioning it either). We've never cruised anywhere let alone with Disney, so it was nice having someone hold my hand and guide me through the whole process. The TA also will look out for discounts that she can later apply for us or alert us to special offers (we also have a land package prior to the cruise).

 

[jilljill]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

The advertisers/sponsors who you see on the DIS are carefully chosen. While we welcome discussion of them as well as other businesses that you have information or questions about, if it's determined that you are using the DIS to promote a commercial venture, you will lose your posting privileges. This includes choosing a username/signature that refers to your business. In addition, links to the company's website will be blocked. Also note that we do not want the boards to be used for solicitations or for requesting referrals. Requests for advertising can be directed to Corey@wdwinfo.com for consideration.

 

[poohs_hunny]

If you book online yourself, how do you later go about switching the reservation to an agent? Do you contact DCL or give the info the the agent and have them do it?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Can I switch to a TA even if I have already paid in full?

I know my TA won't transfer a cruise once it's paid in full. I don't know if others will.

If you book online yourself, how do you later go about switching the reservation to an agent? Do you contact DCL or give the info the the agent and have them do it?

Contact the TA and you will need to sign a form, giving permission to turn it over to the TA.

 

[txwdwmom]

If you book online yourself, how do you later go about switching the reservation to an agent? Do you contact DCL or give the info the the agent and have them do it?

My TA just had me fill out a form and send it back. The reservation was paid in full already but she was able to service it from that point on and I got the extra OBC from the agency as well. I've used her ever since.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Most TAs offer a higher obc if you allow him/her to book it from the start vs. transferring it at some later point.
My TA offers double if I let her book it or if I name her as my TA while booking onboard. For a 7 nt cruise, that's $100 difference so it's worth it to me.

 

[dursin]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

The advertisers/sponsors who you see on the DIS are carefully chosen. While we welcome discussion of them as well as other businesses that you have information or questions about, if it's determined that you are using the DIS to promote a commercial venture, you will lose your posting privileges. This includes choosing a username/signature that refers to your business. In addition, links to the company's website will be blocked. Also note that we do not want the boards to be used for solicitations or for requesting referrals. Requests for advertising can be directed to Corey@wdwinfo.com for consideration.

Isn't it a little more than 'carefully chosen'...ie, doesn't DU technically own these boards?

 

[over50visits]

We have had perfect experience booking directly with DCL. It is nice to call them and instantly have an answer and fix or change things on the spot. With TAs you have to call them and wait for them to fix it. Others don't mind this, just that we prefer direct access. And I believe there are TAs who won't even talk to you (they require you to use email). The OBC may be larger and make the inconvenience worth it to you, and some TAs may offer the service of monitoring cruise deals and changes and alerting you. To each his own

 

[jilljill]

Isn't it a little more than 'carefully chosen'...ie, doesn't DU technically own these boards?

If you have a question on the terminology used in the DISboard guidelines please contact the admins of the board to discuss it with them. I'm only copying and pasting the guidelines as they are written and even include a link so that you can read them yourself which I highly recommend.

 

[txwdwmom]

Isn't it a little more than 'carefully chosen'...ie, doesn't DU technically own these boards?

Yup!

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

We have had perfect experience booking directly with DCL. It is nice to call them and instantly have an answer and fix or change things on the spot. With TAs you have to call them and wait for them to fix it. Others don't mind this, just that we prefer direct access. And I believe there are TAs who won't even talk to you (they require you to use email). The OBC may be larger and make the inconvenience worth it to you, and some TAs may offer the service of monitoring cruise deals and changes and alerting you. To each his own

I completely agree with this. I have done both and honestly, I love the idea of a better OBC, but the price difference to me ($25-$75 per stateroom for my last cruise) wasn't worth it. I had to deal with a travel agent for every little thing from a birthday cake at dinner, to special room requests and it just ended up not being worth it. I would much rather spend the extra money to book with DCL direct next time and be able to deal with real cast members to make arrangements as needed for what I needed.

That said, I know there are amazing travel agents for DCL (including DU, whom I neglected to book with because they could not match this *other* TA site and were no better price-wise than DCL themselves).

BUT I would completely recommend them because while I *did* have the time and inclination to make call after call and get what I needed, I know many other people don't have that time and (frankly) stubborn-ness. A dedicated TA will do that for you. I don't like forced advertising as much as the next person, but I've been on these boards for many years. DU is the only TA I would trust if I went with a TA at all.

Just my $.02.

 

[NancyIL]

While I haven't needed the services of a travel agent, all 3 of my Disney cruises were booked with one. However, we got no OBC for any of them. The first was booked at a group (discounted) rate, and thus no travel agent OBC and no Disney Visa OBC. The next two had to be booked with a particular travel agency (not DU) in order to participate in the sponsoring group's events on the ship - and that agency didn't offer OBC, either.

Most of my cruises have been non-Disney. I have booked some of them with two online discount travel agencies because they had a better price than booking directly with the cruise line. I have booked several inexpensive Royal Caribbean cruises directly with RCI. For those cruises - the travel agency's discount wasn't enough to bother having to go through the middle man.

 

[mattkev2001]

We are 4 families looking into a cruise in 2012 and are DVC members. Some families want to use some DVC points while others will pay cash. DVC advises that not only can they not guareentee rooms near each other, their payment policies are different from DCL. DVC requires much more upfront than DCL. DVC did say they can probably link to accomodate dining times.

We would like to book so we can request rooms close to each other and same dining times but want to use some points also. Why does DVC make it more difficult to book a cruise than DCL? Are there better OBCs through DCL than DVC (if any)?

 

[mnrhannah07]

I have a few questions myself, we re-booked another cruise while on the wonder last month. We received a $100 OBC and wanted to know a little about DU before I called them. If we did transfer the reservation, can I keep my $100 and add the OBC they offer? Does anyone know what they are offereing for an OBC for a 3 night cruise right now? Does it cost anything extra to me if I transfer it?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have a few questions myself, we re-booked another cruise while on the wonder last month. We received a $100 OBC and wanted to know a little about DU before I called them. If we did transfer the reservation, can I keep my $100 and add the OBC they offer? Does anyone know what they are offereing for an OBC for a 3 night cruise right now? Does it cost anything extra to me if I transfer it?

I've never personally used DU but have rebooked onboard many times. The OBC from DCL is stackable so whatever OBC a TA offers is in addition to what DCL offers.
Not sure how DU works, but my TA gives me double OBC if I name her as my TA while I'm booking onboard. If I don't, and then transfer my ressie to her once home, she gets a reduced commission from DCL and that's the reason for reduced OBC to me for transfers.

 

[dbarker]

I use a TA b/c I don't have time to do all the leg work myself.

I use a TA that is a Disney specialist.