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msma88
LIF Infant
Member since 8/05 300 total posts
Name:
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Disney Yes Another Question....
What is more beneficial booking by oneself or a TA? Do they save you more money then booking on the Disney website?
Also if you books 7 months out and then the hotel has their room sale, will you be credited back the difference?
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Posted 10/1/15 9:24 AM  |
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Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Disney Yes Another Question....
we booked with a TA when we went a few weeks ago.
the main benefit of booking with a TA is having the help.... most of them don't give you any discounts over the ones that Disney comes out with.
so basically.... the TA is there to get up at 5:45 AM to make your dining reservations for you at the 180 day mark, and again at 60 days before for your fast passes.... and also just to answer questions, offer advice, etc.
as far as discounts--- if a new one comes out after you book, the TA will call and get the discount applied for you so you get credited back. like, our TA sat on the phone for who knows how long to get us the Free Dining plan discount the day it came out....
so, basically the TA doesn't cost you anything extra, but its nice to have somebody on your side HAHA
Message edited 10/1/2015 3:07:52 PM.
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| Posted 10/1/15 3:06 PM |
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mbg1007
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1247 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
Posted by ml110
we booked with a TA when we went a few weeks ago.
the main benefit of booking with a TA is having the help.... most of them don't give you any discounts over the ones that Disney comes out with.
so basically.... the TA is there to get up at 5:45 AM to make your dining reservations for you at the 180 day mark, and again at 60 days before for your fast passes.... and also just to answer questions, offer advice, etc.
as far as discounts--- if a new one comes out after you book, the TA will call and get the discount applied for you so you get credited back. like, our TA sat on the phone for who knows how long to get us the Free Dining plan discount the day it came out....
so, basically the TA doesn't cost you anything extra, but its nice to have somebody on your side HAHA
Exactly this. Disney planning can be overwhelming, it's so nice to have someone to do this for you
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| Posted 10/1/15 10:20 PM |
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luvmykids8
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 2050 total posts
Name:
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Disney Yes Another Question....
I love planning my own trips for anywhere except Disney. It was nice to have a TA there to help with the planning!
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| Posted 10/1/15 10:36 PM |
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Blubtrflygrl
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/15 609 total posts
Name:
allison
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
I personally find the website to be very easy for planning, or just calling if there's something I'm looking for.
This is also part of my excitement for the trip!!!
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| Posted 10/2/15 5:51 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Disney Yes Another Question....
We have been about 16 times, and never used a TA. I find it easy to do myself. I also like being able to call and make changes or talk about my reservation myself. Not having to rely on an agent to call. (Disney won't talk to you about your ressie if you book with a TA)
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| Posted 10/2/15 8:26 AM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
Posted by luvmykids8
I love planning my own trips for anywhere except Disney. It was nice to have a TA there to help with the planning!
yup!! this is me  i've been to disney about a dozen times- so i know the parks, how it all works, etc... and the sites are very easy to use. so i could definitely do it all myself. but its nice to have somebody as back up with disney there are certain dates to remember- like 180 days before you leave, you can go on and do your dining. and 60 days before, you can go on and do your fast passes..... so its nice to have somebody email me to say "hey! your dining date is coming up- start picking your meals!" HAHA and its not like you can't do any of it yourself--- i went on and changed a couple dining myself, because we changed what we wanted to do after my TA had made them.... no big deal
i look at it as supporting a small business, too- helping them get commission on your trip, without it costing your any extra money
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| Posted 10/2/15 3:25 PM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
Posted by BargainMama
We have been about 16 times, and never used a TA. I find it easy to do myself. I also like being able to call and make changes or talk about my reservation myself. Not having to rely on an agent to call. (Disney won't talk to you about your ressie if you book with a TA)
Woah! 16 times! And people think we have gone a lot. We have gone 5 times. How old are your kids?
We also never use a TA. I find that it is really easy to call Disney directly and the pricing is the same. I like researching and planning.
I recently tried to do book a Disney cruise through a TA or Costco and found it annoying to go through a middle man. I called the Disney cruise number and spoke to someone right away and booked directly.
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| Posted 10/2/15 6:32 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Disney Yes Another Question....
We have been going at least twice a year for over 10 years and have never used a TA. The website is very easy to use and I prefer to be in charge of my own reservations so I know it's done correctly. I never use a TA for any trip.
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| Posted 10/2/15 8:01 PM |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9537 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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Disney Yes Another Question....
The first few times we went we booked through a travel agent. Now we do everything ourselves.
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| Posted 10/2/15 8:08 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by BargainMama
We have been about 16 times, and never used a TA. I find it easy to do myself. I also like being able to call and make changes or talk about my reservation myself. Not having to rely on an agent to call. (Disney won't talk to you about your ressie if you book with a TA)
Woah! 16 times! And people think we have gone a lot. We have gone 5 times. How old are your kids?
We also never use a TA. I find that it is really easy to call Disney directly and the pricing is the same. I like researching and planning.
I recently tried to do book a Disney cruise through a TA or Costco and found it annoying to go through a middle man. I called the Disney cruise number and spoke to someone right away and booked directly.
My oldest is 16...sometimes we go two times a year. We went in April and our trip was ruined since I got really sick half way through so my kids were confined to the room with me since I was alone with them. So we are due for a re-do LOL. We have probably been more than that, I lost count over the years 
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| Posted 10/2/15 8:37 PM |
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Travel Kerri
LIFamilies Business
Member since 5/13 258 total posts
Name:
Kerri
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
As a travel agent who specializes in Disney I might be biased  but let me tell you the value I see in using a travel agent...
I know "everything" there is to know about the resorts and the parks. Any questions you have you can run by me and I help my clients pick the perfect resort and dates for their needs.
I get up at the crack of dawn to make dining reservations so that my clients can sleep in.
I stay up all night to book fast passes so they can get a good night's rest.
I know which attractions "need" a fast pass and which ones it would be a waste on.
I help my clients as much or as little as they want me to. Some have me do everything and some like to book their own dining and fast passes and just have me look it over and give my expert opinion on their choices and help with the fine tuning.
It does not cost anything extra to book with me. I often have specials that include a free gift with booking throughout the year.
I help make sure the trip is as stress free as possible and if there are any issues during your trip I act as your advocate so that you can keep enjoying the magic while I work out any kinks on your behalf.
Plus, when you book with a travel agent it costs the same as booking direct with Disney, the comission is built into the price either way. When you book with someone like me you are helping to support a small, local business and put money back into your local economy.
Kerri Hill
Facebook.com/travelkerri
[email protected]
Nominated for Best of Long Island 2016 Travel Agent
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| Posted 10/17/15 3:36 PM |
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msma88
LIF Infant
Member since 8/05 300 total posts
Name:
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Disney Yes Another Question....
Thanks all
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| Posted 10/22/15 5:33 PM |
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lorich
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Member since 6/05 9987 total posts
Name:
Grammie says "Lora Gina"
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Re: Disney Yes Another Question....
I stayed off site, so it was a no brainer to do everything myself. I was so overwhelmed at first, but the help from here & FB groups was fantastic!
By staying off site I didn't need to go crazy with dining reservations so I made them all on my own. Fastpasses were a pain because when staying off site you have to book them each night, but in reality - it was not a big deal. Sites like WDW Prep School was a wonderful resource for all things Disney!
TA's have to charge a fee if you stay off site since their commission is worked into the packages through Disney. I found knowing that TA's weren't interested in speaking to me, which was understandable.
When I go again, I'll be staying off site and booking all myself. It truly was a lot of fun!
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| Posted 11/11/15 11:13 AM |
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