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Secrets Disney Travel Agents Wish You Knew
Usually when we hear the word “secret” we assume that someone has some information that is meant to be kept under wraps. But WE ALL KNOW that Disney “secrets” typically refer to “cool extra rather unknown tips” that can enhance a Disney vacation. You know by now that we love Disney and I have written dozens of Disney posts with reviews, ways to save, tips and more.
One thing that I wish I had known before we very first traveled to Disney World is that the services provided by Disney Travel Agents when you book a vacation package are 100% free of charge. That’s right – FREE! (A vacation package consists of 3 or more days of tickets and an on-site room booking, OR minimum of a room onsite booked for 4 or more nights). They are paid a commission from Disney and there is NO extra cost to you to use them.
Unless I am renting DVC points, I use a travel agent. There are many incredible Disney TAs out there (feel free to drop your link in the post comments if you are one)! I used a Disney TA for our last 3 trips (2 Disney Cruises and 1 Parks trip) and I can personally attest that they are fantastic!
Typically when I suggest using a travel agent to friends who are thinking about a trip to Disney, they are shocked to learn that these services are free! That got me thinking – what other bits of information do Disney Travel Agents wish you knew? My friends at Twice As Nice Travel came up with some great suggestions!
See if any of these Disney Travel Agent facts surprise you!
- Disney Travel Agents are 100% free to use. I know I already said this, but it’s worth repeating. You pay nothing extra to enjoy their planning services when you book a vacation package.
- Disney Travel Agents can be as hands-on or hands-off you clients prefer. You can be Type A (me) and plan all of your dining reservations and fast passes on your own, or you can have your TA plan every last detail for you. It’s completely up to you! I love to plan many aspects of our vacations and my TA is happy to let me plan as much or as little as I want. And even when she knows I am booking my own fast passes and dining, she still checks in to make sure I didn’t have any issues.
- Disney Travel Agents are extremely knowledgeable about Disney Parks and are happy to share their best tips. You can’t just wake up one morning and become a Disney TA. One must have extensive Parks knowledge and go through training. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge Disney TAs have to offer!
- Disney Travel Agents help you get the best deal on your trip. They are constantly watching for the best deals and pass those savings along to their clients.
- Many Disney Travel Agents include itinerary planning with your booking. This was actually one of my FAVORITE perks from my Disney TA. A week or so before our trip, I received a package containing a folder that was just BRIMMING with Disney goodness. Park maps and laminated itinerary cards for each day of our vacation were the items that we used the most. I was so thankful to have itinerary cards in my backpack to reference. This saved my cell phone battery every time that I didn’t have to open the My Disney Experience App. Obviously different TAs send different things with your documents. This is just one example!
- Your Disney Travel Agent will sit on hold so you don’t have to. Waiting on hold is a reality while planning a Disney trip. Your Disney TA will take care of these calls for you!
- Your Disney Travel Agent can help if you run into any issues with your booking or stay. A Disney TA can serve as your advocate if something goes wrong. They are ready to fight for you if anything goes amiss.
- Disney Travel Agents offer the chance to build a rapport with the SAME person, trip after trip. Instead of calling a corporation and getting a different operator every time (friendly though they might be!), having a TA lets you build a relationship with a vacation planner who will know your family’s preferences, likes, dislikes. They can personalize your trip and help make it even more memorable!
- Disney Travel Agents have a direct line to Disney. Their resources give them the ability to get answers to your questions within minutes.
- They aren’t just travel agents. They are travel agents that SPECIALIZE in all things Disney. These agents KNOW and LOVE Disney (the parks, the resorts, the restaurants, etc including all of the little quirks of booking a Disney trip). And with that said… they book all Disney – cruise, parks, Adventures by Disney, Aulani! And most of them book MORE than Disney (including Universal, Sandals, Beaches and more)! Don’t be afraid to ask!!
My takeaways…
These reasons are just some of the positives that can come from using a travel agent for booking your next Disney trip. I always used to book our trips on my own, partly because I did not realize a TA service was free (I always assumed there was a big upcharge). It’s safe to say that I also handled our reservations because I’m absolutely a Type A Personality and I thought that booking my own trip was the only way to be in control of our booking and subsequent plans. I have come to realize that the latter is simply not true. When booking with a TA, I felt just as in control of our plans as I had when I booked on my own.
It’s important to find a GOOD travel agent and for this decision, I always rely on suggestions from my friends. I listen to their personal experiences and put a lot of weight into word-of-mouth referrals. Plus, I love supporting small businesses and it’s nice to know that at least some of my hard-earned cash is going to a travel agent via her commission, instead of throwing it all at The Mouse.
Do you use travel agent services to book vacations? If not, would you consider it after reading this post?
Some reader faves…
Great article! I am an avid Disney lover and a Disney travel agent as well. http://Www.kellerluxurytravel.com or find me on Facebook @kellerluxurytravel
I love to plan Disney trips and as a mom with 4 adopted kiddos, I specialize in doing Disney on a budget & helping families with special needs. Please visit my website or email me at robin.castlesanddreams@gmail.com. My website is
http://castlesanddreamstravel.com/agent/Robin
This is awesome! As a Disney Travel Agent, I can say that you are 100% spot on! Feel free to visit me at https://disneysolution.com/ . We all know that Disney can get expensive, so I like to teach others how to pay for their vacation using “extra money” that can be earned with little effort.
I tried using the agency you mentioned, and the service was not free. They wanted to charge me $100. I was super bummed because we will be going to Disneyland which I have never been to so was really looking forward to having some help.
Not sure what agency you are talking about. Disney Travel Planners (including the one I mentioned, Twice As Nice Travel) do not charge a fee. Are you maybe thinking of a Disney Vacation Club Point Reseller? They are not travel agents…
Were you booking an entire vacation package? If so, I don’t know of any agencies that charge for this. If you were trying to buy individual park tickets or dining reservations or something apart from a vacation package, it’s possible that they would charge fees for that. They get $0 in commission unless you book more than 2 day park tickets through them.
I was trying to book two days plus potentially a hotel, with dining options as well. I’m not upset with the travel agency, I just wish it had been more clear that their services are not free unless you meet a certain requirement.
I am a agent at AAA , There is absolutely no fee at all to use me as an agent when booking your Disney. Disney is my niche and I LOVE it ! I would love to help you with your family vacation !
My email is jguy2@aaamidatlantic.com If you would like more information.
Great article! As a Disney Travel Planner I agree 100%!
Thank you for supporting Travel Agents! http://www.discoverthemagicvacations.com
Kasey Pattillo
I really appreciate this post! Mainly, for tip #1! I have PAID a few hundred dollars to my Disney TA the last two years.
The first year I had type A planned most of our trip without any professional help, but was diagnosed with both MS and Lupus a month or two before the trip & felt overwhelmed. I found a Disney TA online and she took over the last minute and itinerary planning. I happily paid what she said was a “more than usual” fee as she wouldn’t make her commission on anything I had already purchased. I was IN LOVE with her and what she did for our vacation. Her tips, daily itinerary and support were amazing. I tooted her magical horn high and low, recommending her to everyone!
Once I decided to go again the very next year, she was my first call! Again, I paid a fee for her services, but this second trip was disappointing. Based on the first trip, I thought she would do such an amazing job that I could lay aside a bit of my planning OCD. since I was getting her at the beginning of the planning process I thought she would snag at least a few of the tough to get reservations and/or fast passes and make selections based on what we most wanted to do… that wasn’t the case. In the end, we had a nice time, however, the trip was not at all as magical, well planned or (sadly) as much fun as the first.
(We are a family of six and this year went for Christmas. It was not the magical experience we thought spending the holidays at Disney would be. It didn’t “feel” Christmas and I wish my TA would have helped me understand that outside of decorations, it wasn’t the immersive holiday experience many a blog, article and personal experience led me to anticipate. It was a surprise for our kids, and she ordered a limo instead of SUV and told me to order lots of decorations for the suite and helped me arrange delivery of a small tree, but as far as the Disney experience we had expectations that were not at all reality and I wish they had been managed a bit by someone who should have known.)
That was long winded – but thanks for the article and all of the information! If we decide to try Disney again in a few years, we will certainly look for some of the amazing TA’s found here! Thanks!
Great insight – thank you for sharing!!
This article is spot on! I am a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations. My services are 100% free to the client. I am paid by Disney, not the client. I can do as much or as little as you would like! But their is a benefit to having an “earmarked” travel agency to back you up. My travel agency is earmarked by Disney and I am an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Reach out for a free, no-obligation quote!
lastore@enchantedmem.com
https://www.facebook.com/laurenenchantedmem/
http://www.enchantedmem.com
Graduating from the College of Disney Knowledge was difficult because there’s just so many great things Disney offers. This article is Spot On! My wife and I have enjoyed many trips to Disney & we don’t intend to stop, unless that is for a dinner or a luau LOL. We bring a lot to the table when it comes to offering the best Mega Resort and Cruise Vacations (we are both travel agents). My wife will even work bathroom breaks into your itinerary! Stop by for a visit https://www.facebook.com/vacationinluxury/
This is great to hear some people just log in anymore and don’t realize what it means to have someone in your corner. I feel like a friend is calling when a client calls to book a trip. I can help them out because I know all their needs and wants to make sure they are met. Besides most TA are small businesses and it’s great to support this too.
Believeinthemagicvacations.com
Thanks for sharing these great tips for guests looking to visit Disney! Planning can be an overwhelming experience but doesn’t have to be, with the help of a travel advisor who specializes in Disney destinations. I have been making magic for my clients since 2008 and always enjoy helping each member of the party have a fantastic vacation!
You know how we work for sure! I graduated from the Disney College o knowledge. I love being able to others enjoy Disney magic as my family has! As a pass holder we are at the parks sometimes weekly. Visit me at @Todisneyvacationsandbeyond to see how we Disney and how we can help you.
This is a GREAT article! I am a Disney Travel Planner for an authorized and earmarked agency. My services are 100% free for all my clients! And whether its your first trip or your 25th, a good TA will help you customize the vacation that is perfect for YOU!
https://www.facebook.com/MEMbySarahMaluta/
Great Article! As a Disney Travel Agent I love to help others plan their Disney Vacations! My services are 100% free! My email is mickeyvacations.april@gmail.com
Get Away Today travel is awesome! Ask for Kayla Karlinsey she always looks for the best deals for her travelers. SHe goes to Disne I and Universals Parks at least twice a year and works with the parks and the hotels and resorts to give you the best experiences possibles. SHE knows when new building or expansion is anticipated. She is so sweet! And she speak she both English and Spanish. Call her , seriously she is awesome! I don’t do a Disney trip with out going through her.
Get AWAy Today
I think all Travel Agents specializing in Disney can appreciate this!
Thanks so much for putting this out there!
Can an agent help after you book a trip? I am afraid to miss out on free dining so I feel like I need to book now! I just need help with the itinerary.
Ecduncan85@gmail.com
I’m not sure. They might be able to help if there is a way to transfer your trip to them.
I attempted to use a travel agent, got right down to having it all planned then when she wanted to contact me noticed that I don’t live in the USA! She then told me she was unable to help me at all and dropped me like a sack of hot potatoes! Needless to say I have now planned it myself with the help of yours and other pintrest articles! So thank you for all your tips!
UGH! I’m so sorry to hear that you were left in a lurch – BUT – very happy to hear that my posts were helpful to you!! Hope you have a great vacation!
I am a Disney Travel agent! My agency is a Diamond Earmarked Agency! One of only 3 that have Diamond status! We do not charge any additional fees for booking! I would love to help anyone with booking a Disney trip! My email is mickeyvacations.april@gmail.com
Hello !!
I’m a Disney travel planner, or anywhere else you would like to go! ✈️
100% free to you! Click my link below and message me for your free quote today ✨!
https://www.facebook.com/dreamvacationswithkayla/
Hi! I am a certified travel agent that specializes in all things Disney! I would love to help plan your magical vacation!
Great article! My name is April and I am a Disney Travel Agent. I am looking for clients interested in having a spectacular Disney vacation! Email me- april@yourdisneymagic.com
Or visit my website http://www.yourdisneymagic.com
I look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks for this article! It is so true that many just don’t realize how valuable it is to have someone in your corner for a trip so important – and at no cost, too!
I would love to help anyone out with their vacation needs. Like the article says, I do much more than just Disney. I am fluent in both English and French, too!
You can check out my page on Facebook at facebook.com/emilythevacationeer
Or email at emily@thevacationeer.com
Hi everyone! My name is Lee Grace and I would be happy to help your family plan your next vacation. I have years of travel experience and a passion for helping to create memories. Feel free to reach out to me at lee@wishesfamilytravel.com.
https://www.facebook.com/LeeGunter.WFT/
This is a great article. I’m a former Cast Member, avid traveler, and travel agent. I’d love to help you plan a magical Disney vacation. You can find me on Instagram at @golden.girl.travel .