Why Use a Travel Agent for Disney?

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Should I use a travel agent to book my Disney Vacation? That is a very good question.

Today, it seems all the tools to book a Disney vacation are at our fingertips. And for many destinations, booking your own trip may make sense. But, if you want to go to Disney, booking on your own is not recommended. However, you don’t want to use just any travel agent. You need a Disney travel agent—one that specializes in Disney World.

You may notice that when you begin to research Walt Disney World, trying to learn your way around is like learning a foreign language. Things like Magic Bands, Skyliner, Memory Maker, and FastPass+ are just some of the many terms you will hear tossed around, and that only applies to Disney World.

Why use a travel agent for Disney? In this article, we’ll tell you why a travel agent for Disney is important, what a Disney travel agent will do for you, and how to find the best Disney travel agent for you.

A Disney Travel Planner is the Secret to a Magical Vacation

Planning a Disney vacation can be very time-consuming, confusing, and frustrating if you really don’t know the ins and outs to Disney. If this is your first time planning a Disney vacation, you might find yourself walking through a dark tunnel trying to find the light at the end, especially when trying to find the best deals or even deciding on the best plans to make for creating the most magical moments.

There is so much to see, so much food to taste, and so much money to be spent! But there is a not-so-secret weapon out there to help you tackle and win planning a Disney vacation. It’s called the “Disney Travel Planner!”

Many people have discovered that booking their Disney vacation with a travel agent helps them maximize their time and save money. Plus, a good travel planner can create a more magical vacation then if you were doing it yourself.

So, Why use a travel agent for Disney? The answer is simple. Having a professional Disney Travel Planner on your team is imperative when looking to plan your vacation of a lifetime! They have all taken a series of training through the Disney’s College of Knowledge program. But the best agents go beyond online training with regular site visits and in-person training to ensure that they know the finer points of booking your personalized vacation.

Your personal Disney guide

Guidebooks and blogs can be helpful. But they are nothing like speaking with a live person.

A Disney World vacation is like no other trip. With over 25,600 acres, it’s twice the size of the island of Manhattan with so much to see and do, how do you decide what’s best for you and your family?

Enlisting the help of someone who really knows the nuances and complexities of planning a Disney vacation can make all the difference in the world.

A professional Disney travel agent is like no other travel agent. They are someone who lives and breathes Disney. They have visited many times, stayed at all of the resorts, ridden all of the rides, seen all the show, and knows the secrets of what makes a Disney vacation truly magical. On top of that, they know how to navigate through all the options, decisions, and deadlines to make sure you don’t miss a beat.

Below we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about using a Disney travel agent, all great reasons why you should use a travel agent for Disney. We recommend you consider hiring a Disney travel agent from our list of the Best Disney World travel agencies. In our opinion, they possess all the qualities that make great Disney Travel Planners. You can trust your vacation to them.

To learn more about planning a Walt Disney World vacation, read:

How to Plan a Disney World Vacation

Frequently Asked Questions About Using a Disney Travel Agent

What is a Disney Travel Agent or Disney Travel Planner?

A Disney Travel Agent, also called Disney Travel Planner, is generally as a Disney fanatic. They are highly trained and focused on helping you to plan your most memorable and magical Disney vacation. Typically, they have taken their passion for Disney and turned it into a job, with the best agents turning it into a career.

Most Disney Travel Agents focus on either Disney World or Disneyland. But there are many other Disney destinations that a Disney Travel Agent can a valuable resource for. Those include other Disney resorts such as Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii, Disney’s Vero Beach or Hilton Head Island resort, or Disney resorts overseas such as Disney Paris and those located in Asia. They can also help you book one of the amazing Adventures by Disney trips, and let’s not forget about planning a Disney cruise.

A Disney Travel Agent will be able to offer you complete and up-to-date information about the resorts and theme park, restaurant recommendations, and overall guidance. They will be able to provide price comparisons for various options and help you book and plan your vacation, as well as find you the best deals.

Are all travel agents the same when planning a trip to Disney?

While most travel agents are able to book a reservation, they do not have the depth of knowledge and direct Disney destination experience required to be an official Disney Travel Planner. The level of detail they provide when it comes to Disney travel is not very different than what you could do booking yourself.

This is particularly true if you are dealing with a big box store’s travel department. The person in the call center may have never been to Disney themselves. How are they going to help you? Not to mention, if you call back, you never get the same agent twice.

With a traditional travel agent, you may be left very much on your own. As Disney destination experts, a Disney Travel Agent will be able to provide a much higher level of service and can be a valuable resource throughout the entire planning process. Plus, when you hire a Disney Travel Agent, you get a personal planner who knows you, and who you know you can go to again and again with any question you may have.

Disney Travel Agents are usually referred to as Disney Travel Planners. That is because they do so much more than just book your room. They are your partner through the entire process, before, during, and even after your trip.

Like everything else, not all travel agents are created equal. Even amongst Disney Travel Planners, you will find some differences in their level of knowledge and expertise. In fact, if you’ve called into the Disney reservation center, depending on the cast member you get on a given call, you will even find varying levels of familiarity and first-hand experience.

It’s important to hire an agent you have a good rapport with and a high level of confidence in. You may be working together for a very long time.

Should I Use a Travel Agent for booking my Disney Vacation?

Absolutely! There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.

If you and your family have never experienced Disney World before, I would highly recommend contacting a Disney Travel Planner to assist you. The opportunity to have someone in-the-know help you through the process of planning is invaluable. Not hiring a Disney Travel Planner would be a big mistake.

Those are just a few of the dozens and dozens of questions a Disney travel specialist can answer for you.

Disney World is unlike any other vacation destination in the world, and it costs a lot of money to visit. To maximize your experience, there is a lot of planning that is involved. “Winging it” is not usually something that works out best in terms of a Disney vacation.

Yes, there are guidebooks online, but there is no substitute for a live person who has been there and can help you make decisions based on what is best for you and your family. A Disney Travel agent is your best advocate and planning partner. Of course, your input is the most important. But their help and guidance will prove invaluable. They will help you sort through all the options so that you are making the best choices for your trip.

Booking your trip with a travel planner does not cost any more than if you were booking with Disney directly—the pricing is the same.

However, Disney Travel Planners consistently monitors all the sales to find you the best deal out there. If a better price or promotion becomes available, they will work to get that deal, even after you have booked with them.

Disney will not do that for you. If you book direct Disney, they will not apply any new sale unless you specifically ask for them. Which leaves you to constantly monitor the sales yourself.

Plus, booking your trip with a travel planner does not cost any more than if you were booking with Disney directly, plus you will get tons of free information and a dedicated person to help every step of the way. So, why not book with a Disney Travel Planner? There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I’ve been to Disney before. Why use a travel agent for Disney?

Even if you have been to Disney multiple times and know the parks and resorts, a travel agent can still be of value in several ways.

They can save you money.

Disney Travel Planners continually monitor the sales, even after you have booked. If a better deal comes out, they will work to get you the best possible price—without you even having to ask.

They can save you time.

With one call, a Disney Travel Planner will book your trip, link your reservations to your My Disney Experience Account, personalize your Magic Bands, and arrange for your Magical Express Transportation. If you like, they will also book your FastPass+ and dining reservations for you. All that is left for you to do is pack!

They reduce the stress of planning a vacation.

Managing all the details of planning a Disney vacation is very time-consuming and some are time-sensitive. Disney Travel Planners can take the stress out planning by doing the heavy lifting for you.

If you choose to make your plans yourself, they can still be helpful by making sure that you do not forget to plan the very important details. Plus, they will keep you on track so you do not miss any important dates like your dining or FastPass+ booking window.

Booking your trip with a travel planner does not cost any more than if you were booking with Disney directly. By handing it over to a specialized Disney planner who will make sure it gets done on time and done right is like starting your vacation before you ever leave home.

Are Disney Travel Agents really free?

Disney Travel planners do not charge a fee to book vacations. Travel agencies are paid a small commission to book vacation packages. Those commissions are based on the package components including hotel, tickets, and dining plan.

Although Disney travel expertise varies greatly between agents and agencies, they all have that one thing in common. Commissions are how travel agencies are paid and why travel agents do not charge you to book their trip. If a travel agent wants to charge you simply to book your vacation package, avoid them. There are many great agents that do not charge for booking your trip.

That said, there are other occasions where it is reasonable to expect to pay a service fee to a travel agent.

As previously stated there are varying levels of experience and knowledge, even among Disney travel agents. Some agents do this in their spare time while others do this as their career. Some agents sit behind a computer and research things to do in Disney and recommend things that “seem” enjoyable. Others are out there all the time living it!

Like lawyers, doctors, even plumbers, professionals are expected to be paid for the expertise. Professional Disney Travel Agents are no different. Professional travel planners invest in themselves through extensive training, both online and on the ground so that they can better serve their clients.

They keep up with the latest news and events, but more importantly they research in person. The best agents will have personally stayed at all the resorts, rode every ride, been to every attraction and event, and experienced the extra activities that Disney World has to offer. It is one thing to read a blog or watch a video. It is another to have been there, done that, and be able to pass that onto clients.

You are about to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a vacation. Who do you want on your team, an arm-chair agent, or a planning powerhouse?

What are Concierge Services?

Concierge services go above and beyond booking your trip by providing full, white-glove planning and booking. They create a truly stress-free vacation experience by handling all the details for you. All you need to do it pack and go.

These services vary by agency and typically have different levels of services provided starting with booking FastPasses and dining reservations, up to fully customized itinerary plans, and more.

When considering if it is worth it to have a Disney Travel Planner make your FastPass+ and dining reservations for you, consider this.

To make FastPass+ reservations, they must be online and ready to jump into action before 6:59 EST on the first day the booking window opens. For dining reservations, it’s 5:59 AM EST. Plus, the best planners know how to navigate the system for the best shot at getting those coveted time slots.

If you are paying someone a fee to do that, they are far more likely to be up before dawn compared to someone who is not being paid. They will do it on their schedule.

Some professional Disney travel planners also offer custom itinerary planning. These can be in-depth and detailed plans that often include daily recommended park plans along with insider advice and guidance customized to their clients. They can also provide additional services such as scheduling tours, stroller rentals, or any other services you may need.

Custom itinerary plans, research, pricing, and booking all take time. Typically many, many hours. And Disney does not compensate agents for any of those items and tasks, therefore it is completely reasonable to expect to pay a fee.

No one wants to work for free, even if you love your job.

Some people will tell you to never pay for such services. But, like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Consider the cost of your time compared to what a professional Disney Travel Planner may charge for concierge services. It’s usually a much better value than it may seem at first.

Why use a travel agent for Disney? I like planning myself.

With time and effort, you could research your destination and book the trip yourself, but why would you? To save money, of course. Oh, did I mention, booking your trip with a Disney Travel Planner is free? YES, FREE! So, I ask again, why would you book yourself?

In some cases, planning a trip by yourself makes sense. But using a travel agent can be very beneficial. They can help you to decide the best places to stay, the best locations to visit, and even when to go. Plus, a good travel agent who knows your destination first-hand can also help give you tips on where to go and things to do. These are important points no matter where you are going, but if you’re visiting Disney, it becomes crucial.

Plus using a travel agent can make your life much easier. Planning any trips, especially a Disney trip, can be extremely time-consuming. A travel agent can take all of that off your plate and help you start your vacation off stress-free. They can do all the heavy lifting of booking your trip, finalizing the details, and itinerary planning. It’s like starting your vacation before you’ve even left home.

Many people like being in control of all the planning themselves. Understandable. But using a travel agent does not mean giving up control.

Disney Travel Planner is your partner. They are acting on your behalf and creating the vacation you want, not what they enjoy. They should be taking the time to understand you and what you are looking for in a Disney vacation—it is something different to everyone.

A travel agent is there to help you as much or as little you like. Even if you know exactly what you want and prefer to make all your own FastPass+ and dining reservations, that is totally fine.

If nothing else they are there to monitor the sales to be sure you are getting the best price possible, even after you have booked. That alone is worth it.

To learn more the benefits of using a Disney Travel Planner, read:

Why Use a Disney Travel Planner?

How do I find the best Disney Travel Planner for me?

When you are searching for a Disney World travel agent, it is very important that you find someone that understands your interest and your priorities. It is important to choose someone you have confidence in and a rapport with. You will be working with them for a long time.

The right agent should be asking you lots of questions about your ideal vacation, not just taking orders. Don’t be put off by all the questions. It is their job to understand your dreams and vacation desires. It only helps them to create that memorable vacation that you are longing for and offer the best experience at the happiest place on Earth!

Understanding your budget is another important factor when an agent is designing a trip for you. Don’t be afraid that they are going to try to “sell” you on something that you don’t want or need. The best agents will work within your financial comfort level to recommend the best options for you.

To some, that may mean a more luxurious resort. To someone else, the resort may not matter. Instead they want to experience finer dining. And yet to another, it may mean one-of-a-kind insider experiences. It’s all very personal. A good Disney Travel Planner will know all the options available and guide you to make the most of your money and your time.

Check out our list of the best Disney Travel agents:

The Best Disney Travel Planners

What if I already booked my trip with Disney?

If you have already booked your trip with Disney directly, or even with a travel agent that does not specialize in Disney, it’s not too late to take advantage of the benefits of working with a Disney travel planner.

If you have booked your trip less than 30-days ago, and have not paid in full, you are able to transfer your reservation to a Disney Travel Planner. Your Disney Travel Planner can tell you how.

If it’s been more than 30 days, if you are staying off Disney property, or if you are using DVC points, there are still some agents that can help. Since they are not earning a commission from Disney to booking your vacation, some agents offer concierge planning services for a fee. It can be well worth the additional charge to get all the benefits we’ve talked about. And the value outweighs the cost.

So, what is the catch?

There is no catch.

A Disney Travel Planner is your best partner in planning the perfect Disney vacation. They are professional agents who are invested in their clients’ happiness. They want to make sure each and every trip is packed full of lifelong, heartwarming memories and magical moments.

When you think about all a specialized Disney Travel Planner offers, it’s a smart choice. Even if you only use them to book your trip, it’s a win. That part is free, and you still get access to tons of free advice and planning tips. There really is no disadvantage.

Why use a travel agent for Disney?
There are many reasons!

Final Tips About Working with a Disney Travel Agent

Be sure to enlighten your travel agent about any favorite characters, special attractions, or food preferences (including allergies) that you might desire. This will be able to help your agent when booking your magical vacation.

Do not forget that, during the holidays, you want to be sure and ask them about any special events you may want to leave room in your schedule for. There are lots of magical extras and you will not miss out!

As stated before, having a Disney travel planner will make your vacation planning easy. Putting together a fun-filled vacation with memorable moments for the whole entire family should be your travel planner’s top priority. But they are only as good as the information you give them.

If you have any concerns, your agent should be easy to get in touch with. He or she should be able to answer any of the concerns or questions and provide any tips and tricks to make your traveling needs simplified.

Many agents keep regular office hours, but they should be available to you at any time while you are traveling.

So do your own research and find the best agency that fits for you and your family. Then sit back and relax while your planner does all the work for you. Start counting down the days to your visit to the happiest place on Earth!

For more helpful planning tips, check out these articles:

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Disney Cruise
Aulani, Hawaii
Adventures by Disney

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Why Use a Travel Agent for Disney?