Do you book with Disney or an Authorized Disney Travel Planner?

[mom2tyandkar]

There doesn't seem to be any cost saving when using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner or booking directly with Disney. Just wondering what are the Pros/Cons of using one over the other?

Looking into booking Dec 11-16 with my mom and 5 yr daughter, a "Girls Trip"!:magic:

[DizneyRox]

There doesn't seem to be any cost saving when using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner or booking directly with Disney. Just wondering what are the Pros/Cons of using one over the other?

Looking into booking Dec 11-16 with my mom and 5 yr daughter, a "Girls Trip"!:magic:
In terms of price, the commission is included, so it either goes to the TA or back to Disney.

In terms of service, depends on if you want to handle all the details or not. I don't use travel agents normally... Too many out there and you never know what you're going to get. You know (pretty much anyway) what your going to get with Disney.

MJ though seems to do a pretty good job from posts here, so you will probably be in good hands there. Never used them, so I can't say from experience.

[Disney4us2]

I used Magical Journeys for our upcoming December trip. Kathy has been wonderful. This is my first time using them and I am hooked. I went directly through Disney last two trips. After reading all the posts on MJ, I deceided to try them. I don't regret that at all. I just give her my dates, hotel, tickets etc and it is all done. Takes all the stress out of booking the trips.

[Reedy Creek Buccaneer]

Melissa at Magical Journeys handles all my Disney vacations.

[wjrhw]

The best benefit of using a good TA is that they will actively look for and automatically apply discounts as they are released. Trying to do this on your own can be difficult. I'm a DVC owner now, but have used Magical Journeys many times before and I was always happy with the service.

[caryrae]

I used to do it myself but after using Magical Journeys this past trip I will us them from now on. It was so easy if you need to make changes to anything just e-mail or call whoever is helping you and they will take care of it, if you want to make a payment do the same thing. We changed the Resort a couple times all I did was send an e-mail and most of the time you will get an e-mail pretty quick telling you they will make the change if available and not long after that you get a new confirmation with your new Resort.

If you have a AAA membership you can use that on a room-only reservation which is what we did. At one point I was sent an e-mail telling me about a deal that could save me some money.

Another cool thing about Magical Journeys is they are members here on Intercot and will make posts and let us know what deals are out there. We had Kathy and she was just great, a very nice person.

[disneymom15]

Magical Journeys all the way. My opinion, they're the best.

[mickeefan]

We have booked through MJ (Wendy)for several years now. It's really a pleasure to have them looking out for your best interest. It's great not having to constantly look for discounts and then hope you can get one when they do release them. MJ does it for you.

[akaDisneyDreamer]

I used a local agent to book my 1st trip in 2008 and she was great. There weren't any deals at that time and now I realize we were lucky to get a room at AKL on such short notice (1 month!). We booked a standard view room and ended up getting a pool view! Nice!

Last year we went to the Disney website and booked our own trip during the "book four nights, get three free" deal. It was very easy to plan through the website and when we did want to make changes a couple of times as to what type room we wanted. Help was just a phone call away. However we didn't need to change what actual plan we were booked in, so it may have been more difficut if that had been the case.

This trip we booked through MJ since we heard such wonderful things about them. It was very easy and when I got a PIN to save 40% on deluxe resorts, Karen applied that immediately and saved us a lot of money (about $1200!) Personally I think it was more "fun" to book it ourselves, but MJ does a great job for you. I don't know how hard it would have been to use that PIN if I didn't have her doing the work for me.

Next trip ... who knows? Probably book with MJ again.

[SurferStitch]

Melissa at Magical Journeys handles all my Disney vacations.

We've worked with Melissa for years now, and she is fabulous. She always gets us the best deals, and gets us the pricing we ask for very quickly. I almost always need to adjust our reservation because DH decides at the last minute he wants to add a day or two, and Melissa gets it done for us right away.

I also know that if any better discounts come out up to the day before we arrive, Melissa will apply it to our ressie. I don't have to stay on top of it myself.

[Strmchsr]

I wouldn't use just any TA as most of them are clueless about Disney or just do the basics for you. However, I've used Wendy at MJ for 6 years now and would never book any other way. I used to book myself, but Wendy just makes it so darn easy.

[MariMouse]

Another shout out for Magical Journeys!! Melissa has been great! We have had great service every time!

[2MuchWDFun]

I am a planner from wa-a-ay back and used to plan our Disney trips on my own. A few trips back we started to use MJ--I will never go back!
We use Karen who resonds so quickly to all my emails ; even on Sunday's. I swear she is sitting on her computer waiting for one of her customers to contact her:mickey:.
The nice thing is that if any new Disney deals come about, she'll let me know and make the changes. I like that I don't have to check constantly.

Great service-peace of mind-lowest prices...what more can you ask for? Go with Magical Journey's.
Nancy

[faline]

You won't be sorry if you use Magical Journeys (http://yourmagicaljourneys.com/)!

Great service and they always make sure that you get the advantage of any announced discounts that apply to you!

[iheartdisney]

Here's another vote for Magical Journeys. I am an uber planner/control freak and it took me a long time to finally relinquish control. For some reason, I listened to all of you out there and have been so pleased I wondered why I hadn't used MJ sooner. Debbie is the best! (Hi Debbie!) We have saved thousands of dollars (I'm not exaggerating). Thousands! Try Magical Journeys. You won't be sorry!

[DisneyDoug2]

On our first trip to Disney we booked on line and they had to call to make changes, this was a so-so experiance. Since then we have always used Debbie at MJ. She always monitors for Disney specials and updates or reservations to ensure the best value and gives up good advice on where to stay and dine.

[Tinker Fan]

Magical Journeys all the way. We used MJ this year for the first time and won't book any other way, they really take care of you and saved me hours on the phone. Kathy at MJ is great.

[PopPhan]

Another one to jump on the MJ bandwagon!! I don't think we will ever book another WDW trip without Denise and MJ!! (Who else would put up with my constant nervous changing/asking for options......)

Magical Journeys :thumbsup:

[disney_daddy]

We used Magical Journeys also. The best thing that I have seen with them is that they'll do the work for you and keep checking for the best deals after you book with them. We have used Kathy for the past few years and she has been just great. One thing to consider about using them, is if something should get messed up, just call them and they'll take care of the problem if possible.

[Canuck Park Hopper]

Is there any difference in the level of service that you would ultimately receive using a TA vs Disney direct.

I have heard people tell me that because they had used a third party to book their trip that Disney was unable or unwilling to make small adjustments in their itinerary.

For example, there were three parties meeting at WDW and staying at same resort (all booked by the same TA and same primary party) but Disney had booked them into rooms spread out across the resort. When asked if they could find rooms together or at least in the same block, they said sorry "no can do" because the trip was not handled by Disney so they could not make that type of adjustment.

Do all TA's fall into this third-party classification - meaning that you may not get the same level of customer service once on site?

Does MJ get preferential treatment in the eyes of Disney?

[PopPhan]

Is there any difference in the level of service that you would ultimately receive using a TA vs Disney direct.

I have heard people tell me that because they had used a third party to book their trip that Disney was unable or unwilling to make small adjustments in their itinerary.

For example, there were three parties meeting at WDW and staying at same resort (all booked by the same TA and same primary party) but Disney had booked them into rooms spread out across the resort. When asked if they could find rooms together or at least in the same block, they said sorry "no can do" because the trip was not handled by Disney so they could not make that type of adjustment.

Do all TA's fall into this third-party classification - meaning that you may not get the same level of customer service once on site?

Does MJ get preferential treatment in the eyes of Disney?

For some reason, I believe that you just got a bad CM at registration, but I could be wrong. Hard to believe that one person making the reservations would have them split throughout the resort. Your TA should have had notation(s) on the reservations to keep them together.

IF you handle your reservations thru MJ, they would have them linked with notation(s) to keep the rooms together, if at all possible.

BUT in the end, it is still at the whim of the resort when they assign the rooms.

[Strmchsr]

Is there any difference in the level of service that you would ultimately receive using a TA vs Disney direct.

No. Not at all. All any CM would see at the desk is confirmation number, not who you booked through.

Let me say that in the level of service you receive in planning the trip there is a HUGE difference. Most TA's I don't bother with. They book your trip, do the minimum and that's it. With Disney it's luck-of-the-draw. Sometimes you get a great, really helpful CM and sometimes you get someone who is clueless. You just never know and it's someone difference every time you call. That, really, is what made the final decision for me on MJ. I've dealt with Wendy for every step of the trip for the last 6 years. It's really nice having that same, dependable level of service and knowing who you are talking to when you book the trip.

[Michelle15]

Yet another vote for Magical Journeys! :thumbsup: My DH books all of our vacations throught Wendy at MJ. She is just wonderful! MJ will answer any and all questions to the best of there knowledge. I always get a quick response to all my questions.

[Jeri Lynn]

Magical Journey's!

Melissa is great!

[AllDisney]

Our last few trips we have booked with Kathy @ Magical Journey:thumbsup:

You won't be disappointed:thumbsup:

[magicalmom]

I booked our 25th anniversary myself through Disney, and made sure that the agent knew it was our bug year. No acknowledgement. (I wasn't looking for anything material, just acknowledgement)

The following year, I first worked with Wendy at MJ. Everybody seemed to know it was our anniversary! It was so much fun -

Plus - I love talking to Wendy on the phone; she is personable and friendly; if I lived in Colorado, I'd want to buy the house behind hers, and share coffee and chat over the fence.

[DisneyDINK]

I've used MJ (Debbie) the last couple of times. For me the biggest benefit to booking with them is the education on the reservation process they inadvertently provide. I used to work in the travel business, and I’m the type who is curious: When do discounts come out? What will the next discount be? What resorts and room types may or not be excluded? I’ve picked up a few tips from them that I couldn’t readily find here on the discussion boards. Not likely you’ll have that same sort of dialogue when booking directly with Disney.

[azcavalier]

Shout out for Karen @ MJ!

We have gone through her almost every time in the past. This time, I have to admit that we sinned and went through AAA, simply to get the AAA Diamond parking. We're bringing the DMIL, and she'll need a wheelchair, and so we wanted to park as close as possible to the park entrances. But AAA doesn't seem to automatically apply discounts and such, and so it required more work on our end. My DW has been overheard to say, "Next time, we're using Magical Journeys again."

Henshaw Family from Virginia

[mom2tyandkar]

Thanks everyone! :thumbsup: I did indeed book with MJ, Wendy was very helpful!! Now we just have to wait.....Dec 11-16th, our first Christmas:santa3: expereince, and it's a girls trip: mom, daughter and grandma!! :cloud9:

[brownie]

There doesn't seem to be any cost saving when using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner or booking directly with Disney. Just wondering what are the Pros/Cons of using one over the other?\

Magical Journeys will actively work to get you a better deal if discounts are released after you book. You are on your own if you book with Disney. We've used Magical Journey a few times now, and it is worth it to book with them. It won't cost you any more, but it could cost you considerably less by the time you leave for your trip.

[LudwigVonDrake]

I call Disney. It's all part of the experience :tink: