Why Use a Travel Agent for Booking a Disney or Any Other Vacation?

 Why Use a Travel Agent for Booking a Disney or Any Other Vacation?

Yes, you can easily book your Disney Parks, Disney Cruise, Disney Aulani, Adventure by Disney or any other Disney Destination on your own. Most of the websites are easy to understand and work though. So, why would you book with a Travel Agent instead of doing it yourself??

 

Do you know all the ins and outs of the destination you are booking? Are you up to date on any policy changes? Look for a Travel Agent who keeps up on these things for you.

Agents spend days/weeks learning about a specific destination before they are allowed to book it for a client. That Travel Agent may have gone to Disneyland hundreds of times, but they are required to take the online classes and pass the tests before they can book.

• Travel Agents are required to keep up with the changes at the destinations they book.
• Do you know about any and all special offers/discounts? Travel Agents spend time doing this on an ongoing basis.
• Do you know about all the different requirements for your travel?
• Will you need a passport?
• Are there any prohibited items you may have not thought about?
• Are you ready to sit on hold for hours waiting to book your trip, make a special request, or ask a question? As an agent I’ve seen hold times go to 3+ hours for DCL.
• Disney, and most other destinations add the commissions to the price you see on their websites. If you don’t use an agent, the destination is keeping that extra money. In other words, you are PAYING for the services of a Travel Agent, and you are doing the all the work yourself!
• Do you have someone in your travel party with a special need?
• Mobility, hearing, vision or health issue? A TA should be able to ask questions and smooth the way for you.
• Are you prepared to deal with any issues that come up while booking, pre-vacation or during your vacation?
• Should you get Trip Protection or Trip Insurance?
• How do you deal with a travel delay, cancelation or a weather issue that impacts your trip?
• If you are unhappy with service or accommodation, do you wish to take time out of your trip to deal with it? Would it be easier to make a call to your Travel Agent to see if they can resolve the issue for you?

 

These are just a few of the reasons to consider using a Travel Agent. The choice is yours.

 

Things you want in a Travel Agent:

• The Agent has training/certification on the destination you desire to go to.
• An example is a current College of Disney Knowledge Update Certificate.
• The Agency requires the agent makes payments for you directly to the DESTINATION using a Credit/Debit card and refuses all cash payments. (Disney Gift Cards are a different subject. Not all Agents/Agencies accept them.)
• The Agency requires you to sign a Debit/Credit/Disney Gift Card Authorization Form giving them permission to use your card to pay the destination for you. This can be an e-signature or a physical signature.
• A Credit/Debit/Gift Card Authorization Form protects both the Client and the Travel Agent/Agency.
• How it Protects the Client:
• This form limits the amount of money to be charged.
• Keeps the Agent/Agency from “holding” your funds.
• Limits where the card can be used.
• Example: You book a Disney Parks stay the charge can only be made for booking at that resort.
• All charges must be for the stated reservation.
• How it Protects the Agent/Agency:
• It gives documentation of your consent to make that payment.
• It clearly states how much the client wants each payment to be.
• If the government wants to check records for proof that the agency is not mishandling or holding funds for a client this is necessary.
• The Agent makes sure to send confirmation of bookings and payments.

 

Things you do not want in a Travel Agent:

• The agent has no training on the destination you desire.
• The Agent/Agency only accepts cash payments or charges Credit/Debit cards to the agent or agency, not the destinations.
• If the Agent/Agency only accepts cash, ask for proof of an active Bond or Trust Account. If they cannot provide this information be careful.
• There have been cases where the agent/agency makes the deposit and then cancels the trip taking the money and running. This is real fraud and has cost the traveling public millions. The number of cases of this have decreased greatly over the past 10 years due to new laws and public awareness.
• There is minimal documentation of bookings and payments. You don’t get paperwork, you should!

 If you are looking for a Travel Agent feel free to contact us:

Info@PixieDustedMemoriesTravel.com

Follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PixieDustedMemoriesTravel

&

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pixiedustedtriveltribe

Why Use a Travel Agent to Book Your Disney Vacation? Why Use Pixie Dusted Memories Travel?

Why Use a Travel Agent to Book Your Disney Vacation?

Why Use Pixie Dusted Memories Travel?

The internet has made it easy to book your own vacation. You can even just call any Disney Park or the Cruise Line and book your vacation yourself. So why use a Travel Agent? There are many good agents and agencies out there. Find one that feel right for you.

 

First off you should find an agent who has specifically trained for Disney. They should be able to show you their College of Disney Knowledge Certification if asked. This training is covers every Disney Destination you can think of. You will have access to a wealth of knowledge by going with a Disney specialist. If it is your first time they can tell you the ins and outs of the destination.

Disney sometimes has discounts, free dining or other offers. Travel Agents are notified of these and can apply them, sometimes even after you have already booked. Travel Agents are aware of other ways to save a money and will assist. A great example is using Discounted Disney Gift Cards to pay for your vacation. Another way to save money is when you book and when you travel. Agents see the prices and how they change. They can also offer their experience on when pricing is lowest for where you wish to go.

Besides saving money a Travel Agent can help you understand what you may need to bring on your vacation. Are you cruising? Do you need a passport? What about Trip Insurance? Land or Sea considering Trip Insurance or Trip Protection is important. What does it cover? When do you purchase it? What are the risks of not purchasing?

 

What happens if something goes wrong and you cannot go on vacatin? Do you know the cancelation policy of your vacation destination? How do you get a refund? What if something goes wrong on the trip? Were you disappointed in the service or quality of the experience? Were there issues with your room? A Travel Agent can help you figure out how to talk to Disney to get assistance.

 

Do you need help with accessible accommodation? Do you need information on a destination and what is available for YOU with your accessible needs? A Travel Agent you specializes in Accessibility can be a great asset! Pixie Dusted Memories Travel does this!

 

Here is a big reason to consider using a Travel Agent. It is YOUR time and stress level. When new itineraries for Disney Cruise Line or Booking Opens for new dates at the Parks or Resorts the phone lines get overloaded. There can be a one to four hour plus hold before you can talk to someone to book your trip or make a modification/payment on an existing vacation not in the new booking time frame. Do you want to be on the phone stressing about making your Advanced Dining Reservations, Booking Port and Shipboard Adventures or adding special magic to your vacation? Would it not be wonderful to turn that over to someone else to handle for you? A Travel Agent does the work so you can PLAY!!

 

The best thing about the majority of Travel Agents that book Disney is there is no fee!! The first thing to ask any Travel Agent is do you charge any fees! The answer should be NO! Travel Agents get paid by commission. That commission is built into the price of the vacation. It does not matter if you book with a Travel Agent or directly with Disney, YOU pay that commission! The total will be the same for the exact same booking. Why not let someone else do the work for you?

We are Pixie Dusted Memories Travel. We do not charge any fees for our travel-related services. We do the work so you can play. We are here to answer any questions you may have. We will watch for special discounts that we may apply to any reservation you book with us.

How to Book a Disney Cruise / Why Using a Travel Agent is a Smart Choice

 

How to Book a Disney Cruise

Why Using a Travel Agent is a Smart Choice

You can easily go to the DisneyCruise.com and find everything you need there to book your cruise for yourself. Itineraries, Information on cabins to help you pick what type you wish, prices and even some things you can add, like ground transfer are all there. You can just click away and book it for yourself. No additional fees added. Sounds easy enough, and honestly it is! Please read on!

 

There is another way to book. You can contact your trusted travel agent and tell them when you wish to sail, and cabin type (or ask for help deciding on cabin category), and they will book the cruise for you. If they have done the College of Disney Knowledge and they are working closely with Disney they should NOT charge any fees! Ask before booking if there are fees. If there is a fee, I highly suggest looking for another TA. TA’s are paid by commission from Disney, or whatever other company they are booking. The only time I honestly believe there might be a ligament fee is if the TA is doing something they normally do not do that does not pay commission. For some of us that is booking flight outside of Disney. With a reputable TA you should be able to look online for the same cruise, cabin category and see the cabin is the exact same price, with no fees added. That means even the quotes are FREE!

 

Why book with an TA when you can do it yourself?? If you find a good TA they will answer any and all questions. They should ask you questions, such as do you need a Handicapped Cabin. Do you have any special needs/concerns they should be aware of? Have you ever cruised before? Do you get motion sick? (If you get motion sick they should offer a cabin midship.) Have you ever sailed with DCL before?

 

The TA should be willing to tell you the pros and cons for every type of cabin level and help you decide what category and area of the ship is best suited to your needs. Should you book an Inside Cabin or one with a Oceanview, or Veranda? Will you be most comfortable in the forward section of the ship, midship, or aft? A good TA will be happy to give you a 2^nd, 3^rd, or even 4^th quote if you want to compare or if the price is out of your budget. Don’t be afraid to ask if there is something for a lower price.

 

A good TA will be able to tell you what type of activities are available for every person in your traveling party. There is something for everyone to do on a Disney Cruise! Kids have Kids Clubs but also have some special, must book in advance (some with a fee) character meet and greets and there is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Teens and Tweens have their own special areas as well!! Your TA should tell you about the Adult Only Fun! From Adult only pools to Adult only dining. There are things to do! Your TA should be knowledgeable! Your TA should be able to tell you what type of Family Fun you can find on the ship.

 

Do you have special needs? Do you use a wheelchair/scooter or other mobility aide, CPap, or need a special diet due to medical need or allergies, have vision or hearing issues?? A good TA will know or take the time to find out what is available to assist you. They should find answers to all your questions. This is one of my personal specialties! If you have special needs and the TA refuses to look for information for you, I suggest you walk away. I personally learned that the hard way.

 

Don’t like or have time for sitting online trying to figure it all out? Don’t like sitting on hold, possibly for 4-7 hours for several days in a row to get an answer or a problem solved? Use a TA!! A TA dedicated to helping their clients be happy and safe and will be willing to make the calls and/or do the research for you! Post Covid-19 hold times are insane for all travel destinations, especially Disney!

 

What Information will you or your TA need to quote or book a Disney Cruise? Your TA cannot get an official and accurate quote without the following.

• Date of Cruise you wish to go on.
• Name of the Ship of choice, 
• Category of Cabin(s) you are interested in (With me you can ask for comparisons, price two cabins of different categories so you can better choose what is best for you.)
• FULL Legal Names (First, Middle, and Last name) of all guests traveling with you in the same or linked cabins if your family/group needs more than one.
• Physical address (If the traveling group has different addresses, you should give all address to the TA).
• Email address.
• Phone number(s).

 

Once you have accepted the quote and decided to go on the cruise you will need to give your TA your Credit/Debit/Gift Card payment information. The TA should ask you to sign a Credit Card Authorization Form. This authorized the TA to charge the specified amount for your trip and that trip ONLY. You can make a deposit and then hold off on paying until the Pay In Full Date or make monthly payments. It is up to you. All you do to make a payments is contact your TA. They will make the payments. All charges should be made directly to Disney Cruise Line and NOT to the Travel Agent or Travel Agency. If charges, go through the Travel Agent or Travel Agency that is a red flag for possible mishandling of the funds.

 

Your TA should keep you updated on any changes with the Cruise Line. More than ever things change quickly! From Pay in Full Dates to Covid Testing requirements changes happen often. The TA should remind you when you are getting near to your Pay In Full Date. Your TA should remind you of the date you can book things to do on the ship and in ports and tell you if to do it you need to pay earlier than the Pay In Full date so you can start booking. When the time comes for Online Check-In your TA should offer to do it for you or explain the process so you can do it yourself if you wish. Your TA should remind you of the Pre Cruise Covid Requirements and assist you if needed in fulfilling the requirements.

 

In short, a TA will do the work so you, the client can PLAY!! A good TA should answer every question you have and even some you did not know to ask. Your TA is a valuable resource that is really FREE to use!

 

Do you want to book a Disney Cruise Line or other Disney vacation?

Let me know!

 

Carolyn@EliteMemoriesTravel.com

https://www.facebook.com/CarolynsPixieDustedMemoriesAtEliteMemoriesTravel

How to Book a Disney Cruise / Why Using a TA is a Smart Choice!

How to Book a Disney Cruise

Why Using a Travel Agent is a Smart Choice

You can easily go to the DisneyCruise.com and find everything you need there to book your cruise for yourself. Itineraries, Information on cabins to help you pick what type you wish, prices and even some things you can add, like ground transfer are all there. You can just click away and book it for yourself. No additional fees added. Sounds easy enough, and honestly it is! Please read on!

 

There is another way to book. You can contact your trusted travel agent and tell them when you wish to sail, and cabin type (or ask for help deciding on cabin category), and they will book the cruise for you. If they have done the College of Disney Knowledge and they are working closely with Disney they should NOT charge any fees! Ask before booking if there are fees. If there is a fee, I highly suggest looking for another TA. TA’s are paid by commission from Disney, or whatever other company they are booking. The only time I honestly believe there might be a ligament fee is if the TA is doing something they normally do not do that does not pay commission. For some of us that is booking flight outside of Disney. With a reputable TA you should be able to look online for the same cruise, cabin category and see the cabin is the exact same price, with no fees added. That means even the quotes are FREE!

 

Why book with an TA when you can do it yourself?? If you find a good TA they will answer any and all questions. They should ask you questions, such as do you need a Handicapped Cabin. Do you have any special needs/concerns they should be aware of? Have you ever cruised before? Do you get motion sick? (If you get motion sick they should offer a cabin midship.) Have you ever sailed with DCL before?

 

The TA should be willing to tell you the pros and cons for every type of cabin level and help you decide what category and area of the ship is best suited to your needs. Should you book an Inside Cabin or one with a Oceanview, or Veranda? Will you be most comfortable in the forward section of the ship, midship, or aft? A good TA will be happy to give you a 2^nd, 3^rd, or even 4^th quote if you want to compare or if the price is out of your budget. Don’t be afraid to ask if there is something for a lower price.

 

A good TA will be able to tell you what type of activities are available for every person in your traveling party. There is something for everyone to do on a Disney Cruise! Kids have Kids Clubs but also have some special, must book in advance (some with a fee) character meet and greets and there is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Teens and Tweens have their own special areas as well!! Your TA should tell you about the Adult Only Fun! From Adult only pools to Adult only dining. There are things to do! Your TA should be knowledgeable! Your TA should be able to tell you what type of Family Fun you can find on the ship.

 

Do you have special needs? Do you use a wheelchair/scooter or other mobility aide, CPap, or need a special diet due to medical need or allergies, have vision or hearing issues?? A good TA will know or take the time to find out what is available to assist you. They should find answers to all your questions. This is one of my personal specialties! If you have special needs and the TA refuses to look for information for you, I suggest you walk away. I personally learned that the hard way.

 

Don’t like or have time for sitting online trying to figure it all out? Don’t like sitting on hold, possibly for 4-7 hours for several days in a row to get an answer or a problem solved? Use a TA!! A TA dedicated to helping their clients be happy and safe and will be willing to make the calls and/or do the research for you! Post Covid-19 hold times are insane for all travel destinations, especially Disney!

 

What Information will you or your TA need to quote or book a Disney Cruise? Your TA cannot get an official and accurate quote without the following.

• Date of Cruise you wish to go on.
• Name of the Ship of choice, 
• Category of Cabin(s) you are interested in (With me you can ask for comparisons, price two cabins of different categories so you can better choose what is best for you.)
• FULL Legal Names (First, Middle, and Last name) of all guests traveling with you in the same or linked cabins if your family/group needs more than one.
• Physical address (If the traveling group has different addresses, you should give all address to the TA).
• Email address.
• Phone number(s).

 

Once you have accepted the quote and decided to go on the cruise you will need to give your TA your Credit/Debit/Gift Card payment information. The TA should ask you to sign a Credit Card Authorization Form. This authorized the TA to charge the specified amount for your trip and that trip ONLY. You can make a deposit and then hold off on paying until the Pay In Full Date or make monthly payments. It is up to you. All you do to make a payments is contact your TA. They will make the payments. All charges should be made directly to Disney Cruise Line and NOT to the Travel Agent or Travel Agency. If charges, go through the Travel Agent or Travel Agency that is a red flag for possible mishandling of the funds.

 

Your TA should keep you updated on any changes with the Cruise Line. More than ever things change quickly! From Pay in Full Dates to Covid Testing requirements changes happen often. The TA should remind you when you are getting near to your Pay In Full Date. Your TA should remind you of the date you can book things to do on the ship and in ports and tell you if to do it you need to pay earlier than the Pay In Full date so you can start booking. When the time comes for Online Check-In your TA should offer to do it for you or explain the process so you can do it yourself if you wish. Your TA should remind you of the Pre Cruise Covid Requirements and assist you if needed in fulfilling the requirements.

 

In short, a TA will do the work so you, the client can PLAY!! A good TA should answer every question you have and even some you did not know to ask. Your TA is a valuable resource that is really FREE to use!

 

Do you want to book a Disney Cruise Line or other Disney vacation?

Let me know!

 

Carolyn@EliteMemoriesTravel.com

https://www.facebook.com/CarolynsPixieDustedMemoriesAtEliteMemoriesTravel