are disney travel agents worth it

Why You Should Use A Disney Travel Agent

Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner can take the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation, which is complicated and overwhelming for first-timer tourists. Travel agent can make the process easier by booking reservations, making itineraries, securing discounts, and more. ( Updated April 11, 2023 .)

One thing that regulars often forget once we’ve learned the ropes is just how convoluted it is to plan and take a trip to Walt Disney World. Thanks to years of experience and research, WDW veterans know the basics of planning–from tricks for booking Advance Dining Reservations to leveraging discounts, using Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, navigating virtual queues, making ideal itineraries to beat the crowds, and more–inside and out. However, the whole process is foreign and daunting to newbies, which is why there’s huge value in using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

If all you’re looking for is a travel agent recommendation, Be Our Guest Vacations is our preferred Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. They offer no-cost planning, their agents have  years  of experience and visit the parks multiple times per year, and their team is talented and tight-knit. However, this is not simply a sales pitch for Be Our Guest Vacations…

Our advice to use a travel agent holds true regardless of which agency you end up choosing. The point here is more broadly that it’s incredibly advantageous to use Authorized Disney Vacation Planners– any of them! While some agencies and agents do a better job and have more thorough knowledge of Disney than others (more on these pitfalls in a minute), the vast majority are helpful. Suffice to say, if you’re overwhelmed by planning, a Disney TA can help.

More importantly, there’s no shame in needing help or being overwhelmed! We travel around the globe, and nowhere that we visit is as complicated or intimidating for first-timers as Walt Disney World. It’s literally the size of a city, and Walt Disney World has its own quirks, policies, and unwritten rules that are not easily understood. It’s a bit like learning Na’vi , a language without much real world value but that will endear you with a hardcore community of fellow-fans!

The first and biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is the service. Imagine the knowledge-base of this blog (assuming you think I’m knowledgeable), but in a form that can apply the tips here to your particular circumstances, preferences, and needs. That’s what a good Authorized Disney Vacation Planner provides. It’s a back-and-forth dialogue, and they’re there to hold your hand and give you personalized advice.

Unlike traditional, large-scale travel agencies, most Disney-specializing agents got into it not due to a desire to build some highly profitable business empire, but because they love Disney and really enjoyed planning their own trip. This is why I distinguish between “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (the words you want to look for) and traditional travel agents. The latter are professionals who book trips to myriad destinations, but don’t have a Disney focus. This usually means they don’t have the expertise to provide high-quality service for Disney destinations.

For this reason, we do not recommend national, non-Disney travel agencies when booking Disney vacations. No offense to Costco or AAA, but they simply cannot compete with the ‘mom and pop shops’ in terms of quality service and knowledge. Agents at the big companies are booking myriad destinations with little experience at many of them.

It’s entirely possible that the agents at Costco, AAA, or other big box travel agencies have never visited Walt Disney World, or at least not within the last year. The best Authorized Disney Vacation Planners visit the parks multiple times per year and keep abreast of all the latest changes. They are Disney specialists, not travel industry generalists.

Unfortunately, big box agencies aren’t the only ones to avoid. In recent years, there has also been a proliferation of Disney travel agencies that are thinly-veiled multi-level marketing schemes (MLMs). These are agencies that exist not to provide exceptional service to clients, but primarily to recruit more agents and grow by charging initiation and training fees. The problem with these agencies is similar to the big box ones–a lack of quality control and subject matter expertise. They will hire any agent who expresses an interest in joining (because that’s their  actual business, not helping clients) and don’t care about the caliber of client service or knowledge of their agents.

There’s no easy way to identify which Disney travel agencies are primarily MLMs. An obvious indicator would be if they recruit you despite your lack of knowledge, but it’s not always that obvious. To each their own, but my rule of thumb is avoiding agencies with hundreds of agents. When it comes to Authorized Disney Vacation Planners, size is a liability and not an asset. Go for a boutique business and get better service.

The second biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is the time-savings. This has become a particularly pronounced advantage in the last couple of years, and is arguably the biggest reason to use a travel agent now–especially if you’re already knowledgeable about Disney.

Currently, Walt Disney World and Disneyland both have staffing shortages. This is a problem throughout the parks and resorts, but nowhere is it more pronounced than the call centers. It used to be the case that you’d wait on hold for a long time only on the days that discounts, special event tickets went on sale, or something else major and new was released.

Long hold times have become the rule rather than the exception. You might think that this is no big deal, as you’ll simply book everything online. That’s a good plan… until something goes wrong. 

Disney IT also isn’t the most reliable; between that and problems with reservations, there’s a strong probability that you’ll need assistance via a call center representative at some point during the planning process. Having an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner deal with this and advocate on your behalf will save you headaches and time waiting on hold, and the benefit of that cannot be overstated.

The third biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planners is saving money. This is not to say travel agents have access to better discounts than you or anyone else–they don’t. (I don’t know why there’s this mistaken belief out there that some travel agents find better or worse prices when it comes to Disney–any variance in pricing is a result of games Disney plays with its inventory and special offers at different times.)

The advantage they do provide when it comes to price is that they are knowledgeable and diligent about discounts, and continue monitoring your reservation even after booking. This can be particularly beneficial if you book far in advance before discounts are released–relevant right now as 2024 Walt Disney World Vacation Packages will be released in June 2023.

I know several Authorized Disney Vacation Planners who get up at 3 a.m. every time Walt Disney World releases a new discount in order to quickly apply the deal to all eligible reservations they’re managing. By contrast, if you learned about the deal a few days later and called Disney to book, a lot of availability would already be gone.

They also know the ins and outs of tweaking reservations so they fall within Disney’s eligibility parameters and are less likely the be excluded from promotions. (All too often, we hear from readers who technically qualify for a discount to be applied to their existing reservation, but Disney finds a way to exclude them due to lack of availability under the promotion or something else.)

So, in that sense, Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are finding better prices for many of their clients, but it’s indirectly as a result of that knowledge and diligence.

The fourth biggest reason to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is for booking Advance Dining Reservations or ADRs–Disney’s term for restaurant reservations. Guests staying in Walt Disney World resorts can make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay (up to 10 days). This little 60+ days rule quirk is something that can be difficult to explain and comprehend, but knowledgeable travel agents  know it well–and exactly how to leverage it. 

Using the length of stay + 60 day rule, a skilled travel agent will book your ADRs in order of difficulty, so you’re more likely to get the most elusive reservations. And with many restaurants still operating at reduced capacity, ADRs are more competitive than ever–by the time the 60 day mark hits, some will already be fully booked. So if you want character meals or other popular restaurants, your best bet is having an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner make your ADRs.

Beyond that, there are some generalized reasons to use Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. For one thing, they are almost always fans themselves who exclusively plan Disney travel. Most I’ve encountered over the years are good people. The overwhelming majority became travel agents because they’re passionate about planning vacations and became the go-to resource for their friends and family, and just decided to turn it into a job. Out of the Disney TAs I’ve encountered, this is true  at least 95% of the time.

And, because they’re passionate about Disney, they actually know about Disney. A traditional travel agent faces obsolescence because they were (basically) just someone to outsource the booking of vacations and had no firsthand knowledge of destinations to which they booked trips.

On the other hand, Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are only becoming more relevant thanks to the service and answers they provide in response to Disney vacations becoming increasingly complex. They know Disney inside and out (they are literally tested on it!) and have lots of first-hand experience.

They will be up at the 60-day mark to make your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs), come up with plans to help you score the prime Lightning Lane selections, constantly monitor new discount offers to see if they can reduce the cost of your trip, and generally able to assist with other facets of trip planning.

Beyond that, there’s no cost to you for most travel agents specializing in Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are paid commission by Disney on the trips they book, so you’re usually not paying anything extra. I don’t know why Disney pays them, but my educated guess is because it’s essentially Disney ‘outsourcing’ the planning resources they’d otherwise need to provide. If you’re calling your travel agent, you aren’t calling Disney directly, tying up their guest services or other Cast Members.

This is win-win-win. Disney doesn’t have to deal with your questions, the Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is able to make money doing what they love, and you’re able to get free advice and help planning your trip. The biggest ‘winner’ there is you. One point person gets to know you, is responsive to your requests & questions, and feels a vested interest in making sure you have a great trip. You don’t call Disney, wait on hold for an interminable amount of time, and receive inconsistent answers from random Cast Members.

With that said, an increasing number of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are charging an additional flat fee or hourly rate for their booking and/or planning services. This comes at a time when Walt Disney World vacations are more complicated than ever, and dealing with Disney (due to the aforementioned staffing shortages) is more time-consuming.

Without question, travel agents are  worth  these extra fees, as their professional expertise and experience is valuable. Whether you want to pay such a fee when free alternatives exist is a matter of personal preference. ( Be Our Guest Vacations , the agency we recommend, currently does not charge any consulting fees.)

The added value and expertise offered by Authorized Disney Vacation Planners is especially true in the era of My Disney Experience, MagicBands, Genie+, etc. The Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is a liaison ( or buffer! ) between you and Disney, putting out fires and fixing problems as they arise. They save you headaches and stress in solving these problems.

Again, I speak from the experience of having to deal with these headaches myself–although things are getting better with these systems. I love Disney Cast Members in the parks, but my experiences have not been overwhelmingly positive on the phone.

With all of that said, using a travel agent isn’t for everyone. Some people have obsessive personalities and like total control over their vacations, or actually enjoy spending hours reading blogs like this one (and thank you to those of you who tolerate all of my corny jokes! 😉 ). Although we used Authorized Disney Vacation Planners years ago, I’ll admit that this now describes me. I love figuring this all out for myself, and I’m a total control freak.

Even if you are a control freak like me, it might make sense to book through a vacation planner so they monitor discounts and be your liaison with Disney in the event My Disney Experience issues arise, while you can do the “fun” stuff like planning ADRs and Genie+. Most vacation planners are as hands on or off as you specify, and it’s pretty easy to let them know what expect of them and what you’d like to do yourself.

If you’re convinced that a travel agent is for you, there are a few things to consider when choosing one. First, while I think it’s poor form to comparison shop or seek information without actual intent to book through them–as this is their job and they’re only paid on bookings they actually make–I do think it’s a good idea to make sure you “click” with an agent after requesting a quote.

It should be pretty easy to tell based on their first email or two whether they’re someone you want to work with, but if you’re still unsure, request a quick phone call. You are trusting this person with your vacation and (potentially) will communicate with them a lot, so you should make sure they aren’t impersonal or will treat you like a number. This is typically a total non-issue, as most vacation planners I’ve encountered are incredibly pleasant and enthusiastic, but it’s good to double-check if things don’t seem right from the get-go.

Second, make sure they’re providing the level of service detailed here. If you want someone to make your ADRs or make recommendations with things like stroller rental, make sure those are things they do. Not all agencies offer the same services, so be sure the one you’re considering will help in the areas you’d like assistance.

Finally, they have to know their stuff. Confirm they’ve been to whichever Disney destination you’re considering (and have been there recently ). If you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip, you don’t want a Disneyland regular–they’re totally different destinations from a planning perspective. If you’re taking a Disney cruise, your travel agent having stayed at every Walt Disney World resort hotel is meaningless. You get the idea. I’m not saying they need to spend 50+ days per year in the parks, but you want them to know their stuff.

Your Thoughts

If you’ve used an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, how was your experience? Which Disney TAs do you recommend? Any other tips you’d like for choosing a vacation planner? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

Written by Tom Bricker

I do want to comment that AAA has a specific branch that specializes in Disney vacations. I have used only one AAA agent for my bookings over the years, and she has a Certified Disney Planner designation. After enjoying this article, I’d say the difference is the other Disney dedicated agents handle all the smaller stuff that I happily do on my own. My AAA agent would not be doing dining reservations I don’t think. I use her for the hotel/tickets package, with the goal of being sure sure of the best price on that potentially high price tag.

If I rent DVC points for my hotel stay, can I still use a Disney Vacation Planner for everything else?

I would imagine there are some that will work with you, but they’ll likely charge a fee. Most of the free ones require a resort reservation through them.

Who “authorizes” Disney travel agents? According to the Walt Disney company, they don’t authorize any and have no official links. So what exactly do you mean by Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? It seems a deceptive designation.

Hi! I think I can answer this. I am an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner”. Basically it is an individual that is signed up under an agency and has registered with Disney and taken all of the required training and tests to be able to sell Disney products. The individual agents are responsible for their actual first hand experience with Disney products. The big agencies he refers to are like Costco and AAA who can sell you Disney products, but they aren’t specifically Disney, and wouldn’t offer any of the specialized services he detailed in this article. They would book your trip, possibly give you perks, but you would be on your own if a new discount was offered, with your dining and Genie+ reservations, etc… and with any personal questions you have.

Can you hire Be Our Guest Vacations to book your Genie+ and ILL reservations each morning of your trip? If not, does anyone know of a travel agent offering that service. (I’m happy to pay.) Thanks!

Oh my God, ! That’s brilliant!

Oh my God, you mad freak! That’s brilliant!

We were going to use a Disney planner but they encouraged us to call “for a quote.” We’d long understood that compensation for their services came from Disney so we avoided that planner company so we wouldn’t have to pay ourselves. But we noticed you’d used “call them for a quote” as well. What kind of quote would they give us if we didn’t have to pay. Confused.

For the price of the vacation package, not their services. You provide party details and resort preferences, and they quote you a price on what Walt Disney World will charge for that. No different than the price quotes you’d get from Disneyworld.com.

I have had a handful of wonderful experiences with Be Our Guest Vacations! Jeanette has been patient and helpful in planning Walt Disney World vacations as well as Disney cruises. She was accessible in a situation where things with the airline went sideways, and found me last minute accommodations so I didn’t have to spend the night in a chair in the Orlando airport. I have not been disappointed!

My husband and I are trying to plan a trip right now for the 4th of July weekend. He is having trouble with people emailing him back or even calling him back. We are finding better ticket prices at Sam’s club but I don’t know anything about what we are doing. We aren’t trying to spend an arm and a leg.

Thanks for sharing this great advice, it will help me a lot.

Do you know of a good planner that you would recommend for my Disney World trip?

I’m having trouble getting return emails. I’ve sent emails to two highly recommended agencies in the past few days and have not received any response. So frustrating

Hi John… interested in having your help. Let’s start the conversation. Target date May 7 – 14, 2021.

We are looking at coming next September. When we book through you; do we pay the $200 deposit to hold it and pay if off 30 days before? Or do we pay for the full trip up front?

Is there a website or somewhere I can find a ADVP in my area? I’d prefer to work with someone who is local 🙂

My question is a little unique. Are there any Authorized Disney Vacation Planners that can help with things like dining reservations, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, etc. if we are staying at Shades of Green? The only thing stopping me from fully committing to Shades is I don’t know if there are any travel agencies that can help with just the reservations (and yes, I’m aware Shades is DoD owned). Thank you so much in advance!

I’m looking to book a trip to Disney World now that it’s open again . Looking at 3 week of September.

I am a little nervous about using a Disney planner since the one I have been in contact with is asking for my credit card information and my account password. I know they need it for reservations, but is there supposed to be a more secure way or is this how it works? Just need some ease of mind!

To my knowledge, that’s the way it works–at least with the credit card. I’ve always wondered why there Disney doesn’t create some sort of secure payment portal.

Thanks for that fast reply!

I requested a quote for an Adventures by Disney and received the first email from one of the agents at BOGV. Do I ask them if they have done the chosen destination? If they haven’t, how do I go about asking for a different agent?

You can certainly ask if you want, but I probably wouldn’t bother. There aren’t a lot of planning variables associated with Adventures by Disney, so they don’t need to have done the itinerary to book and arrange it for you.

You’re highly unlikely to find many travel agents who have done multiple Adventures by Disney itineraries, anyway.

We plan to go next year inAugust, is it too early to email them and start planning? Or will they prefer to wait as it gets closer?

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Is It Cheaper to Book Disney Through a Travel Agent?

From time to time, Disney releases special promotional rates on hotels, dining, tickets, and vacation packages.  Disney travel agents match the deals that Disney offers through its own website.

Disney travel agents get their clients the lowest possible rates. If a better discount comes along after a trip is already booked, then they will go back into the system and apply the new discount to the trip in order to take advantage of the new lower rate. 

Let’s investigate why it’s cheaper to book through a Disney travel agent .

Disney World’s Website vs. Disney Travel Agents – Which is Cheaper?

The internet has made it easy to book your own trip and Disney vacations are no exception. You can just go on Disney’s website, sort through the Disney hotels , select your ticket, and make all your arrangements in one sitting. It’s as simple as that, right?

As easy as that may sound, I wouldn’t recommend just winging it like that.

When it comes to Disney World vacations, there’s a lot to consider. It’s a vast resort, with 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, dozens of hotels, and restaurants galore. There are Advanced Dining Reservations, Genie+ selections, Disney After Hours , Club Level at Disney World , stroller rentals , and the list goes on. Disney vacations are much more complicated than meets the eye!

If you want to do Disney properly, I wouldn’t recommend going it alone, especially if it’s your first or second time.

The most magical Disney vacations are well thought out. You should have good touring plans and your reservations should be in place way ahead of time. Otherwise, you won’t know what to do and see, and you won’t be able to just the lines at the most popular rides or eat at the best restaurants.

A Disney travel agent can walk you through every detail of a Disney World vacation. They can give you tips on where to stay, which rides to prioritize, where to dining, the best location to watch the fireworks, and more.

Once you have decided on where you’d like to stay, and which restaurants and theme parks you’d like to book, then your dedicated Disney travel specialist will book every aspect of your resort stay. They are a Godsend!

How Disney Travel Agents can Save you Money

There’s a common misconception when it comes to Disney travel agents.  Let’s clear that up.

It’s not more expensive to book a Disney trip through a travel agent vs. booking it directly with Disney.    In fact, many trips end up being cheaper.

Disney releases a number of travel discounts throughout the year.  This may include the Free Disney Dining promotion , Room Only discounts (often up to 25% off), or the Play, Stay, Dine, and Save discount. We argued that Disney vacation packages ARE worth the money in our last blog post because they combine a hotel stay with either a ticket or dining discount in one convenient and affordable package.

The price you see on Disney’s website will be the price you pay through a Disney travel agent. In other words, the price is the same regardless of where you book it – online, over the phone with Disney, or with a travel agent.

However, there are times when a Disney travel agent can save you money.

For starters, most Disney travel planners don’t charge their clients any fees to plan their vacations. That means you won’t pay a dime in commission for their services.

Next, you can be confident that your travel planner will get you the best discount. It’s their job to keep updated on Disney’s latest promotions. This means that, while you may overlook one, there’s not a chance that they will.  They’ll make sure you get you the best deals out there and you’ll never pay more than you need to.

Another way a Disney travel agent can save you money is in the re-booking process. If you book your Disney vacation package before a bigger and better discount is released, then you can still get to take advantage of the new promotion.

If applicable, your Disney travel agent will go back into the system and apply the newly released discount to your package. You’ll get the lowest rate and you won’t have to do lift a finger because your Disney travel agent handles everything for you. They provide an invaluable service and it’s completely free!

Yes, Disney Travel Agents Are Often Cheaper

So, to sum it up, the deals you find on Disney’s websites are the same ones that your Disney travel specialist will book for you. However, you yourself may overlook some promotions that the travel agent will be privy to.

Your Disney travel specialist will also rebook your trip to take advantage of any lower rates that may arise after your initial booking, and your dedicated specialist will handle all your planning, hotel and ticket bookings, dining reservations , and answer all of your questions and concerns.

Their services are entirely free and, with their help, it’s likely to end up being a cheaper trip.

After you pay the initial $200 booking deposit, your Disney travel specialist can set up a payment plan to pay for the remainder of the trip (layaway).  This means that you can pay down your balance over the time, as long as you’ve paid in full by the final payment deadline (typically 30 days prior to check-in).

Using a dedicated Disney travel agent is a no-brainer!

Check out our When is the Cheapest Time to go to Disney , How to Become a Disney Travel Agent , and How Much Does it Cost to go to Disney World  pages for more tips.

Ready to Book your Disney World Vacation?

Contact the Disney travel planners at The Vacationeer . Their services are 100% free of charge and they’ll make sure you get the cheapest and most magical trip possible!

Thanks for reading our “Is it Cheaper to Book Disney through a Travel Agent” post.  Remember to check out our Disney World Crowd Calendar , Disney World Map , Magic Kingdom Rides , and Epcot Rides pages.

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I didn’t realize they were free. My friend just told me she booked through a travel agent, and it was free. I’m just here to confirm. That’s great news because I need help with my Disney trip.

Yes, Jen, it’s true! Disney travel agents don’t charge for their services, and they can actually save you money by finding the best deals and discounts. Plus, they handle all the planning details, making your trip stress-free. What’s not to love?!

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Is Booking Through A Disney-Certified Travel Agent Worth It?

So you've finally decided to embark on a Disney vacation. Whether it be a theme park, a cruise, or a resort, there's still one little order of business left — whether or not to use a Disney-certified travel agent to take the stress out of planning . That is THE question!

"The goal of a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations is to take the guesswork out of your vacation and make it as stress-free and seamless as possible," certified Disney travel agent Mary Helen Law explained to The Points Guy . "We will take the details you give us and use them to curate a trip specifically designed for the needs and preferences of your family." 

And the best part of all — it's completely free! "There is a common misconception that using a travel agent is going to cost you," the President of Be Our Guest Vacations, British Hill, noted in a video posted to the company's YouTube account. "We do all the work for you, and it doesn't cost you any more. And on top of that, we have exclusive perks for all of our guests," she said. But how exactly does this work? The agents work on commission and referral fees to receive a portion of what travelers pay for the trip. A win-win for everyone! 

But is booking through a Disney-certified travel agent actually worth it? Here's what we found.

Disney-certified agents save you time, money, and stress

As it turns out, using a Disney-certified travel agent can save you time, money, and a whole lot of headache — especially if you're a Disney newbie. "They can actually book all of your reservations for you," travel expert Kayla Alan explained in a video . "That way, you're not having to get online or get on the phone with Disney and wait forever and go through like 10 million different people." 

But that's not all. Disney-certified agents are always in the know about the many discounts, perks, and other promotions that Disney regularly offers and can apply them to your existing reservation. Aside from saving you time and money, Disney-authorized agents are simply a good way to avoid any headaches associated with navigating parks, like  understanding the difference between FastPass+ and Genie+ . At the end of the day, you don't know what you don't know. And that's what makes a Disney agent so invaluable. 

One caveat is to make sure the agent is a true Disney specialist. You'll know the agent is genuinely Disney-certified because their website should have the "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" label and their EAR-marked status. The EAR-marked program has several levels, from bronze all the way up to diamond, and ensures that the agent has undergone rigorous training and has lots of Disney-planning experience. In short: They know their Mickey Mouse stuff! 

Disney-certified agents are worth it for some but not all

All in all, most vacationers stand to gain from utilizing a Disney-certified travel agent. All you have to do is step aside and let the professionals work their Disney magic. 

But speaking of relinquishing control, there are a few scenarios where using a Disney-certified travel agent might not be the right choice for you or your family. For example: type A travelers who have a hard time leaving their fate in someone else's hands; well-versed Disney goers who don't really need any inside tips, tricks, or advice; and those vacationers who are of the "my plan is to have no plan" mentality. If your objective is simply to show up and let the Disney air move you, a Disney-certified travel agent probably isn't necessary. It should also be noted that if you're planning on booking things outside of Disney, like your hotel or other activities, then you might also want to opt out of using a Disney agent unless they offer a la carte planning services.

Happy Disney days!

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Trying out a Disney Travel Agent – Is it Worth it?

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Picture this: trying to figure out which hotel to pick, what transportation to use for each park, which rides to get fast passes (or lightning lane passes or whatever they call them), which parks have early entry, and which hotels offer the early entry and which ones have the special extra late nights.

And don’t even get me started on when to make dining reservations, how to use that genie + thing, and what time to snag a virtual spot for the Tron & Guardians of the Galaxy Ride. It’s like a never-ending puzzle! Oh yeah, I have to raise a family too.

A few years ago, I finally outsourced this task to a Disney Travel Agent, because I have enough on my plate, (also I didn’t know their services were free, soooo I probably would have done it a lot earlier if I had known that)

My First Disney Travel Agent Experience

My first Disney Travel Agency experience was pretty good. It was one of those big Disney Travel Agencies that boasts it books the most Disney Vacations and makes magical memories, yada yada yada.

They got me my rooms, tickets and I think I saved a little bit of money, so it was definitely worth outsourcing to a Disney Travel Agent because I didn’t have to do any of that stuff. The one thing I didn’t love was they tried to upsell me on everything, which I know is sales but it wasn’t that fun.

Still, I was most likely going to use this same company again…. until my friend told me I needed to use her travel agent.

Now, I am not one to usually jump to whatever my friend tells me, and I didn’t really understand how a travel agent could be any different, but my friend insisted I had to try her Disney Travel Agent.

Seriously, this was the Best Experience Ever

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting too much different when I reached out to the next travel agent, but after a few minutes (maybe even seconds) I knew immediately this was different.

Right off the bat it was a great experience, It was like talking to your best friend. They are so excited to help you plan your vacation, you can feel it. By the way, the name of the company is Best Day Ever Vacations (I probably should mention that)

Rather than just sending over a quote, they wanted to know about my family, what characters my kids are into, what kinds of rides they liked, what kind of resort we prefer, and then worked it all within my budget.

We ended up splurging and staying at the Beach Club Resort because my kids love Star Wars and its a short boat ride away + it has an amazing pool. Also, I loved the classic Ice Cream parlor on property. I absolutely love this resort.

How Did They Help Me Plan My Trip?

In addition to booking the room and tickets, the agency gave our family

• a complete 50+ page guide for our trip
• Notified us along the way of when it was time to book dining reservations
• Gave us a guide and tips on how to setup Genie + to have the best possible day
• DIning Guide for which restaurants are the best
• Tips on how to avoid the crowds and get on the most possible rides
• They even connected me with a stroller rental place which had way nicer strollers than Disney and saved me a ton of money.
• But that’s not even the best part. ….

T hey Found me a Better Deal, Even after I was already Booked!

So I booked the trip about a year in advance. I put down, I think it was a $200 deposit and hadn’t really thought about a trip when out of the blue I got a text from my Disney Planner Jamie saying a new offer just came out and they got me a better deal. They saved me an extra $650 on my vacation that I already booked.

It was the best text I have ever received. Since then I have booked every Disney Vacation with Best Day Ever Vacations , I’ve done two Disney Cruises, and am now going on my 4th Disney World trip booked with them this holiday season.

Update – Disney Aulani

I wanted to update this article because I just got back from a trip to Disney’s Aulani. Once again, I used my handy dandy travel agent and it was sooo good.

First off, Aulani is Magical. The place might be the most wonderful place on the planet. Look at the picture above, it honestly doesn’t even capture the beauty.

Second, Our travel agent got us fully set up with an amazing room, tips on things to do on the island, guided us on how to get to aulani from the airport (we decided on renting a car, we got dining recommendations, even where to get the best malasadas (you have to try a malasada, they are amazing). It was seriously the best trip of our life.

Overall – Should you use a Disney Travel Agent?

If you are looking to book a Disney vacation, I highly recommend using a Disney Travel agent. Worst case, if you find one on your own and they are average, you will save you some time. I guarantee if you use Best Day Ever Vacations, you will be thrilled you booked a trip with them.

They have seriously made Disney Vacations so much more fun for my family and especially me. I now too, like my friend refer everyone to Best Day Ever and I am pretty sure our entire PTA has pretty much used them.

Here is the link to get a free quote from Best Day Ever Vacations , I have sent them a ton of people (so many, they asked if I wanted to be a travel planner, but that’s not for me)

If you mention rookie moms , they will pair you up with one their top travel planners to make sure they get the best service….. and in full transparency they send me a Starbucks gift card when you book as a thank you. Hey, a girl needs her Starbies.

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15 Reasons to Use an Authorized Disney Travel Planner

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: November 26, 2023

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If you haven’t been to Walt Disney World in a long time or if it’s your first time, you may be surprised to know just how complicated and overwhelming the planning process can be, and in our opinion, using an Authorized Disney Travel Planner will make the entire experience 100x times better .

In this post, we are going to talk about why you should use an Authorized Disney Travel Planner (Disney Travel Agent) and all the benefits you will receive in doing so.

We can understand why people would be hesitant to use a travel agent to book a Disney trip. Nowadays, almost everyone knows how to go online and shop for plane tickets, get a hotel, and buy tickets to theme parks, and on the surface, it seems like an easy proposition here too.

Personally, I am a super planner, and on any trip that I take anywhere else in the world, I book everything myself. But Disney World is another animal altogether. After 40+ years of visiting Disney World, I’ve come to realize that even for myself, it’s much easier and less stressful to have someone do all the heavy lifting for me.

Honestly, I run a Disney planning website, and even I get confused at times with all the constant changes Disney makes to the planning process. For things like dining reservations, navigating Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, figuring out how to beat the crowds, touring strategies for the parks, and getting the best discounts, it seems like they change almost every week.

So when I think about people who haven’t been to Disney in a decade or people who are planning their very first trip, it’s almost unthinkable for me to see them attempt to do it all on their own. Why suffer 

First of all, let’s get this out of the way…using a Disney Travel Agent is 100% FREE, so there is no additional cost over booking directly through Disney. If someone wants you to pay for this it is a red flag and you should look somewhere else immediately. 

We are all about saving money when visiting Walt Disney World , and this is absolutely the #1 way to do that. If you are looking for our recommendation for the best Disney Travel Agent, that is hands-down Show You the World Travel .

They have decades of Disney planning experience, they have by far the best customer service and it’s who we personally use when planning our trips to Disney World. I’ll talk more about them later, but I want to focus your attention first on all the reasons why you should use a Disney travel agent in the first place.

Because no matter which company you end up using, I wholeheartedly believe that you will have a much better experience using any Disney Vacation Planner.

Before we get started, if you are looking for some of our most popular Disney planning guides, take some time to read through these:

• Disney World Planning Guide
• Best Disney World Resort Hotels
• Best Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World

Before we get started, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest Disney vacation planning tips including how to save money, where to stay, and the best things to do. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Table of Contents

What are Authorized Disney Vacation Planners

In short, Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are knowledgeable travel agents that specifically are approved for selling Disney travel. This could be Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the Disney Cruise Line, or any Disney destination in the world.

With online booking these days seen as the norm with infinite amounts of popular booking sites, Disney utilizes specialized independent contractors who work with an affiliated travel agency.

Disney has trained and prepared authorized vacation planners to be equipped with modern technologies to meet a different age of clients in the 21st century.

These vacation planners can book Disney vacations for guests over the phone, over the Internet, or through email. They are NOT Disney employees and are instead independent contractors.

Remove the term travel agent from your dictionary and instead replace it with Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

What Locations Can Disney Travel Agents Book?

Disney Travel Agents are qualified to deal specifically with Disney Vacations, from cruises to Disney World trips to Disneyland trips to Adventures by Disney trips, and the list goes on and on. 

Here are specific locations Authorized Disney Travel Planners can book:

• Walt Disney World Resort (FL)
• Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Water Parks: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon
• All Disney World Resort hotels, as well as non-Disney resorts
• Disneyland Resort (CA)
• Disney Cruise Line
• Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
• Adventures by Disney

Often these travel agents can book other locations as well, it just depends on where they are specifically qualified. Many of them will do Universal Studios trips as well as some other Luxury Caribbean Resorts and Cruise Lines. 

How It Works

Many guests THINK using a travel agent, or specifically an Authorized Disney Travel Planner will cost them additional money. This is NOT the case. The client pays nothing extra, instead, the travel agent makes money and their commissions directly through the travel supplier, which in this case is Disney. 

Disney will compensate travel agencies a percentage of the total trip, including hotel rooms and park tickets once the guest completes their vacation. If you’re asking the travel agency to book any other aspect of a trip, such as airfare or additional add-ons, it’s likely they will charge a small fee to do these things since those other companies do not give agencies any commissions. 

When a Disney Travel Planner books your trip, they will get all the necessary information from you. Names, addresses, pertinent travel information, etc… They will walk you through all the steps and essentially book the trip entirely for you, once they know all of your preferences. 

The great part is that they will be the single point of contact for your trip, and essentially handle everything for guests from cancellations to dining reservations to park tickets to any other adjustments that guests need to make. 

They are essentially an employee that you have around the clock to assist and help you with every aspect of your trip planning!

They will work around your schedule and communicate with you in whatever way you prefer including phone, email, or text messages. 

Reasons To Use a Disney Travel Agent

So now you know what a Disney Vacation Planner is, why should you use one?

When using Disney travel agents, you can get an experienced and highly qualified Disney expert that will help and guide you every step of the way. Even if you know a LOT about Disney and you’ve planned trips in the past, they can make the planning stage so much easier and more fun.

In this section, we will touch on our Top-15 reasons why using a Disney Travel Agent is not only easy, but it’s plain smart. Let’s dive right in…

1. Personalized Service

The first and absolutely best reason to use an Authorized Disney Travel Planner is the customer service and personalized support that you get. Imagine having someone who has planned dozens, if not hundreds, or thousands of Disney trips, and they want to share all those tips with you!

They know all of the ins and outs of planning a Disney trip, and can tailor it to the needs of your family and the preferences that you have to make your trip perfect. They’ll be able to keep a regular conversation with you up until your trip starts, making sure that you absolutely love your time at Disney! 

A good Disney Travel Planner would be glad to assist in any way they can! After all, the reason they likely became an agent was because of their love for all things Disney! 

Plus, these agents would like repeat business and they know the only way they will get it is if they make the trip as painless as possible for the guest. 

Trust me, there’s nothing better than not having to deal with a problem and sitting on the phone for hours with Disney support trying to fix a tiny little detail. It’s like having a full-time employee at your disposal 24 hours a day. 

2. Disney Travel Planners are FREE

Unlike other travel agents, which often ask for a flat fee or an upfront cost to use their services, Disney Travel Planners are entirely free for guests ! That’s right, you won’t pay anything extra to use one over the cost of the same trip booked directly by calling Disney or online

The reason this is possible is that Disney gives some of the profits that they make from the trip back to the agency after the trip is complete, and that’s how they get paid.

This means your trip isn’t more expensive by using an agent! In fact, in a lot of ways it’ll be cheaper (more on that in a minute). It’s an absolute no-brainer! 

3. They Can Save You a TON of Money

Disney Travel Planners can save you significant money! They have access to all of the latest deals and promotional offers from Disney, and they’ll likely know about them before you do! 

This means that for instance if you book a trip in January but two months later in March a better promotional deal becomes available, a Disney Travel Planner will help you get the better deal! They’ll be able to cancel your first time and re-book you for the second trip, at a cheaper price. 

They’ll of course ask you first and then inform you of the savings of doing so, but usually there is no reason not to do it.

They get special notifications from Disney every time there is a new offer, and they can start applying that discount immediately to your reservation. 

Timing is crucial here since oftentimes the offer is limited and by the time regular guests even hear about the new offer, all the Disney Vacation Planners have already booked it for their clients, leaving regular people like you and me out of luck.

Not only just this, but right from the start, they’ll be able to assist you in saving money by purchasing the right hotel, the right park tickets, and whatever other choices on your trip can save you money! They’ll ensure you don’t buy something that isn’t necessary for your family, which you may not understand on your own.

READ: How to Save Money at Disney World

4. You’ll Save Lots of Time

If it’s your first trip to Disney, you are in for a rude awakening…booking a Disney trip can be VERY time-consuming! From the park tickets to the resort room to the other add-on experiences you want to enjoy, everything takes time to book.

And it’s even worse if you’re visiting another country on an “Adventures by Disney” trip, trying to figure out everything you need to do. This can be extremely overwhelming! 

A Disney Travel Planner will take all the legwork out of it for you. They can assist you with plane tickets, transportation to/from the airport, transfers, and SO many other aspects of your trip that you won’t even need to think about! 

But what if you have a problem or need to make a change or an adjustment to your trip? Your Disney Travel Planner will do it for you! 

Everyone reading this is also extremely busy in their everyday life, and there is nothing worse than sitting on hold for 1-2 hours every time you need to fix an easy problem. Just imagine the amount of time you’ll save! 

5. Wealth of Disney Knowledge

You may not know that all Authorized Disney Travel Planners have to complete the College of Disney Knowledge online training course equipping them with endless knowledge of all of the Disney Vacations you can possibly go on. They know all the tiniest of details that you need to have prepared for your Disney Vacation. 

Just in Walt Disney World for instance, even if you’ve been several times, are you well-read on the hundreds of different dining options, constantly new attractions, 30+ different resorts, multiple transportation options, and every other aspect of a Disney World Vacation? Likely not. 

It can be overwhelming to plan a Disney trip, especially if things don’t go exactly to plan for you during the planning process. While blogs like ours and books can be helpful, you still may need a little extra personalized help. 

Someone who truly knows how to maximize your vacation as much as humanly possible, and who can explain it all to you is priceless. For example, if they don’t know at least half of the things on our Best Disney World Tips list , find someone else.

That way, if something goes wrong, or maybe you can’t get some of your desired advance dining reservations or a hotel reservation for a particular resort , the Disney Travel Planner might be able to assist you! They’ll do whatever they possibly can to impart their knowledge to benefit your vacation. 

6. Help Pick the Right Time of Year

An experienced Disney Travel Planner can help you figure out the best time of year to visit the Disney Parks based on your family’s availability. Not only does picking the right time save you significant amounts of money it can also minimize crowds as much as possible. 

A Disney Travel Planner will know exactly when the crowded times of the year are, when the cheapest times of year are, and when there are special events that would be of interest to your family. By taking into account the needs and interests of your family they’ll be able to assist you in maximizing both your time and your money.

You can always consult an online guide like our Disney World Crowd Calendar , but they can explain it to you based on your specific dates for traveling and help you choose if you are stuck deciding when is the best time to go.

7. Plan Your Days

These days it’s imperative that you have some kind of schedule if you want to maximize your time at Disney as much as possible. 

Planning your day wrongly and not making the fullest use of your time can cause you to miss some of the most important things, while also wasting unnecessary time that could have been better spent doing other things.

With things like Genie+ , nighttime shows , dining reservations , and long wait times for attractions , you’ll want to have a definite plan of attack for each day of your vacation. By properly planning your days, you can have more time to relax, go on rides, shop, or whatever else you are looking to do. 

A Disney Travel Planner will help you figure out the most important parts of your trip and the exact right time to do those activities.

8. Book Dining Reservations

Booking dining reservations is one of the most stressful parts of a Disney trip, with many of the most popular restaurants booking up within minutes of being available. 

Walt Disney World, prior to the pandemic, had a 180-day rule. This meant that guests can book their restaurants 180 days before the start of their hotel reservation. 

However, this 180-day rule has now been replaced by a 60-day rule, allowing guests to book their dining reservations only 60 days in advance. Doing this requires you to have to wake up at 6:00 am EST and quickly book them before they fill up. 

Obviously, most guests don’t want to wake up that early and make their reservations (myself included!) The good news is that your Disney Travel Planner can do it instead! 

Simply give them your restaurant choices and they’ll do the best they can in obtaining the restaurants of your choice during those windows. This makes it SO much easier and means being able to sleep in!

9. They’ll Help with Lightning Lane Reservations

If you’re not familiar, Disney recently replaced FastPass+ with something called Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. It’s a paid service that allows guests to pay a daily rate so that they can reserve “Lighting Lane Reservations” and essentially have little to no waits to get on rides. 

It’s a little bit of a complicated process and it takes a little bit to figure out the ropes, even for tech-savvy people like myself. For a full understanding, read our Genie+ and Lightning Lanes guide .

There are a lot of things to figure out when it comes to making these Lighting Lanes, but the good news is, a Disney Travel Planner can help you! 

They’ll explain the entire process to you, help you decide which rides to use your reservations on, and basically everything but booking the actual ride reservations (this needs to be done from the park as your day progresses). 

After they assist you and walk you through it, you’ll probably be an expert and can help me write my next guide!

10. Help with Hard-to-Get Resort Reservations

Already it is overwhelming when attempting to decide which of the resorts at the different Disney locations around the world is best for your family. Factoring that in with the fact that many resorts sell out quickly, you’re limited with how much time you have to book the resort of your choice. 

A good Disney Travel Planner will be able to assist you in figuring out your family’s needs and the best possible scenario for you. They’ll help you make reservations and make it much more likely that you’ll get your 1st choice of the resort you want. 

11. They Will Help You with Transportation To and From the Airport

Families traveling to Walt Disney World used to rely on the complementary Disney bus called Magical Express. This is no longer available and guests will need to figure it out themselves in deciding the best transportation to and from the Orlando airport . 

With things such as shuttle buses, trains, ridesharing services, private transport, etc… it can be confusing to decide what’s the most efficient and reasonably priced transportation option for your family. 

A Disney Travel Planner will assist you in not only walking you through the different options, but they’ll also be able to help you book the transportation option that you’d like to use for your trip. 

12. They Can Plan All the Extra Magic

If done right, Disney Vacations will have a little bit of extra magic at every turn throughout the trip, and good travel planners know exactly how to spice things up and make it as perfect as possible. 

Maybe it’s with a one-of-a-kind excursion on a Disney cruise or maybe it’s a special nighttime fireworks cruise on one of the lagoons at Walt Disney World. A Disney Travel Planner can tell you all of the additional experiences and costs in helping you make your trip as amazing as possible! 

There are so many add-on experiences you can book to add some flair and uniqueness to your trip and a good Disney Travel Planner knows ALL about these experiences and which you’ll like most.

13. One Point of Contact for Planning Your Trip

Having one point of contact for your entire trip makes it so incredibly simple! Rather than worrying about talking to different Disney Cast Members every time you call, for each segment of your trip, you literally only need to talk to your Disney Travel Planner! They’ll do all of the rest for you. 

Whether it’s making changes to your vacation or getting individual questions or concerns, the agent will work out all of the details themselves, and they’ll communicate them directly with you when finalized. You won’t need to explain yourself to multiple different people, just one. 

14. Help During Your Vacation

What if you end up having some concerns or issues on your vacation? Whether you have questions about making Genie+ Reservations, trying to make some last-minute dining reservations or even an emergency situation, contact your Disney Travel Planner and they will tell you what to do! 

They’ll assist you until the very end of your vacation and it’s time to come home.  That way you can relax and have someone else handle the legwork for you while you worry about just relaxing and having the best possible time on your vacation.

This has happened to us multiple times, and thankfully they’ve helped us resolve our issues.

15. You’ll Be More Relaxed

And lastly, you’ll simply be more relaxed when you have a Disney Travel Planner. Even though they are a blast, Disney Vacations can be stressful between the parks, the waits, the people, etc, and you’ll have a lifeline whenever you need something for your trip. 

By having a skilled and qualified Disney Travel Planner, they can be available for you whenever you need them. That way you can truly enjoy your trip, and if you have any concerns at all, they are one phone call or email away giving you that extra peace of mind. 

Ready to Start Planning Your Disney Vacation?

If you feel overwhelmed planning a Disney vacation, use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner such as Show You the World Travel . They are experts on every Disney location and can tell you where to stay, what to do, how to save money, and give you personalized service for your most magical vacation ever!

Travel Agents vs. Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

While it can be tempting to use a bigger travel agency with a company like AAA or Costco, we’d absolutely recommend avoiding it. While they might be able to offer some incentives and a bit of knowledge, it’ll be NOTHING like the personalized care you’ll be getting from a qualified Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. 

Many of these larger travel agencies have never even been to the destinations for which they sell trips, and they certainly aren’t kept abreast of the latest news and changes to the vacation destinations they’ve been to. 

They also won’t be available for you if you have a simple question, nor will they attempt to save you money at every possible opportunity. They don’t care, nor do they need to care. Their job is to book you for a vacation and their job is complete. 

On the other hand, a good Disney Vacation Planner sees out a vacation and wants to ensure every aspect of the trip is great from the planning process until arriving back home after the vacation is over. They have a long-term vested interest in establishing a relationship with you as their client. Their business relies on it. 

You can’t even compare the two types of travel agencies. Trust me, a small qualified Authorized Disney Vacation Planner wins EVERY day of the week. 

When using a Disney Travel Planner, there are a few other important tips to keep in mind in making sure you partner up with the right kind of agency. Here are our favorite suggestions:

How to Choose the Right Travel Agent

It can be overwhelming when deciding what travel agent to choose for your upcoming Disney Vacation. There are many great Authorized Disney Travel Planners but there are also other non-authorized travel planners. 

Here are a few things you can do to choose the right one: 

• Make sure they have a stellar reputation , if possible, check to see if they have an ‘Earmarked’ classification. That means they are classified by Disney as a good company that is recognized for offering both terrific service and knowledge to guests. 
• Make sure the agency is accredited by either IATA (International Air Transport Association) and/or CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association).
• See what their response times are when you reach out to them to see how their service appears to be. If they don’t respond in a timely manner now, it will be like this throughout the whole planning process so find someone else.
• Ask them questions about their experience and how many times they’ve visited the Disney Destination that you would like to book. Again, if they haven’t been themselves, it’s not a good sign.
• See if the agency has any reviews on Facebook or Google .  

Be Careful Who Takes Your Money

It’s imperative that you find out how the different agencies handle your money. If you’re making out any kind of payment, do they send it directly to Disney? Does it get processed directly by Disney? 

Any agency that collects and holds your money in its own accounts is a major red flag . It could mean that they are in financial trouble and need your funds for their own cash flow. They could be using your money to pay off their suppliers for other vacations. You’ll have no guarantee that they will eventually pay Disney for your vacation. 

This could mean that Disney can eventually even cancel your trip if they don’t get paid in a timely manner, as is the case with Disney cruises. In any case, make sure you use a credit card that offers good protection for your trip. It’ll give you just that little extra security. 

Watch Out for Extra Fees

More and more agencies with Authorized Disney Vacation Planners charge additional fees for their booking services. This is to account for the additional time and hassle for the agents to book Disney trips these days.

And while it still could be worth it, you can avoid these extra fees by picking the right agency. Why pay more if you don’t have to?

Many agencies still don’t charge these additional fees, and there are plenty of free alternatives in which you don’t need to pay these additional fees. Just find out prior to booking with whatever agency you go with.

Do You Save Money Using a Disney Travel Agent?

You will save money in most instances using a Disney Travel Agent, but not always directly. The cost of using a Disney Travel Agent is exactly the same cost as you’d pay if you booked the trip directly through Disney. 

But…a Disney Travel Agent will save you money by doing things such as helping you book at the right time, purchase the best resort and ticket package, and continue to look for additional savings for your trip even AFTER you book your trip. 

To make it simple for you, you will never pay more using an Authorized Disney Travel Planner, and you will pay less 99% of the time than you otherwise would.

Are Disney Travel Agents Experts?

Disney Travel Agents are experts in the field of Disney Travel knowledge. They’ve had to complete the College of Disney Knowledge and likely other training through their individual agencies. They know A LOT about Disney, plus they’ve likely been on several Disney trips, which gives you the confidence they absolutely know what they are talking about.

Can I Be Involved in the Planning Process?

Absolutely! Disney Travel Planners will ask you a myriad of questions in the beginning stages to find out all the interests of your family. If you have specific suggestions that you’d like to enjoy for your trip, notify your agent. 

They’ll do everything they can to tailor your Disney trip around your interests and the things that are most important to YOU. 

Will a Disney Vacation Planner Help Me During My Trip?

Disney Vacation Planners are not just there to help you BEFORE your trip, they’re also available during your trip. Things happen on vacation, from emergencies to needing last-minute changes, and your Disney Travel Planner will assist you! 

Can I Get a Disney Vacation Planner If I Already Booked My Trip?

It depends on how you booked your vacation. If you booked it directly through Disney, it isn’t a problem at all and is quite simple to do for agents. 

On the other hand, if you’ve booked it through a third party you will likely need to cancel your vacation first. Not every third-party company has the same cancellation policies, it just depends. 

How Do I Contact a Disney Travel Agent?

Once you find a reputable Disney Travel Agent, you can contact them online or by phone. We recommend Show You the World Travel as our go-to choice for planning a Disney Vacation.  

We know they are trustworthy and offer tremendous customer support because we’ve used them primarily for our Disney Vacations.

Is it Worth it to Use a Disney Travel Agent?

Despite the fact that we’ve been on dozens and dozens of Disney trips over the years, we STILL use a Disney Travel Agent. Using them isn’t just for knowledge, but it’s for ease and saving time for us. They just make it incredibly simple and pain-free from the very get-go. 

When you add the positives and the negatives of booking your own trip and compare that to the value that a quality Disney Travel agent will bring you, it’s not even CLOSE. 

We wholeheartedly recommend it! And worst case you try it out and don’t like it, you don’t need to ever do it again. But we guarantee if you do it once, you won’t go back! 

When to Not Use a Disney Vacation Planner

The only types of people that likely wouldn’t benefit from a Disney Vacation Planner would be obsessive planners that want to plan every single detail of their trip , without relinquishing any type of control . 

When you use a travel planner, they are the only ones who can make any kind of adjustments or changes to your trip, and for some people, giving up control can be difficult. 

The good news though is even IF you are this type of person, you can still benefit by using a Disney Vacation Planner. You can talk to them about wanting to do certain things yourself such as planning dining reservations and booking your Lightning Lane Reservations or whatever else interests you and they will accommodate.

I’d dare to say that most Disney Vacation Planners would relish the fact that they don’t have to do every aspect of your trip, and would invite you to take part in some of the more time-consuming responsibilities for them if you want to get involved.

Ziggy’s Personal Recommendation

While there are plenty of good Disney Travel Planners out there, I personally recommend Rene Cittadino and her wonderful team of experts at Show You the World Travel . We use them all the time for our vacations to Walt Disney World, and have always had incredible experiences using them.

First of all, they have over 20 years of experience in the travel agency and planning trips to any of the Disney theme parks, cruises, or adventures is their expertise. One thing we like is that they are a small agency, so you will always have more personalized service.

We’ve heard nightmare stories from people using some of the bigger agencies where oftentimes, sadly, you are just a number and don’t always get the service you deserve. That’s not the case here.

In fact, their agents have waited on the phone for 7 hours to make reservations for me when I couldn’t get through to Disney. That’s what I call service!

Another thing I love about Show You the World Travel is that they are always trying to save me money. Even after I’ve already booked a vacation with them, they will alert me when Disney comes out with a new offer that is cheaper than the one I already booked so I can save more.

They also are great at keeping up with the latest policies and updates around the parks, which was a lifesaver during the pandemic. Basically, they take the stress out of planning a Disney trip and make it pain-free at a time when Disney keeps making it more and more difficult for guests to understand.

And of course, they are absolutely, 100% free to use, so there is really no need for me to do all the planning myself. I just tell them when I want to go, where I want to stay, and what I want to do, and they do the rest.

Honestly, I couldn’t be happier using Rene and her amazing team, and if you value that pristine customer service and making your Disney trip planning easier to handle, you can contact them for a free quote to get started .

And tell them Ziggy sent you! 🙂

That wraps up our thoughts on why you should use a Disney Travel Agent on just about any Disney vacation. We hope that we helped show you why it can make your planning process almost stress-free and save money at the same time.

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the coming future, here are some other popular articles where you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

• Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
• Disney World Crowd Calendar
• When are the Best Times to Visit Disney World?

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our article on why you should use an Authorized Disney Travel Planner…

• What is your favorite way to visit Disney World for cheap?
• What budgeting tips have you learned over the years that can help others save money?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

sara lefever

Tuesday 12th of December 2023

I’m using one now for a Disney cruise I’m taking in March. What are ur thoughts on getting a gift for travel planners at the end of the trip for all their help! Ideas? Amount to spend on a Cruise vs Park trip. Theres obviously a whole different level of planning between those 2 vacations. Thank u!

Should I use a Disney Travel Agent?

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Please click my disclosure policy to learn more.

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If you’ve done any research into taking a Disney vacation, you’ve probably noticed just how complicated it can be. That’s why some people prefer using a Disney travel agent.

Some people love planning their own trips, but that isn’t the only option. In fact, booking your trip with a Disney travel agent might be the right choice for you.

But, it’s not for everyone. We’re going to take a look at the ins and outs of using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner so you can decide whether using a travel agent is what’s best for you.

This post also includes an interview with my pick for the best Disney travel agent , Siera Duiser from Destinations in Florida. You can request a free no obligation quote from her at any time .

Table of Contents

6 Benefits of Using a Disney Travel Agent

If you’ve read any of my posts, you know my mission is to help people have a stress free Disney vacation planning experience. Sometimes, this just might mean using a Disney travel agent.

Actually, instead of using the term “Disney travel agent” they are called “Disney vacation planners”. You’ll see me use both phrases interchangeably throughout this post.

1. Using a Disney Travel Agent is FREE!

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions is: How much does it cost to use a Disney travel agent ?

Because most of us automatically assume there is a charge whenever someone is providing us a service. But today is your lucky day because using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is completely free!

Disney vacation planners are paid a commission directly from Disney on the trips they book. What you do need to ask about is whether or not there is an additional fee for more advanced concierge services like itinerary planning.

An authorized Disney vacation planner should have this information posted on their website, but if in doubt, always ask.

If a travel agency tries to charge you a fee for simply working with them to book a basic Disney vacation package, walk away . There should be no charge for that from authorized Disney travel agents.

2. Your Own Personal Sounding Board for Planning Ideas

Frankly, having someone at your disposal to help make the many decisions involved in Disney vacation planning is nothing to sneeze at.

Sure, I try my hardest to fill this gap by providing as many posts as I can to help you make these decisions, but it’s not the same as having a conversation with someone about it.

There are MANY confusing parts of Disney planning. What are park pass reservations? What is the difference between Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane reservations?

I think you get my point. The sheer volume of decisions necessary when planning a Disney trip is staggering.

Disney travel agents are trained professionals who can help guide you to make the decisions which work best for your family.

Even if you have no idea of the dates you want to go, the resorts you want to stay at, or what parks you want to visit, a Disney vacation planner can help.

3. A Disney Travel Agent Might Save You Money

Another very popular question that comes up is: Is it cheaper to book Disney through a travel agent? The answer to this is no…and yes.

There are no extra discounts for booking with a Disney vacation planner, so there is no specific advantage there.

However, the advantage lies in the fact that authorized Disney vacation planners have their fingers on the pulse of all things Disney.

Because of this, they know all of the Disney discounts you might be eligible for .

Disney releases their discounts in fits and starts throughout the year. If a discount is released that applies to your reservation, your Disney vacation planner can secure the discount for your reservation. 

If you made your reservation yourself a year in advance and never heard about the discount, that’s hundreds of dollars down the drain you could have saved.

Your Disney travel agent can make sure you never miss a discount.

For example, let’s say you know you want to nab any discounts for you Disney resort that rolls out. If you and your Disney travel agent have talked about this beforehand and she/he knows what you want, they can book it immediately.

This is essential as discounted room inventory can book up very fast.

4. Disney Vacation Planners Help Choose Your Itinerary

A major part of planning your Disney trip is deciding where to go on what day. Let’s face it, there are a lot of things you could do each day!

A Disney vacation planner can help you narrow down your priorities AND have tips for which days to do what things.

For example, did you know that Mondays are always more crowded at Magic Kingdom? I bet a Disney travel agent does!

5. Sit Back and Relax!

This gets right back to my mission to help keep you stress free when planning your Disney trip.

Working with a Disney travel planner can help keep your stress levels down in multiple ways already mentioned here.

In addition to letting them do a lot of the work, it’s nice to simply have the single point of contact to bounce ideas and questions off of .

As a therapist, I’m fully aware of the value of just having a trusted person to talk to about things. Disney trip planning is no different.

6. Help in Case of Emergencies

What if you are on your trip and something goes very wrong? It could be anything. Just give your Disney travel agent a call and they can start working on things behind the scenes.

Hopefully you never need to use this aspect of the service, but it’s nice to have as a back up, just in case.

Downsides to Using a Disney Travel Planner

Of course, there are some downsides to using a Disney travel planner. Whether or not these are a deal breaker for you is up to you to decide.

These cons might not bother some people at all, while others won’t even consider a Disney travel agent because of them.

Giving Up Control

Let’s face it, some of us are control freaks (I’m in the corner raising my hand sheepishly…) and can’t tolerate the thought of letting someone else take the reins in booking a trip.

If that’s the case, no biggie, a Disney travel agent isn’t for you.

However, there is a lot of middle ground here. You can work with a Disney travel agent and still book your own dining. Talk with your agent to determine just what level of participation you want to have.

All Changes to Your Reservation Must be Done by the Disney Travel Agent

This one really only applies to the main components of the trip, like your resort, tickets, dining plan, etc. If your vacation package is booked through a Disney vacation planner, they are the ones who have to make any changes to your reservation.

You will not be able to do it on your own.

Again, you still have ultimate control over your Disney dining reservations, this is mainly just referring to changes to your resort reservation.

So if you originally book Art of Animation but decide you want to switch to Pop Century , your agent must do it for you.

All Disney Travel Agents are NOT Created Equal

When choosing your Disney travel agent it is important to work with an Authorized Disney Vacation planner. Sure, any generic travel agent can book the basics of a trip to Disney World.

However, will that travel agent know the ins and outs of booking a Disney vacation? Or that dining reservations should be made 60 days in advance?

The single biggest advantage of using an authorized Disney Vacation Planner is tapping into their wealth of knowledge. Most Disney travel planners are people who simply love all things Disney.

These are people who are passionate about planning Disney trips and know Disney like the back of their hand.

A generic travel agent simply doesn’t have the same knowledge, so you miss out on many of the benefits listed above.

And this knowledge isn’t just limited to Disney World or Disneyland. They can help book trips to any of the Disney parks around the world, Disney cruises, and Adventures by Disney trips.

What Does Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Mean?

The phrase “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” is language that comes straight from Disney. This is a term they coined to apply to Disney travel agencies that they feel meet their exacting standards.

Essentially, Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are earmarked Disney travel agencies. Disney gives them their seal of approval.

Frankly, using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner helps you to know it is an agency you can trust to do the best possible job.

Disney travel agents even have a “degree” in Disney! Each year they attend the Disney College of Knowledge to get recertified. Talk about being up to date in all things Disney.

Finally, all of that brings us to my interview with Siera…

Interview with Disney Vacation Planner Siera Duiser from Destinations in Florida

Just as a brief introduction, Siera is a Top Seller with the Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Destinations in Florida .

She has been featured in Huffington Post, Fox News, Brides, and more! So without further ado…

Why did you become a Disney vacation planner?

I have always loved all things Disney and even travel in general! I grew up visiting Disney World a couple times a year with my family and visited some incredible places both inside the country and all over the world.

I enjoyed planning my vacations and wanted to share my knowledge and experience that I had gained over the years to help other people make memories on their adventures.

How long have you worked as a Disney vacation planner?

I have worked as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner for about 9 years now.

What does a Disney vacation planner do?

I am as involved as you want me to be. Some guests use my services just for the resort booking process and discount watching to make sure that they get the best deal possible on their vacation (since I take care of all discounts for you) while others need help with making their dining and itinerary decisions. I’m happy to help with whatever you need for your vacation. 

What planning services are complementary and which have an additional fee?

All of my services are free to my guests who book their vacations through me. The only time there is a fee is for guests who need help planning their vacations, but have booked on their own.

Why is it important to book with an authorized Disney vacation planner?

The Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is a designation given by Disney that shows these agencies are approved and recommended by Disney. We are even paid by Disney this way ( so my price is never higher than booking on your own ). We also have completed Disney’s College of Knowledge training to prove that we know the parks and resorts to Disney’s standards.

What is your favorite part of helping people book their Disney vacation?

My favorite part of helping people book their vacation is planning special experiences that will become priceless memories with their families. Whether it be a special dinner to celebrate their child’s birthday, a romantic dinner for a honeymoon, or a princess’ first visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, I love helping my guests plan their special moments. 

What other destinations can you help with?

I can book destinations all over the world! I specialize in both family travel and romance travel. In Florida, I help many guests add a day or an extended stay at Universal Orlando Resort to their Disney World vacations, but I also book all cruise lines, all inclusive vacations, Hawaii, and so much more! 

What is your favorite Disney memory?

I have so many favorite Disney memories, from when my husband and I went for our honeymoon to my kids’ birthday celebrations over the years! I think I have to say that my absolute favorite Disney memory is my wedding. I got married at the Polynesian, took wedding photos in both Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and then stayed for my honeymoon.

Do You Want Siera to Help You Plan Your Disney Trip for FREE?

Nicole here, popping back on in. If you are as impressed with Siera and her love of Disney as I am, it’s easy to get your no obligation vacation quote. You can contact her by clicking on the button below and filling out the form . She will get back to you as soon as possible.

Should I Use a Travel Agent for Disney World?

In the end, this is a question only you can answer. It’s definitely not for anyone, but it could possibly be for you. Go with your gut. Read through everything I’ve said in this post and give it some thought.

However, here are some instances where you definitely want to consider the option of a Disney vacation planner:

• High stress levels – You are feeling so stressed out while planning you are missing out on the fun and excitement the planning process should bring
• Last minute trip planning – Planning a last minute trip to Disney can be more complicated and very time sensitive. A Disney vacation planner knows exactly what needs to be done in this situation
• Large groups – If you are traveling with a large group, whether that is extended family, a sports team, or anything else, the complexity of booking increases dramatically. Not to mention, using a Disney vacation planner can help cut down on some of the inevitable drama…

What if I Already Booked My Trip and Decide I Need Help?

It’s never too late to try to get some assistance with planning your trip. However, since the Disney vacation planners are paid via commission on booking the package, things might look a little different.

Many Disney vacation planners offer these additional concierge services for an additional fee.

If it is within 30 days of booking it is also possible to contact Disney and get your booking transferred to your Disney travel agent. This will help save you the concierge fee and get the agent their commission.

I guess as an alternative, you could always cancel your reservation and have your travel agent rebook. Clearly this only works if there’s plenty of time left and the room you want is still available, but it’s worth a shot.

Your Thoughts on Disney Travel Agents

Have you ever used a Disney vacation planner? Did you have a good or a bad experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

Don’t forget to follow The Disney Journey on Pinterest and Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest news and updates.

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Privacy Overview

Should I Use A Disney Travel Agent?

Do You Need A Disney Travel Agent?  

It’s the question I ALWAYS hear from people who are thinking about a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or any Disney Park.  

It’s a tough question, with a lot of factors to consider, but I hope I can layout all the nitty gritty details to help you make your own decision.  

Things You Need To Know About Using A Disney Travel Agent:

My unbiased opinion.

First of all, you need to know that I am NOT affiliated with any travel agency.  This is NOT a sponsored post, and is based on my personal experience using a Disney Travel Agent and booking trips on my own.  

Most posts you’ll find out there about this subject are affiliate posts, where the writer gets paid a kick back for every referral they send to the agency.  

This is NOT one of those posts. 

Any recommendations I share are completely based on my personal experience with an agent and with booking directly through Walt Disney World.  

Fees For Disney Travel Agent Services

Second, the majority of Disney Travel Agents will not charge you a fee.  

When agents book a basic Disney trip, the receive a commission from Disney.  If an agent provides additional concierge level services for clients, there is sometimes a fee associated with the booking.  

Find out up front from any agent you work with if they are going to charge you for ANY of their services. 

Your Responsibilty

Third, before booking with ANY travel agent, DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!  

Make sure to read reviews of their services and ask around to your friends for recommendations.  

Any Disney Travel Agent worth using will have attended a Disney College of Knowledge.  These events give agents everything they need to know to properly book your Disney Vacation.  

Make sure you’re using someone reputable from a well-established agency. 

Alright, onto the real info you’re looking for!

Reasons You Should Use A Disney Travel Agent:

You’ve never been to disney world (or whatever disney location you want to go to) before.

Everyone dreams about a magical trip to Disney World or Disneyland, but once you start trying to make it a reality, the details can become overwhelming.  

I mean, there are 34 hotels and resorts on Disney World property alone.  Just figuring out which one you want to stay at (and even IF you want to stay on Disney property) can freak anyone out!  

It’s a Disney Travel Agent’s job to know all about Disney World and help match their clients with the right accommodations and reservations to fit their needs.  

If you’re a first-timer, going with a Disney Agent would probably take a lot of stress out of planning your first trip to Disney World.

You don’t plan on going on a Disney Vacation again anytime soon

While there a lot of people (me included), who love going to Disney World year after year, there are some who are just one and done.  

Once they’ve met the mouse, they see no reason to do it again.  

For those folks, taking the time and energy to learn all the intricacies of every ride and character experience may not make sense.  

Using a Disney Travel Agent would likely benefit them greatly.

You don’t have the time or desire to do the proper research

Say you’re a busy mom of 3, who barely has time to think straight, let alone spend hours on Pinterest researching where to find all the princesses in the Magic Kingdom.  

If reading about the special snacks available in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge sounds worse than a root canal to you, you probably need a Disney Travel Agent.  

For those folks, having a Disney Travel Agent who can plan for you would be a God send.  

You have a large group of people going on your trip

Disney Vacations are often a family affair.  And by family affair, I mean EVERYONE.  

If you open it up to include family, your mama’s cousin’s sister’s uncle will probably want to go on the trip.  

The logistics of taking a Disney Vacation with a large group of people can be quite complicated.  This is where a Disney Travel Agent is key!

They can manage all those multiple room reservations and dietary restrictions.  They’re experts at keeping all the details straight so you don’t have to.  

If you plan on traveling with everybody and their mother, I’d definitely contact a Disney Travel Agent.

You want someone else to worry about the details

ADRs , FastPass+ , MNSSHP , Memory Maker, Park Hoppers.  

If all those words sound foreign to you, you probably need a Disney Travel Agent.  

Disney Parks have their own special set of details that can confuse just about anyone.

Disney Travel Agents know how to navigate through even the most complicated requests.  They’ll book all your dining reservations, FastPass+ reservations, and explain all the “extras” available to you on your vacation.  

It is totally possible to book them on your own, but if you don’t want to take the time to learn all the details, you’re probably better off with a Disney Travel Agent.  

You’re worried that you won’t know what to do if something goes wrong during your trip

Just because you’re going to Disney World doesn’t mean everything will fall into place magically.  

As amazing as the “cast members” at Disney Parks are, sometimes things go wrong.  

If you’ve booked your trip through a Disney Travel Agent, you have a familiar advocate who can help you out while you’re on your vacation.  

Any good travel agency will offer assistance to its clients during their travel, and Disney Agents are no different.  

If you’re concerned about things like this, you probably want to use a Disney Travel Agent. 

Reasons You Should NOT Use A Disney Travel Agent:

You’ve been on a disney vacation more than once and know what to expect.

Once you’ve been to Walt Disney World a couple of times, you get the hang of how things work around the parks.  

If you’ve mastered booking FastPasses on the fly through the MDE app, then you probably could book a Disney trip on your own.  

If you know exactly what restaurants you want to eat at and what times are ideal, you probably don’t need a Disney Travel Agent to help you out  

The Walt Disney World website is pretty self explanatory, and cast members who take booking calls are extremely knowledgeable.  

If you’ve been around the Disney block a time or two, your can probably handle booking a trip without a Disney Travel Agent. 

You have the time and the desire to do the proper research on what you want to do while at the Parks

Even if you’ve never been to any Disney Parks before, it is possible to book your own amazing trip.  You just have to be willing to do the research.  

ALL of info you could ever need about the parks is available online.  I have lots of other posts specifically about Disney World and how to manage your trip, and so do a bazillion other websites.  

A simple Google search of any Disney-related subject you can think of will yield a ton of results.  

If you’re willing to spend the time and energy to learn all things Disney, you can definitely handle booking your trip without a Disney Travel Agent.  

You want to be in control of making any changes or modifications to your booking

When you use a Disney Travel Agent to book a trip, you give up a lot of control.  

Let’s pretend that two months before your big trip, you decide that you need to shift the dates of your reservation by a day or two.  

If you’ve used a Disney Travel, you cannot call and modify your own reservation.  Your Disney Travel Agent has to do it.  

For a first time visit, this probably won’t bother you.  But if you’ve been to the parks a few times and know exactly what you want to change, this may prove problematic.  

If you want the ability to change your reservation at the drop of a hat, you probably want to skip using a Disney Travel Agent.

You want to book in a non-traditional way (i.e. rent DVC points or use a discount broker like Undercover Tourist)

There are lots of ways to go visit Mickey Mouse.  

Booking directly through Walt Disney World is just one of them.  

Some people like to rent Disney Vacation Club points to use for their accommodations through sites like David’s Vacation Club Rentals .  

There are also a few reputable sites like Undercover Tourist where you can book park tickets a discounted prices.  

If you want to use either of these methods to get into Disney Parks, you may not be able to do it with a Disney Travel Agent.

Should you book with a Disney Travel Agent? 

Deciding whether you want to book with an agent or not really all comes down to your own personal needs.  

Disney Travel Agents serve a much needed audience, and can do a lot of things for their clients.  But they’re not 100% necessary to book an amazing trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland.  

If you feel capable of doing it on your own, it’s perfectly possible.  

If you’re worried about pulling it all together, contact a Disney Travel Agent.  There’s definitely ways to have a great vacation by doing it either way! 

My Disney Travel Agent Recommendation

If you DO decided to book with a Disney Travel Agent, I highly recommend Katie Dunn with Travelmation .  Even as a seasoned Walt Disney World visitor, sometimes, I just don’t want to worry about the details. 

Katie provided top notch service and checked on us every step of the way to make sure she was meeting our needs.  She was by FAR the best agent I’ve ever used (and I’ve used a bunch of them!!)

Thursday 30th of March 2023

Great article! We had the absolute best experience with Allyson at Castle Coaches Travel. Will never do Disney World without her! Highly recommend everyone take advantage of using a travel agent when planning a Disney vacation. They are free!!

Why I’m a Disney Travel Agent

Back in 2016, when I first started Planning The Magic, I never thought I would become a Disney travel agent. At all. In fact, my perception was that there was enough; I should just work with someone great at it!

At the end of my Disney on a Budget book , I used to suggest a travel agent. At this point, I can’t even remember who it was, but he was highly recommended and had great reviews.

I knew Disney Travel Agents could help, but the only experience I had with one was not great. Let me tell you about that experience.

Table of Contents

I was 21, in college, and trying to save enough money to be able to afford a Disney trip. And I was on this website about Disney deals called MouseSavers. On this website, they suggested a Disney travel agency, (note, a company of agents not a single agent), that will remain unnamed.

So, I filled out their long quote request form. It took a few days, but I did receive an email back with a quote for a vacation package… THAT WAS WAY OUTSIDE MY BUDGET.

A few things here: I am not knocking this company. They’re a very successful Disney travel agency with good reviews. I am giving you my personal experience and opinions.

The quote request form was way too long.

But for good reason, because these folks were uninterested in talking to me, they wanted to make sure the form gave them all of the information they needed.

We all think our situations are unique and special, including mine, and so when I received that quote, it wasn’t a package that I felt suited to what I was trying to do.

I also did not appreciate that I was dealing with what seemed like automated system messages and not a person.

So I didn’t use them. I did hours and hours of Disney planning work on my own, including at least 400 hours of learning. It was totally worth it because it brought me a few steps closer to where I am today.

Ok, thanks for the story, but what is a Disney travel agent?

A Disney travel agent is someone who specializes in booking Disney vacations.

This includes Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and Aulani (a Disney Resort & Spa).

There are two types of travel agencies that book Disney vacations:

1. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz or

2. Brick and Mortar travel agencies usually have a physical location but can be compared to “locally owned” businesses. Think about your local farmers market vs your nearby large chain grocery store.

The vast majority of Disney travel agents work for brick-and-mortar agencies.

Some of the larger agencies are Mouseketrips, Small World Vacations, Dreams Unlimited Travel, Kingdom Magic Travel, and many more.

Krystel, are you or are not a Disney Travel Agent?

I most definitely am!

And though I don’t get to meet most of my clients, I am part of a locally owned travel agency that makes sure each and every person gets individualized attention.

I want to discuss my process more with you in a big but just know that I connect with someone looking for a quote about 5 times before I actually send a package over.

Do you know what I also pride myself on? Transparency and honesty. I sometimes have to tell someone that I would not be a good fit for them and direct them to where they could get what they are looking for.

There’s no sense in me force-fitting a Disney vacation and taking away from someone else but also keeping that family from more accurate help.

Why you should work with a Disney Travel Agent

If you are considering working with a Disney travel agent, here are some reasons why it may be beneficial for you:

You don’t have to do the work- A lot of people like the idea of someone else doing all of the work. All you need to do is show up and enjoy your magical vacation.

You get an expert opinion- A travel agent who specializes in booking Disney vacations will be able to give you an expert opinion and help you make the best choices for your family.

You may save money- A good travel agent will be able to find discounts and deals that you may not have been able to find on your own.

You’ll have someone to help if something goes wrong- If something goes wrong with your vacation, you’ll have someone to help you fix it.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of what a Disney travel agent is and why you should work with one! 🙂

So, how does the process of working with me work?

There are definitely a lot of nuances depending on the family.

For example, I can plan every single detail of your Disney vacation, or I can plan only what you want me to. If you don’t feel like waking up at 6 AM to make Disney dining reservations and you just wanna send me a list of what you want, that’s fine. But also, if you have no idea where you want to eat and you want advice, booking, and everything else that comes with it… That’s OK, too. 

Now that you know that the experience can differ between vacation packages, I will give you a general overview of how it works.

The first thing that happens is someone puts in an inquiry form that I link here . Or it’s a client that I’ve worked with before, and they shoot me a text or send me an email.

Once that happens, I have a foundation to start asking the right questions, as now I have a good idea of what’s important to you.

There are some generic questions that everyone answers for me, such as if there are any resort preferences from the beginning.

Getting Personal

However, at this point, I’m going to respond to the travel inquiry form with an email with questions. I’m also going to provide a link to set up a call with me if you want and my personal phone number for texting. This is what I’m talking about when I say individual attention and personalized vacation planning.

Based on the response I received to those questions, which is now the second time you’ve reached out to me (because the first time was the form that you filled out). I will know the level of seriousness to book this vacation.

The truth…

A lot of people put in travel inquiry forms just to get a quote so that they could see how much a Disney vacation would be if they wanted to go on one. It’s not someone who actually wants to go on one at this time.

This is fine but creating a quote takes a lot of time for me so I’m probably not the best resource to get costing, you can definitely do that on the Disney website.

We will go back and forth with questions and comments and have a pretty cool conversation, which will also give us the opportunity to get to know each other a little bit. I am very, very friendly.

I will then create a vacation package that I think would be a good fit, but we will edit and go back and forth until it’s just right. And then, in order to book a vacation, you can take advantage of the payment plan where only a deposit is necessary, or if you want, you can pay for the entire vacation upfront.

At this point, I’ve done only maybe 10% of the work that it takes to get someone to Disney World the way I would like them to go. There’s so much more that comes with working with a Disney travel agent. 

My goal is to get you exactly what you want in the price range that you want. And then add a lot more value without cost to you.

I want to get you a package that you can never imagine having in the timeframe or the budget that you’re looking for. I do want you to say WOW at just the booking of the package, which, remember, is only 10% of what’s going to happen.

Once you book that package that’s when we’re going to get into the nitty-gritty of the vacation, we will discuss crowd calendars , park hours, and what day is best to go to which park. I will provide suggested touring plans… These are plans that pretty much tell you how you should navigate to the park on the day you’re going. I use software to create them.

I also will take into consideration the ages of everyone in the group and what rides and experiences are on your must-do list. This touring plan again is something that we can go back and forth on to perfect.

Don’t forget that there are other things that have to happen, such as ordering MagicBands (if you want), online check-in, dining reservations, Genie +, etc.

I can give suggestions, I can book everything, and when there are issues, which there will be, I will be the one spending the time on the phone trying to figure it out.

2 Hour Phone Calls with Disney

Just to give you an example, I recently booked two vacations on the same day, and when I went into either of the My Disney Experience accounts to set the vacations up, someone was missing from each of those vacations. Which meant I couldn’t set anything up.

This was super nerve-racking to me because they were going during the week of Independence Day, and I wanted to get the park reservation that they wanted for July 4.

As you can imagine, the park reservations go quickly because it is a major holiday, and Disney has great fireworks for the Fourth of July.

I ended up spending almost 2 hours on the phone with Disney because I started with the travel agent line and then I had to be transferred to more of an IT helpdesk line. It was a lot of waiting, but we were able to fix the situation, and I got them what they wanted for the 4th of July. Those are things you don’t need to do, I will do them for you. 

All in all, this is a brief description of how the process with me works. 

LGBTQ+ Disney Travel Agent

I am a queer Latina with caramel-colored skin and a preference for what most would call “tomboy” attire. I mention this to say I’m different (and proud of it).

Most people don’t care or are unphased by what makes me different, but when I get to work with people who are similar, I feel a sense of relaxation and understanding.

For example, when I say “My Fiance and I” to a straight male, they always assume it a him. When I say “My Fiance and I” to someone of the LGBTQ+ community, they don’t assume, which means I don’t have to correct or explain.

I say this because as a Disney Travel Agent, I am proud that I can align with many minority communities and give them that sense of “let out a deep breath, this is going to be ok.”

I hope this gives you more of an understanding of why it might be beneficial to book your next Disney trip with me. If not, that’s ok too! I completely understand that people like to do things themselves.

But if you ever do need help or someone to take over, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would love to help you plan your magical vacation!

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Should you use a Disney travel agent?

By: Author Shannon Albert

Posted on Published: July 17, 2023  - Last updated: March 22, 2024

Although general travel agents aren’t needed as much anymore, destination-specific experts like Disney travel agents are still invaluable since they provide such detailed guidance on a specific place.

Unless people are willing to spend a lot of time reading and researching, we usually recommend they use a Disney World-focused agent to help plan trips.

However, there are pros and cons to using a Disney travel agent . Here’s a list to help you evaluate if using a travel agent is right for you.

Pros of using a Disney travel agent

Disney knowledge.

This seems obvious, right? But when it comes to Disney World (which requires more research than just about any other destination), it can be a huge time and stress savings to rely on an expert to help advise you on your trip plans.

Usually free to you

It doesn’t cost you any extra to book through an agent vs. booking straight through Disney. Disney pays commission to the agency that books you, but at no cost to you.

Note: some agents charge planning fees to help compensate them for their time, especially since Disney commissions are almost always lower than other suppliers.

Could save you money

Not only does it not cost you anything to use an agent, it can actually save you money because agents are aware of all new discount codes and will apply them to your reservation as they become available.

Can help with difficult situations

Good travel agents can help advocate for their clients in case things go wrong. Situations like issues with hotel rooms, illnesses during trips, items lost during a vacation, and many other things can pop up, and agents can super helpful in handling those for you.

Itinerary planning

Overwhelmed by all the details of planning a Disney World trip? Agents can put together plans for your trip so you’ll know what to do when you get there. However, agent commissions are primarily made on hotel bookings, so don’t expect most agents to be willing to plan your itinerary unless they’re also doing commissionable things for you as well.

Group bookings

Travel agents can often get better deals on group bookings, since negotiating with the supplier is something agencies can do.

Cons of using a Disney travel agent

Relinquishing control.

Control freaks may not be comfortable relying on somebody else to book their trip. However, you can do as much or as little as you’d like when working with an agent.

Changes must go through the agent

If you want to make changes to your reservation that was booked through an agent, you have to go through the agent to make those changes. You won’t be able to call Disney to make modifications.

Not all options are available

Disney agents use Disney’s systems to book your travel. That eliminates some options that might make more sense for your family – things like renting DVC points .

*****************

If you decide to go with an agent, we recommend you go with somebody experienced. We partner with Small World Vacations. To work with them, fill out a quote request and it will go to a team of agents with years of experience to help you plan the perfect vacation. 

Thursday 8th of August 2019

Hey Shannon! I have been listening to your podcasts for a several years now and something I've been debating lately is becoming a Disney TA. While I have been researching it sounds like you need to belong to an authorized agency and you have to apply. How does one start this process? Google or a Careerbuilder type of website. I am an experienced planner having done corporate travel and event planning as well as wedding planning and Disney has become a huge interest in my life over the past 5 years. I think it's a great fit for my skills but seems like a hard thing to get into. I am an independent contractor so I have the time and the talent to do this, just don't know where to start!

Saturday 14th of October 2017

I’m a supercontrol freak and did all the planning for our first 5 Disney trips.

Last two trips, I decided to use certain well known Disney travel agency because they had 30% off POFQ (which is rarely discounted) and deep 30-40% off Poly & BC. This was significantly better than any Disney discount for this time period. Also I got 10% off park tickets and a free water park passes.

I didn’t really have to relinquish any control. I was emailed my Disney confirmation number, and my resort and tickets were automatically linked to MDE, so I could still make my dining ADRs and FP+ on my own.

The only thing I had to depend on them for was to enter my room location request which I emailed to them and requested it be entered exactly as written.

They only require one night room deposit on booking and cancelation policy is good with full refund of everything up to 5 days before checkin, lost deposit after that.

This works well for us when we aren’t renting DVC points. I’m not sure how many other agencies are out there that offer deep discounts like this on resorts or tickets.

Sunday 14th of May 2017

What about help with the Hawaiian Disney Resort??

Monday 12th of December 2016

I travel for work and have travel rewards that I would like to use, would a Disney travel agent use my points that I was wanting to use for hotels or airfare?

Tuesday 5th of July 2016

My husband and I are wanting to book a trip for September 2017. When should we reach out to a travel agent to start planning?

Monday 26th of September 2016

Dining reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. my answer is its never too early to start the magic!

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The Ultimate Guide To Disney World Travel Agents

By Lisa Gilmore 4 Comments

Walt Disney World is comprised of four theme parks, a shopping and dining district, two water parks, and over 25 Resort hotels …and that’s just scratching the surface!

Wouldn’t you love to see this view every day?

Planning for a Disney trip can be overwhelming, even for the most seasoned Disney visitor. There are SO many things to consider and learn.  Where do you stay ?  What’s the dining situation like ?  What types of tickets are there ? Don’t worry, you do NOT have to figure this all out on your own.

A decade ago, planning your Disney trip was do-able…and even fun — like the anticipation of seeing all of the presents under the tree before Christmas. But today, things are different. With Park Pass Reservations, Disney’s Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection in place , dining that needs to be booked 60 days in advance, literally dozens of hotels on property and hundreds off-property, dessert parties , memorable behind-the-scenes tours , activities , and more…it’s just plain overwhelming to try to figure it all out. Disney World is about TWICE the size of Manhattan…and just as packed with options.

There Is SO Much to Do in Disney World

So, if reading this article is starting to give you anxiety, take a deep breath… let it out… and repeat this mantra, “Fish are friends, not food.” Ok, ok, not the mantra you’re looking for, but Disney vacations are supposed to be magical, right?

Not drive you panic-driven madness. Those tear-jerking commercials all involve happy families without a care in the world, not anxiety-riddle adults on the verge of exhaustion, desperately trying to mobile order lunch (yep, that’s a thing…) before their hangry family launches into full meltdown (we’re not speaking from experience at all… 😂).

So, how do you become one of those carefree families in the commercials? Well, that might take a bit of planning…

Celebration Buttons

If you’ve been to Disney before , you may have a general idea. Maybe a specific idea. Maybe a very specific idea, including a spreadsheet and a three-ring binder detailing every move your family will make once they pass beneath that magical archway.

But regardless of where you fall on this planning spectrum, using a Disney-certified travel agent  will help ensure not only that you’re checking off all of the right boxes, but that you have all of the right boxes on your checklist, to begin with!

Why use a Disney Travel Agent? Here are a few reasons!

Disney Certified Travel Agents are FREE

You may think it costs more. And that there are hidden fees they don’t tell you about. But as it turns out, Travel Agents don’t cost you a penny. Disney-certified travel agents do not charge clients for their services because they earn commissions from Disney.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

So you pay no extra fees and can spend more time anticipating and enjoying your vacation. It’s a win for the Agents (who genuinely love doing this stuff) and a win for you.

Finding the Best Discount

Travel Agents, especially those considered “Authorized Disney Vacation Planners,”  know what deals are out there ahead of the rest of us. If a new deal comes along after you’ve already made a reservation (e.g. Disney+ Discounts , Annual Passholder Discounts , etc), they can rework your existing reservation to save you some cash. They can also run the numbers to see which deal is going to be the better value.

They do the math for you. So, you can put away your high school economics book and spreadsheet for finding the break-even point on discount rate versus park days ratios. And the best part is, they’ve been doing this a REALLY. LONG. TIME. 

Hollywood Studios

So they probably already know what deal is best. Before it’s even announced.  And since they usually get a little head’s up from Disney about upcoming discounts, they can work it onto your existing vacation for you, usually before you even know it’s an option! So not only do you not have to worry about doing the math (phew!), you also don’t have to worry about missing out on the discount (since sometimes those bad boys are limited).

Planning Tips & Advice

Your agent’s got your back. They can advise you on resort choice, vacation package, and tickets that will suit your family’s unique needs. Overall, they make sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish. They’ve been there and done that, and they can tell you the most stress-free way to have your best vacation ever.

Now let’s talk reservations and planning for when you’re actually on Disney property! Here’s where a Travel Agent can be a super-valuable asset. Disney travel agents know:

• The most popular restaurants and when they need to be booked
• How to get those super-coveted reservations  (and might be able to snag them FOR you!)
• Alternatives to those restaurants if they’re full
• What rides, attractions, and events will suit your family’s unique needs
• How to help you plan an extraordinary trip within your budget
• How to craft a trip where you get to do everything you want to do …and still get enough sleep and real, honest-to-goodness “vacation” time when you’re NOT chasing your brood around the theme parks.

An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner can make suggestions for you based on which park you’ll be in for the day, making dining recommendations, and tips for planning your park days to get in all of your must-do attractions.

In short, they’ll help you narrow down those 200+ restaurant choices , hundreds of ride choices, activity options, and more, and make sure to help you hand-craft the perfect vacation for YOUR family. (Or you can grab our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining , t00.)

The ICONIC Mickey Ice Cream Bar!

Something you may  not know about Disney travel agents is that in order to maintain their Disney-certified status, they have to maintain their Disney training. Disney is constantly changing, growing, adapting, innovating, and improving, so these travel agents know the latest, greatest, best, and newest of everything Disney has to offer.

Assistance During Your Vacation

You may not know this, but Disney World is in Florida (shocker, right?). And Florida gets hurricanes ! In fact, hurricane season lasts from June to November, so chances are, when you’re visiting Disney World, it might be during hurricane season! And inclement weather can impact special Disney events (like after-hours parties ), delay flights , and even close down parks , in extreme cases.

Rainy Day in MK

And your Agent’s support doesn’t stop when you get to your resort. No matter what problems arise during your getaway — if your shuttle is canceled, your room isn’t ready, or you need to find a doctor — your Agent knows who to call to put your vacation back on track . They’re just a phone call or text message away, no matter what goes down! Because as much as we wish it, life doesn’t pause while we’re on vacation!

So whether you’re a color-coded spreadsheet-toting Disney veteran or a first-timer at the Disney parks, utilizing the skills and expertise of a Travel Agent may just surprise you. Even locals can implement the skills, discount access, and overall knowledge of a Disney Travel Agent!

Choose the Right Travel Agent

There are a lot of Disney-certified travel agents out there. If you Google it, you’ll be scrolling for days. As long as they have their certification and are designated as “earmarked” by Disney, you can likely expect good service and solid knowledge.

But if you want  our recommendation, we always choose Small World Vacations.

1. They’ve Proven Themselves:

DFB’s AJ Wolfe and Sue Pisaturo, the owner of the agency, have been friends and colleagues for years. Small World Travel is also respected and used by other leaders in the Disney Media and Travel industry by people who KNOW DISNEY and have been in the Disney travel arena for dozens of years. Small World Vacations isn’t just our preferred Disney Travel Agent, they are also preferred by, MouseSavers , and Sehlinger’s “Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.”  (So, you don’t have to just take our word for it…)

2. They Have a Reputation for Excellence:

Small World Vacations is one of the biggest Disney-focused agencies in the world, BUT all of their highly-qualified agents work full-time . This is exceptional in the travel planner arena. It means that all day, every day, Small World Vacations agents are planning Disney trips for clients — learning everything they can about how to create magical vacations and getting the depth of experience necessary to make sure your trip is a dream come true. It may sound like a little thing, but it offers huge benefits when it comes to working with an agent.

3. Testimonies from Guests (like you!):

Just take a look at some of these real-life testimonies of other Disney guests who’ve used their services.

I am writing this email to simply share how grateful my husband and I are for the help and support we got from Riley in planning our trip to Disney World. It was the first time for both of us and we have a 7 & 8 year old daughter – so we didn’t even know where to start. Riley’s responsiveness was outstanding and a little unbelievable at times – and we learned to count on it! She would make herself available for calls and made sure we were aware and on top of all the deadlines for registrations or adding special items on (Genie +, etc.). Honestly – we might not have gone given how much there is to know in planning a trip like this – but she made it simply and clear so that when we got there we had nothing to worry about. She was open about options for cost and locations and we felt like we had all the information needed to make the right decisions. I will continue to recommend Riley and will certainly reach back out should we plan another vacation with Disney! We are so grateful! — Allison

I would like to take this time to say, it has been a pleasure to work with Nikki at Small World Vacations. She always goes above and beyond to help. We had to cancel and reschedule a cruise due to Covid and Nikki was stellar. She has earned our Disney business going forward.. — Tracy

II’m writing to let you know about the simply exceptional service I’ve received from the marvelous Marion Carlson over the past year. I found her via a Google search and approached her in May of 2021 to help me plan a Christmas trip to WDW to surprise my 7-year-old daughter, Alice. Marion is amazing. She makes me feel like I am her only client, even though I know that couldn’t be further from the truth. She told me that she was thinking about me and Alice over Christmas, and I am certain that she was. Really, Marion basically IS Disney World. She is magic. I know we won’t go to WDW every year forever. And Alice won’t be this perfect WDW age forever. This is a special time in her childhood, and I’ll always be grateful to Marion for her help in giving our girl such a magical present after the terrible pandemic time (virtual school, quarantine, all of it). I am willing to bet I’m not the first of Marion’s clients writing to let you know how outstanding she is, and I’m certain I won’t be the last. — Lora

DFB Readers Get Something a Little Extra Special 😃

Yep — if you do decide to book with Small World, you just note that you heard about them through Disney Food Blog and you could get a special, unique surprise! Click here for current details!

Animal Kingdom

Phew. Don’t you feel better now? A Disney vacation can cost A LOT of money , and has A LOT of tricky nuances , but you don’t have to panic. There are pros available to help you every step of the way, and you’ll always have us to send you tips, news, and updates to make sure that your Disney vacation is as magical as possible!

It’s time to get started! Simply head over to Small World Vacations and Let the Magic Begin!

Don't do it alone.

Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise.

So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you 🙂

GET MORE INFO

Are you going to Disney World in 2023? Let us know in the comments below!

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January 6, 2023 at 12:41 pm

Kingdom Destinations !! Savanna is AMAZING!!

March 29, 2023 at 11:50 am

I’m looking to take my children to Disney

April 11, 2023 at 10:53 am

I’d like to talk to someone to help me plan my family trip

April 12, 2023 at 12:07 pm

Hi Elaine! We recommend reaching out to our friends at Small World Vacations for assistance with planning your next visit! You can find more info on their planning services here.

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Global Munchkins

Travel + Global Inspired Lifestyle

April 12, 2023

10 Things you didn’t know about Disney Travel Agents!

After 25 Disney World Trips and 8 Disney cruises, I never thought of using a Disney Travel Agent. Then we decided to give it a go just one time to save money on our Disney Cruise. Here is why I am never going back to booking one on my own. The Best Disney Travel Agents (Here are my top 5) take care of all your worries and the best part, they are free.

From lightning lane to dining reservations , to shore excursions, to which rides to take, to planning for the 3:00 rain in the summers at Disney World (yes, pretty much every day) planning a Disney World trip is a monumental task.

From now on I tell people they should book their Disney trip with a Disney Travel Agent which is basically their own personal Disney expert. Disney World, Disney Cruise, & Disneyland are often once in a lifetime vacation with your planning.

The excitement your kids have for this kind of vacation is unmatchable. However, planning one of these vacations can be quite a task. Here are 10 reasons you might want to use a Disney Travel Agent for your personal travel planning.

1) Disney Travel Agents have their Disney Degree!

Disney Travel agents have to not only be a regular travel agent, but they also have to take the College of Disney Knowledge course to be able to book Disney Travel. This extensive online course goes through every type of Disney Vacation.

The travel agent will learn about the hotels, how far in advance dining reservations can be made, amenities of staying on property, transportation and so much more. Not only do they have to pass a test to be a certified travel agent, but they also have to take a test every year as Disney has new courses each year so that the travel agent is up to date with all the new changes at Disney Parks.

They will learn extensively about:

• Disney Cruise Line
• Walt Disney World Resort
• Adventures by Disney
• Aulani Resort and Spa
• Disneyland Resort

2) You will save yourself a lot of time, especially with a Walt Disney World Vacation

If time is a limited resource then you don’t even need another reason to book your Disney Vacation packages with a Disney Agent.

Here are just some of the things they will be able to teach you in just a short amount of time rather than learning on your own

• How to book a lightning lane pass ?
• How far in advance you need to make your dining reservations?
• Which restaurants have character breakfasts and dinner (plus, which is the best)?
• What is the Disney Dining Plan?
• What kind of Park Ticket do I need to buy?
• How to get from the resort hotel to the airport?
• Do you need a car rental?
• What are Magic Bands ?
• What is the My Disney Experience App?
• Getting groceries delivered to your room
• If Pluto is a dog, what is goofy? (ok I just threw that in to see if you were paying attention)
• How to save on photos aka Memory Maker?
• Where to rent a stroller ?
• What are Extra Magic Hours?
• Booking Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League/Specialty Cruises
• What items to pack for your Disney Trip ?

3) You will get the Best Price especially with a Disney Cruise

One of the things I never realized was that authorized Disney Vacation planner Services are FREE! I always assumed I would get the best deal if I booked everything on my own. If you are booking with a Disney Travel Agent the price should be exactly the same as Disney’s website, sometimes slightly better if the travel agency is offering an extra incentive to book with them.

Disney keeps pricing the same across the board so you don’t have to stress about finding the site with the best deal. However, Disney Travel Agents will know the times of year that Disney is offering special offers, such as Free Dining, Half Off Cruise Deposits and more!

Disney Cruises you’ll often see some serious additional savings as often times travel agents will give you hundreds of dollars of onboard credit to use on the ship, all for the same price you would normally pay.

4) Help with Disney Dining Reservations

Do you know that there are over 140 sit down restaurants within Disney World? That’s a lot of menus and Yelp reviews to scour through to find out which restaurant to go to. Plus, with Disney, a lot of these reservations get booked up super fast.

Did you know that you need to book the Be Our Guest Restaurant 60 days in advance just to have a chance at a reservation?

Of course, not, there is too much information to know about your Disney World trip. Your Disney Travel Agent should help guide you to the best places to eat, and some will even book them for you.

5) A re Disney Travel Agents Free?

Yes, when you book your vacation the Disney Travel Agents prices are the same as if you booked directly through Disney. They earn revenue via a commission from Disney.

Some Disney Travel agents do have some premium services they do charge for, such as complete planning of your entire vacation.

Some have a complete guide to which parks you want to visit that day, they will set up your fast passes, your dining reservations, and offer a complete layout of your vacation so you can just focus on fun. These websites should post that they charge for these premium services.

However some of Disney Travel Agents offer those services free of charge: For Instance, Best Day Ever Vacations will provide complimentarily:

• Itinerary Planning
• Provide Lightning Lane Recommendations w/ Height Requirement info
• Book your dining reservations and remind you when they can be booked. Along with which restaurants have character dining and restaurants that have Fast Passes for select evening time entertainment. (My Favorite Perk)
• Setup Magical Express to get you from the airport to the Hotel and back.
• Give you advice on how to get groceries order delivered to your room.
• Book Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League/for guests’ children.
• Provide Video Tutorials on My Disney Experience App, Setting up Magic Bands & More
• Even Simple things, like “Where can I rent a stroller?” is a nice thing to have someone tell you so you are not wasting your time searching.

6) One Point of Contact

Have you ever called the Disney World Reservation line, they are extremely nice people, but every time you get on the phone you need to go through the same rigamarole of having to wait on hold, give your name, spell it four times if you have a hard to spell name, and then about 20 minutes into the call you finally get to ask the question you wanted the answer to.

It’s a bit of a tedious process and it’s probably why I receive so many questions on my social media channels. (Don’t worry, I love them so keep them coming) When you use a Disney Travel Agent, they are your main contact so anytime you need to make a change just give them a call, which brings me to my next point.

7) Agents are there for you In case of an Emergency

Unfortunately sometimes life gets in the way of a vacation, and when those things happen, it is nice to have just one person to call to make changes or if need be cancel your reservation. When Hurricane Irma struck Central Florida, the Disney phone lines were backed up for hours with people needing to change or cancel a reservation.

I saw so many people on message boards who were thankful they had a Disney Travel Agent because they had to make just one phone call with no hold time and know that everything was going to be taken care of. Definitely puts your mind at ease so you can enjoy your vacation worry-free!

8) Disney World Travel Agents Have Invaluable Expert Knowledge 

Your travel agent will know Disney inside and out. This kind of knowledge is seriously invaluable when it comes to having a magical time at Disney, and you will be so thankful you had it.

Not only will they be able to help you plan your time in the park, but they have extensive knowledge about restaurants and resorts as well. As far as booking your resort stay, a travel agent is the best way to find a good rate. This can save you a ton of money on your trip!

9) You Will Truly Get to Relax

A Disney vacation isn’t just for the kids, it’s for you too! You want a travel agent because they will take so much of the pressure off of planning. You can confidently go into your day knowing things will go as smoothly as possible. 

10) Why you should use a Disney Cruise Travel Agent

We recently cruised on the Disney Dream to the Bahamas with the help of a Disney Travel Agent. After 8 Disney cruises booking on our own we finally used a travel agent. Here are a couple of things I learned about booking a cruise with a travel agent. Now, I am not sure if this is all travel agents, but this is what our experience was with Best Day Ever

• Onboard Credit – With a Travel Agent I paid the same price as I normally would but also received an onboard credit to spend including quite the delicious meal at Palo
• Booking Spa & Dining Reservations –  Our agent, knew we wanted to dine at Palo and set up a time for us on this cruise
• Booking a Cabana – Best Day Ever set us up with a cabana reservation (which is nearly impossible to get) because they have a full system set up to give you the biggest chance to get a Cabana at Castaway Cay.
• Room Location –  Lastly, our agents had been on the Dream more than 15 times so they knew not only which rooms to book, but also which ones to avoid and which rooms are the best bang for the buck. They even know about a secret mini suite which is the same price as a standard oceanview room.

So, there are definitely advantages of booking through a Disney Travel Agent, if you have any more questions feel free to message us.

How to Become a Disney Travel Agents – 

One of the many questions people ask us is how do you become a Disney Travel Agent . The first thing you need to do is to connect with a Disney Travel Agency about joining their team. Second, you will need to take the Disney Travel Professionals Course. It is a pretty extensive course that teaches you about everything from Disney World to Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii . 

Perks of Becoming a Disney Vacation Planner

When you become a Disney travel agent, there are some pretty fun perks. You can get some incredible savings on Disney Cruises. I have seen cruises for as little as $50 a day for certified Disney Cruise Planners. Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland and Disney Aulani also have some pretty impressive savings of up to 50% off!

Other perks you can receive include a 1 day Park Hopper ticket to both Disney World & Disneyland .  Nothing better than Free tickets to some theme parks.

Do you love being the vacation planner? No worries, check out the following articles to plan your next Disney Vacation!

• Disney Cruise Tips & Trick [Over 100 of our Best Cruise Tips]
• Disney World Tips & Tricks [Over 75 Amazing MUST KNOW Tips]
• The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney’s Aulani- Full Aulani Review + Top 10 Tips & Photo Tour
• The Ultimate Disney World Packing List [Over 50 Must-Pack Items]
• The BEST Disney Cruise Packing List (+ Pirate Night Details)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to book disney through a travel agent.

Yes and No. It is actually the same price if you book through Disney as if you did through a travel agent, however Disney Travel Agents often have extra promotions they might offer through their agency. For example onboard credit on a Disney Cruise or Dining Cards at Disney World.

What is the best Disney travel agency?

In our opinion, Best Day Ever Vacations is by far the best Disney travel agency. They have an incredible knowledge of all the Disney Parks, Resorts and Cruises. Their services are complimentary and they usually save you money!

Do Disney travel agents get paid?

Disney Travel Agents do not get paid by the customer, the agent make their money on commissions from Disney when a customer books a trip. The price a customer pays is the same whether they book through Disney or through the Travel Agent!

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Reader Interactions

May 2, 2018 at 8:09 pm

I love this! As a Travel Planner specializing in Disney Destinations, I couldn’t agree more. I found myself nodding along…until I got to “Dream Catcher” to save money on pictures. Is that supposed to be Memory Maker? I would love to share this post with my agency, if i could just get clarification on that phrase. 🙂

July 23, 2018 at 11:03 am

Yes, I did mean Memory Maker. Whoops. I must have been daydreaming about my next Disney vacation when I typed that. All is fixed.

September 14, 2018 at 11:43 am

Can I make a suggestion on a great item to grab for kids traveling to Disney? I’ve written a book called “Kid’s Travel Journal – Disney Edition” that would be great for kids to take with them so they can write about their adventures and experiences as they happen. A great keepsake for them! It is available on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1508804656 or on my website: https://blueforestbooks.com/kids-travel-journal-disney-edition/

February 17, 2019 at 10:20 am

This is a great post with super helpful tips! I had read this post while planning my Disney vacation – do you mind if I share this in my upcoming blog post recapping my planning?

February 17, 2019 at 3:22 pm

Yes, of course, you can. I am glad it was helpful. Have a great trip!

March 1, 2019 at 8:22 am

thank you for all of the helpful information. i am a single mom of 2 – ages 5 and 7 and want to plan our trip for 2020. i have just started researching and almost gave up until i found your article. is there an agent you can suggest?? thanks so much for sharing and i appreciate any feedback!!

March 2, 2019 at 8:28 pm

We truly love Tinks Magical Vacations. They booked our most recent Disney Cruise and were amazing. I will have Kristin from Tink’s reach out to you.

October 19, 2019 at 6:26 am

We are living in Africa, and would like to take our three children on a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Disney. Our children will be 8, 10 and 12 years old, so we would need a mix of some of the magic of childhood, some of the adrenalin fantastic (like the waterpark) and anything anything that makes for quicker, cheaper (but not tacky!) holiday, as we would have a maximum of 6 days available. If you think staying in a B&B is going to save us a whole lot rather than staying in the park, please recommend it! Thank you, thank you.

October 19, 2019 at 7:31 am

Hi Katherine,

Yes, an Airbnb might save you money, but I would check out David’s Vacation Rentals . You can stay up to 50% off a Disney resort and you get stay in some of Disney’s nicest properties. Otherwise, check out Disney’s Value resorts. They are an affordable option to stay on property.

December 27, 2019 at 1:39 pm

I am planning a trip to Disney World the last part of April 2020. Would you please have Tinks Magical Vacations contact me as well. Thanks!

December 28, 2019 at 6:52 am

I will message them now. Have a great day.

March 6, 2019 at 11:10 pm

I actually booked a reservation at be my guest restaurant 32 days before our trip on my Disney app.

March 7, 2019 at 4:58 am

That’s Awesome!

March 12, 2019 at 5:33 am

Mama I agree, Disney Fastpasses are key. If we had not had our agent book fastpasses we would have wasted soooo much time. I also think staying at Disney World itself saved us. We got to book fastpasses that much sooner than if we stayed in Orlando at the Holiday Inn.

January 8, 2020 at 2:50 pm

Hi I am thinking about taking my granddaughter to Disneyland during President’s week 2020 Beginning Tuesday the 18th. Is that an okay time to go. Is there a hotel that has a monorail to the park like in Disney World. Is there a height requirement to go on all the rides.

Thank you for any help in advance. Please ask Kristan from Tinks to contact me as well.

January 28, 2020 at 9:45 am

Presidents Day Weekend is going to be SUPER busy!

There is a HUGE Dance Competition being held at the Disneyland Hotel that literally sells out the hotel and it’s also the USA High School Cheer Nationals at the convention center.

January 20, 2020 at 3:29 pm

I completely agree. When I was in training to become a Disney Specialist, I learned so many cost saving tricks and park secrets that have proven time and again to please my clients beyond measure. Take the stress off yourself of creating the perfect trip and let an agent plan it for you. Best part is our services are free.

January 29, 2020 at 3:23 am

Please help. I have a trip partially planned and it is 2/14-2/22. I need the premium services of details of each day. Thank you.

February 12, 2023 at 6:27 pm

Hi there. Great info here. I was wondering; I’m based in Singapore, and want to use a Disney Travel Planner for Disney in Tokyo. Do you know of a Travel Planner who can help and works with international customers.

February 24, 2023 at 5:45 am

Checkout TDRExplorer.com he has tons of resources and I believe has travel agents

March 30, 2023 at 4:09 pm

We LOVE our Disney travel agent!!! She does it all and cost us nothing to use. With all the many many changes happening at the Disney parks these days like having to use an app to reserve rides!! She helped our tech challenged family through it all and is now helping us with a Royal Caribbean Cruise! She’s the best and she’s free.

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Countdown to Magic

12 Best Disney World Travel Agents to Book Your Trip

Embark on a magical journey to Disney World with our curated selection of top-tier travel agents. Planning a Disney adventure can be overwhelming, especially for first-timers. Let our guide streamline the process, helping you discover the best Disney travel agents to make your dream vacation a reality.

Unveiling the Best Disney Travel Agents

Up first is Orlando Vacation.

Orlando Vacation

Simplify your booking process with Orlando Vacation.

Their user-friendly website allows you to effortlessly purchase discounted tickets or book a hotel stay at DIsney World or Universal Studios. Whether you’re planning a solo trip or a family reunion, Orlando Vacation caters to all your needs.

Why Use Orlando Vacation?

• Family-run business since 1991
• Assist customers with group tickets and theme park youth programs
• The company’s president, Trey Duling, can be contacted directly if you need additional help

Orlando Vacation Reviews :

My husband and I went to Orlando for vacation and booked our trip through OrlandoVacation.com. We stayed at Emerald Island and it looked exactly the way the pictures on the website did.  I was pleased with how clean it was and I am a pretty difficult person to please when it comes to the cleanliness of hotels, resorts, etc.  The Office Manager, Hailee, was simply amazing and provided the best customer service ever! She made our stay in Orlando one we will never forget.  I would definitely recommend using them for your next vacation and we are already planning a return trip!

This Orlando Vacation review comes from Lianne T on Yelp .

Small World Vacations

With years of experience, Small World Vacations stands out as a Diamond level authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

Their dedicated team ensures a personalized planning process, covering everything from ride reservations to finding the best Disney deals.

Small World Vacations has been in operation since 1996 and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau in New Jersey .

Why Use Small World Vacations?

• Small World Vacations is a Diamond Level Disney vacation planner travel agency
• Universal Orlando Resort experts
• Graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge

Small World Vacations Reviews:

I’m so impressed with the TA we’ve been using through Small World because of her amount of knowledge and her level of patience with me. I asked her a ton of questions (an hours worth of talking) before I committed to booking our trip. She’s experienced in her job as well as personal travel to Disney. She sends follow ups when she says she’s going to and I absolutely love all the Disney information they send out (first time Disney trip for us).

This Small World Vacations review comes from kirchemjt on the Touring Plans forum .

Mickey Travels

Join forces with Mickey Travels for an exclusive Disney experience.

As a Diamond level authorized Disney vacation planner, they focus on one client at a time, guaranteeing personalized attention.

From custom itineraries to monitoring discounts, Mickey Travels has your back.

Why Use Mickey Travels?

• Diamond level travel agency
• Focused on “Disney-only” travel destinations
• Can help you even if your vacation is already booked

The Vacationeer

Despite being a smaller agency, The Vacationeer boasts Disney School of Knowledge graduates, ensuring in-depth knowledge and top-notch recommendations.

Their services, specializing in both Disney and Universal vacations, come at no cost to you.

Why Use The Vacationeer?

• The Vacationeer is a Diamond Level Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
• Can help plan Disney Cruise Line vacations and Disney VIP Tours 

The Vacationeer Reviews:

Kristin booked our vacation at Universal Studios and it was perfect! We stayed at the Aventura Hotel which is very close to the park, has shuttles all day long and allows you to enter the park one hour before the general public. Kristin booked the rooms and tickets to the park, gave us recommendations for restaurants and even reminded me to be prepared for the afternoon storms and to bring rain ponchos. She communicated with me right up until our trip and remained available for questions or issues that could have come up during our stay. Although we’ve never met in person, I felt as though I’ve known her for a while. So happy we found her and will definitely use her again. Highly recommend!

This The Vacationeer review comes from Sheri D on Yelp .

Mouseketrips

Dedicated to Disney vacation planning, Mouseketrips aims to eliminate confusion from your trip.

As an authorized Disney vacation planner, their staff provides free services, backed by stellar customer reviews.

Why Use Mouseketrips?

• Mouseketrips have been Disney travel agents since 2002
• Mouseketrips focuses solely on Disney vacations

Mouseketrips Reviews:

My family of 3 just got back from a weeks vacation to Disneyworld and Universal Studios Orlando which was all planned out for us by Kelly at Mouseketrips. I am so glad I found out about the company and had Kelly to help us throughout this journey! We planned it about 9 months ago. Kelly let us know when it was time to book restaurant reservations, character interactions etc.

This Mouseketrips review comes from Melanie G on Yelp .

Dreams Unlimited Travel

Dive into the mecca of Disney knowledge with Dreams Unlimited Travel.

As a an authorized Disney vacation planner, they offer a wealth of information on deals, park additions, and more.

Why Use Dreams Unlimited Travel?

• Dreams Unlimited Travel also books Universal Studios vacations
• You can also book non-Disney cruise travel, like Royal Caribbean and Holland America

Dreams Unlimited Travel Reviews:

We’ve been using Dreams Unlimited since our first cruise in 2016. We do it mainly for the on board credit (OBC). If you live in the US/Canada they also mail you a gift basket shortly before your cruise.  With Covid, I am so thankful I used a TA. My 2020 cruise that was booked with an on board booking was cancelled. My TA called for me when I wanted to use the future cruise credit and extended OBB to an 8/21 Fantasy cruise…and then I had her move it to a 6/22 Greek cruise…and then to a 6/22 Fantasy Western Caribbean cruise.  My poor TA had to call each time since I’m using an OBB that was originally going to expire in 8/2020.

This Dreams Unlimited Travel review comes from Geomom at DISboards.com .

Pixie Vacations

Known for attention to detail, Pixie Vacations ensures a personalized touch to your Disney experience.

As authorized Disney vacation planners, they keep you informed about the best vacation deals, providing free quotes on their website.

Why Use Pixie Vacations?

• The owners of Pixie Vacations are former Walt Disney World cast members

Pixie Vacations Reviews:

I contacted Pixie and selected Stephanie and all my plans and wish-list were accommodated. Stephanie is so patient, kind, thorough, detail oriented, trustworthy, organized, approachable, accessible, and most importantly, knowledgeable! We even received a special thank you for booking with her. For a family that rarely travels and definitely resists flying, she made each step stress-free. She sent us a detailed document that provided each encounter of our trip from start to finish including cool travel mentions to guide and/or make our experience better.

This Pixie Vacations review comes from S G. on Yelp .

Be Our Guest Vacations

Enjoy a detailed and charitable approach with Be Our Guest Vacations.

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau , they donate a portion of their earnings to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Why Use Be Our Guest Vacations?

• Be Our Guest Vacations was founded in 2002
• Be Our Guest Vacations is accredited by IATAN and CLIA

Share the Magic

Share the Magic specializes in Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and Universal Studios.

While their website might lack information, their impressive social media presence on Facebook makes up for it.

Why Use Share the Magic?

• Founded in 2019
• Over 150 travel agents available to help you

Destination Magic

A boutique agency with “Magic Makers,” Destination Magic ensures a stress-free vacation planning process.

With nearly 70 agents, each with a profile on their website, you can find the perfect match for your planning style.

Why Use Destination Magic?

• Every Destination Magic planner graduated from The College of Disney Knowledge
• They can book you a Disney World, Disneyland or Disney Cruise vacation

Ears of Experience

Founded over a decade ago, Ears of Experience focuses on creating stress-free Disney vacations.

With over 170 “Mouse Experts,” they cater to families with special needs, providing a personalized touch.

Why Use Ears of Experience?

• Ears of Experience was founded in 2009
• Decades of experience booking Disney vacations

The owner of Ears of Experience has multiple special needs degrees and can advise families traveling with a child that has special needs

Fairytale Journeys Travel

Established in 2010, Fairytale Journeys Travel combines sales expertise and Southern hospitality.

As Platinum Authorized Disney Vacation Planners, they offer free planning services, price monitoring, and a personal concierge service.

Why Use Fairytale Journeys Travel?

• Fairytale Journeys Travel has been on the Disney earmarked agency list for seven years.  They have achieved Platinum Earmarked Agency status from Disney Destinations.

Fairytale Journeys Travel Reviews:

Fairytale Journeys Travel has always been my go-to for all Disney vacations. However, I was never interested in cruises; but with the encouragement and assurance from Susanne, the owner of FTJ Travel, telling me how relaxing, exciting and fun it would be, I boarded the Disney Princess in October of 2018. I had the time of my life!!! 

This Fairytale Journeys Travel review comes from Kat K on Yelp .

What Are Disney World Travel Agents, Anyway?

Disney World travel agents are highly trained, Disney-focused experts who can guide you through every aspect of your vacation. 

Ideal for first-timers, these agents provide information on pricing, restaurant recommendations, theme park passes, and more. 

Hiring a Disney travel agent is usually free, and it ensures a stress-free experience for families, allowing them to focus on creating magical memories at the parks.

Should I Hire a Disney World Travel Agent?

Whether you’re a first-timer, planning a return visit, or managing a busy schedule, hiring a Disney travel agent can enhance your experience. 

For first-timers, the intricate details of Genie+ selections , restaurant reservations, and deal hunting can be overwhelming. A travel agent can navigate these complexities. 

If you’re well-versed in Disney World, a travel agent can still provide valuable insights. Balancing your priorities and preferences, a Disney travel agent ensures a seamless and memorable vacation.

Wrapping It Up

Choosing the right Disney travel agent is crucial for a stress-free and enjoyable experience. Our curated list, coupled with your research, will help you find the perfect planner to make your Disney World vacation truly magical. 

Selecting an authorized Disney vacation planner with experience and knowledge ensures a smooth planning process, allowing you to focus on the excitement of the happiest place on Earth. Plan your adventure today and start counting down the days until your Disney dreams come true!

If you enjoyed this article on the best Disney travel agent and agencies on the market, please “like” our Countdown to Magic Facebook page ! If you need additional help with your Disney vacation plans, be sure to visit my detailed Start Here page .

Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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I'm a Disney World Expert, and These Are My Top Tips for a Disney World Budget

Hoping to do Walt Disney World on a budget? While there’s no arguing that the Most Magical Place on Earth is also one of the most expensive, there  are  ways to cut costs and stick to a realistic budget. We’ll be sharing our best tips on how to do exactly that so you can have your best vacation ever.

According to USA Today , a recent study showed that 24% of all Disney-goers have accrued debt during their trips, with that number rising to 45% for parents with children under the age of 18. The biggest culprits behind these numbers were concessions, transporation, and accomodations, which accounted for 65%, 48%, and 47% of excessive spending respecitvely.

And let’s be completely honest – the culture of the theme parks is to  get  you to spend money on your dream vacation. For many these are once-in-a-lifetime trips, and they want to get as much out of it as they can. We’re all going to have different budgets for our Disney World vacations that we need to consider when planning trips. This can mean a shorter trip, staying off-site, cutting out non-essentials, and more. And when it comes to budgeting your Disney vacation (and sticking to it), we’ll be sharing some expert tips on how to save money and still have a magical trip

Planning Disney World on a Budget

In that same survey, conducted by LendingTree, 75% of respondents admitted that their Disney trip did (or would) take six months or less to pay off. While 59% of parents said they had no regrets over this number, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to do Disney World on a budget and stick to it.

Set a Realistic Budget

Setting a realistic budget is key. Creating a spreadsheet where you mark down the total amount you are able to spend on certain factors can be helpful in making your budget successful. For example, if you have a certain amount you’re willing to spend on a hotel, having that number in mind can help you determine whether it would be best to stay on property or if it might be more realistic to stay in an off-property hotel.

Doing the research well in advance of your trip can also help to determine exactly what that budget may be. Disney allows you to book well in advance, so if you book and pay in advance, you’ll have far less expenses to worry about once you’re actually on your vacation.

Buy Disney Gift Cards

A great way to budget out exactly how much you want to spend on your vacation is to use Disney gift cards. Purchase gift cards in advance for exactly how much you want to spend once you’re in Disney World, and that way the cost will all be paid for in advance.

Photo by Laurie Sapp

There are also ways to save on Disney gift cards. If you have a Target RedCard, you get 5% back on your Target purchases — including the purchase of gift cards. Additionally, stores like Sam’s Club allow you to purchase discounts gift cards so you can save money when purchasing.

Consider the Disney Dining Plan

In many cases, purchasing the Disney Dining Plan may actually cost more money than you actually would spend for certain meals out of pocket.  However , in certain cases, if you are looking to budget and pre-pay for your meals so you don’t overspend once you’re on vacation, a Disney Dining Plan can be an ideal way to do that. The plan allows you to pre-pay for a certain amount of meals in advance, so you can cover the majority of your meal per person ahead of time (though gratuity and certain extras are not included). For those looking to know exactly how much they’ll be spending before their trip, the Disney Dining Plan can be a good way to set and stick to a meal budget for your time in Disney.

Buy Your Souvenirs in Advance

There are  so  many souvenirs available in the parks, from spirit jerseys and t-shirts to mugs, Minnie ears…the list goes on and on. And, of course, they’re all available at premium Disney pricing. Instead of purchasing in the parks, there are tons of these souvenirs that can be bought in advance for way less.

The same goes for some in-park essentials. Instead of buying a FuelRod in the parks, purchase a 2-pack for the same price on Amazon beforehand. And for ponchos, you can pick up a 5-pack online for the same cost as one in the parks.

Use a Travel Agent

There are almost always discounts and deals available when booking your Disney World vacation . But, the best way to know  all  the deals and get the best price available is to use a travel agent. Our trusted travel agent partner, The Vacationeer , can help you to find all of the available deals and discounts to save you the most money possible when planning your Disney World vacation.

Book an Off-Site Hotel

There are some great perks to staying on Disney property. You can get perks like Early Theme Park Entry (plus Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Resort guests). Additionally, you get Disney theming, Disney transportation, and the perk of being in “the Disney bubble.” However, it’s absolutely  not  a necessity to stay on the property in order to have a great trip. In fact, many nearby hotels come with similar perks, including shuttle transportation to the parks and even access to Early Theme Park Entry!

Signia Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Some great options include the Disney Springs hotels , which are all located a short walk away from the dining and shopping complex. Additionally, the Bonnet Creek hotels are actually located on Disney property, a short drive away from the parks. Many of these hotels will cost as much or less as a Disney World Value Resort hotel, but often come with more space and amenities. So they’re definitely an option worth considering!

Visit During an Off-Peak Time

Disney World sells date-based tickets, meaning you’ll be getting the best bang for your buck by visiting during an “off-peak” time of year. For 2024, the months of August and September have (generally) the least expensive tickets. Purchase a multi-day ticket for one park per day to get the best deal (skipping the park hopper option can save you $65+ per ticket)

Tips to Remember About Your Disney World Budget

Manage expectations.

Especially when you’re taking kids, it can be far too easy to build up the perfect trip in your head. You can plan out a fun itinerary, with an hour-by-hour schedule of where you’ll be eating, what rides you’ll be doing, etc. But, while it’s of course important to plan your trip in the parks, it’s just as important not to set expectations  too  high. Whether you’re visiting with kids or not (but especially when you are), there are going to be things that come up that will impede on even the best-laid plans. Setting realistic expectations and working with a fair amount of flexibility are the best ways to avoid a ton of stress and disappointment.

Don’t Stretch Your Budget for “More Magic”

This goes hand in hand with setting a realistic budget. There are  so  many extras and opportunities you can purchase in Disney World. They can be as “small” as a souvenir or as big as a VIP Tour. While it can be understandably tempting to try and get the  whole  Disney experience by constantly adding on extras, it’s important to remember that these aren’t  necessities  to have a magical trip. If you have a budget that won’t allow for extra souvenirs, or add-on experiences like Disney Genie+, you can still have a great time soaking in the magic of the parks without the unnecessary expenses.

From personal experience, I’ll be the first to admit that the parks exude a sense of FOMO at every turn. It can be so tempting to just splurge that extra $17 to get a Lightning Lane for TRON, or to treat yourself to a behind-the-scenes tour like Wild Africa Trek after seeing posts about it. But, it’s okay to admit that something doesn’t fit within your budget. You don’t need to do it all to have a great time in Walt Disney World, and can instead have an incredible experience tailored to your own personal budget and needs.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you use these links to buy something, WDW Magazine may earn a commission.

The post I’m a Disney World Expert, and These Are My Top Tips for a Disney World Budget appeared first on WDW Magazine .

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How to Become a Disney Travel Agent

After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa is now a freelance writer using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) adventure. She previously worked as a reporter for The Points Guy. Her writing has since been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When she's not flying, you'll usually find her in a Priority Pass lounge somewhere, sipping tea and cursing slow Wi-Fi.

Elina Geller is a former NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.

Meghan Coyle started as a web producer and writer at NerdWallet in 2018. She covers travel rewards, including industry news, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. She is based in Los Angeles.

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Table of Contents

Why become a Disney trip planner?

How to become a disney travel agent, save money as a disney vacation planner, how much do disney travel agents make, final thoughts on becoming a disney travel agent.

If you’re a fan of Disney and you like to travel, it’s possible for you to combine these passions into a career or side hustle. By becoming a Disney travel agent, you can earn money by making bookings for clients and also save on your own Disney adventures.

Here's a look at how to become a Disney travel agent and the ways it can save you money and help you earn some cash while helping others make their Disney dreams come true.

As a Disney travel agent:

You can receive benefits on personal travel, such as discounted hotel rooms, free theme park tickets and complimentary Disney cruises.

You control your own schedule and how much you work.

You will be able to work from home in most cases.

You’ll earn a commission on successful bookings.

» Learn more: 10 ways to save on your first — or next — Disney vacation

Becoming a Disney travel advisor is similar to the process of becoming a regular travel agent.

First, you’ll need to meet specific travel agent requirements — but there are additional criteria needed to specialize in selling Disney vacations.

You’ll have to become familiar with Disney’s entire portfolio of products including Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii and Adventures by Disney. In addition, clients may also ask Disney travel agents to book Universal Studios, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line packages.

If you’re already a travel agent , you can register for Disney travel agent training on the Disney Travel Agents website. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll need to complete the College of Disney Knowledge training, which includes online classes and information about Disney Destinations.

If you’re not already a certified travel agent , you’ll need to become one before signing up for Disney travel agent training. Certification programs vary in terms of cost, time commitment and requirements. Once you've completed a program, you can choose to join a travel agency or operate on your own as a small business. At this point, you can register for the Disney training.

Once finished, you’re eligible to become an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and entitled to all the benefits that the designation includes.

» Learn more: Do travel agents really save you money?

Disney travel agent benefits are one of the reasons to become a Disney vacation planner. Perks include special access to discounted hotel rates and other advantages, like:

Disney travel agent discounts

Disney travel agents can take advantage of discounted rates on accommodation and park entrance fees for their personal trips as well. This also applies to Disney branded hotels, in addition to other properties, cruises and excursions that include:

Disneyland Resort Hotels.

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

Adventures by Disney.

Disney Cruise Line.

Select all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.

The discounts will vary based on where you’re going, but you can expect to save up to 50%.

Adventures by Disney are guided vacation packages, which include Antarctic cruises, European getaways and more.

» Learn more: What a travel agent can do for you that a search engine can't

Complimentary Disney Park Hopper tickets annually

Businesses want you to be familiar with what you’re selling. After all, the better you know a place, the more capable you’ll be of helping clients choose the right vacation.

To that end, Disney provides Authorized Disney Vacation Planners with complimentary theme park tickets . As a standard Disney travel agent, you’ll receive a one-day Park Hopper ticket to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland each year.

Or, if you want to visit for a longer period of time, you can opt for discounted two- to 10-day Park Hopper tickets at Walt Disney World.

The highest-performing travel agents are recognized by Disney’s EarMarked. This invite-only program grants extra support and perks, such as additional complimentary theme park tickets.

» Learn more: Is the Disney Park Hopper worth it?

Discounted Universal Studios tickets

Cheaper tickets aren’t limited to Disney. As a Disney travel agent, you’ll also receive up to four half-price tickets to Universal Studios per year.

» Learn more: How to go to Disney World for cheap

Discounted Disney cruises and increased commissions

Disney cruise travel agents can also score reduced or free tickets to Disney cruises. Depending on the travel agency you work with, agencies with a high number of sales can earn increased commissions on sales associated with cruises.

» Learn more: How much does a Disney Cruise cost?

Disney travel agents work on commission, which means that they make money only when their clients book and complete vacations.

Disney pays up to a 10% commission to travel agents, depending on the package booked for the customer. Disney cruises yield a higher commission. If you’re working independently, you’ll receive the full commission amount — so if your client booked a $5,000 vacation pretax, you’d receive $500 in commission.

You can also opt to join an existing travel agency. These companies offer more support and can help you if you’re just getting started. Depending on the agency, it can also provide marketing support and send leads your way.

If you choose to join a travel agency , you’ll split your commission. The rate for this will vary based on where you’re working, but you can expect to receive up to 75% of the total commission Disney pays out.

This means that if you had a client taking a vacation that cost $5,000 pretax, Disney would pay the travel agency $500. At a 75% split, you would be paid $375. It’s less than you’d make if you were operating on your own, but it may be worth it for the added support and access to interested clients.

» Learn more: The best Disney resort for adults

There’s no denying that there are benefits to becoming a Disney travel agent. This includes free theme park tickets, discounted rates at official Disney hotels and even savings on cruises. Aside from these perks, you can also turn your passion into a job by selling Disney vacation packages to customers.

Whatever your reason for wanting to become a Disney travel agent, you’ll need to first become a certified travel agent, then complete Disney’s specialized training program.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Plan Ahead with Lightning Lane Entry at Walt Disney World Starting July 24

Published: June 25, 2024

Contributed By

Senior Manager, Communications

The days leading up to a Walt Disney World vacation are always so exciting. For many, it’s a time when families and friends get the chance to reunite and talk about their must-dos while they’re here, including their favorite rides and experiences.      

We enjoy hearing from guests about all the things they love, as well as how we can make their experience even better the next time. At Walt Disney World, guests have told us they would prefer to have the option to do more of their planning before their theme park day.       

So, this summer we will make changes to our Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane entry, including new ways to plan ahead.

On July 24, Walt Disney World will introduce new, simpler names to provide more clarity for everyone. Disney Genie+ service will become  Lightning Lane Multi Pass , while individual Lightning Lane will now be known as  Lightning Lane Single Pass .   

We will also be updating Lightning Lane passes to help you:     

• Make Lightning Lane plans before you’re here, for added confidence.        
• Choose your experiences and times prior to purchasing, so you know what you’re getting.  
• Book Lightning Lane passes for multiple vacation days, all in a single day.  

Here’s how Lightning Lane passes will work beginning July 24.   

Lightning lane multi pass        .

When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you may make up to 3 Lightning Lane selections in a theme park, in advance of your visit. You’ll also be able to choose available times as you make your selections.  

On the day of your visit, once you use a selection, check the My Disney Experience app for availability to make an additional selection.  

Lightning Lane Single Pass      

Lightning Lane Single Pass will work much like it does today, where you can secure a time to ride one of our most highly demanded attractions, but you’ll now be able to make your purchase and plan in advance.       

How to Plan Ahead  

Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels will be able to plan Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance, for their entire stay (up to 14 days). All other guests can plan up to 3 days in advance. 

These advance purchase windows will let guests secure some of their must-do rides and experiences after they’ve had some time to decide what dining reservations they want to book and any other plans they may need to consider.  

Guests may purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, a Lightning Lane Single Pass or both. The app will also be updated to make it quicker and easier to purchase and plan, with fewer steps and a new option to purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass in one transaction.       

Lightning Lane passes will blend features from our current services and the previously offered FastPass+ service, giving guests the choice to plan ahead and removing the hassle of planning during their vacation.  

To dive into even more details, visit our website for the latest information on how to purchase, select and use your Lightning Lane passes.   

Disneyland Resort will also use the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass names beginning July 24. Based on the different ways we know guests visit Disneyland Resort, the way guests purchase, select and redeem Lightning Lane passes at Disneyland Resort will remain the same.    

The complimentary features of Disney Genie service will continue to be available in the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps. As you may have noticed, both apps have also gotten a series of upgrades over the last year to make features easier to use, including making dining reservations, mobile food ordering, and more.     

We deeply value the trust families place in Disney to create lasting memories and that is why we are dedicated to making updates that improve and simplify their experience.