Four Reasons Why You Should Use a Disney Travel Agent
by Jessica Montevago
Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner can make a trip that much more magical. Photo: Disney
It’s an exciting time for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as the parks gear up to reveal the game-changing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Many travelers will soon begin planning their vacations, and travel advisors should remind them about the reasons why using a travel advisor will make their trip that much more magical.
“The amount of work these agents do blows me away,” said Kate Murphy, president and CEO of the Wings Travel Group. “You have to have a passion and a love for Disney.”
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Here are the top four reasons why Disney guests should always book their trips through a trusted travel advisor.
1. They take the stress out.
There are so many components when planning a Disney Vacation, with over 20 resorts, booking FastPasses, different dining plans, and advance dining reservations, that the planning process can become overwhelming. Authorized Disney Vacation Planners have the knowledge to guide guests along the way with personalized advice and tips.
“If you call us up, you’ve got a planner with you from today until the day you get home. We’re going to help you take all the thinking out of your trip and customize it to what you want to do,” said Ron Hayeck, president of Mickey World Travel. “When you’re getting your kids ready for school, we’re getting your FastPasses. When you’re opening presents at 6:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, if you’re going in June, I’m up booking your dining reservations.”
2. They will make the most of visitors’ park time.
Disney planners know how to perfectly craft an itinerary to make the most of guests’ time – from which restaurant is closest to which park, to what’s the best way to get around from their resort hotel.
In some cases, saving time may be in the form of reducing wait times in lines at popular attractions. Michelle Allen, owner of Travel Magic, had a client who went to her wanting to ride the new Slinky Dog Dash coaster at Toy Story land, but they were already outside of the FastPass booking window and there are often lines of up to 90 minutes or more. Allen introduced them to Early Morning Magic, which provides early access to select attractions and a continental breakfast.
“If someone’s just going on the internet, they don’t know the things that we know. I can’t tell you how many times someone has said to me, ‘I’ve never heard of that’ or ‘I didn’t know that was a thing,’” said Allen.
3. They add value – at no cost to guests.
“Disney is not a cheap vacation, so people should take advantage of using someone. It’s making sure you are getting the best value for your money,” said Murphy.
Even for the biggest Disney fanatic, there’s a lot to keep track of at the theme parks. There are magical extras that can be added onto a trip, plus the constant roll-out of new experiences and festivals happening ten months out of the year.
Allen said, “We do everything for you – from dining to FastPasses to just planning your day-to-day itinerary, from the crowd calendar, the park hours, what your kids’ interests are, and what your interests are. It just brings extra value to the trip that you wouldn’t otherwise get.”
Authorized Disney Vacation Planners make commission through Disney, so there’s no cost for clients. “It doesn’t cost you anything, so why not have an expert in Walt Disney World? It’s a place that you need to have a game plan,” said Hayeck.
4. They have access to discounts and training.
Throughout the year, Disney occasionally offers special deals and promotions. In-the-know agents can snag those for their clients and apply them to existing reservations, saving their clients’ money on an already pricey trip – in some cases, even if that means staying up all night.
“If you book a trip with me today for the fall and there’s no discount, I don’t forget about you,” Allen said. “I am working on that as soon as the discounts are released, to try and reduce your package price.”
What’s more, guests can always be confident that their travel advisor is up-to-date on the latest at the parks. Agents with the specially designated title of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are invitation-only, and they have gone through extensive training (also on Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney) via the Disney College of Knowledge.
“We have credibility that Disney stands behind us as an agency and what we do,” said Hayeck, whose Mickey World Travel is a platinum agency.
