Travel Agent Question part # 5

How much does it cost me to have you design my custom trip to Disney?

Another good question!  And I think you might like this answer.  If you book through me, Disney pays me a commission.  In fact, my business model currently calls for 90% of my income to come through those commissions.  

Disney charges the same price no matter how you book.  They either pay me, or pocket the commission.  So, no extra is tacked on to use my services.

However, after we have made some preliminary decisions about your trip, I will ask for a nonrefundable deposit.  (This is separate from the deposit Disney asks for.)  This will be applied to your last payment.  However, if you cancel or change your mind, it becomes nonrefundable. 

But wait, what if something happens and you can’t take your trip?  If you can't go at the scheduled time, I try to reschedule it for a time that works better.  This prevents you from losing your deposit with both me and Disney.  As long as we aren’t within the 45 days prior to your trip.  If we are, then Disney will charge a change fee. 

Now, what about when you have already booked directly with Disney and need help customizing your trip?  Disney has already pocketed the commission they would have given me, so I will charge a fee for the rest of the planning.  Very reasonable.  This also works if you booked off site, like a condo or staying with a friend or relative. Or, if you booked with me, and your friend booked online or off site, I can still customize the whole trip, for a small fee from your friend.

Travel Agent Questions part #4

I want to go to Disney.  I want to leave in 3 weeks.  Can I still have a great time?

YES! 

While it might be hard to get all the reservations for dining and Fast Passes that are on your list, we can still get a good variety to make sure you have a great time!

The shortest notice trip I ever planned was less than a week.  The decision to go was made on a Monday and they traveled on Saturday.  It was a very successful trip and are now repeat clients.

Travel Agent Questions part #3

Is there REALLY an advantage to staying on Disney property?  I mean, aren’t we just giving Disney more money for something we could probably find somewhere else?

Another great question!

The benefits of staying on a Disney property have to be weighed by each individual family.  So let’s arm you with the facts.

-Convenient Proximity.  Want to head back to the room and take a nap or quick dip in the pool? 

-Complimentary Airport Service (Disney’s Magical Express) You can skip the baggage claim at the airport and ride the comfortable motor coach to your resort.  Disney will take care of the bags for you!

-Complimentary (read FREE) Resort transportation and parking. Use the Disney transportation to get around between parks and resorts.  (if you are staying off site, remember to add $17 per day to your room price…that is what it currently costs to park at a Disney Park!).

-Extended Theme Park Hours.  Guests staying at one of the Resorts can take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. 

-Complimentary WiFi.  Convenient wireless internet access.

-Disney Dining Plans.  You can only get the dining plan if you stay on property.  This is a convenient way to prepay for your dining.

Those are from the official Disney benefits.  There are a couple more to consider as well. 

-Early access to make your Fast Pass Plus selections!  You get to start making your selections a full month from those who stay off property. 

-180 days plus 10.  I know a bit of Disney Geek Speak here, but that basically means you get a jump on those staying off site when making those hard to get dining reservations.

-Complete Disney immersion.  Disney is known for its service.  Disney is known for its theme-ing.  Put those two things together and you have my favorite benefit of staying on property!

Travel Agent Questions #2

How much will a Disney vacation cost?

Great question, but you probably won’t like my answer.  “It depends.”   So many variables come into this.

Who is going, what ages, how long, when and where are you staying, how many days?

For instance, going in value season, staying 4 nights in a Value resort with 2 adults and 2 children under age of 10 will be vastly different than going during peak season for 10 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge with 2 adults and 2 kids 12 and 13 years old.

Pulling numbers out of the air, while it is ‘magical’ isn’t the way I work.   I ask a million questions.  Things like what do you like to do on vacation; where do you like to eat on vacation; what was your favorite experience on vacation.  While it might sound like filling out a dating profile, this information lets me know how to approach YOUR vacation.  Don’t worry, at least one of the questions will have to do with budget.

I don’t do cookie cutter vacations.  I design custom trips for YOUR family.  

Questions for a Travel Agent

What time of year is the best time to visit Disney?  NOW!

No, seriously, I don’t think there is one best time.  What is best for my family may not be best for your family.

For instance, I love to visit when the Christmas decorations are out, while you may prefer Star Wars Weekend.  Someone else might say during summer break, while I might prefer less crowded.

So, let’s look at this differently.

What are you looking for? Lowest cost or best value; less crowded or more extras; warm, cool or hot?

I always like to start with a calendar.

Do you need to schedule around school or work?  Add those dates to the calendar.  Kind of narrows it down a bit, right?  Or maybe you homeschool and want to schedule it during the off season when crowds are lower – knowing that it is when Disney may schedule refurbishments of rides and attractions.  Do you have your heart set on Star Wars Weekends, fine, let’s add them in too. 

Unlike some vacation spots, Disney has something for just about any time of the year.  

Guest Writer

Today's post will be guest written by my teenaged daughter.  I will admit to slightly editing ...to actually give it some paragraphs, and to correct a bit of spelling, but that is it.  As you read this, it is totally in her own words.  Enjoy!

Going to Disney world with one of my best friends was awesome, to say the least.  I had thought it was going to suck because of the heat and the crowd levels considering it was the middle of June, but I was pretty surprised when it didn't suck.

Welcome To Disney

 

The day after we got to Florida (our first official day of the trip), we went to Magic Kingdom. We got there early for "rope drop" and got to just walk on Splash and Big Thunder Mountain. We even got to walk on Space Mountain-which was way on the other side of the park-because there was still barely any people in the park. Like two of the rides weren't up and running but it was cool because we still ride everything we had wanted to at least twice.

The three partners in crime!

 

11:40 was when our lunch reservation for Be Our Guest was scheduled, And it was awesome. I don't normally enjoy counter service food at Disney, But the carved turkey sandwich was probably the best sandwich I had ever had in my entire life, Like I can't even.

In between lunch and dinner we shopped and rode small rides we didn't have fastpasses for.  For dinner we had a reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table. My friend was totally excited when she saw Cinderella and the other princesses in the castle. She was like freaking out the whole time. The food was crazy good even though I ordered off of the kids meal because I didn't want any of the adult food.

THE Princess!

Too excited to speak!

 

My mom and my niece went back to the hotel after that and my friend and i stayed in the park for extra magic hours. Our plan was to ride Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain as many times as we could, but it started to rain and lightning so we just went on Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. The wait time was really short, and we enjoyed it a lot.  We concluded our night with making blankets out of ponchos while eating chocolate on the People Mover. We went home on the bus, and we thought it was going to be scary and all that stuff but it was actually pretty relaxing.

 The next day was our break day, and unfortunately our last. We went to Downtown Disney on the bus to eat lunch at Earl of Sandwich, and then went to the Yacht and Beach Club to snack at Beaches and Cream where we got the Kitchen Sink sundae. We couldn't finish it. After we were full from all that ice cream, we went back to Downtown Disney where we shopped for about an hour and a half. We went back to the hotel and just hung out until dinner.

Are we supposed to eat all this?

My friend with a giraffe sitting on her head

 

For dinner be ate at Boma, and it was one of the best buffets I've ever ate at. We left the next morning. All in all it was one of the best trips to Disney world I've had in a long time, and I'm so glad my mom planned it out for us.

Summary

What was my take on the best part of the trip?  Well, I got to see the Magic of Disney through another’s eyes.  I’ve seen my kids’ first reaction to Disney.  I experienced my granddaughter’s first reaction to Disney, and hope to see my other two granddaughter’s first reactions to Disney next year.  But seeing it from another, someone not related to me, someone who I did not expect that reaction, well it was priceless!

What was my take on the worst part of the trip? It had to be the transportation system!  Hands Down!  I witnessed the obvious class system with the drivers.  The driver taking you to and from the value resorts treated the passengers like cattle.  How many can you pack on, even one driver saying if you can still breathe comfortably move closer so we can cram more on! However, the Deluxe Resort drivers were nice, friendly, happy, treating us like friends or valued guests. 

 So what is my take away from this trip?  While Disney is a fantastic and Magical place I will no longer recommend my clients stay at a value and rely on the Disney Transportation System.  At least not without warning them of what to expect. Overall, we loved our resort and had a blast at Magic Kingdom.  But our 'Break' day was anything but a break.

...and don't forget those ponchos!