Anyone who has been on a Walt Disney World vacation knows that it can be overwhelming to plan. And, now, more than ever before, planning can truly make or break your vacation.
A professional Travel Advisor has the expertise you need to make sure your vacation to "the most magical place on Earth" lives up to your expectations. One who specializes in Walt Disney World will offer the best service so you have a wonderful trip.
Here are some things to consider when selecting your Travel Advisor or Agency:
What is included in your planning services? If you are expecting to be guided through the process, and your Travel Advisor is just planning to book the trip and send you a confirmation, you are going to be very disappointed. Some things you may want: help planning your itinerary; dining recommendations; instructions on how to use My Disney Experience and Disney Genie; attraction recommendations; information on special experiences like light saber and droid building, tours and dessert parties.
When was your last trip to Walt Disney World? Since the parks reopened in 2020, things have changed. A lot. Asking your friend or neighbor who has been in the past will just confuse you because so much has changed. Dining plans are gone. Character experiences have changed. Genie and Genie+ are here. Virtual Queues were here and now they are gone. Disney seems to change by the week!! So, if your Travel Advisor hasn't personally visited recently, they may not be up to date on everything.
If I have a question, how easy is it to reach my Travel Advisor? This is a BIG deal. Some discount agencies (I'm looking at you Costco) may offer you gift cards or discounts because they deal in volume, not quality. Try this: Call the phone number and select 'new booking.' See how fast they pick up. Now call again and select 'existing booking' and see how fast, or slow, that wait time is. Your time is valuable. You are using a Travel Advisor to make things easier, right? So, choose wisely.
Ask, will you make my dining reservations starting at 6:00 a.m. on the day my window opens? If you want to book ANY dining, it is imperative that you or your Travel Advisor be online to book precisely at 6:00 a.m. These restaurants are in high demand and many will be 100% booked within minutes. It's not okay to try to book them "when I get to the office" or "when I have time."
What will you provide to me prior to my trip? An itinerary? Maps? Step by step guides? Most Disney World plans are managed through the My Disney Experience app. But, if you are a paper person, you may want something you can hold onto and review apart from the app or website.
So, how do you find a Travel Advisor who will take care of you and make sure your vacation goes smoothly? Ask for recommendations from friends and family. Or, look on Facebook Groups for Disney Travel Agents (you can easily do a search in your local groups). Then, reach out to a couple of them and see if you 'click.' There are many qualified Advisors out there to help you plan a perfect Walt Disney World vacation!
Mary Graham is a Travel Advisor and has been planning magical vacations for clients for over five years. Her last trip was Christmas 2021 at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort.
She takes the stress and hassle out of planning and doesn't charge any fees for vacation package clients. Theme park vacations. All inclusive resort vacations. European destinations. Ocean Cruises and River Cruises.
Contact her by email: mary@tripsbymary.com or
call 919-817-4081.
Visit her website: www.tripsbymary.com.
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