In all honesty, I’ve spent years planning Disney trips for groups of all sizes. I’ve helped friends and relatives plan their ideal vacation and given countless people recommendations, but I’ll be the first to say even I miss something from time to time. Of course, in the realm of Disney news and special events or other items of the sort, I tend to keep up but in the realm of Disney, very little stacks up to the planning knowledge of a true Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and my highest recommendation goes to our friends over at Destinations to Travel.
In my opinion, their agency is one of the best of the best, and the quality of their planning expertise shines through in a variety of different ways which we’ll take a closer look at today. However, before we start I wanted to share a simple thought process of my own. For years, we planned every little detail of our Disney vacations on our own and while that worked out fairly well over the years, we started booking with Destinations to Travel last year and it’s been a much more cohesive experience from start to finish.
While that may sound like an over-exaggeration from someone in my situation, I have to say that having someone there and willing to help us at a moments notice (quite literally) was one of the highlights of the booking experience. Sure, we probably didn’t need the extra help every step of the way, but it just goes to show that having that option (No matter your booking experience) can be helpful in ways that you never expected. So, with that we’ll jump into a few more details and a few personal experiences.
Things You Tend to Overlook
Disney is always changing and that means that the fine print and little elements of the booking experience can get completely overlooked for those of us not booking vacations on a daily basis.
In a more personal example, as we were booking our most recent trip (Scheduled for mid March) we ran into a small issue in booking a reservation at the Boardwalk that popped up on the reservation system online but continuously kept showing up and then moments later disappearing. Our agent, (Jamie) made every effort to secure that reservation for us despite the online issues and went above and beyond to call Disney on a Friday night to personally check for us to see if the room type and resort was still available. To our surprise, she successfully secured the room and along the way gave us updates in quick succession on top of responding to our original email about the room within minutes. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if we didn’t get that particular resort, but she could tell that it meant something to us to stay there and took that extra effort and went that extra mile to make that experience happen. It’s a little difference, but one that could make all the difference when booking your personal vacation and one outstanding thing that sets a travel agent apart from simply booking with Disney’s online reservation system.
Of course, we tend to scan the online booking system from time to time just to see what’s available, but in a typical booking circumstance their agents could check and recheck for that one special requested accommodation you’re looking for and book it for you. It wouldn’t even require you to touch the Disney site unless your’e just like us and want to be apart of the “search.”
Additionally, when booking that stay we had no idea of the somewhat hidden details and cancellation policies that are available for packages versus stand alone tickets, but our agent did and lead us in the right direction.
What They’ll Help You With
- Resort Accommodations
- Fastpass+ Selections and Booking
- Dining Reservations and Recommendations
- Special Events or Tours During Your Stay
- Special Occasions (Birthday’s, Anniversaries, Engagements, Weddings, etc.)
- And so much more!
Your goals and enjoyment is their utmost priority! Here’s a few words from Shannon about her team and their commitment to their clients:
“Vacations are meant to be exciting, adventurous and full of wonderful memories. Sometimes planning the perfect vacation can be overwhelming. While working with the experienced, knowledgeable team at Destinations to Travel, we take that stress away and only leave room for the things that matter. We are a dedicated team that works together to make every vacation magical for our guests and their individual needs. It is important to us to understand what each client is looking for in their vacation. We take the time to get to know what you are looking for and enjoy building lasting relationships.
At Destinations to Travel, we are always looking out for the best interest of our clients. We work diligently to get our clients the best deals, whether it be a room discount, free dining or a new promotional package, our agents track client’s reservations and work hard to get them the best deal possible. Our agents anticipate when new deals might be released and are always on top of these new promotions. We understand the importance of saving money.
We know how important the details are in making the perfect vacation. Our agency can help you get the hotel room you want or secure those special reservations that mean so much. Our agency tracks client’s reservations, and are able to alert our clients when it is time to make advance dining reservations, fast pass + reservations and other special reservations such as Bibbity Bobbity Boutique, a firework cruise, and special events. Some of these reservations open up early in the morning. Dining reservations open at 7:00 a.m. (EST) or 6:00 a.m. (CST), 180 days in advance. Popular restaurants often book up within minutes of that timeframe. Why not have an experienced agent take care of these special details?
Destinations to Travel recognizes that not everyone has the same needs. Our agents help specialize vacations for families with young children, older children, couples, large groups and guests with disabilities. We have agents that have first-hand knowledge of the disability procedures and can help make a plan for each park. Our agents can help families understand and utilize the ride swapping service so you can make the most of your park time. We love planning group trips that bring everyone together for some amazing magic.
Sometimes even the perfect vacation has an issue come up. Our team can help while you are on vacation as well. For example, if an issue comes up with your hotel or someone gets sick, we can work with the hotel and get you the help you need. Every so often weather changes for the worst, we monitor those situations as well and are ready to make any changes necessary. If your dining reservations need adjustments, your agent can take care of that while you are out enjoying the park!”
You see, their agency is committed to making your vacation the most memorable experience you’ve ever had at Walt Disney World no matter what your situation may be and thats the main reason we recommend a Travel Agent. A Disney trip should be adapted as the best possible vacation for your situation. No two guests are the same and recognizing that fact makes all the difference.
Special Loyalty Program Gifts
One of the more interesting options when booking with our recommended agency is the opportunity to participate in their unique rewards program. Not only do you get to book your dream vacation but during your trip you may be able to take part in the following special gift offer on repeat stays! The special gift is a perfect way to welcome you to your resort and shares that special personal touch that makes all the difference when you arrive at your resort.
The best part of the booking experience is the fact that Destinations to Travel’s services are completely free to use! Of course, you’ll still be paying Disney prices for your stay, but the travel agency experience costs you absolutely nothing extra and may even save you a little money along the way (through special offers you may have overlooked!) I can share my experiences time and time again, but the true test of any business is what customers are saying.
The Feedback Speaks For Itself
Beyond my personal booking experiences with Shannon and her team, it’s great to hear feedback from guests that have just returned from their vacations.
“WOW! It had been 20 years since I had last visited Disney world, so deciding on where to go or what to see was slightly overwhelming. Megan was so helpful from finding the perfect resort, to giving advice on the best time to plan my visit. She help craft a perfect weekend getaway that was much needed. We had an absolutely incredible time and using her tips and tricks for the fast passes was amazing! We got to experiencethe best of each park without ever waiting in line. I am so happy I relied on her expertise to help make this vacation a trip to remember! Thank you Megan for making this the most carefree vacation I’ve ever been on!” – Danielle
How to Try It For Yourself
It doesn’t matter if you have a group of 2 or a group of 200, a Disney Travel Agent is something you can use and use to your advantage to truly get the most out of your Disney vacation. I recommend an agent because it’s the way I’ll be booking my future Disney vacations. Honestly, I was one of the skeptics, but you my be surprised at how much you enjoy the option of having someone there to help along the way.
As a last word of advice, if you choose to use our recommended agency or not, just make sure that you utilize an Authorized Disney Travel Planner. They’re trained by Disney and have certain connections that other agencies simply don’t have.
If all of that sounds like an ideal situation for you and your travel party, be sure to check out our quote request form below. Simply fill out the information and they’ll contact you as soon as possible. We wish you the best in your booking experience and if you need any extra information along the way or want to check out some hidden gems of the Disney experience, we’ll be right here sharing as often as we can! When you book through them, it not only helps you book your vacation but also helps out the site along the way! We truly appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you in the parks some day!
