Why You Should Use a Travel Agent for Your Next Disney or Universal Trip
If you’ve been thinking about a vacation and reading online about how to begin, you may have heard mention of using a travel agent to ease your planning process. If you’ve wondered how this works, how much it costs, and what an agent can do, this post is for you!
How can a travel agent help with my Disney/Universal trip? This is a question we get asked all the time and even wondered ourselves before we used one! In a nutshell, when you work with a travel agent you are getting their expertise and knowledge about your destination and assistance with tasks related to planning your trip. Hopefully, you found someone who specializes in the location you plan to visit so you can ask all your questions and get answers based on first-hand experience. (Hint: we probably have a Sweatpants Mom for that.) While travel agents can help you go just about anywhere, let’s talk specifically about how agents can help you in some of our most visited locations (Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Universal). For these types of trips most agents will be able to help you do things like:
- Find and book a hotel/resort
- Offer advice about recommended times to travel/times to avoid
- Make itinerary suggestions
- Process payments toward your vacation
- Reserve activities such as dining, princess makeovers, etc.
- Offer guidance (and possibly booking) for extras you might need (stroller rental, airport transportation, grocery delivery, wheelchair/scooter rentals, rental cars, etc.)
- Monitor for discounts and apply them when available
- Answer questions throughout the planning process
How much does it cost to use a travel agent? Everything above is sounding pretty great, right?! If you’re anything like my budget-minded husband, you’re probably wondering what this is going to cost you. I can’t speak for all travel agents, but I can speak for the Sweatpants Moms and when you book with us it’s not going to cost you anything. You read that right – zip, nada, nothing, to use us to plan your vacation. Ok, but what’s the catch?? Again, nothing. Suppliers like Universal, Disneyland, and Walt Disney World have a fee already built-in to all of their pricing. So, whether you book it on your own or with an agent – the price will be the same. If you book through an agent, the supplier (i.e. Universal) pays the agent commission after you travel in exchange for helping you have a smooth experience (and hopefully turning you into a repeat visitor!) If you book it on your own, it’s going to cost the exact same thing, but the supplier is keeping that money.
On top of the cost of an agent being nothing, using an agent may actually SAVE you money. After you’ve booked your trip, if a discount comes out at a later date that could apply to your reservation, those suppliers aren’t going to call you and let you know. A travel agent, on the other hand, is going to monitor for deals and immediately try to apply the best possible discount to your reservation. So you have peace of mind knowing you are always going to get the best deal.
How does using a travel agent work? If you’ve decided to have expert help with your vacation for free, you’ll want to know how the process works. First, find an agent who specializes in your desired destination. If you want help from us, fill out this short form to get started. After you get connected to an agent you’ll work through all the details of your trip. When you are ready to book, the agent will place your booking directly with the supplier in your name. Agents need to place the booking in order to get paid and to be able to help you with other details along the way. Your agent will provide you with confirmation of your vacation quickly after booking. Then, they should provide you with lots of information about n your destination and answer any questions you’re sure to think of. When the time comes, they can help reserve extras like dining if you’d like and offer guidance about tricky things like Genie+. As you approach your check-in day they’ll help you tie up any loose ends and make sure you are set for a smooth arrival. Finally, you show up for your vacation and enjoy the smiles of your family and have the best time ever because you’ve been well-prepared by your amazing travel agent!
What if I already booked my trip, but now I want help? Hey, it happens. Sometimes people book their trips and then start reading all the things and get overwhelmed. You might still be able to get free help from a travel agent if your trip meets a few requirements. Be sure to reach out if this might be you as requirements vary based on the supplier. You can email me here.
I hope I’ve shown you what a wonderful asset a travel agent can be when you are planning your next vacation. Whether you decide to use an agent or not, I hope you get out and create some wonderful memories with your family!
XOXO,
Sarah