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We have all read the horror stories online about a Disney vacation that went wrong. Guests standing at the gates of the Magic Kingdom with their “Universal” ticket wondering why they couldn’t get in, or they are at the park asking for Harry Potter. Maybe it was the family that was very athletic that thought they could walk from Epcot to Animal Kingdom not realizing those were highways on the maps and not walking trails. These might be extreme examples of misinformation – but you get the idea.

I’ve said it before and will say it again, when booking your Disney vacation you should always enlist the help of a Disney Travel Agent. They don’t cost you anything and can help you avoid so many mistakes! There are many benefits to booking with them, but now the question is – how do you find a GOOD one? How do you make sure that the agent you’re booking with is a well-versed Disney travel agent? What questions could you ask to make sure they know what they’re doing before you book with them? It would be hard to come up with those questions if you’ve never been, so I’ve done it for you.

Here are the 6 questions you should ask your Disney travel agent before booking with them

1 When was the last time you visited Walt Disney World?

Walt Disney World is probably the most complicated of the Disney destinations. You might need to arrange Genie+, park reservations, virtual queues and dining. There are 4 parks to consider, parades, shows, fireworks and transportation options so many things that can impact your stress level on vacation. If your agent hasn’t been to Walt Disney World in 5 years, how will they know what options are best for your family? Reading online doesn’t put things in to context and sometimes they are completely misinformed opinions. You have to experience the crowds at the Magic Kingdom fireworks in order to tell you a good spot to watch them from! You can’t beat personal experience when someone is advising you.

2 Do you get the dining plan, memory maker, or hopper pass when you go?

These are valuable insights that only someone who visits the park can give you. If your agent tells you that their family gets the dining plan because it’s a good value for the character meals her son likes, you’re more informed about the best use of those dining credits! All of these ‘add ons’ are really personal choices for your trip and you need someone that can guide you through them based on what’s right for YOUR family.

Scar Art of Animation Disney Resort

3 How big is your team and are they all Disney focused?

Having someone that is part of an agency that is Disney focused will ensure that you have back up in the event your agent is sick or is on vacation when you have a question. It also means they have a wealth of knowledge to tap in to if they don’t have personal experience on the subject you need. For example – one agent on the team may have a child with allergies that can share that first hand knowledge about the process of eating at a buffet with allergies. If they are a good team, they’re sharing all of that stuff with each other regularly. Lone agents or people who work in agencies that aren’t Disney focused don’t have that wealth of experiences and resources behind them to make sure you are covered. No one agent will have experience in EVERYTHING Disney has to offer – but a good team will.

4 How much is your service and what is included?

This is a tricky one as some agencies will not charge a fee – but won’t give you advice for dining or Genie+. Other agencies will do all of that for you, but they charge a fee for that service. Depending on the package you are booking, most agencies will NOT charge you for their service. It’s important to have the conversations about what is included in the service including promotions. Be cautious of agents who tell you that if Disney releases a promo that they will absolutely get it for you. What they don’t tell you is that the space can be limited and sometimes not available for the resort you have booked. A good agency will monitor the promotions for you and apply it to your reservation if you qualify. If your reservation isn’t eligible because the resort is not included, they will work with you to see if you’d like an alternate one. Beware of false promises!

5 What is your favourite resort and park?

Asking your agent a personal question about what is important to them gives you some insight in to their personality. It should be a conversation that helps guide the discussion about what is best for YOU and your family!

6 The last (and most important) thing you should ask your agent before booking with them is “why do you do it?”

This is such an important question, and you should listen carefully to the answer. A really good agent is also a Disney fan that will want you to go and love it as much as they do. That’s the thing about us ‘Disney people’, we get so excited when someone comes back from vacation and says they understand the Disney magic we were talking about. When you find an agent that is a real Disney fan, you can be sure they’re invested in making sure you have the most fantastic and magical experience ever!

If you’re looking to plan your vacation – contact my partner agency Playcation Travel Ltd