Whether it’s your first Disney vacation or your hundredth, you should use a good travel agent who specializes in Disney destinations.

This topic is debated frequently in many Facebook groups, YouTube videos and online blogs, and there are a lot of common misconceptions.  Of course what I’m about to describe is about working with a reputable and qualified agent.  For tips on finding the right one, see my article on questions you should ask your agent.

Here are my top 5 myths about booking your Walt Disney World vacation with a reputable Disney travel agent.

1.  You will pay extra

If you are booking a Disney vacation package, most travel advisors will not charge a fee for their service.  Your Disney trip will cost the same amount of money as if you booked it directly with Disney yourself, and in some cases even less.  There can be multiple promotions Disney releases and a good agent will check the best deals to make sure you are paying the lowest price and getting the best value!  It is with these savings that many guests are able to upgrade their family vacation or extend their trip to make the most of the budget they have.  Finding a better discount can mean more souvenirs for you!

2. You lose control of your vacation

Nothing could be further from the truth.  You can control as much or as little as you like!  You can book all of your own Lightening Lanes, dining reservations, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and special events.  You dictate what you want to experience at the theme parks and the resorts. You are absolutely in control – it is YOUR vacation.  If you book via a travel agency the only thing that is different is your payments must be made via the agency.  One of the best things about that is you can work with your agent to set up a payment plan or schedule if you would like to pay your trip in increments.

3. You don’t need one

Honestly, I need one…. and I’ve been visiting for over 45 years!  I don’t need one to recommend dining or link my resort for me, but walking through the planning process to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything is priceless.  If there is a new discount, an event, or website glitch that requires a call to Disney – the agent calls for you.  If there’s a hurricane that happens to plan to visit at the same time as you and you need to change your dates, an agent is there to support you.  They will spend the time on the phone with the call center figuring out what can be done for you.

A good travel planner will talk to you about the different resort hotels that might be the best fit for you.  They may even suggest ones that are a better deal for you given what they know about the promotions and pricing.  There are so many Disney resorts that it’s nice to have someone sift through that information for you.

4.  All of the information is online anyway

Sure, and you still can do your own research when you’re using a travel agent, but they’ll help you decipher the truth from the ‘click bait’ online.  We all have friends who have advice or read something somewhere, but how do you know what’s really going on?  I am often left shaking my head at some of the advice I read online.  You don’t know if the person in the Facebook group has years of experience with their own trips. Often they have been one time 7 years ago and are advising you based on what they got to experience or what they heard about their friends’ trips.  Social media is great for pictures and quick info, but it takes a lot of effort to sift through what is real and what isn’t.

Use an agent to bounce around ideas with your specific goals and family in mind.  Good agents draw on the tribal knowledge within their team and their own frequent experience to provide specific information tailored to your needs.  Why would you not want that extra resource at your disposal if it doesn’t cost you anything?

5.  They’re all the same

No, they aren’t all the same.  Like any profession, the travel industry has a variety of business models and qualifications and not all travel agents are created equal.  Please believe me when I tell you that walking in to a counter at one of those big box stores is not the same as calling an agency that has a focus on planning magical vacations.

There are so many variables when choosing an agency to work with, and you need to make sure that they know what they’re doing!  Find an agency with a team of people who have relevant and recent personal experience who love what they do – that’s where you find the right one!

When you’re looking to plan your next vacation – read my article on why you need a Disney Travel Agent for your trip.

Looking for a Facebook group with accurate info?  Join my group here.