TOP 5 Reasons to Use a Disney Travel Planner & How NOT to Get Burned in the Process

Did you know that if you book a vacation on your own through the Disney website or over the phone, you are still paying for a travel agent's services, but NOT getting anything?

I had NO IDEA this was the case until I became an agent myself and asked "What's the catch? How do agents get paid?"

I learned that Disney already builds into every single package booked - through a travel agency or not - the commissions they pay out to their accredited travel agencies. WHAT!?!!

So why not use the expertise and know how of a certified Disney Travel Agent if you're already paying for this service? (Sorry, but you can't ask Disney to remove this fee if you book on your own - it's all in how their system is set up.). Think about it.....not everyone lives for, sets their alarms for 6:59 AM on Fast Pass booking day and loves the planning of a Walt Disney World vacation. Bringing in certified people who KNOW and LOVE Disney to plan for others is a smart investment on Disney's part. (At least I think so! ;) )

Enter me.... Nicole Buchanan....your personal, certified Disney Travel Agent! Think of me as your "Disney insider!" Here's why............

I’ve been to Walt Disney World every year since I was 14 years old, and I’ve planned over 20 trips just for my family, friends & co-workers in the past 8 years. But I know that many moms don’t have the Disney experience that I do, or they may just not have the time or patience to plan that perfect Disney trip. We have enough on our plates without the added pressure of planning a magical vacation.

I’m a mom to 6th grade twins and a middle school teacher myself and my hands are FULL! In a world where moms have to balance everything and make our family look like it leaped off the Pinterest site, it can be overwhelming. Add on planning the perfect vacation while also making sure you get the best deals, book dining reservations months in advance (when, in most cases, we don’t even know what we are cooking for dinner that night!), organizing which parks to go to on what days so that you can book all the Fastpasses, is A LOT OF WORK! Vacation shouldn’t be that much work, right?

So a Disney Travel Planner is the answer! Think about it! Sometimes we’re quick to outsource someone to clean our house, mow our lawn and take care of the landscape, someone to watch our kids, so why not outsource our vacation planning? Here’s why.....

A Travel Planner Adds VALUE - NOT an Additional Cost

This was confusing to me when I first started doing my research, I assumed it would cost additional money to use a Disney travel agency. I assumed wrong. Travel planner services free, and you can also obtain a zero-obligation vacation quote without waiting on hold with Disney for hours.

The knowledge I have to offer you is essentially priceless and will add so much value to your trip and the planning process. Disney specific travel agents have gone through and graduated from Disney College of Knowledge courses. It’s given directly through Disney and it’s how they obtain the credentials that allows for them to specialize in Disney, as well as learn the ins and outs of planning a Disney vacation. As Disney continues to change and grow, the agents are offered courses that will give them the most up to date information. Think of me as your personal “Disney Insider.”

If we’re speaking in terms of monetary value, I offer that as well. Disney often releases highly sought after travel discounts throughout the year. Discounts offered throughout the year can sometimes include: Free Dining, Room Only discounts (up to 25% off) as well as the Play, Stay, Dine & Save discounts (historically offered in the Spring). As your Disney travel agent, I will be on top of all the discounts offered, so there’s no need to sit at your computer and browse the internet for hours to find the best deal. If you book your package before the discount is released, and the offer applies to your vacation, I will apply the discount to your package as soon as the promotion is released. You don’t have to do anything!

I will never stop working for you once you’ve booked your vacation. More often than not, they go above and beyond to make sure you have a vacation that you’ll remember forever.

Aside from the initial booking process, I also provide the following services for my clients:

● Insider tips and tricks

● Magical Express Scheduling

● Airport Transfer Booking

● Stroller/Scooter rentals

● Assistance with Birthday/Anniversary Celebrations

● Booking Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League/Specialty Cruises, and Special Ticketed Events

● VIP Tour Scheduling

● Scheduling Golf tee times

● Scheduling Spa Treatments

● Assistance with runDisney weekends

If you find yourself trying to coordinate every little detail of the trip, to make sure your family has a memorable time, you forget that it is your trip too! Once you let go of all the extra planning and leave it in the hands of professionals (AKA me), you can breathe and enjoy the trip as much as your family!

The Convenience of ONE Point of Contact

Gone are the days where if you need to change something, make a reservation or do anything else regarding my trip where you have to call Disney. If you’ve done that, you’ve most likely wasted I don’t even know how many hours of your life, waiting on hold, listening to the theme song from "It’s A Small World."

You think it’s bad being stuck on the ride and hearing that song? Try waiting on the phone for an hour while it plays, as your children battle over who is breathing more air - because they wait until the exact moment you're on the phone to start fighting. Eventually your mom brain kicks, you lose your "you know what" and you can’t even remember why you’re on the phone in the first place.

When you have to modify your reservation, make a payment or book anything for your trip, your agent is there to assist you and the stress quickly vanishes. Imagine how nice it can be to plan your trip, only having to deal with one point of contact.

Someone Who "Gets" Your Love of Disney

You know that love you have for Disney? That love that makes you cry the second “Happily Ever After” fireworks start? That love that keeps you coming back year after year, creating traditions and countless memories with your family. Your agent will share in that love and excitement, because they feel the same way.

Anyone can be a travel agent, but it takes a specific person to specialize in Disney vacations. More often than not, an agent grew up going there, brings their own families there every year or have some emotional connection to the parks. All of that combined with a general love of planning vacations for other families is what makes using a Disney travel agent that much more special. There’s no need to explain why you’re going back (for the 4th time in 2 years), there’s no judgement or side eye that you’re an adult with no kids and still choosing to vacation there, because they feel the same way. They get it and ultimately they get you. They’ll share their unique tips and tricks, which will only enhance your vacation that much more.

Fastpass+. PERIOD. THE END.

Even the most self proclaimed “Disney expert” is easily overwhelmed by all things Fastpass+. Disney’s system isn’t necessarily difficult, but many experts feel like as soon as they’ve mastered it- something changes to it and then they’re back at square one. There’s a science to Fastpass+ and your Disney travel agent will help you understand it. PLUS there are so many little tips and techniques that newbie Disney planners may be like learning a new language!

Not only will I explain the FastPass+ process to you, I will often book them for you too OR we can tag team to be sure you get the most sought after and popular FastPass selections before they are all gone!

FastPass+ reservations are available to book online through your My Disney Experience

account 60 days in advance for guests staying in Walt Disney World resort hotels and 30 days in advance for guests staying offsite. In the past I even had to set alarms on my phone for 60 or 30 days out, because if you don’t book as soon as that window opens you could risk not getting some of the Fastpasses you hoped to get. Do you really want to tell your 7 year old that you weren't able to get that Smuggler's Run or Slinky Dog Dash fast pass?

That's not a very magical way to start your Disney vacation! As your Disney agent, I will be on top of of those Fast Passes and on the day your booking window opens, I'm willing and able to book them for you!

Fear of the unknown

When it comes to planning a Disney trip - Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, or Adventures by Disney- you probably feel completely lost.

Your agent will provide you with the knowledge and tips you need, which ultimately leads you and your family having one of the best and most memorable family vacations ever; Disney Cruise Line offers so much more than most themes parks and cruises, that you would be doing yourself an injustice if you didn’t have a professional helping you along the way.

Academy Travel has been making vacation dreams come true for over 25 years. As an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner”, the team of experienced agents can provide the utmost in professional assistance in planning customized Disney vacations. All of their agents are graduates of Disney’s College of Knowledge and continue their education throughout the year. Academy is the original “Disney Exclusive” travel agency, AND it's also a Diamond Earmarked Agency!

Disney Destinations bestows the honor of Diamond Earmarked to agencies that maintain and protect Disney’s integrity, adhere to travel guidelines set by Disney, while also forging and maintaining relationships with its clients that serve as an extension of Disney’s level of excellence and customer service. Being Earmarked by Disney Destinations is a tribute to Academy’s knowledge of Disney as a brand and travel destination, as well as the value their agents provide to their clients. Just 3 Disney travel agencies in the world can say they are Earmarked Diamond, and Academy Travel is one of them.

Avoid Being Burned

I can say with complete confidence, you will not be burned if you choose to use Academy Travel and me as your Disney Travel Agent. One of the greatest joys that I have is creating that unique Disney magic for others. I truly believe that I am a small part of carrying on Walt Disney's legacy as a Disney Travel Agent, so I take my job very seriously. I plan each person's trip as if I were planning my own.

However, if you decide to go with another agency, there are a few key points you should look for when choosing one. It’s necessary steps like the ones below that will help you avoid being like one of those 400 families that paid for a Disney dream vacation that didn’t exist.

TIP! Check to see which training the agency provides its agents. Did the agents not only complete Disney’s College of Knowledge, but do they continue their education by maintaining their certificate and taking additional courses throughout the year? You want to be able to say “yes” to all of the above.

A qualified agency should also be members or affiliated with other groups and associations in the travel industry. Academy Travel is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and International Airlines Travel Agents Network (IATAN). They also maintain the highest standards in the travel Industry and abide by the Travel Industry Code of Ethics.

The way your payment is accepted and processed is perhaps the biggest item to check off your list when choosing an agency. One of the most important things you need to find out about a travel agency is how they handle payments.

The agency should send your payments immediately and directly to Disney. If an agency processes your money through their personal accounts, there’s no way to guarantee your money is going directly to paying for your Disney vacation. An agency that’s licensed, insured and bonded is another key point. This means they have a business license, have the proper insurance and have made payments to a surety company for protection by a bond. The bond ensures that the travel agent will handle money and transactions legally and ethically. Again, let me do the work for you- Academy Travel is licensed, bonded and insured.

I can’t stress enough how much using a Disney travel agent has changed the way so many of my clients approach their Disney vacations. No matter which agency you go with, make sure their main focus is on YOU and making sure YOU and YOUR family have the most magical vacation. It’s only when you’re finally able to relinquish that control, will you receive the greatest gift of all- the ability to be present and in the moment with your family on your family vacation. That’s where the real magic is.

I look forward to helping you and your family plan your magical Disney vacation. Just contact me at nicolebuchanantravel@gmail.com to learn more and get a FREE vacation quote!