Planning for a Disney trip can be overwhelming — it’s hard to know where to start!

There are so many aspects of a Disney trip that need planning like choosing dates, buying tickets, making Park Pass Reservations, deciding which hotel to stay at, figuring out if you want to buy Genie+ — we could go on and on. So why do this all by yourself when you DON’T have to figure it out alone?

Although it used to be easy to just show up to the Disney parks with no plans, times have changed and planning is an essential part of maximizing your time at the parks. If you’ve been to Disney World or Disneyland Resort in the past few years, you probably have a general idea about how to plan a trip in these times. But whether you went to a Disney park yesterday or you haven’t been in 10 years, here’s why you should use a Disney-certified travel agent!

Why Use a Travel Agent?

They’re FREE (Yes, Really!)

Something you may or may not know about using a travel agent is that their services are completely FREE! We know..it may be hard to believe, but travel agents make money off of commission from helping you book a trip. There are so many expenses that go into a Disney World vacation, so the fact that you can get some planning help at no extra cost should ease some of that anxiety.

Travel agents love planning and helping you book trips and you get more time to relax and think about the fun stuff. Sounds like a win, win!

Planning Tips Before and During Your Trip

Before you actually hop in the car or on a plane to Disney World, travel agents can be a HUGE help when decided everything you want to do. Not only will they book hotels or tickets for you, but they can give you recommendations on vacation packages, resort choice, and ticket types that would work best for you and your family!

Disney travel agents are always ready to give dining recommendations and help make Advance Dining Reservations, tell you what rides, attractions, or shows you should prioritize based on your family’s needs, create an epic trip within your budget, and help you make a game plan for how to do everything you want to do!

With tons of restaurants, rides, attractions, and activities, it’s nearly impossible to do every single thing in just one Disney trip. Authorized Disney Travel Agents will have you making the most of your time based on your priorities! If you want some additional advice on choosing restaurants at Disney World, our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is available online.

Their job is to make sure everything runs smoothly from the first day of planning through the end of your trip. That means they will be available to help with any and all questions or problems you may run into on your vacation. For example, bad weather like hurricanes (yes, hurricanes can reach Disney World) can cause the Disney World parks to close or after hours parties to be canceled. Your travel agent will assist you — just reach out to them and they will be on the case! This goes for any travel issues on your trip including your airport transportation being canceled, you need to find a doctor nearby, or you need to reschedule dining reservations.

Even if you consider yourself a Disney expert, it can be nice to have a little extra help. And if this is your first time visiting a Disney park, these travel agents can give you some seriously awesome recommendations and make your trip as stress-free as possible! Disney travel agents are also required to maintain their Disney training in order to keep the Disney-certified status — they will be up-to-date on everything the Disney parks have to offer.

Get the Best Deals Possible

What some people often forget when booking a Disney trip is that Disney is constantly running some sort of deal or discount. Whether that’s on tickets or hotels, a Disney travel agent will make sure you take advantage of those deals! Travel agents also get a head’s up on information as far as deals go, so they will have the most updated knowledge on how to save.

What happens if you’ve already booked your trip and a new deal comes along? Well, a travel agent will rebook your existing reservations so that the deal is applied — then you can throw yourself a little party for saving some cash! If you aren’t sure what the better deal would be, a travel agent will do the math for you. No need to pull out your calculators!

What is the BEST Travel Agency?

If you’re asking “where do I start” when it comes to choosing a travel agent, we’ve got answers! When looking for a travel agency, look for one with a certification and a “earmarked” designation from Disney. That means they have gone through a specific training from Disney so they solid knowledge on the Disney parks.

There is an overwhelming number of travel agents out there — so which one should you use? Here at DFB, we always recommend Small World Vacations. Note that DFB readers get a little something special when using Small World! When you reach out to Small World Vacations, be sure to mention that you found them through Disney Food Blog — you may just get a unique surprise! Check out the current details by clicking here.

For a little background, Sue Pisaturo (the owner of Small World Vacations) and DFB’s AJ Wolfe go way back and have been colleagues/friends for years. We aren’t the only ones who recognize the excellence of Small World Vacations — they are also recommended by MouseSavers and Sehlinger’s “Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Small World Vacations has been around for years creating meaningful vacations for clients and they are respected by other leaders in the Disney Media and Travel Industry.

What makes Small World Vacations stand out is their excellence in their field and their highly-qualified agents. They go above and beyond to make sure all of your questions are answered and that your trip is the best it can possibly be! While working with a travel agent may seem like a small thing, it can have BIG impacts on your trip — why not work with the best of the best?

Small World can help you plan trips to Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and even Disney Cruises! So they really offer a wide range of useful services when it comes to planning a Disney vacation.

Doesn’t it feel good knowing you don’t have to do this all by yourself? Travel agents can provide so much relief when it comes to stressful planning, so try it out for your next trip! These Disney pros will be with your every step of the way. For any additional recommendations, advice, or news, be sure to keep following DFB!

The Ultimate Guide to Disney World Travel Agents

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Have you ever used a travel agent for your Disney trip? Let us know in the comments!

The post Best Disney Travel Agents first appeared on the disney food blog.