I've booked quite a few holidays, from international destinations like the Maldives and Ethiopia to all-inclusive resorts, so far The hardest vacation to plan is a Disney vacation. Even though I've been to Disney World over 75 times in the past 25 years, it's still a challenge because there's so much to plan, and that doesn't even get me started on booking a Disney cruise. That’s a whole different ball game! That being said, I am a firm believer in choosing a travel agency for your Disney vacation.
There's so much to figure out When planning a Disney vacation:
- Which hotel to stay in?
- What transportation should I take to get to each park?
- Which rides are eligible for a Lightning Lane Pass?
- Which parks offer early admission?
- Which hotels allow early check-in?
- When can I make dining reservations?
- How to use Genie+
- When can I line up virtually for Tron & Guardians of the Galaxy Ride?
- The list is endless!
About 10 years ago, maybe 11 years ago, I saw an advertisement for Disney Travel Service somewhere and decided to give it a try. I mean, what would it hurt?
1. Best Day Vacation Ever – My Favorite Disney Travel Agent!
Best Day Ever Vacations specializes in Disney vacations! Agents who join the team not only receive normal Disney Knowledge Academy training, but also have a one-on-one coach who teaches them all about Disney until they are fully trained. Vacationing at Disney like I did. They are usually interested in my family and how to make this trip the best vacation for my family. Instead of trying to sell me something, they talked to me about how to make the most of my vacation with the kids.
Travel agents want to know which characters my kids like and how my family likes to travel. They gave me some tips on how to spend the summer with little ones and how to take great photos of the castle.
They will give you lots of advice on how to visit the parks and save money before you book your holiday. I didn’t put down a penny for the deposit…and that’s not even the best part (we’ll get to that soon).
Plan your trip fully – dining guides, packing lists, travel planners, and more
Now, that's not the best part (I promise we'll get there soon).
When you book, you'll get a personalized guide (Disney World's guide is 58 pages long!) It has your entire trip planned. Included are dining recommendations, room reservation #s, how to do My Disney Experience and Genie+, all ready for you.
When it's time to book a meal, they'll send you a reminder, send you a full dining guide, and even help you make some reservations if needed.
Now the best part is – they will find you the best deals even months after you book your vacation!
One of my biggest worries is booking too early and missing out on deals. At Best Day Ever, they are constantly looking for the best deals. Let's say you back an item now and in 6 months there will be a sale and their agents are taught to keep an eye on sales to find you the best deal.
But don’t take my word for it, check out this review from their many 5-star Google reviews.
They book Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani. https://www.bestdayevervacations.com
Now, you may be wondering how after this review I have two more travel agencies and Best Day Ever Vacations does not book international Disney trips to Asia
2. Wishful Thinking – Best for international Disney vacations, including Tokyo Disney, Shanghai Disney and Hong Kong Disney
If you are looking for international travel, this is the place for you. Booking a trip to Tokyo is easy. Booking a trip to Tokyo Disney is difficult. Because the park is set up for Japanese visitors, everything is in Japanese when booking.
We definitely needed help navigating the options when we went to Tokyo Disney. Nothing is the same as booking at a US park and the website is very confusing.
I'm glad I found it Delusion. They make our lives so much easier. They helped plan everything from our hotel room, to our tickets, to our rail pass back to Tokyo. With their help, our trip to Tokyo Disneyland was a breeze.
3. Magic Lamp Vacations – Best Booking Agency for International Disney Trips
Magic Lamp is another solid option for booking destinations. We used their service to book our Disney Adventure trip to New York. We went to see Frozen, Good Morning America, and it was such a great trip! It's amazing what they do. They have a team dedicated to creating a unique and magical experience for your Disney vacation. If you want to go on a Disney Adventures trip, this is your agency.
They provide top-notch service and attention to detail to make your travel planning experience easy and enjoyable.
What should you look for in a Disney travel agent?
Before we continue, I do want to share what you should look for in a Disney travel agent, just in case you are going with different people.
Just like not all Disney rides are created equal, not all Disney travel agencies are created equal. Some people will book you a trip and you never hear from them again, while others are your absolute dream partner.
Here are some things to note when working with a Disney travel agent:
- free service – Disney Travel Agency No booking service fees should be charged (They receive a percentage commission from Disney for booking your vacation). We've had several companies offer “premium service” and what we actually got was a 3 page dining guide for $250.
- trip planning – I don’t need someone to tell me exactly what to do each day, but it’s nice to have a guide for each park and resort.
- Become a true Disney expert – Anyone can google the best Disney World hotels, but you want to work with someone who understands all the little details, like the fact that the Beach Club has the best pool in all of Disney World, or that you can enjoy the night views of the animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House.
- Provide reminder – There is a lot to plan for on a Disney trip, from when to make dining reservations to when to check in for your cruise. All these reminders should be provided by your travel agent.
- Packing list and guide – Your Disney travel agent should also provide you with additional information such as packing lists, dining guides, park tips, and more.
- Enjoy free extras – Best Day Ever Vacations offers a ton of free services, from complete planning guides to money- and time-saving park tips, and they often provide us with fun gifts when we arrive.
