Disney, travel agent or do-able myself?

[Concannon88]

I'm just wondering if anyone ever uses travel agents to book Disney? We've only ever holidayed in the uk and I'm v v nervous and apprehensive to book it myself. Will have anxiety I've messed it up and ruined our holiday before we've even gone. Its just myself and 15 year old daughter. We want to fly and stay close ish to the park in a hotel or b and b. Also is going in nov/dec worth it? Thanks for any advice.

I booked Paris through magic breaks and it went very smoothly

I'd say it is doable yourself (I'm assuming Disney World in Florida?)...but if you have anxiety booking through a travel agent might be worth it for the piece of mind?

I'd recommend disboards.com for Disney planning (there is also thedibb, but I'm less keen on that forum).

Very easy to do yourself. Nobody uses travel agents any more, it's so easy to do yourself online.
Get travel insurance before you book so that everything is covered. Then make sure flight and accommodation are both available on the dates you want. And only then book.

Which Disney park are you interested in visiting. If either in the US, Nov/Dec will be a busy time to go but nice weather-wise. Definitely stay on park. Totally doable on your own. Go have a great time!

It’s easy to do it yourself, I went last year and would recommend the following:

• direct flights if you can afford it
• Uber from airport to hotel
• find a hotel where breakfast is included in the rate (many don’t do breakfast but we found it sped things up and we didn’t lose park time getting food as soon as we arrived) we stayed at the holiday inn Disney springs which was really reasonable and such a good hotel and gives early entry to the parks.
• book a hotel which has a shuttle to the parks - check how regular these are, ours were hourly but some hotels only had a couple each way per day.
• watch as many YouTube videos about the parks as you can to learn everything you need to know about genie plus, dining etc. I liked mammoth club and all ears.

Great blog for planning a trip to Disney that covers all aspects: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/

If there are specific restaurants or experiences you want to book, be sure to give yourself plenty of time in advance of travelling.

If it's the US you need an ESTA. In theory you shouldn't this before you book anything as if it's declined it's a long wait for a visa appointment. Just make sure you use the proper site which will be about $20.

Make sure you book on the proper disney website for the park you are going to.

We went five years running when the kids were little, assuming you mean Orlando.

direct virgin flights Manchester to Orlando
villa rent on what was then Owners Direct
car hire using one of the big names from the airport such as Alamo, Dollar etc
booked all theme park tickets here before we went.
Do an itinerary and make sure you have rest days in between.

I highly recommend Brit Guide to Orlando, it’s fabulous right down to which queues are shortest to which days visit certain parks.

If you meant Paris, I haven’t done it but would probably fly into Charles De Gaulle then get the high speed train to the park.

Super easy to do it yourself. Especially if you stay on resort. Wdw is huge and it’s easier to get around if you stay in the bubble having said that most hotels etc have shuttles. Nov is my fave time to go it’s not as busy as summer (still v busy though) but the weather is cooler so it’s all more manageable and the humidity is much lower so you can’t have longer park days because you aren’t in the heat.
it’s also quite dry in nov although the frozen lizards on chilly mornings are a bit strange

Water rides are usually off line and water parks are sometimes refurbed at this point in the year. It’s nice weather like a good spring in the uk but gets cool at night and in the am

Assuming you mean Disney World Florida, totally do-able by yourself and will be cheaper.

Have a look on The Dibb https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=48
Everything you could possibly need to know is on there and everyones very helpful ☺️

It is easy to do it yourself, but if you're worried about it book through an agent, they can get some good deals.

November is fine, December starts getting busy, but I wouldn't be taking a 15 year old out of school for 2 weeks, do it either side of half term.

We always booked by ourselves but this year we used trailfinders as the logistics of this years holiday was a nightmare

very helpful and the holiday came down in price which they informed us of

Not sure if you mean Florida or Paris but both easily done yourself. Id recommend joining Facebook groups for tips, It’s Orlando time is one. We booked a villa the 3 times we went, and flights separate, plus car hire and tickets.

If you're nervous and not holidayed outside the UK, then go for a travel agent. I don't know why people are recommending booking it yourself. It is peace of mind for you and takes away the stress and anxiety. Plus you are more covered in the event of any mishaps.

I would try Trailfinders or find a Travel Counsellor local to you. They will have loads of advice and can be so helpful if there are any issues such as cancelled flights, or you are ill. I'd steer clear of your TUIs and on the Beach type agents though.

Because they can get tickets and hotels cheaper than the general public they are not necessarily more expensive than if you try to do it yourself.

I always sort holidays myself, but if I was anxious or holidaying outside the UK for the first time I would definitely use a travel agent.

We really need to know if you meant Paris or Orlando.
It's easy if you are used to booking holidays yourself (we used a travel agent to book a holiday this year and actuI found it more confusing because he was entering info I gave him over the phone)

I think for both, if its your first time abroad, I would book a package and probably stay on resort with Disney....that way the park tickets and advance ride and restaurant booking is all on the same booking and it will just be more straightforward.

Paris, 8-9 yrs ago we booked direct with Disney.
Florida we booked with Virgin and didn't stay on resort, I think I got tickets separately.

It wouldn’t cross my mind to use a travel agent. Do it yourself. Do lots of online research and read reviews. Much better to get the holiday that you want and stay in control.

Thank you. I do mean Paris. Theres no way I could do a ten hour flight.

I have holidayed abroad but not for 15 years and it was always booked and sorted by other people.

I can afford to holiday abroad, but I've just had such anxiety over it I havent had the guts to do it yet. But we are getting a bit tired of the seaside.

We booked through DLP website including flights with BA to Paris
Then you can get a shuttle from the airport to the hotel.
Highly recommend staying at a Disney hotel. Its more expensive but so much easier to come and go from the parks, extra magic hours, can eat at the other hotels.

Oh we have always done Paris independently,it's honestly very straightforward

hope you have a lovely time

If you're just going to Paris, book hotel and tickets yourself through Disneyland Paris direct. Stay onsite (much easier).
And easiest way for us is to drive and use the tunnel. But if you don't want to drive there's plenty of flights and use the Magical Express Disney coach for transfers.

Join the DIBB - there is a Disneyland Paris sub-forum.

We've been once in winter (December 2019) and found it unbearably cold and miserable plus the weekend queues were heaving due to the Christmas stuff. We missed out on loads as it was just too cold and wet to stand still and queue. We've also been Monday-Friday in May 2019, May 2022, and May 2023. Perfect weather, warm and sunny, not bad crowd levels, just avoid French holidays.