Planning a Walt Disney World vacation is overwhelming. There are so many details and deadlines to be aware of. Ever tried to book reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table, only to be told you should’ve done that 6 months in advance? You too can dine with Cinderella – with a little advanced planning. Speaking of Cinderella, she had a Fairy Godmother guide her along the way. So why shouldn’t you have the assistance of an expert too?
People often think that simply visiting The Most Magical Place on Earth is all it takes to ensure a good time for all. Unfortunately, that can’t be further from the truth! Seasoned parkgoers can usually pull this off, but not without compromises or sacrifices (usually meaning forgoing something until next time). However, for those families in the Disney vacation planning process for the first time visit, heed my advice – you need to have a plan!
Booking your Disney vacation with a travel advisor specialized in Disney Destinations can make all the difference in the world, and here is why.
1) We All Have Our “Disney Degree”!
A degree in Disney can sound a little crazy, but there are aspects to a Disney (and Universal) Vacation that go beyond just typical travel. Regular travel agents don’t always realize this, so using an actual Disney travel agent makes a difference.
Become A Disney Travel Agent!
That’s the dream! Well, for us it is. All advisors must take and pass the College of Disney Knowledge course to be able to even book Disney Travel. This extensive online education course goes through every type of Disney Vacation – Theme Parks, Cruise Line, Aulani, and Adventures by Disney.
The travel advisor certifies their knowledge about the Disney resorts, how far in advance dining reservations can be made, amenities of staying on property, transportation options, and so much more. Not only do they have to pass an initial series of tests, but they also have to recertify every year! Things are ever-changing and moving forward at Disney and so the advisors must stay up to date.
I specifically said the advisor certifies their knowledge for a reason…
2) On-Site Disney Knowledge
…. Because all of our Heyday Travel Company advisors also have direct personal experience with going to the destinations they book. There are just some things that can’t be learned online or in a book that can make all the difference for a trip. With personal experience comes options, advice, and flexible thinking, so that we can ensure your trip is planned totally customized to your Disney needs and desires.
A knowledgeable advisor will help you pick the perfect resort for your family and help you stay within your budget. With over 25 on-site resort hotels to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming trying to pick the best one. Dreaming of a stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, but afraid it’s out of your price range? If your travel dates are flexible, we can assist in helping you find the lowest rates possible to make your Disney dreams come true.
3) Heyday Disney Travel Agents Will Save You Time & Hassle!
Assuming you agree that time is a limited resource, then you don’t even need another reason to book your Disney Vacation with a Heyday Disney Travel Advisor. Here are just some of the things that we can guide you through rather than having to learn on your own.
- The FastPass+ System – When? Which attractions? How many?
- Dining Reservations – When can I make selections? Which restaurants are best? Where are the characters?
- Disney Dining Plan – What is it? Does it make sense for me? Which plan should I get?
- Disney Tickets – What kind of Park Ticket do I need? How many days? What about add-ons?
- Transportation – How to get to and from the airport? What about when I’m on-site? Should I rent a car?
- Magic Bands – What are they and how do they work? Do I have to buy one?
- My Disney Experience – How do I register? How do I install the App? How do I set up a group?
- Disney PhotoPass – What is it? How does it work? What about Memory Maker?
Do you have more questions now than when you started reading this? Don’t worry, Heyday Travel Company has several guides for these to help you and we write more every week. However, we are always here to help answer your questions too!
4) Did I Mention, Heyday Disney Travel Agents Are FREE?
That’s right, Heyday Travel Company’s Disney travel agents premium concierge services are FREE! You’re right, perhaps I should have led with that. However, isn’t free even better now that you see everything that is included? When booking with us, you’ll receive the exact same pricing as if you did it yourself on Disney’s website. Yes, the exact same. We may even be able to save you some money! How? Well, our job is Disney. So every day we’re looking at their website and monitoring when new offers are released. Most of the time those offers can be applied to previously booked trips. Most of those offers are also limited in quantities. If you’re not calling immediately you may miss out. Will you be looking at their site every day hoping to see an offer drop? Don’t worry, we got that for you too.
5) Disney Dining Reservations
Did you know that there are over 140 table service restaurants within Disney World? That’s a lot of menus and reviews to scour through to find out which restaurant to go to. Plus, with Disney, a lot of these reservations disappear quickly. Did you know that reservations open 180 days out at 6 am est online and 7 am by phone? And that Be Our Guest Restaurant is so highly sought that if you’re not booking as early as possible you’re likely to miss out? You may not have and that’s ok. There is just so much information to know about a trip to Disney World. Again, that’s what we’re here for! Heyday Travel Company is happy to help guide you to the best places to eat, and even book them for you.
6) One Voice To Speak To, Your Disney Trip “One Stop Shop”
Again, you can do all of this yourself. You’re welcome to call the Disney World Reservation line, they are extremely nice people, but every time you get on the phone you need to go through the same steps: wait on hold, give your name, spell it multiple times (if your name is anything like mine, Schmitz), and then about 15 minutes into the call you finally get to ask your question. Then that person will likely transfer you to another person that will put you through the process another time. That really isn’t any fun or time-efficient. When you use a Heyday Travel Advisor you’ll receive direct contact information and they become your main contact. So anytime you need to make a change just give them a call, email, or text – which brings me to my next point.
7) In Case Of An Emergency, Heyday Can Help!
Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way of a vacation. When those things happen, it is nice to have just one person to call to make changes, or if need be, cancel your reservation. Of course, sometimes the weather gets in the way and “creates” a vacation too (Hint: ask me about my favorite Disney trip). When Hurricane Irma struck Central Florida, the Disney phone lines were backed up for hours with people needing to change or cancel a reservation. Plenty of people were commenting in Disney forums about being thankful to have a Disney Travel Advisor. They had to make just one phone call, with no hold time, and know that everything was going to be taken care of. How’s that for service?
8) Heyday Travel Company Has Expert Disney Knowledge
Yeah, this was kind of already mentioned. In our experience, it cannot be stressed enough! Your travel advisor will know Disney inside and out. This kind of knowledge is seriously invaluable when it comes to having a magical time at Disney, and you will be so thankful you had it. Not only will they be able to help you plan your time in the park, but they have extensive knowledge about ALL. THINGS. DISNEY.
9) Disney Travel Agents Allow You To Truly Relax
A Disney vacation isn’t just for the kids, it’s for you too! Why get yourself all worked up and stressed before you even go? Allow us to help you stay relaxed before and during your vacation. You want a Heyday Travel Advisor because we will take the pressure off your planning, along with a ton of other things mentioned in this article. You can confidently go into your trip knowing things will go as smoothly as possible.
Overwhelmed Yet? Let Us Help YOU!
Heyday Travel Company can plan a Disney vacation that’s perfect for you. We are a free Disney travel planner with expert knowledge of the entire Disney catalog and Universal Parks destinations. No matter where you want to go, our experienced team is excited to help you make it happen. We provide our service at no charge, so you’ll only have to pay for the vacation itself. If you want help planning a Disney trip that’ll make your dreams come true while also fitting your budget, let’s talk!