Hi Andreana,
Welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you stopped by with your question about planning a Walt Disney World vacation next month.
Making those magical travel plans can be a little overwhelming, especially if you are a relatively new Walt Disney World visitor. A certified Disney travel agent can ease the process by handling the booking details for you, and they should be aware of special offers and added experiences that might not be on your radar.
Walt Disney World does not publish an official list of authorized travel professionals. I always suggest asking friends and family for recommendations first. Or you can do an online search for "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" or "Earmarked by Disney" to find a list of possibilities. The Earmarked agents have been trained and certified by Disney, even though they work independently.
You will also note that there are several levels of "Earmarked" agents (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond), which denotes how much experience they have.
Before you contact a travel agent, I recommend spending a little time on the Walt Disney World website so that you have an idea of what kind of vacation you want to plan: your budget, the level of hotel in the
Disney Resorts Collection you are interested in, the length of your stay and how active you want to be. Will you be in the theme parks from rope drop through fireworks? Do you want to spend a chunk of your time relaxing by the pool or experiencing
Enchanting Extras? Are the perfect
dining reservations your top priority?
The travel professional you choose will help you refine your "must-do" list, let you know about
special offers that meet your needs and book your vacation package for you -- generally without extra cost to you.
You are also welcome to call cast members at the
Walt Disney World Tickets and Hotel Reservations line with questions and assistance with booking. And, as always, feel free to check back here with
planDisney panelists who love to share our knowledge as long-time Disney guests.
Happy planning, Andreeana!
Wilma