See my note about group sales. That’s a whole other animal.
If I felt that I wasn’t benefiting them (the TA) I wouldn’t use them. In fact, this is only the second time in my life (our upcoming RCCL cruise) I’ve ever used a TA. The first was for our honeymoon back in 1995.
And…I am always surprised at the kinds of things people expect their TAs to do for them. Booking ADRs, automatically looking for better deals, etc? This is extra work on a TA when they have many other clients. I wouldn’t expect a TA to do any of that kind of thing, since they aren’t making more money from those services.
That could totally be a copy/paste to save time and create continuity across the brand
The world needs more people like you. I wish there was more money in being a Disney TA. I lasted all of a hot minute because I just couldn’t justify the time spend for the pennies (or nothing if they didn’t book). It quickly became something I resented doing and I didn’t want that to happen to my love of WDW. It wasn’t fair to my family or the guest.
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ME TOO! Gosh I’ve been trying to figure a way out of this healthcare gig and if that could support my lifestyle I’d jump to it full time faster than you can blink.
I’m sorry it was not a great experience for you. It could easily become that if I make the jump without a lot of planning and forethought. So, for now I’m still just a nurse
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This is bothersome…with how much Disney is charging for things…why can’t they pay TAs more? Our TA, as I mentioned, no longer books anything Disney…and she flat out said if we wanted to do a DCL cruise, we’d have to find someone else, because she won’t do it any longer. But several years ago, she used to.
I think what they pay the agency is based on the volume of work the agency brings in. This was several years ago so things may have changed, but the one I worked for got paid 10% from Disney, of which I got either 50% or 80% (depending on if it was my lead or a lead from the agency website). It sounds like a decent percentage but not everyone is staying at the Grand, paying $9,000 for a trip. Even if – at 5% that’s $450 for hours and hours and hours of work. Just consider the time spent on hold. There is no “back end” - what you see online is what the agent and even disney call centers see. It’s maddening. If I wasn’t a DVC member I would use a TA every time and still plan it all myself just to give them money. They are so underappreciated.
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It’s just flat 10% rate according to the commissions page. Not agency dependent.
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Very little to you. Not necessarily to them.
You don’t know that. I assume they’re paid per hour or per ADR check. You adding a search gives them more work to do. And so more income. You not using the ADR finder denies them that income.
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Isn’t that literally the point? If they’re not adding value, why use them at all?
Isn’t that a description of literally everyone’s job?
Where do you think that money comes from? If TA’s are not adding value, they’re literally just adding to the cost of everyone’s vacation.
Eh? How so?
Oh, boy @OBNurseNH ! You’ve started something. 
I have to admit getting those TP text messages for dining availability is exciting. I’ve used the free MouseDining service as well. Seems to be quicker on the draw than TP. I might pay for their service this time though because I prefer text messages to email. Still debating. I do a pretty good job of stalking, but there are those times when I have to work … and sleep.
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Ok maybe there weren’t enough “hours” in my description. Save it to say that it was way less than minimum wage. ETA: in my experience
Their commission is paid by Disney direct, with no up charge to the guest in price. TAs save Disney money. They are happy to pay the commissions out of their profits because it’s way less than they would pay for salaries to employ those people. It would actually end up costing more to vacation there without the TA system.
Because few people realize how much work a TA does for less than minimum wage. Yes, for sure there are people that love their TA and sing their praises. And there’s also a lot of people that fish and quote hop not recognizing how much work goes into it for potentially no pay. The agent is not paid by the hour - they only get paid when the guest checks into the hotel.
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I was thinking about this some more while I mowed my grass just now I never stopped to math it out. I only know what my biggest year so far brought me in terms of commissions and knew enough to say there’s no way I could live only on TA work. But just now I did math it out. And to completely replace my income I would have to sell nearly a million dollars worth of vacations that all went from inquiry to traveled and not split it at all with my agency owner
Yikes.
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I hope you will do a trip report!
I will!
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The upcharge is to all guests. Disney isn’t a charity. It doesn’t pay TAs a commission out of the goodness of its heart. It builds in the cost of the commission to the price. Which everyone then pays whether they have a TA or not.
Why do TAs even exist? What value are they adding? Booking a Disney vacation is super easy.
And no-one is forced to become a TA. If you don’t like the job or it doesn’t pay well enough then find something else. Or charge more. If you’re adding value, people will pay it.
I’m genuinely not understanding this thread at all.
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Maybe in the beginning 50 years ago, but I can virtually guarantee they are not considering it in their pricing now. Disney is getting their money in cost savings - free advertising done by the agents and agency’s, decreased payroll and payroll taxes.
Are you being sarcastic? I feel like you’re being sarcastic. Booking sure, it’s a click of a couple of buttons. When it’s working. The execution of planning the trip is what a good TA offers. Back in the FPP days the agent would book them, and book the ADRs, and contact Disney for a price adjustment to apply new promotions.
The agency is not allowed to.
This is actually true.
The price of the TA is already calculated into the cost of the product. When you don’t use a TA you’re paying for something you’re not using.
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