To build on that, I have worked on laptops and they are a nuisance. The screws are generally very small (akin to eyeglass screws) and are easy to misplace. With Dell laptops, some of them have to be accessed through the keyboard and that requires a delicate hand as it is easy to damage components through that route. I haven't cracked any plastic but I've come close. I prefer to have a hatch or door to components. If I have to open a laptop up to the point where I am removing the chassis, I would weigh in getting a new laptop.
Now to the subject of the fan, something like that would require a decent amount of disassembly. If you feel up to it, go ahead and replace it yourself. Out of curiousity, what model of Toshiba is the laptop?