AAA agent troubles...

[DMRick]

I actually personally know several CRO CMs and they are the ones that said it's not guaranteed - it's in their policy - but CMs will note things on reservations to make the guest happy. If you only knew what goes on at CRO! =)

Well, I just got off the phone with guest services. She called me saying that she had gotten an email and was responding. I wrote TODAY, about 9:30 am, and got a phone call already (fastest ever). I wrote that I had a guaranteed non smoking room for March, and was considering cancelling my reservation, when I heard that the GNS was no longer policy. She said it is policy if told it's for medical reasons, and if I was told otherwise, while on the phone, or checking in, that I should ask for a supervisor. She did say that often people will say they want a non smoking room because someone can't be around smoke, and those are requests, but if told they needed ns because of a medical reason, it will be treated the same as any other medical problem, such as needing a roll in shower because of a wheel chair. If the room is available when the reservation is made, it will be held for you. This is the address I used:
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
Her name sounded like Andresa.

 

[tommygirl79]

Jay - I'm sorry all of this happened to you and I hope it gets worked out soon. We've booked with AAA once and you just have to keep at them to make sure it's right. Probably not the best way to have to deal with it, but as long as you can get the basics ironed out with AAA and get the deal, that's the main thing.

When we booked with AAA we did just that - we BOOKED with them and then I communicated with WDW CMs for every other detail of the trip including my room requests (or needs), ADRs, etc. You can do that. I always called WDW first and then if they couldn't help me, I went to AAA. I know to some it may seem silly to have to do it yourself, but then if something is messed up you can only blame yourself and it's going to be right.

AAA is worth the discount IMHO. Just deal with them as little as possible since you sound like a very hands-on planner like myself. You get the good money deal and still get to plan the vast majority of the trip.

Again, sorry you had to deal with this, but if you do most of the rest of the planning through WDW yourself I think you will be quite content and still will save the extra $$$ for more important things - like PIN TRADING!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Well, I just got off the phone with guest services. She called me saying that she had gotten an email and was responding. I wrote TODAY, about 9:30 am, and got a phone call already (fastest ever). I wrote that I had a guaranteed non smoking room for March, and was considering cancelling my reservation, when I heard that the GNS was no longer policy. She said it is policy if told it's for medical reasons, and if I was told otherwise, while on the phone, or checking in, that I should ask for a supervisor. She did say that often people will say they want a non smoking room because someone can't be around smoke, and those are requests, but if told they needed ns because of a medical reason, it will be treated the same as any other medical problem, such as needing a roll in shower because of a wheel chair. If the room is available when the reservation is made, it will be held for you. This is the address I used:
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
Her name sounded like Andresa.

what great service! I'm glad they were able to reassure you.

 

[DMRick]

what great service! I'm glad they were able to reassure you.

Considering they usually take 2 -3 weeks, I was very surprised. I hadn't thought the policy had changed, but since I'm still coughing from our cruise, I didn't want to risk it.

 

[undertheradar]

For the record, Disney at this time honors NS requests for medical reasons without proof! As with everything else in this world, that will change. My sister is a former(left after years of stress and frustration) CRO CM. The stories that those CMs can tell are wild. When people complain about rooms being unavailable, rooms change by the second. It is very possible that avid Disney fans know about specials/codes/packages before the CMs do. The medical change will come due to overuse by non-medical guests. It is now a practice at DL for park visitors requesting handicap assistance to have proof from a doctor. This was due to excessive amounts of visitors requesting the passes, believing that the pass granted the holder and members of the party to front of the line access. It is not something that CMs enjoy having to do, but a benefit that has become abused. It will not be long before proof is needed to guarantee the NS rooms. This is not an attack at anyone or an implication that someone on this thread has done this, but the harsh reality of future practices coming.
To the OP, glad to hear that things might be getting on track.

 

[rie'smom]

I have AAA for the discount. There's no way I would feel comfortable turning over the details of my trip to anyone.
I'm glad OP that you were able get satisfaction.

 

[kaytieeldr]

She sent both a AAA receipt type itinerary and a copy of the Disney one. The only request printed is on the first ressie and it lists my son's birthday...so yes, the requests print, but no...she didn't request anything but the birthday OR (I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt) Disney dropped the ball on it...

OR, as I've been told by a Disney Specialist (not AAA - they actually don't have "Disney Specialists", their TAs specialize in everything ) that only the first request prints on your confirmation, but that they're ALL on your reservation.

At least with AAA we got the hotel we wanted but she forgot to sign us up for ME. Lucky I checked it myself and was able to set it up without her help but lucky I checked when I did or we would not have had the ME tags in time.

Which just would have meant you'd give the Welcome Center CM your claim check numbers and describe your luggage based on photographs they show you

The customer is not satisfied, so the travel agent did not do her job! The concierge rooms are expensive....the commission should have been nice enough without the addition of travel insurance.

To the best of my knowledge, AAA Travel Agents do not earn a commission.

I wanted the AAA discount to which I am entitled as member.

Keep in mind, even AAA discounted rooms are limited.

and they hired someone less qualified and familiar with Disney vacations.....

Not defending that Agent, or the OP's, but it's impossible to "specialize" in everything. Was that job for a Disney Specialist, or for a Travel Agent?

One other thing to note with AAA is that their towing service is sub-par also. Nobody told me that the basic service only covered towing for a limited amount of miles and I had to pay anything over that. OK, my bad I didn't read the information.

Um, yeah - providing you with the information in writing is considered "telling" you

Well I said fine I just want to get home and told him I would write a check when we got to my house. Nope he wanted cash up front or he refused to tow me. I showed him on the back of the AAA reciept where it said that any AAA member's check is guaranteed by AAA. Nope, he still wouldn't do it and left. I called AAA and they told me that despite what the back of the reciept said and what their webiste states the tow company has the right to refuse checks.

Yep. AAA may guarantee the member's check, but no business is REQUIRED to accept checks. And I don't have my membership information handy, but I'm pretty sure with a basic membership, if the member chooses other than the nearest AAA-approved facility, there's a pretty hefty per-mile charge for towing beyond that distance. WAYYYYY back when, it was $5 per mile.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is now a practice at DL for park visitors requesting handicap assistance to have proof from a doctor. This was due to excessive amounts of visitors requesting the passes, believing that the pass granted the holder and members of the party to front of the line access.

That's kind of amusing
When I was there, I used the wheelchair entrance for Space Mountain. They're able to take a ride vehicle offline to allow disabled Guests to board safely (SM has fast departure intervals). There was a party of five or six already there, including one Guest in a wheelchair. The CM allowed us to board, but told me that we'd be waiting for the rest of that party's members... who were required to wait in the regular line!!!! Didn't bother me, I had six days at DLR (plenty of time); I was really impressed that Disneyland adheres to limits on party!

Sometimes, adjoining rooms are not guaranteed unless there are minors i them.

Psst! Over here! You mean connecting rooms?

 

[angwill]

Kaytieeldr,
Did you ever hear the saying if you don't have anything nice to say it is better not to say anything at all? None of your posts are a help to anyone they are only to try to show how you know better than everyone else.

 

[blsx3]

If this is wrong sorry,,but I was told this by 2 different travel companies.

AAA can only get a discount on the room rate, NOTHING ELSE! unless disney has made something available to the public with a published rate.

I had called AAA and they could only do the room, but i called another agent, then disney to verify this,,,I found out a month before it was offered that disney was offering free park hopper upgrade w/water parks and more,,,AAA could not get me this.

If this is wrong info i apologize,, but that's what i was told. I would call Disney or a Travel Agent like mousesavers that is Disney and nothing but Disney.....that way you know what is going on...

again,,i apologize if this info is not accurate but it was what I was told/discovered.

 

[Schachteles]

If this is wrong sorry,,but I was told this by 2 different travel companies.

AAA can only get a discount on the room rate, NOTHING ELSE! unless disney has made something available to the public with a published rate.

I had called AAA and they could only do the room, but i called another agent, then disney to verify this,,,I found out a month before it was offered that disney was offering free park hopper upgrade w/water parks and more,,,AAA could not get me this.

If this is wrong info i apologize,, but that's what i was told. I would call Disney or a Travel Agent like mousesavers that is Disney and nothing but Disney.....that way you know what is going on...

again,,i apologize if this info is not accurate but it was what I was told/discovered.

That isn't TOTALLY true...I just talked to my AAA TA this morning to confirm our stuff since this link had me nervous. I asked her if a deal like the park hopper/waterpark thing comes out when we are going if I could get that and she said YES...BUT know that if you do that then you have to take your room back up to rack rate (essentially nullifying your AAA discount). But in our case, we bought 10 days non expire tickets, the hoppers and waterparks added on like $500 give or take...I saved $167.50 with my AAA discount, so I would have to take that room back up to the regular going rate and then take the ticket discount, so really I would come out $332.50 ahead...I hope they come out with that deal in October, but I will NOT hold my breath.

 

[themudd4]

So sorry you had a bad experience with a AAA TA. I adore mine "Angie". Although the first one we dealt with ("Julie" in the same office) was well, lets just say she was not the smartest pickle in the barrel...I ended up pulling her (Julie) off my planning and had them switch me to another person (Angie) in the same office. So glad I did and I have booked with her every time since. Some times we just know more than the TA we are dealing with and you may just have to be firm and tell them you are the one paying for this, and it is your plans to make.