AAA Difficulties

[jlomama]

We have been working with a AAA travel agent in booking our campsite. I was told we had to go through them to get the discount. We booked in January of 2012 for a January of 2013 trip. All along I've felt like I had to give our agent information, he just didn't seem very knowledgable. We had booked a preferred campsite in the 100's loop but he was telling us they didn't offer the AAA rate while we were there. I found on Disney's website that they did offer that rate during that time and I confirmed it on the phone with Disney. So he said he called Disney severals times before he got an agent that said we could get the rate so they applied it and he mailed me the confirmation. I received the confirmation today and he changed our campsite to a tent/pop-up campsite. We have a 30 foot travel trailer and I want full hook-ups so I am assuming this is not going to work. They are sold out of the other campsites. I put in a call to him and I am waiting to hear back. Meanwhile my blood pressure is boiling...anybody have any suggestions? HELP!

 

[manning]

Talk to his boss.

 

[bama_ed]

Specifically what dates are you looking for in January?

Have you tried using the WDW on-line ressie tool and play the dates a little bit longer on either end?

Bama ED

 

[Butterbunkins]

I would do some research to find reviews on agents and choose another one in your area.

I used to work in travel for a wholesaler, so I was the one the agents would call for bookings and let me tell you there are a lot of not so bright agents out there. Though a specific agency may require schooling, there is nothing that is required otherwise for someone to become one. I've had agents that did not know that Hawaii is a state (and that's not exactly a trade secret), I've had them argue with me that Hawaii is located in the Caribbean, they have asked for a Disney hotel near the ocean and all kinds of other stupid stuff. I'm very leery of any agent and only use them if I have to.

It's also possible you were dealing with someone in the AAA office who isn't the regular travel person. Ask if anyone else in the office works on the travel side. I have had either roadside or insurance people "try" to help out with the travel stuff before.

 

[KPSmithSr]

If I understand your post:

First you do NOT need to book through AAA to get a AAA discount. We book our site well in advance then watch for the discounts. The discounts normally come out months after we have booked our reservations. We simply call Disney and give them our AAA number and they apply the discount.

As far as getting a site, sometimes you have to book more than what you want then call back later and reduce it. Other times you have to book portions of what you want and just add them together. I think they hold some sites for later release.

 

[2goofycampers]

Book through WDW. If AAA discount isn't available now. keep calling right until check in for it.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

from what our AAA agent told us, only so many AAA discounts avaible for each date, example free dining only so many per resort. we have gotten each trip but have come close one time as we got last one. does that make sense.

 

[jlomama]

Ok, the agent I spoke with yesterday contacted a supervisor at the wholesale side of Disney reservations and got it straightened out. We have a preferred site again. I told I wanted to work with her from now on but she said I have to call her supervisor to get it transferred over to her. Meanwhile, the other agent called me this morning and left me a voicemail apologizing and he wants me to call him. I'm still trying to calm down a bit but I think I need to switch over the agent who helped me yesterday. I just don't think I have any confidence left in his abilities. And AAA told us we had to use them to get the discount. Unfortunately, we've made the reservation through them and have to contact them instead of Disney because Disney cannot pull up our reservation to see it. Should I drop that first agent like a bad habit? Or should I forgive and forget? I think I already know the answer.

 

[jlomama]

One more questions, our agent hasn't told us about any other special AAA features when it comes to Disney but after doing some research I have found that there are other "freebie" type things we can get at Disney when using our AAA card. Do any of you know about those?

 

[luckycharm19335]

You used to be able to get a discount on the Segway Tour at the Fort.
I don't know if they still do that.
Get in touch with AAA.

 

[bama_ed]

I'm glad to hear you got your ressie worked out.

You could call WDW yourself and create a second, parallel ressie requesting the AAA discount (you do NOT HAVE to go thru AAA to get the AAA discount if available-I am living proof multiple times). If you can get it established (then and only then) you can call and cancel the ressie you have with the AAA agency.

There are some AAA discounts/perks around the World. Some we've used is a discount on pontoon/boat rentals at the Fort Marina (10-15%), free upclose parking passes at the Disney theme parks (called something like a "Diamond" premium parking pass - some AAA chapters give it for free for the asking even if you don't have a AAA ressie like our chapters; some chapters require a small payment for the premium parking pass), and 10-15% at the Earl of Sandwich in DTD (best Counter Service restaurant in DTD).

I bet there are others. I could not get an AAA discount on the Fort Segway tour two years ago. I might try getting one on the Fort horse rides next trip; all you can do is ask!

Bama ED

 

[Butterbunkins]

Ok, the agent I spoke with yesterday contacted a supervisor at the wholesale side of Disney reservations and got it straightened out. We have a preferred site again. I told I wanted to work with her from now on but she said I have to call her supervisor to get it transferred over to her. Meanwhile, the other agent called me this morning and left me a voicemail apologizing and he wants me to call him. I'm still trying to calm down a bit but I think I need to switch over the agent who helped me yesterday. I just don't think I have any confidence left in his abilities. And AAA told us we had to use them to get the discount. Unfortunately, we've made the reservation through them and have to contact them instead of Disney because Disney cannot pull up our reservation to see it. Should I drop that first agent like a bad habit? Or should I forgive and forget? I think I already know the answer.

I wouldn't go through anyone I wasn't happy with and certainly if I didn't have confidence in them. Use who you're comfortable with.

Or as Bama Ed suggested, if you haven't paid a deposit on the first trip, book one through Disney and just cancel the AAA reservation. But be sure to book with Disney first!

 

[sharadoc]

Are you booking a package through AAA that includes tickets too? If so, that's why they're telling you that you must book through AAA. But in reality the only time that's necessary is if you also want the dining plan, which I assume you don't since you're camping.

You can call Disney directly and reserve a room/site only with a AAA discount - you can't do it on a website you MUST call. Then you can go your local office to purchase tickets with a AAA discount. If you want to make any dining reservations you can do that yourself on the Disney website too.

A package also includes little things like one free round of mini golf, discounts on watercraft and an arcade card. Not really worth it in my opinion, I'd rather control my own reservation.

I've done AAA discount a few times. Let me know if I can help answer any other questions.

 

[jlomama]

Unfortunately, they are booked during that time so I can't make a Disney reservation or believe me I would. He definitely misled us on having to use them to get the discount or maybe he is so ignorant he doesn't understand how it works. Thanks for all of your suggestions!

 

[TOGA]

On May 30th, 2012, I made a room-only reservation over the phone with Disney for a full hook-up site at the Fort for a vacation we have planned in October for 2013 {Sept. 29, 2013 - October 12, 2013}.

I just called back today to get my AAA discount/membership applied and got 20% knocked off my bill.

I get/got conflicting answers of when I could make a reservation and again when I could get a discount applied so the only real rule of thumb that I can think of is call early and often?

 

[bama_ed]

<vote> early and often?

Isn't that the slogan of Chicago politics?

[my uncle lives outside Chi-town]

Bama ED

 

[Butterbunkins]

Isn't that the slogan of Chicago politics?

[my uncle lives outside Chi-town]

Bama ED

Sure is! We also don't let a little thing like death stop us either. Residents of local cemeteries have been known to cast their votes!

 

[DznyRulz]

from what our AAA agent told us, only so many AAA discounts avaible for each date, example free dining only so many per resort. we have gotten each trip but have come close one time as we got last one. does that make sense.

That is mostly a true statement. There are only so many AAA discounts available for a given month. If you make your reservations and the AAA discount was not available keep calling back every other week or so and check to see if it is available and can be applied to your reservation. The closer you get to your trip the better the chance someone else is going to cancel and if they had a reservation with the AAA discount the discount is freed up. I have done this several times in the past.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[DznyRulz]

Unfortunately, they are booked during that time so I can't make a Disney reservation or believe me I would. He definitely misled us on having to use them to get the discount or maybe he is so ignorant he doesn't understand how it works. Thanks for all of your suggestions!

The problem is there may not be a site available for the particular dates, like the week or two weeks, you are looking for. Some folks book multiple reservations. They might have one servation for the first three days of their desired week and the second reservation for the last four days. Then they will call at a later time and get the reservations joined together.

Some other folks will make a reservation that starts a couple of days before their desired start date and ends a couple of days after their desired departure date. Then they called back at a later time in the cancel the dates they don't need.

Scheduling campsites at The Fort can be a tricky game, you just need to learn the different ways to play it.

Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[sjwright701]

I have already booked my reservation through Disney. I forgot about the AAA discount. I called Disney to have them apply the AAA discount. They said they could not do it unless I called AAA and them take over the account. Is that right?