AAA Package Confirmation

[SB in KY]

In 15 years of frequent WDW trips I have always handled all of our reservations and bookings, but this year I went through AAA so I could get the AAA room discount on our MYW package with dining (only way to get that is through them Disney won't book the package with the discount)....so far my agent has been great...lets hope my luck holds!!

 

[ImagineMeDisney]

I'm in the boat w/ SB..I booked the MYW package with dining and air, I did the math and figured it would come out to be about the same if I booked everything separately, even with the AAA room only rate. the agent I have seems nice, I hope she stays that way!

 

[Terk-1]

Just called my local AAA (which is in the same town I live in) and was told that shortly after booking my package, I will be receiving a booklet with some information from Disney at my mailing address. After final payment is made, all of the documentation is sent from Disney to AAA. I was told that it has to be picked up in person at AAA to review and confirm everything and that they cannot mail this information out.

I usually do everything in pieces, as it typically is cheaper for me, but with the MYW deal that they are running, it's less expensive doing this trip as a package through AAA. Saved about $200+ using AAA rather than WDW Travel too. My agent's wonderful and asked alot of questions when booking, such as room type preference (i.e. King bed), area location (101 or Toy), and so on. She knows I'm used to doing everything in pieces (being a solo traveler) and she's been just great!! Would definitely use them again.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

WOW yellowfish78, if I would have had you as my AAA TA I would be booking my next Disney trip with you! Sounds like you are really on the ball, and that's what I like! And to be a fellow DISner to boot is extra brownie points in my book!! LOL!!!

But our job is being a travel agent. Searching for the best deal. Saving YOU time on the internet and the phone doing all the research. A good agent will compare the room only with a package. They will let you know if you have a family of 5 that it could be $100 cheaper if you book two rooms in a value resort instead of POR. They will let you know what rides are closed.

My TA did none of this! Booked our package right in front of us, did no searching what so ever.

call at 6:55am for breakfast with Cindy

Another thing my TA said she couldn't do. Said she could make any PS's that we wanted, except for this one.

PM me what town you are in {I see your in Ohio also} to see if it's close enough to where I live. Our trip isn't until 2006, but if I had a excellent AAA TA, which defintaly sounds like you, I would defintaly go with another AAA package.

 

[yellowfish78]

I guess I should have specified that I "try my hardest" to help people get reservations to Cindy's. If we (me and the client) figure out that the call date is a weekday, I'm normally up at 6:30am anyways. There's no harm with me calling the 800# and trying along with them. And I tell them to call too. If it's a weekend, that's a little iffy for me. But clients understand that.

If anyone has any other questions about my rant, just let me know!

 

[whacked]

We are booking through AAA because they also provide special parking passes for closer lots at the parks, as well as free airport shuttle for all in the party. This includes ALL LUGGAGE HANDLING until your luggage arrives at your room. You do not need to pick up your bags at the MCO airport when you arrive.

Seems like booking through AAA is worth it to me.

Note that my agent at AAA seems to be more proactive than yours.

I would ask for another agent to handle the reservations at your AAA. If they realize that people feel her service is not good, they may do something about it.

 

[WDWBetsy]

We are booking through AAA because they also provide special parking passes for closer lots at the parks, as well as free airport shuttle for all in the party. This includes ALL LUGGAGE HANDLING until your luggage arrives at your room. You do not need to pick up your bags at the MCO airport when you arrive.

Seems like booking through AAA is worth it to me.

Note that my agent at AAA seems to be more proactive than yours.

I would ask for another agent to handle the reservations at your AAA. If they realize that people feel her service is not good, they may do something about it.

Just to clarify, the free shuttle you're referring to is Disney's Magical Express. It's available to all Disney resort guests except the Swan/Dolphin and Downtown Disney hotels (not just those booking through AAA) starting May 5 and will continue for the duration of the 50th anniversary/Happiest Celebration on Earth.

 

[yellowfish78]

nevermind it was answered above.

 

[jels]

and picked up the information at the AAA office. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the luggage tags are tinkerbell! (I thought that they would just be generic AAA, I was wrong!) It all seems official now!

 

[denman007]

So is the MYW dinning plan 15% off with AAA?

 

[WDWBetsy]

So is the MYW dinning plan 15% off with AAA?

Unfortunately, no.

 

[Pembo]

yellowfish - I'm in Ohio too. Where are you located?

I used AAA because we are driving and I wanted that Diamond parking pass. My agent was helpful but not overly so. But today I had a great agent. The one I usually talk to was off so I talked to Myra. I wanted to switch resorts and I have a postcard. Yesterday my regular agent checked and it was available but I needed to talk to my husband.

Today I had Myra called. They told her no availability. I called CRo myself, there were rooms. I called Myra back. She called Disney and spent quite awhile on the phone and finally got my resort changed with the postcard code.

So as for my AAA experience, it was just ok until today and Myra was a champion for me.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

yellowfish - I'm in Ohio too. Where are you located?

I used AAA because we are driving and I wanted that Diamond parking pass. My agent was helpful but not overly so. But today I had a great agent. The one I usually talk to was off so I talked to Myra. I wanted to switch resorts and I have a postcard. Yesterday my regular agent checked and it was available but I needed to talk to my husband.

Today I had Myra called. They told her no availability. I called CRo myself, there were rooms. I called Myra back. She called Disney and spent quite awhile on the phone and finally got my resort changed with the postcard code.

So as for my AAA experience, it was just ok until today and Myra was a champion for me.

Pembo...I'm in Ohio also and your TA sounds alot like the one I had for our trip last year. Everytime I would call to talk to her, she was out or on vaca. AAAHHH!!!

My family drove to Disney last year so having AAA just in case something happened was really nice.

I was just happy we didn't have any problems on our trip {well except Hurricane Charley } cause if I had to call our TA to find out she was on vaca once again, you know what would have hit the fan when we got home.

This time if we go with AAA, I have already found a TA , she knows who she is, that I will be going with.

 

[stemikger]

When I saw that I immediately called her. I told her I live way too far to pick them up. She said that she would send them two weeks before. I hope she's right.

 

[kesha]

You are the kind of travel agent I look for. I know they are out there. But the last two times I've went to Disney I just keep getting the same one. I would rather use a AAA agent. I am a member and have been for years. Why not get some of the benefits I pay for. The last time I booked through this agent I did get a comment card when I returned. But that was the end of it, I never heard anything more about it.

As far as the plane tickets. I would of told her about me already looking on the net if she would of impressed me when I had talked to her before. Maybe this was wrong but I just had a sour taste in my mouth over her by this time. Sorry. I am not saying anything bad about all the other travel agents out there. I know there are a lot of good ones. I have delt with a few but this one is not one of them.

As far as you being sorry for telling it like it is, I have no problem with that. You have nothing to be sorry about. THe next time I plan a trip I will shop around for different agent.

 

[kesha]

You are the kind of travel agent I look for. I know they are out there. But the last two times I've went to Disney I just keep getting the same one. I would rather use a AAA agent. I am a member and have been for years. Why not get some of the benefits I pay for. The last time I booked through this agent I did get a comment card when I returned. But that was the end of it, I never heard anything more about it.

As far as the plane tickets. I would of told her about me already looking on the net if she would of impressed me when I had talked to her before. Maybe this was wrong but I just had a sour taste in my mouth over her by this time. Sorry. I am not saying anything bad about all the other travel agents out there. I know there are a lot of good ones. I have delt with a few but this one is not one of them.

As far as you being sorry for telling it like it is, I have no problem with that. You have nothing to be sorry about. THe next time I plan a trip I will shop around for different agent.

Sorry, This message was for yellowfish 78.

 

[AngieInOH]

Looks like there are a few of us from Ohio planning our trips, myself included. Anyone care to share what part of OH they're from? I'm from NW OH.

I do have a question for yellowfish78. What does a memberhsip cost at AAA? Does it vary depending on where you live? I will be visiting in Jan or Feb 2006 during value season and am thinking about getting the AAA membership for discounts. You get a 20% during value season is that correct? Can you also go into a bit more detail on the value card? Is it good on all dining? Do you have to pay extra for it?

 

[whacked]

I believe it's around $70 per year, and you may be able to get it for a little bit less through Costco if you have one where you are.

The value card is free if you book with AAA, and has dining discounts at a limited number of places in downtown Disney, as well as 10% off in the all star cafe (cafeteria at the allstar resorts) and 20% off at several of the resturants in the Dolphin and swan.

The card also gets discounts on some of the tours in the parks (backstage stuff, etc.). There are also discounts on water craft rentals, and mini golf.

The package discounts apply to the room only portion of the booking, and do not apply to dining. The entry tickets may or may not be slightly discounted depending on the ticket choosen.

I looked at the dining package, and decided it was not for me. It only works at about 1/3 of the Disney resturants. Planning around using it seemed like more of a pain than it was worth. When I'm hungry, I want to eat, not worry about what resturants I've paid to eat at. Dinners at some of the sit down places count as two meals, not one.

I have a AAA card anyway, but it saved me about $650 on the rooms I booked for December, so AAA membership has paid for itself about 9X on this booking alone.

Unless I get a really good pin code...

don't have one yet though.

 

[yellowfish78]

Pembo - I'm located in NE Ohio, for those that asked.
Angie - AAA memberships vary by location, and AAA recommends that you always get your membership from where you live for many reasons. Your membership helps local businesses and if you need to get reimbursed for a tow you have to go through where your membership is. Normally they run anywhere from $58 for a basic membership, up to $78 for plus. (The difference is the amount of towing you get, 4 miles free compared to 100 miles free.) Some clubs even offer a membership for motor homes and motorcycles. I'll PM you the Diamond Card discount list.
You do get 20% off in the value season, depending on the hotel your staying at. Remember the sooner you book, the better chance you have at getting the AAA discount. Some people don't realize that Disney only allots so many rooms for this rate.
For those asking about the dining plan - By booking this package with AAA you get the discount off the room portion. The dining plan averages out to $34 per adult per night and $14 for children per night. From the sounds of it I'm not the only one that's dissappointed that they changed most of the restaruants from the Silver Plan last year. I'm a planner and a saver though, and to me this is worth every penny. I don't mind planning my food around the theme parks because I know in the long run I'm saving money. Big dissapointment that 1/2 the EPCOT restaruants are gone now though, and that Canada is 2 sit down meals now.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Pembo - I'm located in NE Ohio, for those that asked.
Angie - AAA memberships vary by location, and AAA recommends that you always get your membership from where you live for many reasons. Your membership helps local businesses and if you need to get reimbursed for a tow you have to go through where your membership is. Normally they run anywhere from $58 for a basic membership, up to $78 for plus. (The difference is the amount of towing you get, 4 miles free compared to 100 miles free.) Some clubs even offer a membership for motor homes and motorcycles. I'll PM you the Diamond Card discount list.
You do get 20% off in the value season, depending on the hotel your staying at. Remember the sooner you book, the better chance you have at getting the AAA discount. Some people don't realize that Disney only allots so many rooms for this rate.
For those asking about the dining plan - By booking this package with AAA you get the discount off the room portion. The dining plan averages out to $34 per adult per night and $14 for children per night. From the sounds of it I'm not the only one that's dissappointed that they changed most of the restaruants from the Silver Plan last year. I'm a planner and a saver though, and to me this is worth every penny. I don't mind planning my food around the theme parks because I know in the long run I'm saving money. Big dissapointment that 1/2 the EPCOT restaruants are gone now though, and that Canada is 2 sit down meals now.

As an aside to the whole AAA thread for a minute... I booked my package through AAA and got the dining plan. Granted, I have never been to WDW before, but the dining plan list seems to include all the restaurants that people rave about here on the DIS boards. Am I screwy in my thinking here?

The dining is pretty much our final frontier when it comes to planning. My kids are fairly sophisticated eaters (they could live on grilled swordfish, salmon, or shellfish) and my ten year old will eat better than most adults, so paying $35 for her would still be a decent value.

Now, which restaurants are the really great ones that aren't on the plan??