AAA rep giving out incorrect information!

[damo]

well the 3rd one is somewhat correct... meaning that you don't have to pay any extra for it like you do at Universal Studios, so they are included in your package.... just not gunna be able to pick em up at your check in...

Actually, if they were checking into a Universal onsite hotel, unlimited express passes are included for both parks. Perhaps the agent was confusing the Disney onsite perks with the Universal onsite perks.

You can take a boat from all of the hotels to both parks as well at Universal but there is no Trail's End restaurant, lol.

 

[DisneySarah80]

When we booked our honeymoon, we did it through a 3rd party, not Disney, or even AAA. The guy booked us BWV - at the time I knew NOTHING about Disney, and had no idea that there were even such things as villas.... Thankfully I was looking through some paperwork, realized it, and saved ourselves a lot of money!!!
Case in point - If you need information, don't go to your travel agent, don't even go to Disney - Come here!!!! ( ;

 

[nkereina]

I would not depend on AAA to plan a vacation for my dog much less myself.

Just so you know, bad TA's exist everywhere. AAA is one of the largest and most renowned agencies, and is a Preferred Partner with Disney. They don't have these credentials for no reaosn. Of course, there can be bad apples there too. It depends on how good or bad they are at retaining training and how much experience they have.

To the OP, an explanation I can think of for the third one is maybe the agent said their "passes" - meaning their tickets will be on their KTTW card? Another thing I thought of is the diamond parking pass which usually comes with the paperwork thats mailed, but maybe they have it at the resorts too.

 

[spacemountainmom]

My dad used a AAA TA and got some bad information as well:

1. We were going as a group of 10 and she did not inform him that if we had any hope of eating at a TS restaurant we would need ressies.
2. She told him that ME would deal with our luggage on the return trip as in we could just leave our packed bags in our rooms and that they would be magically taken care of. We weren't even using an airline that offers resort check-in. Thank goodness we checked stuff out once we got there.
3. She told him anything he bought at the parks would be delivered to his room.

Thankfully, I had a friend go about 2 months before we did. The friend gave us some great tips. When things didn't seem to be working the way the TA said they would - we started asking questions and finding out what was truth and what was fiction.

Unfortunately, we had to go through a few days of my dad being "that guest" - you know the one who walks around saying, "I paid $xxx and I want it done my way!"

 

[jillgunter]

The character part she was probably thinking of is the campfire with Chip and Dale.

They do deliver to your resort, I bought a ton at Epcot and they delivered it.

 

[spacemountainmom]

The character part she was probably thinking of is the campfire with Chip and Dale.

They do deliver to your resort, I bought a ton at Epcot and they delivered it.

She told him that they delivered directly to your room and he was not happy to have to go down to the gift shop, because the TA told him it would go to his room.

Not a biggie to most people, but he was ticked off.

 

[doconeill]

I'll note that guests booking at one of the three DL resorts through AAA used to receive "enhanced" Fastpass which allowed obtaining multiple FPs at once (not sure how it was limited), but I believe that ended around 2007 (but MousePlanet still lists it as a current feature).

Right now, guests staying at the three DL resorts through September 5th receive two "bonus" FPs per person for the duration of their stay (perhaps shades of things to come? )

 

[WilsonFlyer]

AAA rep giving out incorrect information?


Pardon me for speaking my mind, but I find the title alone laughable.

Most non Disney travel agents are right up there with bus drivers. Probably a notch below. At least Disney bus drivers are on property and at least have been there.

 

[POOHsie]

AAA rep giving out incorrect information?


Pardon me for speaking my mind, but I find the title alone laughable.

Most non Disney travel agents are right up there with bus drivers. Probably a notch below. At least Disney bus drivers are on property and at least have been there.

 

[Minniemouse07]

My experience w/ a AAA TA was less than stellar. I came away with the conclusion that the AAA discount and the parking pass were not worth the aggravation and copious amount of time I spent on the phone w/ her correcting her misconceptions about WDW and trying to save our vacation.

I shudder to think how people that don't know better cope once they arrive at WDW!

From that point on I will only book myself or use a Disney specialized TA, not a AAA one w/ a Disney designation...but one that works for a Disney specialized agency.

I could do it myself but enjoy having someone have my back and keep on top of specials, discounts and pin codes. I love that I don't have to crunch the numbers!

 

[Twinklee]

I've booked several WDW vacations through AAA, but only because I wanted to see if I could get a better deal then what I found online and because I wanted them to get our airline tickets for us. BUT......I always go prepared....... I checked out all the prices on the Disney website and and the airline prices on Travelocity. When I go, I already know exactly what I want.....what resort, what kind of tickets and which flight. I write everything down and take it with me and see if they can get me a better price.

One time they came up with a room price, for a week, for several hundred more than what I had already come up with because I knew of the promotion going on at the time and the AAA representative didn't. No problem, she just got back on the phone and got the price I had already been quoted. For our upcoming trip, the same representative actually saved me almost $400. It pays to do a little research yourself before you go to AAA.

 

[whacked]

I book through AAA when I want their perks (Diamond parking and diamond card) or room discounts.

I find being on the west coast travel agents out here know about Disneyland, but know very little about Disney World.

Disney travel packages are very complex. There are a couple of specialty agencies I would probably recommend to friends who don't want to take the time to educate themselves.

AAA is great for perks and some discounts, but expert advice, not so much. As to their being a preferred partner, that just means they sell a lot of packages. I generally educate their TA's every time I book through them. They are usually happy to have me book through them as I do the work and they get the commissions. For my work, I get their perks.

If Disney can't even keep their packages and info straight, why would non specialist TA's be able to, and I don't consider AAA to be a specialist.

Robo and Chesire Figament have both corrected wrong info I have been given directly by Disney.

You want good info, come here.

 

[DisneyMim]

I love AAA for their auto services and their great maps, etc., but as for their travel knowledge not so much. I have been in the office and listened to their so called Disney travel experts telling people totally wrong info. I have even gone up to people in the parking lot and suggest to them to read up on their own about Disney because what the agent was telling them was wrong. I'm not saying that all AAA agents are badly informed, but I have seen enough to know not to use them.

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[DaniB]

I've actually given some thought about becoming a TA specializing in Disney, as I love to plan our own and other peoples trips already, why not get paid for it? Just not sure that the money would be quite enough to allow us to go on all the WDW trips we go on now.

Wouldn't it be a fun job though?

I noticed you are in Canada as well. Have you ever looked into how to become a TA?

 

[TinkPirateMom]

I think that TA's are very valuable. The key is to use a TA that specializes in the type of trip you are taking and knows it inside and out both from professional and personal experience. If you are planning a cruise I say find a cruise specialist, planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean? better find a DW specialist, same thing with Disney you need a Disney specialist. It is impossible for travel agents at these big chain agencies to know everything there is to know about every destination but the set up of their company forces them to book whatever walks in the door rather than to find their niche. I mean look at how much info is on this Disney site alone imagine needing to know this much detailed info about every popular family attraction/resort in the country as well as all the beach destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico and how bout European tours as well. A TA working in a big agency such as the one mentioned here books all of these destinations. I think that is why sometimes they may be less informed in some areas than others. I am not excusing giving misinformation as that should not happen (why not say I'm not sure but I will find out for you?). However, I think these problems are seen mainly with big chain agencies and not smaller specialized agencies. So in other words,not all TA's are bad, but I am sorry for the negative experiences some have had.

 

[LilyWDW]

I once went to get a quote from AAA for a trip. I had already done my homework and asked for a quote for Port Orleans French Quarter. I was very specific about wanting the French Quarter.

When she called Disney, she asked for Port Orleans... Riverside. I sat there trying to get her attention but she ignored me. When she hung up, I said I wanted a quote for French Quarter. Her answer?

"They are the same thing!"

Yea, I told her no thank you and that I would be booking it on my own. When she asked why, I told her that I would not trust someone with my trip who hadn't even read their own information packet about Disney. I then showed her that they were, in fact, separate.

 

[Sandi12404]

Our first trip we booked with AAA. The agent had been to Disney multiple times and we trusted her to give us good advice. And then I found these boards and was blown away by what I found out. Biggest example: We went in October and I found out (here) that they were offering free dining which I had never heard of. Called travel agent the next day and she said "oh, I did hear something about that. Let me look into it". . I wonder if I hadn't said anything would we have ever known?
On the flipside I know plenty of people who have booked with AAA and had great experiences. Maybe our agent was having an "off" 12 months but I'll book myself before using her again.

 

[jak07]

She told him that they delivered directly to your room and he was not happy to have to go down to the gift shop, because the TA told him it would go to his room.

Years ago they used to deliver it directly to you room. You would come back from the park and find packages on your bed. It was nice.

 

[RMulieri]

Just so you know, bad TA's exist everywhere. AAA is one of the largest and most renowned agencies, and is a Preferred Partner with Disney. They don't have these credentials for no reaosn. Of course, there can be bad apples there too. It depends on how good or bad they are at retaining training and how much experience they have.

To the OP, an explanation I can think of for the third one is maybe the agent said their "passes" - meaning their tickets will be on their KTTW card? Another thing I thought of is the diamond parking pass which usually comes with the paperwork thats mailed, but maybe they have it at the resorts too.

I agree..I have a AAA agent have used them for a long time and she is a DIS-boarder and a Disney specialist.It isn't fair to lump all of them in the BAD category.Disneys own employees can't get info straight and correct half the time.

 

[Wadecool]

I was in my local AAA office last week to take a safe driving course because of a driving award I received in GA on our way back from WDW last month. As I was waiting near the travel desks, I overheard the agent talking to a member about their upcoming trip to WDW and everything I heard him say sounded right on track. From what I could tell, this particular agent was very well trained or has been to WDW quite a few times himself.