AAA Travel. How bad are they?

[Minnie&Nana]

I haven't had that problem. I have booked several trips recently and they said as long as I have a valid card at check in there would be no problem. When we checked in for our last trip that we had a AAA rate, they didn't even look at the card, even tough I did have it. Must have just been the CM's you got, each one says something different.

Suzanne

That's how it used to be when I booked too...just the last few times have been different. Darn, makes me crazy - wish the CM's would have the correct info.

I had a friend who left her AAA card in the car and she was not allowed to check-in until she went out to the car, retrieved the card and showed it to the front desk CM! We've never been asked to show a AAA or our AP at check-in - although I always have it ready.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

That's how it used to be when I booked too...just the last few times have been different. Darn, makes me crazy - wish the CM's would have the correct info.

I had a friend who left her AAA card in the car and she was not allowed to check-in until she went out to the car, retrieved the card and showed it to the front desk CM! We've never been asked to show a AAA or our AP at check-in - although I always have it ready.

I talked to them as recent as Sunday afternoon and they just to have the card at check in.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Sure would like to know what's up with the CM's I get...I booked FQ on Sunday (8/5) and had to have the card and expiration date to even hold it!

At any rate, just wanted to let folks know that it might happen, so might want to have the card handy

 

[mkycrzy1971]

AAA can discount packages.

Sure can...we received about $200 off of our trip in may...we had the MYW package with dining. Maybe it is just certain times of the year or something...anyone else get a discount on a package with AAA that can tell us for sure (or maybe a AAA agent???)

 

[stemikger]

In the past I always booked directly through Disney and never had any problems. Everything was booked exactley the way I wanted. However, one year I thought it would save me more money to book through AAA and it turned out to be a horrible exprience.

I'll make a long story short. I booked my trip 7 months in advance like I always did with Disney. The women who booked my trip, left midway and I was never notified when my plane schedule changed. When I called to check on something, they told me she was on maternity leave and that is when they told me about the plane change.

Then when I arrived at Disney, the didn't include the water parks or the park hopper. I had to pay extra and add all that at Disney. I didn't find out about the park hopper until the first night when I went to go to EPCOT. I was told I didn't have the right pass. I had to pay extra for that at the courtesy section of the park.

Basically, they got more wrong then they got right, and they weren't the nicest of agents. I would never book through them again. And the kicker was that I didn't even save any money after the smoke cleared.

 

[mkycrzy1971]

I DID have a AAA TA book my trip, and she is the one that said that they don't discount the room only portion of a package. I DIDN'T make that up myself. That was the whole reason I booked through AAA.

Suzanne

Maybe the discount is different for every state's AAA...or even just a few states...our AAA in IN gave me a discount of about $200 on the package for my May 2007 trip.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Sure can...we received about $200 off of our trip in may...we had the MYW package with dining. Maybe it is just certain times of the year or something...anyone else get a discount on a package with AAA that can tell us for sure (or maybe a AAA agent???)

AAA Discounts Room only AND AAA Discounts the ROOM ONLY portion of packages.

The dining plan -- is not being discounted.

The tickets may be VERY slightly discounted.. but in my experience that's not the case.

Whether you book a room only AAA reservation or a full AAA travel package to Disney, the savings work out within a buck or two of exactly the same.
[ Presuming you compare apples & apples: exact room type/level/resort etc]

Knox

 

[mkycrzy1971]

AAA Discounts Room only AND AAA Discounts the ROOM ONLY portion of packages.

The dining plan -- is not being discounted.

The tickets may be VERY slightly discounted.. but in my experience that's not the case.

Whether you book a room only AAA reservation or a full AAA travel package to Disney, the savings work out within a buck or two of exactly the same.
[ Presuming you compare apples & apples: exact room type/level/resort etc]

Knox

I am not arguing that point (not arguing at all, actually)...just stating that you can get a discount when booking a true "package" as I did...maybe the discount is only on the room portion only, but it is still a discount and certainly a better deal than I could get when I called Disney direct (or used their website)....plus, I wanted DDP and you cannot get it without a MYW package...whatever the discount was on, it worked out in my favor....again, my point...., it is possible to get a AAA discount on a package through AAA.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

rpach,

You don't mention when you are going or if you got a discount pkg with AAA. Since you have already received all your documents, I get the feeling the trip may be coming up soon. But if time allows (more than 45 days out)and you continue to receive poor service from the manager, I would do as follows:

1. Verify that your AAA office does not have a hidden cancellation fee (I say hidden since the agent may not mention this at the time of booking, but you will find it in the paperwork).
2. Call the 800# for WDW and see if the Poly is available and if you can get the AAA room only discount. Put a hold on the room. If you have ADR's linked to your AAA pkg, have the CM switch the dining reservations from the AAA pkg reservation # to your home phone number (that way if you cancel through AAA, your dining reservations won't be automatically cancelled).
3. Go to the Universal's website - check that Portofino is avx and book online with tickets.
4. Call the 800# for WDW and purchase tickets - or order online. (BTW, if you don't use all 8 days you can add on the no expiration option while at the Poly).
4. Call the AAA office and CANCEL.

Seems like more work now, but at least you know everything is set the way you want it.

It would really bug me to know the agent is receiving a commission on my trip after I received such poor service.

Hope things work out and you have a wonderful trip!

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Such horrible AAA stories I think what AAA needs to do is give something in writing that explains exactly what the discounts are and for what, something tangible. Something specific that leaves no room for misunderstandings by the clients, and give it to memebers who are booking trips or members who just want info. Maybe they do, I've never recieved anything that specific though. I know they have a full color 'Walt Disney World' AAA Vacations magazine type of thing, but usually they don't give that out until you book a ressie with them. That isn't always the case, I've gotten them without a ressie too. Seems like a company like AAA could do a better job at informing the people who pay them.

We've been with AAA for almost 13 years and have never had a problem. I must admit, I do know more about 'Disney' than the average AAA TA. Also, I've never called the 800#, I always call the local AAA office.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Such horrible AAA stories I think what AAA needs to do is give something in writing that explains exactly what the discounts are and for what, something tangible. Something specific that leaves no room for misunderstandings by the clients, and give it to memebers who are booking trips or members who just want info. Maybe they do, I've never recieved anything that specific though. I know they have a full color 'Walt Disney World' AAA Vacations magazine type of thing, but usually they don't give that out until you book a ressie with them. That isn't always the case, I've gotten them without a ressie too. Seems like a company like AAA could do a better job at informing the people who pay them.

We've been with AAA for almost 13 years and have never had a problem. I must admit, I do know more about 'Disney' than the average AAA TA. Also, I've never called the 800#, I always call the local AAA office.

Our AAA office has them set up in the Travel Agent section like a magazine display with all the package deals that they can put together. It also clearly states in the magazine type brochure what the package entails and what the discounts are. I knew exctly what is included in my package from the beginning. Last year when we went we were too late in booking our vacation, and we did not receive the discount, but we still received the all the pacakage inclusions. This year we were lucky enough to book it early enough to gain a hefty discount. I think AAA is a great way to go, but as with any other TA, you are giving up the control of your trip, I'm ok with that as I have a great AAA TA, but if yours is mediocre by all means find another way of planning your trip.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I am not arguing that point (not arguing at all, actually)...just stating that you can get a discount when booking a true "package" as I did...maybe the discount is only on the room portion only, but it is still a discount and certainly a better deal than I could get when I called Disney direct (or used their website)....plus, I wanted DDP and you cannot get it without a MYW package...whatever the discount was on, it worked out in my favor....again, my point...., it is possible to get a AAA discount on a package through AAA.

Oh yes .. we ABSOLUTELY agree. But people are confused by the wording.

You are getting a discount on the room portion of any AAA booked package. But the discount works out to pretty much the same as if you booked AAA room only.

I just wanted to make that perfectly clear given the confusion in this thread.

Thanks!

Knox

 

[mkycrzy1971]

Oh yes .. we ABSOLUTELY agree. But people are confused by the wording.

You are getting a discount on the room portion of any AAA booked package. But the discount works out to pretty much the same as if you booked AAA room only.

I just wanted to make that perfectly clear given the confusion in this thread.

Thanks!

Knox

Oh...okay, I am sorry...I think AAA is so different at each location, let alone in each state that it DOES cause mass confusion for some...and the loss of a wonderful discount for others.

 

[rpach10115]

We are leaving 08/24/2007. Not eonught time to cancel and re-book. Also, if I cancel, I will lose the Theme-park view @ the poly.

I have e-mailed AAA 3 times asking for a small compensation. I wanted them to pay for the difference for the park hopper ticket to the no expiration option. This amounted to a TOTAL of $ 48.00, I can't even get AAA to respond to me.

I am sooooooo disappointed about this trip now. What should have been a happy vacation now has turned into a planning disappointment. I'm sure that my attitude will change, but for now, I am very unhappy by this.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Our AAA office has them set up in the Travel Agent section like a magazine display with all the package deals that they can put together. It also clearly states in the magazine type brochure what the package entails and what the discounts are. I knew exctly what is included in my package from the beginning. Last year when we went we were too late in booking our vacation, and we did not receive the discount, but we still received the all the pacakage inclusions. This year we were lucky enough to book it early enough to gain a hefty discount. I think AAA is a great way to go, but as with any other TA, you are giving up the control of your trip, I'm ok with that as I have a great AAA TA, but if yours is mediocre by all means find another way of planning your trip.

I agree with you I too get all the WDW info at the "local office". Is the same info your referring to sent to members that use the 800# for booking or inquiring about pkgs If not...it sure should be. I think that's where most of the confusion comes from. I also have a terrific AAA TA, she's anything but the average AAA TA. She knows what we want (WDW) when I tell her my name She is also addicted to all things Disney!!

 

[allaboutmm]

Sorry about your troubles with AAA. We have always been so lucky and had a great AAA agent. Sending you some good wishes

 

[Aliceacc]

As to how bad the agents are:

today my agent told me that:
a) there are no rooms in the Contemporary that can accomodate 2 adults and 3 kids

b) there are no openings for mid August 2008. So apparently the entire hotel is booked more than a year ahead of time.


Guess who is looking for a new agent

An update:

I booked the AAA rate myself, room only, and wrote AAA to let them know what had happened.

I got an email from a wonderful agent who has taken over my booking. So I'll do no worse than what I booked, possibly better.

I'm one happy client.

 

[rpach10115]

ok, final resolution: AAA is willing to rebate back to me a check in the amount of $ 100 for the inconvenience. At least it is something. If I want my tickets, I need to go to guest services to pick them up, and hope that they don't give me a hard time. The new AAA agent is supposed to be sending me new receipts with all of this spelled out, in case there is a problem.

Yeah, right. I can see it now, 95 degrees and I am waiting @ guest services for an hour waiting for the tickets that should have been sent as part of my "package".

I see that a poster has received the same AAA rate directly from Disney.

When I contacted AAA to complain, they were shocked that Disney was giving the AAA rate direct. She kept going on and on about the "perks" that you get with AAA. The only perk that is worth anything is the Diamond parking pass. That is it!. I don't need "special" limited edition luggage tags.

Bottom line: you CAN get the same discounts and packages that you get from AAA by booking DIRECTLY w WDWTC. Save yourself the heartach, book direct with people that know what they are doing. If it's wrong, you are dealing directly with the source. Heck, I tried to confirm my reservation today, and was told that I had to call AAA! Absurd.

 

[lilyv]

When you start the great rate search... keep in mind that you don't have to deal with AAA to get their rate if you don't want to. I just got a great AAA rate quote today from Dreams Unlimited. AAA in my neck of the woods basically sells Disneyland. Went in asking for info DISNEY WORLD in FLORIDA they acted like I was planning a trip to Mars. Online quote from Dreams Unlimited, and I got a great rate, with a travel agent I feel will look out for me. (Probably should note that the quote was for Room only...I'll use Undercover Tourist again for tickets.)