AAA vrs Travel agent

[BSchaal57]

Can anyone tell me if I would benefit more by planning our Disney Vacation from AAA or should I book with a travel agent? I was told that AAA offers extra little perks, but then I was told that AAA doesn't give discounts anymore. I am so confused!

 

[OKW Lover]

If you book through AAA then they are your travel agent. AAA sometimes has good discounts, sometimes not. You'll just need to compare.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

As Jeff said, booking with AAA is booking with a travel agency. Basically all pricing is set by Disney, and they do not allow agencies to discount their pricing. The exception is AAA has provided a discount in the past usually around 10-15% (from room portion only) off the non discounted price. However if Disney releases a general public discount, it is almost always better than AAA. So the important thing is to find a travel agent/agency that is willing to watch for promotions and price drops for you.

There used to be some perks by booking a AAA package, I am sorry I don't know what those are.

 

[jcb]

While I am a AAA member (with discounts the annual fee usually pays for itself) I would always go with a Disney specialist TA. You may find one with AAA but odds are you won't.

One big difference is that, to my knowledge, AAA doesn't try to apply discounts to existing reservations when Disney releases them. I know Dreams Unlimited Travel does.

 

[OKW Lover]

While I am a AAA member (with discounts the annual fee usually pays for itself) I would always go with a Disney specialist TA. You may find one with AAA but odds are you won't.

That's the key! While you'll see a lot of Disney signage in your local AAA office, don't expect every agent in the office to actually have a lot of Disney experience. Some will, but your chance of getting a good one during a random walk-in aren't high.

If somebody is going to use AAA, be sure you get the assigned agent to talk about WDW in general. Gage their abilities by what they tell you, especially any "secrets". Ask some specific questions about things like Magic Bands, Extra Magic Hours, Fast Pass + and Memory Maker. You're looking for the agent's knowledge when you ask this, not really for the info. If they hem and haw about the questions, or say they will look it up and get back to you, then its time to walk away.

 

[islandtimect]

AAA's ticket discount is tiny; you save a dollar or two off multi day tixs. Room discounts of 10% are sometimes available, but Disneys discounts are better. I believe their new contract with Disney does not give extra freebies anymore. You are better off going thru an authorized Disney travel agent who offers incentives like a $50 gift card when booking 5 nights or more. FYI AAA members get the AAA room discount even if they dont book thru AAA.

 

[mtchurchmonica]

Perks - Last month, I was at the AAA office to book a Disney cruise. While I was there, my Disney-phile agent reminded me that if I booked a Disney vacation, I would receive a free Android Tablet but, unfortunately, that perk didn't apply to booking a cruise.

Discounts - I thought about adding a Disney vacation to our cruise, but nothing she had to offer, price-wise, amounted to a significant discount. What might have made a difference is the fact that I have a AAA Visa which earns double points for gas and groceries and triple points on AAA purchases. As long as we pay the card balance each month, the vouchers we earn from the points are "free money". For instance, the last time I booked a cruise, we had accumulated enough points on our Visa to earn $850.00 in vouchers. That covered 25% of the cost of our cruise. I really doubt any other travel agency can match that.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

That's the key! While you'll see a lot of Disney signage in your local AAA office, don't expect every agent in the office to actually have a lot of Disney experience. Some will, but your chance of getting a good one during a random walk-in aren't high.

If somebody is going to use AAA, be sure you get the assigned agent to talk about WDW in general. Gage their abilities by what they tell you, especially any "secrets". Ask some specific questions about things like Magic Bands, Extra Magic Hours, Fast Pass + and Memory Maker. You're looking for the agent's knowledge when you ask this, not really for the info. If they hem and haw about the questions, or say they will look it up and get back to you, then its time to walk away.

This! I found that when I used AAA agent once, I knew more than they did (thanks to these boards and my own multiple trips). I don't blame AAA agents since they have to know a bit about many places - not just Disney. When booking a Disney trip, you're much better off using an agent that specializes in Disney. As for perks, I am not aware of any perks aside from the usual $measly-amount-off-for-Planet-Hollywood-entree-type of perk.

 

[taylor3297]

We have used AAA and a Disney TA. In the end the Disney TA was the better way to go.

She knows the ins and outs of all the resorts, parks, dining etc. Also, say if we have already booked our trip, if a new offer comes out she automatically checks to see if the new offer applies to our current reservation.

When we book package deals at WDW, she always includes a gift of some sort with our documents. We have received, autograph books, gift cards, stylus pens, cooler backpack, drawstring back, zippered pouch to put our documents in, and of course her service. She has made our dining ADRs for me when I knew that I wouldn't have access to a phone or computer on the day my booking window opens.

We have also booked a cruise using our TA and we had a gift in our stateroom from her and an on board credit.

The key is getting a good TA.

 

[Kristina4109]

I agree 100% with what people are saying here. In 2009 we used AAA to book our family reunion. They were professional and courteous and competent, but they definitely did NOT have the expertise a Disney authorized travel agent does.

We had to micromanage AAA. They did NOT offer to make our dining ressies. They did NOT notify us when free dining came out for our stay - we had to call them to let them know about it!

In comparison, I have always used a TA for DL trips and have booked a June WDW trip with her. She made our dining ressies and even reminded me to make my list as the 180 day mark was approaching. When a discount was released for our travel dates, she found out, called Disney, and got me the discount before I even knew the discount existed!

Put simply, Disney vacations are unlike any other kind you are likely to take, with its own quirks and ins and outs. It is possible to wander in without a plan and have good time, but having an agent who knows Disney inside and out is the best way to get a great deal.