Booking through AAA?

[ckret01]

For anyone that has booked a disney trip through AAA can you tell me what their fees are if any? Also was it just as easy going through them as you would if you went through Disney or somewhere else? Any info would be great as I never went through them to book a trip and am a little nervous to try something different.

 

[Melann]

I booked with Triple AAA for my January 04 trip, and I don't remember paying any fees for our travel agent, just charges for our trip. This was my first Disney trip I planned,and I thought our travel agents were very helpful. She answered any questions we had, and gave us some copies of information from the travel agent book on Disney. We had to make several changes in our reservation, and our travel agent worked very well with us. I probably would book again with AAA.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

I use AAA all the time, and if you have a membership to AAA there are no charges or fees for using the travel agency part of the organization. As to their prices, quite often AAA will beat the prices quoated directly from Disney. AAA is famous for their "package" plans for WDW vacations. If you are flexible with your travel dates, they are able to get you a pretty good deal. Just be sure you want all the little "extras" included in a package deal. AAA also has a few "perks" for booking with them. You recieved "preferred parking" at the theme parks. There is a AAA lounge in the MK where you are offered a free soda. If you book a DCL cruise with AAA you recieve a free refillable soda mug. The perks aren't all that great, but they are free. I have always had wonder travel agents through AAA. Some folks on these boards have not!! If you get a snotty agent, just ask to speak with some one else, or hang up and call back.

Good Luck in planning your trip. You have come to the right place to get helpful information!! Ask away!!

 

[renniks]

I used them to book a package for our first WDW trip and everything was fine. However, after finding these boards I know know about room only codes (which beat AAA rates most times) And they never mentioned anything about them to me. We went in September 2002 and looking back there were discounts available. Heck, until I found this board, I never knew you could book a room only! So while it went well, I could have saved money either by doing it myself or using dreams unlimited or something similar. I'm doing it myself for this trip and I'm actually enjoying the planning process

Antoher thing with booking through AAA was the rental car. I didn't realize at the time that the comapny they use (Hertz I believe) is not at the airport. We had to take a shuttle to get our car. I found that very inconvenient, especially since I was 6 months pregnant and we had our 4 yo ds with us. Now I know better!

 

[firefawnkimmy]

The basic AAA membership is $45 and you need to be a member to book through them. If you book the 7 for 5 plan through them, and you can b/c I watched someone book this at our agency and our room at AKL is on hold for us, it is a lot cheaper than if you book it through Disney, even after you add the $45 membership fee. There are no fees for booking a trip, however, if you book plane fare through AAA they charge you a $30 or $35 booking fee b/c airlines have cut their commissions on that. No fee for booking a rental car through them though. Our agent was very honest and told us about the code the day before it came out, we already had the code when we went there but she came out and told us about it before we even had a chance to mention we had it. She also was honest and told us, dont book an airline through us b/c of the fee. You can book it yourself and its the same price and you save the 30 dollars per reservation. Love AAA. We became members just for this trip. The roadside service will be just a perk!

 

[BoCat]

I called the Disney travel company last week and got 2 quotes for 2 different hotels using the 7 nights for the price of 5--then I called AAA- they called me back and their price was exactly the same price as Disney's--even down to the pennies. So booking the 7 nights for the price of 5 package through AAA saves 0.

 

[buzzlady]

I booked a package w/Silver add on for last July through AAA. What AAA does is call travel companies. My TA called one and the person had no clue what he was doing. So TA called WDT for a price. There really was no savings. I had priced everything out on WDW site and took all my information with me to AAA. WDT gave TA a price and TA replied that she (meaning me) has all her papers in front of her with the prices from the WDW site. There were a few more words and another price of about $200 less ~ so I booked it. Then I found the DIS and found out about codes. When a code came out, I called my TA and asked about it. She called WDT and was told that the code that I needed had to be 4 letters (not 3) for a package and if I could find it to call back. Soooo, off to the internet I went and found me a 4 letter code and called my TA with it. It saved me about another $270. One thing that I did learn from booking with AAA is that I will never do it again. I had to find the code myself. My TA had no clue about codes. I was also the one that told my TA that POFQ was closing for renovations ~ of course that is where I was booked. Then more problems with TA and getting us upgraded to WL. I called WDT myself, but since it was booked with a TA the TA would have to take care of it. The CM I spoke to was great and took the TA information and promised me that SHE would get in touch with the TA.

 

[firefawnkimmy]

Wow, I am very suprised at the different rates that we are all getting! I called Disney and gave them the code for the 7 for 5, and got a price for the AKL savannah view that was a 240.00 more than the price I got through AAA. So overall we are saving with AAA, minus the member**** fee, about 195.00. Not a whole lot but every bit helps. I guess its just a price and compare thing at this point but our TA even knew the codes and gave it to us before we told her we had them!

 

[tigger334]

My dh and myself booked our November trip to Disney through AAA. They have been very helpful for us. I think we got a good deal that includes airfare. Sometimes AAA has Disney month where they have specials. One of the other perks that we got that we didn't know was we were suppose to get the Birnbaums book on WDW. The TA told my husband that it would be coming soon but we had already purchased it before we booked and she said to bring the receipt in and they refunded us the amount of the book! I have priced a similar package through Dreams Unilimited and it comes out to about the same. I would go through AAA again.