Code/Postcard and AAA ?????

[gratenana]

I posted this somewhere else and someone suggested that I start a new thread to see if the following is really true.

I called and talked to CM today to see if we had a code attached to our names. She asked me my phone number, address and all the fun stuff.
After looking in computer and saying that she couldn't find no record of us I asked her if it had anything to do with us booking our vacations through AAA.
She told me it sure does. Is this true? We went last year and also are booked this year (2 rooms this year).
Is it true that since we book through AAA that we will probably never receive any codes or postcards?

How can I check on a ressie made through AAA.

Thanks

 

[CanadianGuy]

Any reservation made thru a travel agent AAA or otherwise.. may only be accessed by that travel agent for changes etc.

The CMs at the reservations center are under strict orders to not touch any of those reservations. Period. And I believe they are actually prevented from doing so by the way the systems are configured.

To check on your AAA reservation, call your agent. That's your only choice.

Now.. travelling under AAA doesn't prevent you from receiving a postcard near as I can tell historically speaking. Once your name and info is in their (Disney's) system, you can get a postcard.

And further.. you can book a discounted PIN package with AAA .. but you don't get the AAA rates.. instead you get the better discounted rates that were offered to you in the postcard/email.

Knox

 

[gratenana]

Any reservation made thru a travel agent AAA or otherwise.. may only be accessed by that travel agent for changes etc.

The CMs at the reservations center are under strict orders to not touch any of those reservations. Period. And I believe they are actually prevented from doing so by the way the systems are configured.

To check on your AAA reservation, call your agent. That's your only choice.

Now.. travelling under AAA doesn't prevent you from receiving a postcard near as I can tell historically speaking. Once your name and info is in their (Disney's) system, you can get a postcard.

And further.. you can book a discounted PIN package with AAA .. but you don't get the AAA rates.. instead you get the better discounted rates that were offered to you in the postcard/email.

Knox

Thanks.

But I still do have a question. While the CM was looking for our info. she said she couldn't pull up neither my DH or my name, phone #'s, nor our address. Should I look further into it through my AAA ta? Like you stated we should be in their system somewhere, right?

 

[WendyisDarling]

I have wondered this too. AAA trips we have taken seem to fully be in the TA's name. I always had to give her info. to discuss anything. I never received any Disney mail either.
I booked one trip on my own. Since then I have received postcards, DVC solicitation, but no codes (at least not yet).

 

[gratenana]

Just bumping this cause I'm still wondering if we're booked through AAA and all info in WDW systems are under our TA's name will we ever receive any postcards/emails?

 

[LadyBears]

I have made two trips using AAA to book. One was before I met DH, the more recent was our familymoon. Both times I made the reservations, I had used my maiden name.

To this day, I will occasionally get a postcard made out to my maiden name.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I booked my family's trip last year and this year thru AAA, after I booked this years trip I received a post card with a code. I have to tell you though, the discount with AAA was greater than the code and pin attached to our name and address. So, yes you can get codes and pins even if you book thru a travel agent.

 

[SHOBRO856]

I don't know about this theory, my dh just recieved a postcard, and the only trip we went on were we stayed on Disney property was in 04 and we booked through AAA. Also, the card is in my dh's name (who doesn't do any of the Disney trip planning ) and our new address(we weren't even living here in 04) so I don't even know how they got our new info, but I think it must be something I registerd for or did on the WDW website.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm afraid I can't answer this.

My gut tells me that you are targetable with the postcard or email 'mailing' .. but at the same time you may not have a CRO record since your trips are all thru a TA.

I might further add ... Of COURSE Disney wants to target you.. they want you to book directly thru them so they don't pay the TA booking commissions probably!

Knox

 

[LindyN]

There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the issuance of Disney postcards, emails, or pin codes. They are sent out through the Marketing department, and not the reservation center. The mailing for the upgrade to SSR from the Values was incredibly small: Not everyone who was booked during the last week of August received one. There is an unknown set of criteria used for these mailings which Disney does not share with the general public or the reservation center. Guests who are booked with a TA can get the pin postcards and emails (I have first hand experience with this). TA bookings are not penalized or precluded from mailings, although it may seem that way when you're looking for a deal and don't get one. If you actually get one of these pins a TA can apply it to your reservation. One thing to consider: frequent guests tend to not get postcards/emails/pins because Disney knows that they're going to return and they don't need to entice you to come back. Whether or not you get a postcard/email/pin may depend upon the numbers you punch when you phone in to the reservation center too--all that is data collection linked to your profile. I'm amazed at what Disney knows about me and my family and what my profile shows in their computer.

The fact is this: Not everyone will get a postcard or pin or email with a special deal. It is not an even field with Disney mailings. For all we know they may be targeting a specific income demographic or date of birth. Or if your zip code ends in a 7... Or if the oldest child was born in a certain month and day. There is know way of determining their criteria. They send out these mailings to fill up rooms.

Clients of travel agents are not excluded from the possibility of mailings though. Of that I am certain, no matter what the CM at WDTC tells you. After all, Disney collects your personal information when you check in. You have to show your driver's license/ID and provide a credit card. They know who you are and your Disney habit. For those of you who have stayed at Disney and the CM cannot access your data, call back and get another CM. They know who you are. Not all CMs are created equal, and they sometimes have to go through a lot of work (non-revenue generating) to find you. Some of them don't want to do the digging in the system.

 

[LindyN]

I'm afraid I can't answer this.


I might further add ... Of COURSE Disney wants to target you.. they want you to book directly thru them so they don't pay the TA booking commissions probably!

Knox

When you book with a Disney CM they are also compensated for the booking. Its not just TAs getting something out of it.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Question - how is everyone getting the postcards & pins???? I've been booking vacations directly through WDW Reservations for years and never received anything from marketing. Not even when I had a Florida Resident's AP. Just wondering.....

 

[LindyN]

Question - how is everyone getting the postcards & pins???? I've been booking vacations directly through WDW Reservations for years and never received anything from marketing. Not even when I had a Florida Resident's AP. Just wondering.....

They know you're going to show up without a postcard or pin code. You're not someone they're targeting through their marketing.

Stop going for a couple of years and you'll probably get on the mailing list.

 

[gratenana]

Thanks, I do feel better now, thought we were being left out of the "system".

The part about the codes and rates not being any better than AAA--that has proven true with the new summer code. We already were saving $200 over the code rate.

Thanks again everyone.